Manina Qaba sits under a thatched umbrella at the Margate main beach, calling out to holidaymakers to buy the avocados and nuts laid out in front of her. But she doesn’t have much luck. People pass her by with nothing more than a half-interested glance.
“Tourists don’t buy things any more,” she said. “Even in December it was really quiet,” she adds, concern etched clearly on her face.
Qaba appears to be the face of a static town; a town facing aging infrastructure, a town facing economic hardships and a town that is beginning to look run-down. It’s almost tacky, with roads too narrow and nowhere near enough parking. At night the lighting is poor or non-existent, even at its main beach, which is the town’s main attraction.
The old cinema and arcade seem to have been untouched for the best part of a decade. Potholes are common. The town simply looks tired.
But officials promise Margate is going to be revamped – and soon.
Margate was once all the buzz on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. And this week, the Margate Hotel was fully booked, as were B&Bs and guesthouses for the Mardi Gras on Wednesday night. It was like old times, the beaches were full and fishermen came out en masse as the annual sardine run brought with it the chances of catching that whopper.
During Easter, many establishments boasted 100 percent occupancy rates and the annual Harley-Davidson Africa Bike Week brought at least 20 000 motorcyclists to the holiday town. It was a much-needed cash injection.
But something just isn’t quite right.
“Margate is in decline,” said Olliver Ramsome, chairman of the South Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association. He highlights problems with infrastructure – “it’s aging and teetering on being inadequate” – and believes that the only service that is being provided is refuse collection.
For Ramsome, however, it is the problems facing the town’s businesses that are of the greatest concern.
“About a month ago, the number of empty shops in the town was about 46. I know there are also a number of shops that are up for sale, but they just aren’t selling. Turnovers have gone to hell. Why? Because people aren’t coming any more. The reason for this is that the environment here just isn’t as good as other places.
“The roads aren’t as good. Our rates are too high. By and large, our bylaws aren’t enforced and crime is a problem,” he said.
There is one asset that keeps bringing people in.
“Our beaches are fantastic. But it doesn’t help when we aren’t marketing it properly. We need to be making the most of that resource,” he said. The Hibiscus Coast has five Blue Flag beaches. Durban has none. This is a big plus for the town.
John Fisher has owned the Margate Hotel since 1994. Like Ramsome, he believes there is work that needs to be done in the town.
“We’ve been crying out for a long time for a revamp. It is long overdue,” he said.
However, Fisher says there are signs of improvement. Not only is there a proposed Urban Renewal Project, but his business has been booming.
“This was the best Easter period we’ve had in as long as I can remember. The way the dates fell with public holidays, and ending with the Africa Bike Week, it was fantastic. Our Decembers are always fantastic.
“The completion of the pier, which was destroyed by heavy seas three years ago, also made a huge difference.
“Our pubs and clubs are still doing well. During the holiday periods, people come to Margate to party because this is where the vibe is,” he said.
Ward councillor George Henderson admits Margate “has its problems” but insists improvements are coming.
“We are aware that things must change, but we are doing something about it. Consultants are starting with Environmental Impact Assessments for our urban renewal project that will see Margate redeveloped and upgraded. We’re talking about an International Convention Centre, parkades, closing off some roads to cars, making the beachfront beautiful, with new restaurants.
“This is a multi-million investment. Provincial and national government are fully behind this project and have already given us some funding,” he said.
Businesswoman Dianne Duncan, a former chair of the Margate Business Association, agrees, also believing the renewal project will give the town a fresh lease on life.
“There are a lot of positives. When it comes to service delivery there are some problems, but we’re not declining. I believe the basic economy has improved. When that renewal plan is in full force Margate will be like a new town. I’ve had my business here for 25 years, and I’m not going anywhere,” she said.
Fisher, too, is eagerly awaiting the renewal project.
“It will help Margate to sustain its economy, so we are eagerly looking forward to it,” he said.
But another businessman, who asked not to be named, wasn’t as positive.
“We battle here. People are spending their money at Shelly Beach, not here. Tourists also seem to be going north because of the new airport. It’s much closer for them to go there than to drive all the way here. We’re far from the airport,” he said.
The man wasn’t overly positive about the future, either.
“I don’t see things getting much better. Margate isn’t as good as it was and other towns are improving around us, taking people away. We aren’t as attractive any more,” he said.
While residents and holiday makers wait for the improvements to take effect, Qaba will still be sitting at her spot on the beachfront, hoping that the changes happen sooner rather than later.
WHAT’S HURTING MARGATE?
Margate isn’t the destination it once was, and people point to different reasons for the decline.
For Olliver Ramsome, chairman of the South Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association, one of the issues is a lack of infrastructure maintenance.
“It’s like a luxury car. You have to service it regularly, replace certain parts at the right time and so on. If you don’t, problems will develop – and it becomes expensive to fix those problems. I believe that’s what has happened to Margate,” he said.
But that’s not all.
About a year ago, SA Airlink stopped their flights into the local airport, hurting its tourism market. There are plans to get flights back.
“And what makes it worse is that now the new airport, King Shaka International, is an additional hour away,” said councillor George Henderson.
Margate’s biggest problem might be coming from one of its neighbours. Once a quiet town on the coast, Shelly Beach has boomed and with the town being just a 10-minute drive from Margate, its rise could be Margate’s fall. - Sunday Tribune