HISTORY of WAVECREST HOTEL

Wavecrest began as a hostel catering almost exclusively for fishermen, some 90 years ago. It's fortunes, as it's owners changed many times, and many colourful characters are recalled in yarns around the pub, as the faithful return, year after year.

The good times are fondly remembered, as are those less so. The lowest ebb was no doubt that period before the '94 elections, where the Transkei was perceived as a hostile and dangerous place to be. A combination of a much reduced market, owners unable to finance the resulting losses, and an expired tenure agreement, saw the sad deterioration of our resort to almost slum proportions.

The location and surrounding environment however remained, as always, amazing. It was this that enticed the present owners, the Winterbach family, to acquire the shareholding in the operating company. More importantly, to negotiate a long lease necessary to justify the substantial investment necessary to undertake the major refurbishments which the resort desperately needed.

The Winterbachs are radically committed to the preservation of the environment. They perceive the indigenous dune forests in the Wavecrest area as unique and the estuary, of the most valuable surviving in Africa. It was predictable that the resort's target market would therefore undergo radical change. The backbone of the pervious clientele, the rough-neck fisherman, whose freezer in the back of the bakkie was full of beer on arrival and full of fish fillets on departure, is no longer welcome at the resort. The area remains the finest fishing ground on our coastline, but only those anglers whose love for the sport goes beyond the value of the booty which they take home, and who are prepared to abide by the strict local regulations, are welcome at Wavecrest.

The new emphasis is however on learning and the appreciation of the many diverse environments. Forest walks, estuary cruises, overland safaris and exciting trips to sea. These are just a few of the many new attractions that bring the new kind of Wavecrest guest back, time and time again.

Wavecrest recently made headlines where the war they had waged for years, to prevent the devastation of the area by Iscor, in their pursuit of Titanium, reached a dramatic climax in November '98. A mass meeting was held. The three surrounding communities were represented in huge numbers, political dignitaries were present, as was the media. Iscor officials seized the opportunity and addressing the assembled masses, waxed lyrical. They had followed all of the correct procedures. All of the Government departments had been consulted. Employment and great prosperity would be enjoyed by all. The Iscor proclamation however failed to evoke the expected applause. Ms Maswana, the Deputy Director of the Department of Water affairs and Forestry broke the ensuing silence by pointing out that her department, the technical owners of the effected land, had not even been consulted, let alone given it's consent? This was in spite of a directive from the highest authority that this should have happened.

What then followed was like a scene from a Spielbereg movie. One by one the traditional chiefs of each community in the area, took the stage. Each in their own deliberate way, told the Iscor officials that they did not want their jobs, they did not want their empty promises, they most certainly did not want the destruction of their present social order. they loved their land, as it was. The last one to speak went so far as to predict that they would see to it that their land would never be mined. He suggested that the officials should leave and never return.

Wavecrest management see this victory as only the first round. They are acutely aware that this very rich deposit will remain there for longer than they will. It will always be a prize for greedy exploitation and possibly, less than responsible public officials. We will however remain diligent and continue the fight against this, and the many other threats to the area.

Update March 2000

All quiet for a year, but it would have been too good to be true to expect the mining threat to disappear. So called "facilitators" have been employed to operate amongst the local communities. Owners of trading stores, shebeens, taxis and some community elders have been targeted with extravagant promises of substantial personal wealth in the event of mining.

The result has been a split in the historic unity of this peaceful community. The few pro-miners have assembled around an ANC banner, (without the blessing or probably even the knowledge of the formal ANC party structure), the huge majority still remain strongly against mining, rallying around the Wavecrest opposition.

Several apparently unrelated assaults by various Government departments on Wavecrest and Conrad Winterbach in his personal capacity, are however of concern and will be monitored with interest. It will be a sad reflection on the integrity of our Authorities, if this is an indication of some underground conspiracy.

Departing from the normal procedures followed in the implementation of a mining operation, a committee, called CIMEC has been commissioned by Government to examine all matters related to so called land use at Wavecrest with Mining as one of the options.

The steering committee of CIMEC is reported to comprise representatives of all interested and effected parties. It is apparent however that it comprises mainly Iscor representatives, or known supporters of mining. Those members, who by virtue of the organisations they would appear to represent, should oppose mining, each received a letter requesting details of their organisation and the stand they intend taking. Only the WESSA representative responded. The others did not even do us the courtesy of acknowledging receipt of our correspondence. Those interested parties not represented on this Steering committee, include the owners of the land, the communities who live there and Wavecrest, the only employer and hope for future enrichment of the local population.

Our representation to CIMEC can be read here. Our many supporters are urged to add their weight to our cause by submitting there own representations to CIMEC.

You may follow the ongoing saga in our Mining Debate page.

Update June 2007

Guests interested in current “goings on” are encouraged to refer to the Latest News page.