Overstrand Executive Mayor, Dr Annelie Rabie, held a public meeting on Monday afternoon, 6 February 2023, to update the public regarding the lease and subletting agreement, structural non-compliance and land availability of the Hermanus Country Market (HCM).
Mayor Rabie once again gave her commitment to resolve the issues because the market is part of the Hermanus community and plays an important role locally – for the traders, locals, and visitors.
She said “Hermanus needs the market and must have a market”. “Unfortunately, laws and regulations I cannot change. The market is not compliant; they do not have a lease, no approved building plans, no fire certificate, no population certificate and no evacuation plan and the insurance expired last year. We need to get the representatives around the table to decide a plan of action with timelines for the way forward.”
Overstrand Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill, granted the request to allow trading for the Hermanus Country Market and Hermanus Art in the Park on the back of an agreed plan of compliance.
A technical meeting between representatives if the Overstrand Municipality, Hermanus Sports Club (HSC) and the HCM is planned for the afternoon of Wednesday, 8 February 2023, to kick off the negotiations as agreed to at the public meeting.
The commitment from the Municipality to have a compliant and safe market is once again reiterated as expressed by the Mayor and all other role players.
It must be stressed that the Overstrand Municipality cannot allow the current situation to continue without agreed timelines and a firm commitment from all to have a compliant market.
The Mayor said she will call a follow-up meeting in 3 months’ time to give feedback on the process.
