Our People - Overberg

Lourens and Hester van der Merwe

Lourens and Hester van der Merwe

Franchisee - Brochure Management Overberg

Overberg is a region in South Africa to the east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains. It lies along the Western Cape Province’s south coast between the Cape Peninsula and the region known as the Garden Route in the east. The boundaries of the Overberg are the Hottentots-Holland mountains in the West; the Riviersonderend Mountains, part of the Cape Fold Belt, in the North; the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in the South and the Breede River in the East. The major towns are Hermanus, Caledon, Bredasdorp, Grabouw and Swellendam and the region includes Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. The landscape is dominated by gently to moderately undulating hills enclosed by mountains and the ocean. The name, derived from Over ‘t Berg, means “over the (Hottentots-Holland) mountain” and is a reference to the region’s location relative to Cape Town.

Tell us about the region/s you work in.

Overberg is a region in South Africa to the east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains. It lies along the Western Cape Province‘s south coast between the Cape Peninsula and the region known as the Garden Route in the east. The boundaries of the Overberg are the Hottentots-Holland mountains in the West; the Riviersonderend Mountains, part of the Cape Fold Belt, in the North; the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in the South and the Breede River in the East. The major towns are Hermanus, Caledon, Bredasdorp, Grabouw and Swellendam and the region includes Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. The landscape is dominated by gently to moderately undulating hills enclosed by mountains and the ocean. The name, derived from Over ‘t Berg, means “over the (Hottentots-Holland) mountain” and is a reference to the region’s location relative to Cape Town.

Main attractions in area: Ziplining, Whale watching, Shark Cage Diving, Good food and Wine farms, Horse-riding, Quad Bikes

Tell us something not many people know about you.

I love scrapbooking but do not spend enough time creating memorable pages. Good for my mind and sole .

Tell us about your business, and about the people who work for you (if applicable).

We like to know what events is going on in our region and new activities for tourists. Our staff  enjoy to discover new places and things to do, and can help tourists with some info on our clients at a board

When you think of your business, what is something that makes you PROUD?

We have good relationships with al our clients, our boards are neat and always serviced in time.

Talk us through a normal day (pre-Covid-19) for you.

Last 15 days of month – make appointments with new businesses or hop it at existing clients

How badly has Covid-19 affected you? Have you managed to access any relief funds? 

It has a devastating effect on the business. Being part of a “Activity Chain” you are a link between your hosts and your advertisers/ customers. The hosts are inaccessible and most of them still in lockdown and the customers are also not operational with the result that NO income can be generated. Applied for the following funding: SEFA/ SEDA Small Business Loan – no feedback as yet, Tourism Relief fund – no feedback as yet, UIF Ters fund – did receive payment

What’s the first place you’d like to visit when #coronalockdown is over?

Malgas at the Breede River

What measures have you put in place to protect your staff and clients once lockdown has eased?

Do not overdo it. Keep to basics and Protocols:

  • for staff: Wash hands, sanitise workplace, wear mask, check temperature
  • for clients: Be presentable: Wear mask, sanitise hands before entering, keep distance and service boards as per protocol
Any recommendations for activities/companies in your area that are now operating?

None of our customers are currently operational. Think botanical gardens, penguin colony, Rooisand wild horses and hiking will be the first ones to open

Where can potential clients get hold of you?

On Facebook and Instagram. Hester does a lot of marketing to potential customers. Also supporting them.