Deneysville – doing it for themselves!
The ‘town turn-around project’ is aimed at assisting some of the lesser-known towns, situated off the beaten tourist track, in getting exposure by gaining access to expertise, support and marketing advantages.
Deneysville’s business sector will not be deterred by the suspension last week of its Municipal Manager and four Directors, following allegations by the EFF and DA of irregularities in the appointment of security services, according to Deneysville Tourism Business Association (DTBA). This even though one of the suspended Directors oversees the recently formulated tourism directorate which is key to Deneysville making good its selection in February by regional tourism body (DESTEA) for the ‘tourism town turn-around project’, 2023/24 (ending April next year). And while it took council the better part of last year to formalise a tourism directorate specifically for Deneysville, Refengkgotso, Oranjeville, Metsimaholo and Groot Eiland, Deneysville businesses in the area have begun “doing it for themselves.”
The ‘town turn-around project’ is aimed at assisting some of the lesser-known towns, situated off the beaten tourist track, in getting exposure by gaining access to expertise, support and marketing advantages.
This in the name of excellence: the program, which is key to the success of the new DTBA is backed by National Tourism, DESTEA, FSGLTA and regional tourism (Fezile Dabi) and is driven by the Metsimaholo Manager of Tourism, Heritage and Marketing, Ms Tshidi Mkhefa, in Deneysville.
And it goes hand-in-hand with some monetary injection, albeit limited to R30k, which has been made available to qualifying SMME’s
However, the formalisation of the program is frustratingly slow, according to DTBA Chairman, Mr Linton Logie, with meetings postponed or adjourned, seemingly endlessly.
Nevertheless, business leaders within the town have taken up the challenge for the turn-around and began self-funded, up-liftment drives.
A case in point is Thys Campher Estates, the most established real estate agency in the town, which forged a footprint in Denesyville in the 1990’s. This was when their founder, Matthys Campher, who recently passed away at the age of 87, took the town by storm.
He sold his real estate agency to Marinda Bierman in 2017. She then registered Bierman Botha Properties (honing in on rentals) in 2020 and, together with her sister, Antoinette Nel, bought the block, the Crutzels building.
They revamped the building, taking it to new heights. The block was christened ‘Deneys Corner’, the first building to greet visitors driving into the town, next to the Caltex Service Station.
So, after years of waiting for a new wave of village management at the Vaal Dam, dubbed ‘central SA’s land-locked sea’ the pair ‘took the bull by the horns’ in the country town and renovated at their own pace.
They have transformed the site from a somewhat ‘tired’ trading area into a clean-cut corner bearing textured frontage, stylized banner and bold façade – a welcome hint of what is to come!
At a cost of R300K and counting, with a matching investment on the cards, “Deneys Corner” is a display of the tenacity of two far-sighted entrepreneurs, (indeed matadors), who have ‘put their money where their mouth is’ and are making a difference, in their own space. A zone which speaks to the industry within which they work, in real estate, and makes a bold statement on behalf of the town.
They have renovated the roof; pavement; toilets; supermarkets and hardware stores and, significantly, the Vet, brother & sister partners, Werner & Kayla Gustafson.
While council continues to grapple with internal and logistical challenges “Deneys Corner” has made strides in changing the perception of the town for both locals and visitors, an excellent example of what can be done. And one which will not go unnoticed by the grading councils; DESTEA; SA Tourism and the other stakeholders who have been prompting development which is crucial to the town’s growth.
According to the DTBA such players in the Deneysville business sector are key to the success of the Tourism and Business community and indeed the DTBA.
Whether the DTBA and council get it together to fulfil the ‘town turn-around program’ or not excellence is already in the making!
For more information regarding marketing and tourism in and around the Vaal Dam area, kindly contact Venue Africa on WhatsApp or cell 083 655 7949.
Progress in Deneysville: The Corner now welcomes visitors to the ‘small village with a BIG heart’!
