No, I am busy with my speech.
While Cape Town Tourism was marketing Cape Town, and the Western Cape Tourism Board marketed the province, a harmonious relationship existed between the two tourism bodies, one funded by the City of Cape Town, and the other by the province.
When the MEC for finance, economic development and tourism and his counterpart in the City of Cape Town met in 2009, the two marketing partners agreed that they would encourage co-operation and avoid duplication where possible. The industry was told that a strategy of coexistence between the two bodies would be presented to it.
However, the MEC changed his mind and made the shock announcement that he was pushing for the speedy implementation of a new, efficient destination marketing model so that the region could benefit from the current window of opportunity created by the Soccer World Cup. Why did he not get his act together and create a united body before the World Cup when it was needed most?
Tourism in the Western Cape is in turmoil. While the DA does not want to realise this or recognise it, it is in turmoil.
Dit gaan nie so goed nie. Dit het 'n speelbal geword vir die DA om vir allerlei verskuilde redes truuks uit te haal en speletjies te speel.
Kaapstad, Tafelberg, die Kaapse Blommeryk, Robbeneiland, die Tuinroete en selfs ander kenmerke van toerisme het van hierdie streek 'n gesogte, internasionale bestemming gemaak. Dit is 'n produk sonder veel mededingers in die internasionale mark. Dit bied 'n natuurskone produk, met 'n eie kultuurbelewenis asook 'n stedelike gevoel, waarby talle nuuskierige toeriste aanklank vind.
Die eerste probleem met die DA se inmengery is dat hulle die Kaapse Klopse- karnaval wil afkamp. Hulle wil vir hierdie tradisionele optog besluit waar, wanneer en indien hulle mag loop.
Tweede Nuwejaar is 'n eg Kaapse tradisie wat deur slawe begin is, wat weggeloop het op die dag wat hul eienaars van hul babalaas tuis herstel het. Hulle het allerlei kostuums aangetrek en selfs hul gesigte vermom deur dit te verf of te besmeer. Wat weet iemand wat van die Noordwes kom, van die Klopse? (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Things are not going very well. It has become a plaything for the DA for all kinds of obscure reasons to perform tricks and to play games.
Cape Town, Table Mountain, the Cape Floral Region, Robben Island, the Garden Route, and even other tourism sites have made this region a sought- after, international destination. It is a product with few competitors in the international market. It offers a product of natural beauty, providing its own cultural experience together with an urban feel which is finding favour with numerous curious tourists.
The first problem with the interference by the DA is that they want to confine the Cape Minstrel Carnival. They want to decide for this traditional parade where, when and whether they may march.
"Tweede Nuwejaar" [Second New Year's Day] is a genuine Cape tradition, which was started by slaves who absconded on the day their owners were recovering from their hangovers at home. They would dress up in all kinds of costumes and even disguise their faces by painting or covering them with paint. What does someone from the North West know about the Klopse?]
The hon Groenewald does not know anything about the Klopse.
Hulle het dan gewys wat hulle kan doen. Hul sang en musiektalent is vertoon ...
'n AGB LID: Wat weet jy van die Klopse? (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[They have showed what they are capable of. Their singing and musical talent were displayed ...