Message from Municipal Manager, George Seitisho
In 1994 Plettenberg Bay Municipality took the bold step of incorporating all the areas that fell under the control of the South Cape District Council - Covie, Nature's Valley, Keurbooms, Wittedrift, Green Valley, Harkerville, Kranshoek, Plettenberg Bay, Crags and Kurland into the Plettenberg Bay Municipality. We grew from about 12 km2 to about 1000 km2.
The communities we serve are all very different and we consult with them broadly. However, except for those who live in the town, many who live in Nature's Valley, Kranshoek or Kurland may not really identify with the name of Plettenberg Bay. By changing our name to Bitou Municipality everyone will be able to feel more united.
The name of the town of Plettenberg Bay will remain unchanged as a huge amount has been invested in marketing it. We thought long and hard about the name and invited suggestions from all communities. It was ultimately decided that Bitou (a rather special bush and a river in our region) was attractive, neutral, simple and acceptable to people from all walks of life.
We had a very complicated Vision. After brainstorming we condensed it into the desire to simply 'be the best' (that we can be). Then we realised that there is no way we can be the best unless we do it together. So our Vision has become 'To be the best together'. Obviously we are not there yet but that is our goal. And it is a good goal because it can be achieved if we work effectively with all tiers of government. If management and staff work together. And if staff work together irrespective of their colour, creed or gender. If we work with the public and they work with us. If we support our non-governmental organisations and other volunteers, in their drive to make Plett a better place we can be the best, together.

The Bitou Bush is a dense evergreen shrub with slightly fleshy leaves, covered with bright yellow daisies in Spring. It is wind and drought resistant, grows anywhere and is useful as a sand stabiliser.
It is a fast growing pioneer plant, excellent as a hedge which attracts birds. The berries are and aphrodisiac. They were an important source of food for the Khoi and can be made into a jam or syrup. The Xhosa use the juice as a blood purifier, for skin problems, and as a tonic after illness. The leaves are alkaline and poisonous to tock, but when burned the ashi s useful as a lye for making soap. The early colonists made soap this way. It is widespread along the coast from the Cape Peninsula to Natal.
The scientific name is Chrysanthemoides monilifera ('bearing a necklace' relating to the berries which are arranged in neat circles around the flowers). (Afrikaans: Bietou or Boetabessie; Xhosa: Itholonja)

George Seitisho
Municipal Manager