St Francis Property Owners Association Newsletter – September 2025
© Barry Culligan
Welcome to the latest SFPO Association Newsletter. It has been a busy time in our village. As we approach the time for our membership renewals, let us take some time to consider all that is happening in our village.
Long Term Coastal Protection Scheme
We recently hosted the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, onsite at the Groyne Build. He was very impressed with the work done on the Long Term Coastal Protection Scheme (LTCPS) and with the community-based fundraising efforts, mentioning that the basis of this project could serve as a template for use in other parts of the country battling similar beach erosion problems.
On the LTCPS
– Various sections of dredging pipes have been laid along the Kromme River and are advancing onto the beachfront. The dredging process will commence once the groynes are in place.
– The extension of the revetment is now complete, along with the access road. The groyne construction is currently focused on the Laura Road (Anne Avenue) groyne, but will shift to the Kromme River Mouth Groyne. Once Groynes 1 and 2 are completed according to the project plan, work will resume on the Laura Road (Anne Avenue) groyne.
– All the groynes and the spit access road are labelled as construction sites, and as such remain off limits to the public.
St Francis Property Owners Association Membership Renewals – 1 October 2025 TO 30 September 2026
Our annual subscriptions are due for renewal at the end of this month.
The cost of an annual voluntary membership is only R600 (or R375.00 p.a. for pensioners). You will receive an invoice soon, providing you with the banking details should you wish to join the Association or renew your membership. Or simply visit our website and subscribe using our easy Payfast option here – https://stfrancispropertyowners.com/membership/
Never in the history of our village have there been more issues that need to be addressed. Unless we remain well-informed and can stand together on a host of topics, our town will suffer. It will lose not only its charm but also many of the services that are already showing wear. As residents and property owners, we simply have to be in charge of our own destiny. To do this, the SFPO needs the support of the entire community. Our Association currently has a competent executive team of local residents who are elected by ratepayers every two years. Whether a property owner or a resident renting a property, your support is critical to ensure St Francis Bay is all that it can be. This will allow all who reside in our town the very best lifestyle they deserve. Start participating in our future by joining the SFPO.
Here are some excellent reasons to become a member of the St Francis Property Owners Association.
1. Service Delivery
Water, roads, electricity, sewerage management, refuse collection, and fire control are the most severe service delivery issues. The Association monitors progress and works with the relevant Municipal bodies to improve service delivery. The Association works closely with our Ward Councillor and is represented on the Ward 12 Committee.
2. Land Use and Spatial Development
To ensure that our town provides essential amenities such as schools, churches, parks, and sports facilities, and adheres to logical zoning patterns, a specific plan was drawn up. The Association, on occasion, needs to step in to ensure that inappropriate development does not affect ratepayers’ investments.
3. Aesthetics and Planning
The look and feel of St Francis Bay is unique. The Association is represented on the Aesthetics committee. It works closely with the Planning Department of the Municipality to maintain our town’s exceptional appearance and adherence to by-laws.
4. Community Policing
The Association works hand in hand with CCTV monitoring service, the local police, Community Police Forum, neighbourhood watch, and local security companies to curb crime within our community.
5. Beach Reconstruction
The Association has members involved in the process. Our aim is to keep the community informed concerning the progress of the project.
6. Riparian and Kromme River Matters
Our Association works hand in hand with the Riparian Home Owners Association and the Kromme Joint River Committee. This work is done to protect these homeowners’ interests and manage our canal and river systems.
7. Critical Matters
The Association monitors these matters closely. In the past, these included the potential construction of the Thyspunt Nuclear Power station, the erection of 4G and 5G Cell phone towers, and the rollout of fibre optic cabling, as well as the development of a draft policy for solar energy.
8. Provision of Information
The Association has a website that is continuously updated – www.stfrancispropertyowners.com. Public meetings, newsletters and our Facebook page are used to keep members informed.
9. Environmental Matters
The Association has strong links with the Kromme Enviro-Trust. The two organisations keep each other informed and work together on issues relating to environmental matters. The Association initiated the provision of the recycling facility, which is now available at the Municipal yard next to the fire station
10. Disaster Management
The Association works in close cooperation with the Disaster Volunteer Group to provide swift and effective responses and management of local disasters, including fire, flooding, pollution control, and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, food relief for the needy. The Association has been proactively involved in promoting responsible bush and Erven clearing for fire prevention.
11. Association Projects
Your subscriptions also fund the Association’s projects to improve our town for everyone in our community. Some of these are :
- Street Name Kerbstone Project
165 kerbstones have now been placed for every street in St Francis, providing clear, long-lasting signage for every street in St Francis Bay. The kerbstones will replace all the standing street signs, and the KLM has undertaken to remove all the old signage in due course.
This is our focus project for the 2024-25 financial year, and the community has enthusiastically received the initiative. Each kerbstone is 1200mm long and features the embossed street name and the Association logo, making it both functional and visually appealing. This initiative has enhanced the aesthetic of our roads and improved wayfinding for residents and visitors alike
- New Footpath along St Francis Drive
The SFPO is proud to be supporting the construction of the Pedestrian Walkway along St Francis Drive, which is increasing safety for our pedestrians. The leg along the golf course down to Grand Comore has now been completed and is being put to good use. This is a Kouga Business Forum initiative, with the Rotary Club of St Francis providing administrative services.
The Kouga Business Forum has been collecting business sponsorships to complete the pedestrian pathway, which will stretch from Sunset Drive to the CBD. The SFPO Association has agreed to set aside a contribution of R100,000 for this pathway (R6,000 per 10 sq m). The developers of Grand Comoros are completing the construction of the path.
As they hold PBO status for donors, the funds pledged are being paid into the St. Francis Rotary Club’s bank account. A further contribution from the Association will be decided upon for next year’s budget. Contributors’ logos will be placed every six square metres on granite blocks to be embedded in the pathway.
A second phase, extending the pathway from Lyme Road South to Neville Road and down to Main Beach. And fundraising for a third phase to take the footpath from Nevil Rd through to the Port will kick off in the new financial year. If you or your organisation are interested in sponsoring a section, please contact the SFPO office.
- Coral Tree Planting Project
Approximately 320 trees will be planted in the village, and to date, we have planted about 200. St. Francis Drive, from the Harbour Road intersection through Santereme, is being planted for now.
Most of the truncheons have shot leaves, and some have flowered. A few will be removed and replaced, as they didn’t take, as part of ongoing maintenance.
- A Word On Fraud In the Village
There has been a rise in fraud in our area, primarily through social media platforms and telephone calls. Criminals often pose as trusted individuals or companies to trick residents into sharing personal information or making payments.
Please be cautious:
• Do not share personal or banking details over the phone or online.
• Verify the identity of anyone asking for money or sensitive information.
• Report suspicious calls, messages, or posts immediately.
If you have been affected by fraud, please report this to SAPS.
And did you know ….?
- The Sea Vista Footpath
The Association has funded the replacement of three vandal- and monkey-proof recycled plastic rubbish bins on this pathway at a cost of R8,500. These have been delivered, and Kromme Enviro Trust members will be monitoring these to ensure they are serviced regularly.
The Sea Vista footpath was initiated and project-managed by our Association with funding from the Kouga Wind Farm. The beautiful mosaics embedded in sections of the footpath were created by a team of ladies from Sea Vista under the guidance of a local artist. The designs were chosen from children’s drawings entered in an art competition held by both St Francis College and Sea Vista Primary, with the theme of St Francis’s natural history.
- Beach Patrols
The current beach patrols undertaken by SAPS Boots on the Ground members during the holiday season are another of our Association’s initiatives. After receiving reports of holidaymakers on Main Beach being targeted by thieves, we sponsored patrol guards to patrol the beach and ensure everyone had a safe and stress-free holiday experience. The Community Police Forum followed up by requesting the Boots on the Ground service, which has now become a fixture.
- Recycling Facility
The Recycling Facility at the municipal yard on St Francis Drive is a very well-managed service, much appreciated by locals and holiday makers alike. Our Association initially responded to appeals for such a facility by employing a person to man a temporary facility over the holiday seasons. Because of the success of this initiative, the facility is now permanently available to the public and managed by the Municipality.
SFPO Association Contact:
Lyn Aitken – Administration Manager
Phone: 042 294 0594
Email: info@sfpo.co.za
Office Address: 9 Philippa Place, St Francis Bay.
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