Eden’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Wessie van der Westhuizen together with Mayors from the B-municipalities as well as councillors, welcomed tourists to the Eden district for the festive season.

The Welcoming campaign was launched in Oudtshoorn on Wednesday, 10 December 2014 and in Bitou on Thursday, 11 December 2014 respectively.

During a short briefing session prior to the start of the roadblocks, Mayor Van der Westhuizen requested the officials’ extra commitment and hard work during the festive period. Mayor Van der Westhuizen, at the roadblock in Oudtshoorn, said to the officials: “If four tourists enter the district, we want all four of them to leave the district alive; therefore your support and diligence is of outmost importance” and further said: “We need to create a secure climate, in order for visitors to feel safe in our area.”

Eden’s Executive Deputy Mayor, Cllr Lionel Esau, accompanied the Mayor to the Oudtshoorn roadblock and participated in welcoming the tourists that came from the Northern parts of the country. Bitou’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen, Eden’s Portfolio Chairperson for Corporate Services, Cllr Tertuis Simmers and Councillors from Bitou, with Mayor Van der Westhuizen, also welcomed the tourists who came from the Eastern parts of the country, at the Bitou roadblock.

Officials from relevant municipalities including Traffic officers, Firemen, Law Enforcement officials, as well as representatives from the Western Cape Provincial Traffic, Ambulance Services, SAPS, the Western Cape Liquor Authority and SanParks took part in the campaign.