‘Cradock

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply alarmed by the consistent pattern of delays, cost overruns, and governance failures reported in the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s (DBSA) update to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism. Despite R788 million spent and a project pipeline stretching across all nine provinces, the evidence shows that South Africans are not getting value for money.

Every single one of the 10 tourism infrastructure projects currently under construction is behind schedule. Sites like Royal Khalanga Lodge are nearly two years overdue, while the Vredefort Dome project has had not one, but two contractors terminated. To make matters worse, DBSA continues to recycle the same project managers. Penalties for delays appear ineffective, and cost overruns are staggering. The Oaks Lodge project in Limpopo has reached 183% of its original budget, with no clear accountability.

The DA calls for a temporary halt on new DBSA-managed tourism infrastructure projects until existing issues are addressed, audits are complete, and feasibility plans are in place:

• Completion and audit of all delayed or over-budget projects, including forensic investigations into those exceeding 50% cost escalation;
• Clear and up-to-date feasibility studies must be conducted for all future projects — particularly ones like the Cradock Four Garden and Platfontein Lodge, where there’s no sign of a plan to keep the sites running once built; and
• Public-private partnerships (PPPs) must be prioritised, not neglected. The total lack of private-sector involvement, despite R62 million earmarked for projects like the Mafikeng Hotel School, threatens long-term viability and innovation.

The DBSA’s presentation confirmed what the DA has long warned: the Bank is managing billions of rands with insufficient project and contract oversight, minimal intergovernmental coordination, and poor compliance with green building and universal accessibility policies. Why are so many completed projects not operational, not revenue-generating, and still disconnected from basic services like water and electricity?

The DBSA is contracted directly by the Department of Tourism and resides under Treasury.

South Africans deserve well-managed, sustainable, community-owned tourism infrastructure — not ghost lodges, stalled museums, or vanity projects with no long-term benefit.

Regards

Haseena Ismail MP
DA Spokesperson on Tourism

First Published here: MyZA.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

Read More at GroundUp

First Published here: MyZA.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

Gqeberha, 11 December 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is advising road users to take note of construction zones that will affect traffic flow on key routes of its Eastern Cape road network during the festive season.

“With the festive season approaching and the imminent increase in traffic volumes, we are working hard to ensure that our network is safe and ready to accommodate holiday traffic,” said Mbulelo Peterson, Regional Manager for SANRAL Southern Region.

Peterson said that during this time of year, the N2, N9 and N6 into the province are particularly busy with road users travelling home from the Gauteng and Western Cape. The N2 and R61 inland will see increased outbound traffic towards the coastal areas as holiday makers visit the coast.

Affected routes will include:

N2 between Makhanda (Grahamstown) and Peddie: No blasting is scheduled in December for the N2 upgrade between Makhanda and the Fish River Pass. Partial closures will be in effect between km 84 and km 79 with single-lane traffic flow allowed 24 hours a day until Thursday, 12 December 2024. From 12 December 2024 to 6 January 2025, the road will reopen for two-way traffic.

N2 between Butterworth and East London: Roadworks on the N2 Ndabakazi Interchange will cease on 11 December 2024 and resume on 6 January 2025. Traffic accommodation will continue via a two-way bypass with temporary speed humps to moderate speed.

N2 between KwaBhaca (Mt Frere) and EmaXesibeni (Mt Ayliff): Roadworks will cease on 12 December 2024 and resume on 9 January 2025. The road will be completely open to two-way traffic together with the required traffic accommodation signage.

N6 between Maletswai (Aliwal North) and James Calata (Jamestown): Roadworks will continue throughout the festive season. There will be no stop/go measures in place.

R61 between Port St Johns and Port Edward: Road users traveling on the R61 between Mthatha and Port St Johns must take caution when travelling through the construction zone and must anticipate stop/go closures on this section of the R61. Motorists must please observe the posted construction signs and speed limits.

R63 between Bhisho and the N2 past Qumrha: Operations will cease on Thursday, 12 December 2024 and resume on Monday, 6 January 2025. During this period, there will be no stop/go controls and a two-way traffic system will be implemented.

R390 between Nxuba (Cradock) and Hofmeyr: Operations will stop on Saturday, 14 December 2024 and a two-way traffic system will be in place until Monday, 6 January 2025.

R56 between Matatiele and Kokstad: Operations will cease on Friday, 13 December 2024 to resume on Monday, 6 January 2025 with a two-way traffic system being implemented.

Motorists are advised to take note of the affected routes and to consider this in planning their road trips.

“We appeal to all road users to be extra vigilant on the roads during this busy period. Ensuring safety on our roads is a collective responsibility for all road users including motorists, pedestrians and the general public,” said Peterson.

“As the construction industry prepares to shut down for the holidays, SANRAL’s routine road maintenance (RRM) teams will be on standby to work with road traffic authorities to respond to any incidents that might arise on our network during this time,” said Peterson.

First Published here: MyZA.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

Read More at GroundUp

First Published here: MyZA.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

Tarkastad, Eastern Cape, 21 October 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) continues to empower small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) through its R117-million special road maintenance project on the National Route R61 in the Eastern Cape.

An SMME information-sharing session was held at the Tarkastad Town Hall in the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality to familiarise local businesses of SANRAL’s procurement processes and project opportunities.

SANRAL introduced the newly appointed members of the Project Liaison Committee (PLC) for the R61 special road maintenance project to local SMMEs.

Thandile Makwabe, SANRAL’s Acting Transformation Manager, explained the importance of the PLC in maintaining transparency and fostering effective communication between the project’s contractors, local stakeholders and the community.

“The contractor will utilise the PLC as the official communication channel, ensuring transparency and resolving any conflicts that may arise,” he said.

“The special maintenance project – spanning 24.7 kilometers from Tarkastad towards Nxuba (formerly Cradock) – will involve rehabilitation, shoulder widening and strengthening to improve road safety and durability. Currently in the mobilsation phase, the project is scheduled to run until September 2025. The project also includes repairs and resurfacing through reseal,” said SANRAL’s Project Manager, Malesiba Mabe.

Aligned with SANRAL’s goal to support local economic development, 30% of the contract value has been set aside for Contract Participation Goals (CPG) to benefit SMMEs in the targeted area. This initiative underscores SANRAL’s commitment to empowering local businesses and creating sustainable growth in underdeveloped areas, resulting in employment opportunities for local residents.

Makwabe also highlighted the importance of building entrepreneurial capacity in rural areas. “We aim to extend economic opportunities and optimise local resources. This project not only improves infrastructure but also empowers local communities,” he said.

To ensure the success of SMMEs on the project, SANRAL will provide formal training through accredited service providers, while labourers will receive informal training.

Makwabe emphasised the four important stages of the tender processes for targeted enterprises: eligibility, functionality, price and preference, and compliance check.

Local enterprises will also be guided on compliance to enhance their competitiveness in future projects. These efforts highlight SANRAL’s ongoing dedication to infrastructure development and community empowerment.

First Published here: MyZA.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

Gqeberha, 21 September 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has issued a cautionary warning to all road users in the Eastern Cape, urging extra vigilance due to inclement weather affecting much of its road network. Motorists are advised to avoid certain roads where severe weather conditions, including snowfall, are expected to significantly impact driving conditions.

Key routes likely to be affected include:

• N6: Penhoek Pass between Komani and Jamestown (James Calata)
• R58: Between Khowa (formerly Elliot) and Barkly East
• N10: Between Middelburg and Hanover
• N9: From Graaff-Reinet to Middelburg
• R61: Between Graaff-Reinet and Cradock
• R67: Nico Malan Pass between Fort Beaufort to Whittlesea

In areas where snowfall is expected to be particularly heavy, SANRAL will implement temporary road closures for safety reasons. The closures will affect these sections:

• Penhoek Pass on the N6 between Komani and Jamestown (James Calata)
• N9, Section 6 between Graaff Reinet and Middelburg
• Wapadsberg Pass on the R61, Section 2 between Graaff Reinet and Middelburg

“SANRAL advises road users to be especially cautious. Snowfall in high-altitude areas creates hazardous driving conditions, and we urge drivers to stay alert and consider postponing non-essential travel,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Regional Manager for the Southern Region.

Motorists are encouraged to stay updated on road conditions.

First Published here: MyZA.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

The provincial head of the police in the Eastern Cape, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, has welcomed efforts by the Interim Cash-In-Transit (CIT) task team of the Hawks and the provincial Tactical Response Team (TRT) in locating cash-in-transit (CIT) suspects on Monday. 

The suspects were located within hours after the incident occurred.

It is alleged that on Monday around 06:00, an SBV armoured vehicle (AV) from East London, enroute to Stutterheim, was ambushed on the N6 near Macleantown by a number of suspects in a fleet of vehicles. 

“It is further alleged that during the incident, three guards were injured as the AV landed on its side during the attack. An SBV escort vehicle was also allegedly shot at and a backup to the scene was called,” the police said in a statement.

The suspects allegedly fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money and abandoned three vehicles from their fleet, which were later circulated and discovered to have been reported stolen in other provinces. Explosives were also recovered on the scene.

“A few hours later, information was received which led the team to Kom location in a homestead of Keiskammahoek. 

“The team was received with a hail of bullets from the assailants in the suspicious homestead and the police were forced to retaliate with the same force which ended with five of the assailants fatally wounded,” the police said.

Cash in original money bags,3xAK 47 riffles, 1x R1 riffle, 4 x R5 riffles,17 magazines with a large number of live rounds of ammunition were recovered and seized in the household. 

A 58 year old suspect who happened to be the owner of the homestead was arrested and will appear in King William’s Town Magistrate’s court soon.

A follow up investigation ensued which led to the arrest of three suspects driving in a suspicious Porsche vehicle with GP registration between Queenstown and Cradock. 

A quick roadblock was set up by Gqeberha Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks jointly with Cradock SAPS K9 (Dog Unit), Cradock Visible Police (Vispol), Cradock Public Order Police (POP) and Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) members outside Tarkastad where the suspicious vehicle failed to stop. 

The chase ensued and conventional methods were used to bring it to a halt.

Three suspects aged between 44 and 48 were arrested. Cash in stacks of R100 and R200 notes in original cash bags, four burner cellphones and a Porsche Cayenne vehicle were seized during the arrest. On circulation the Porsche was found to be reported stolen in Gauteng.

The three suspects will make their first court appearance before Cradock Magistrate’s court on Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.

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If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.

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In religion and politics, people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination.

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It is easier to stay out than get out.

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“The history of PR is… a history of a battle for what is reality and how people will see and understand reality.” – Stuart Ewen

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“It’s PR that needs to be creative. It’s PR that needs to be new and different. It’s PR that needs to be original. The best way to establish a brand is to create a new category, and creating a new category requires creative thinking of the highest order.” – Al & Laura Ries

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“PR is performance recognition” – Douglas Smith

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“Everything you do or say is public relations.” – Unknown

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“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.” – Nikos Kazantzakis

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“If a young man tells his date how handsome, smart and successful he is – that’s advertising. If the young man tells his date she’s intelligent, looks lovely, and is a great conversationalist, he’s saying the right things to the right person and that’s marketing. If someone else tells the young woman how handsome, smart and successful her date is – that’s PR.” – S. H. Simmons

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“The counsel on public relations is not an advertising man but he advocates for advertising where that is indicated. Very often he is called in by an advertising agency to supplement its work on behalf of a client. His work and that of the advertising agency do not conflict with or duplicate each other.” – Edward Bernays

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PR people are often called “spin doctors,” which to us conjures up images of weird zombie voodoo witch doctors. While we like to think of ourselves as good witches rather than bad witches, there’s certainly an element of magic to what we do. What’s our method? We can’t reveal all of our secrets.

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“PR is a mix of journalism, psychology, and lawyering – it’s an ever-changing and always interesting landscape.” – Ronn Torossian

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“Public-relations specialists make flower arrangements of the facts, placing them so the wilted and less attractive petals are hidden by sturdy blooms.” – Alan Harrington

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“The art of publicity is a black art; but it has come to stay, and every year adds to its potency.” – Learned Hand

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“Spin doctors are: “professional political strategists, able on behalf of their clients to manipulate the media – planting a story here, a rumour there, a tip-off somewhere else – so that any piece of news is tailored to show them in the best possible light.” – Michael Shea

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Quotes On Ethics and PR

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Ironically – considering how much of our work involves maintaining and improving reputations – PR doesn’t always have the best rep when it comes to ethics. Some people, because of bad things that they’ve done in the past, have even been called propagandists. But there’s a big ethical difference between real PR and simple propaganda, and here it is: PR is always solidly rooted in fact. PR is part of the good fight, as the wise people quoted below have recognized.

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“PR means telling the truth and working ethically – even when all the media want is headlines and all the public wants is scapegoats. Public relations fails when there is no integrity.” – Viv Segal of Sefin Marketing

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“Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity.” – Jeremy Bentham

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“We believe PR should be practiced to serve the public interest, to develop mutual understanding between organizations and their publics.” – James E. Grunig

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“Without publicity there can be no public support, and without public support every nation must decay.” – Benjamin Disraeli

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“Advertising ministers to the spiritual side of trade. It is great power that has been entrusted to your keeping which charges you with the high responsibility of inspiring and ennobling the commercial world. It is all part of the greater work of the regeneration and redemption of mankind.” – Calvin Coolidge

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“Publicity is a great purifier because it sets in action the forces of public opinion, and in this country public opinion controls the courses of the nation.” – Charles Evans Hughes

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Joan Jett didn’t give a damn about her reputation, but unless you’re a teenage rock star, you should probably give a damn about yours.

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“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffet

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“It is generally much more shameful to lose a good reputation than never to have acquired it.” – Pliny the Elder

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“What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.” – Abraham Lincoln

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“Reputation matters because your behind is always behind you.” – Happy Masina

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“There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary.” – Brendan Behan

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“If you don’t tell your story, someone else will.” – Unknown

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“Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.” – Arthur Ashe

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“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.” – Mark Twain CLICK TO TWEET

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People as disparate as Malcolm X and John D. Rockefeller both spoke to the power and importance of public image. Since PR is something that people who are so fundamentally different can agree on, you know there must be something fundamentally important about it. If you ‘re still not convinced that public relations is absolutely critical to the success of your business, you’ll change your mind after visiting MyPR.co.za.

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“PR is extremely important, and being able to use it in the right way means everything. You have to market your success.” – Lee Haney, bodybuilder and former Mr. Olympia

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“In a downturn, aggressive PR and communications strategy is key.” – Doug Leone, VC, Sequoia Capital – Silicon Alley Insider

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“If I was down to the last dollar of my marketing budget I’d spend it on PR!” – Bill Gates

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“Public relations are a key component of any operation in this day of instant communications and rightly inquisitive citizens.” – Alvin Adams

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“Publicity is absolutely critical. A good PR story is infinitely more effective than a front page ad.” – Richard Branson

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“Historically, PR, Marketing and Advertising budgets are the first to be cut; however, that could be one of the first mistakes a business makes in an economic crisis.” – CBSMarketwatch

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“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power.” – Malcolm X

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“Publicity is the life of this culture – in so far as without publicity capitalism could not survive – and at the same time publicity is its dream.” – John Berger

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“I suspect in most companies, the public relations person is down at No. 20 in the pecking order. But here, he is fighting incredibly important battles. If a negative story starts running away with itself in the press and is not dealt with fast, it can badly damage the brand, and so we put enormous weight on our PR people.” – Richard Branson

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“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” – Rudyard Kipling

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“Publicity is a great purifier because it sets in action the forces of public opinion, and in this country public opinion controls the courses of the nation.” – Charles Evans Hughes

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“Without publicity there is no prosperity.” – Yakov Zel’dovich

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“Nobody counts the number of ads you run; they just remember the impression you make.” – Bill Bernbach, advertising pioneer and founder of DDB

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“Today, journalism is such a persuasive factor in opinion building that no person, group or business can claim immunity or afford to under-estimate the ability of the fourth estate to affect their fortunes – either for better or for worse.” – Gigi van der Rie

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“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers.” – Daniel J. Boorstin

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Public relations is the deliberate and strategic management of relationships between an organization and its key public. In other words, it’s all about communication.

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Public relations practitioners use a variety of tools and tactics to build mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its target audiences. This can include everything from media relations and crisis communications to social media outreach and event planning.

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The goal of public relations is to help an organization achieve its objectives by positively influencing how the public perceives it.

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There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to public relations. The strategies and tactics used will vary depending on the organization’s specific goals, target audiences, and available resources.

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Successful public relations campaigns typically share a few key characteristics, including a focus on long-term relationship building, two-way communication, and consistent messaging.

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It sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. From managing complex campaigns to handling sensitive media inquiries, public relations professionals are constantly under pressure.

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“The best PR is done when you’re not trying to do PR.” – Katie Paine

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“There’s no one size fits all in PR just as there’s no one size fits all in journalism.” – Richard Edelman

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“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers” – Daniel Boorstin

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“PR is about telling stories and helping an organization tell its story.” – Nancy Schwartz

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“PR is not about getting attention; it’s about driving action.” – David Meerman Scott

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“Successful PR is like good cooking. You bring all the ingredients together and then let them simmer.” – Lois Wyse

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Successful PR is like good cooking. You bring all the ingredients together and then let them simmer. – Lois Wyse

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“Public relations specialists make flower arrangements of the facts, placing them so the wilted and less attractive petals are hidden by sturdy blooms.” – Alan Harrington

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“PR should be thought of as a marathon, not a sprint.” – Joe Pulizzi

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There are many inspirational Seth Godin quotes out there but that’s definitely one of our favorite ones: “PR isn’t about changing people’s minds; it’s about giving them something worth their attention.” – Seth Godin

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“PR is all about relationships—and strong relationships take time, patience and two-way communication.” – Media Bullseye

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“If I was down to my last dollar, I would spend one dollar on PR.” – Bill Gates

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“Always act like you have something to lose because you always do.” – Kelli Grant

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“The best offense is a good defense.” – Unknown

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“PR is extremely important, and being able to use it in the right way means everything. You have to market your success.” – Lee Haney

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“There are three things I always come back to as an organization tries to earn awareness and credibility with its stakeholders: authenticity, transparency, and frequency.” – Steve Cody

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“Reputation is what other people say about you when you leave the room; character is what you say about yourself when no one else is in the room.” – Joyce Brothers

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Reputation is what other people say about you when you leave the room; character is what you say about yourself when no one else is in the room. – Joyce Brothers

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“Novelty is necessarily innovation.” – Aaron Endre

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“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

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“Actions speak louder than tweets.” – Unknown

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People often have an unhindered perspective on what PR should be, and here is what AI & Laura Ries think of the same. “It’s PR that needs to be creative. It’s PR that needs to be new and different. It’s PR that needs to be original. The best way to establish a brand is to create a new category, and creating a new category requires creative thinking of the highest order.”

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“Copy, not from your industry, but from others. You have to go where there is no competition.” – Seth Godin

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“If a young man tells his date how handsome, smart, and successful he is – that’s advertising. If the young man tells his date she’s intelligent, looks lovely, and is a great conversationalist, he’s saying the right things to the right person and that’s marketing. If someone else tells the young woman how handsome, smart, and successful her date is – that’s PR.” – S. H. Simmons

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“Be nice, be consistent, be true, talk straight—those are my rules for success.” – Anne M. Mulcahy

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“If your communications are born of sincerity instead of spin, if they reflect your company’s values rather than solely selling points—then all sorts of magical things can happen.” – Jeff Jarvis

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“I define engagement as moments when our users interact with us in a way that makes them happy and propels them forward toward becoming customers or evangelists for our brand or product.” – Avinash Kaushik

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“Inbound marketing and public relations are two sides of the same coin: The goal is seeking out relationships with individuals who have an interest in what you do before they even know they need it yet .” – Jay Baer

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“Good PR doesn’t happen by accident. It’s earned through thoughtful planning and consistent execution against an objective .” – Christine Martin

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“I strongly believe that effective communications must result in measurable business outcomes or it’s simply not worth doing .” – Jesse Redniss

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On the aspect of PR being more effective than a front page ad, the British business magnate and author, Richard Branson quotes, “Publicity is absolutely critical. A good PR story is infinitely more effective than a front-page ad.”

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The importance of public relations can be felt in every working field. In this context, Alvin Adams, the retired American professional basketball player quotes, “Public relations are a key component of any operation in this day of instant communications and rightly inquisitive citizens.”

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Edward Bernays believes in the mutual understanding of the professional and the profession to foster better terms of performance and success and thus quotes, “The counsel on public relations is not an advertising man but he advocates for advertising where that is indicated. Very often he is called in by an advertising agency to supplement its work on behalf of a client. His work and that of the advertising agency do not conflict with or duplicate each other.”

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“The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all.” – Mark Twain

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“The history of PR is… a history of a battle for what is reality and how people will see and understand reality.” – Stuart Ewen

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If you don’t believe how powerful PR tactics can be, here is what Abraham Lincoln quotes on the same, “What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.”

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“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.” – Nikos Kazantzakis

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“PR writing is so horribly consistent, or consistently horrible, that agencies even have a template for it.” – Mark Ragan

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“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffet

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As Charles Evans Hughes rightly quotes, “Publicity is a great purifier because it sets in action the forces of public opinion, and in this country, public opinion controls the courses of the nation.”

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“Skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it’s been”. – Wayne Gretzky

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“PR is a mix of journalism, psychology, and lawyering – it’s an ever-changing and always interesting landscape.” – Ronn Torossian

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Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.