Blog - Devonport House

Safe Travel Cape Town

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0200

MEDIA RELEASE BY DAVID MAYNIER

WESTERN CAPE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Date: 03 November 2020

Release: immediately

SafeTravels.CapeTown website launched to assist tourists visiting Cape Town and the Western Cape

Today (03 November 2020), we launched the Safe Travels website, which was developed by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism together with our destination marketing and promotion agency, Wesgro, to help domestic and international tourists to navigate the restrictions on travel and be informed about the important health and safety protocols they need to follow when visiting Cape Town and the Western Cape.

The Safe Travels website also aims to inspire confidence in Cape Town and the Western Cape as a destination, and give peace of mind to those travelling for business or leisure.

You can visit this website at safetravels.capetown

As a result of national government’s risk-based approach to international travel and the ‘red list’ of countries restricted to travel to South Africa, there is still much confusion and uncertainty in the travel and tourism industry, especially as the ‘red list’ is not being reviewed consistently every two weeks as promised. (The last update was on the 19 October 2020.)

And so, to guide tourists and ensure their visit to Cape Town and the Western Cape is as hassle-free as possible, our Safe Travels website provides the latest information on travel restrictions and the ‘red list’, as well as visa requirements and the latest Covid-19 health and safety information.

The content for the Safe Travels website was largely developed using social listening tools which provided real-time insights into what potential travelers to South Africa and the Western Cape are concerned about so that we could develop the right content to help address these concerns.

To assist tourists in distress, the Tourism Safety Support Unit at the Department of Economic Development and Tourism are also available to answer queries via email.

Travellers looking to visit the Western Cape, and who require assistance can send their questions to tourismsafety@westerncape.gov. za

On the launch of the Safe Travels website Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris, said: “Featuring safety news, FAQ’s and safety initiatives implemented in the province, SafeTravels.CapeTown has been established as the ‘go to’ page for all visitors coming to enjoy the world-class tourism experience on offer in the province. We invite visitors to peruse the site and put their minds at ease knowing that Cape Town and the Western Cape is travel ready.”

Welcoming the launch of the website, Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, said, “By providing this one-stop-shop for travellers, we hope to convince tourists who are deciding where to book their next holiday, that they can confidently choose to visit Cape Town and the Western Cape because we are travel ready.

“The Safe Travels website is an example of the many ways that we have worked hard since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to support businesses, especially tourism businesses in the Western Cape.”

Minister David Maynier also added: “International markets are a key economic driver for the tourism sector in the Western Cape, especially during the summer season, and will be critical to the survival of the sector. Which is why we have maintained from the start that national government must scrap the ‘red list’ and allow all visitors entry into South Africa subject to presenting a negative PCR test conducted at least 72 hours prior to departure, together with screening protocols.

“There is simply no greater risk for transmission of the Covid-19 virus based on the purpose of travel, yet the negative impact of continuing to limit the entry of leisure travellers to South Africa, especially from our key source markets, is severe and extreme. Cape Town and the Western Cape are open and we are travel ready! Our proposed alternative approach to international travel will ensure we can re-open the economy safely to prevent further job losses in the Western Cape and South Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Notes for media:
To read the statement online, watch the videos and download a soundbyte from Minister Maynier visit: https://www.westerncape.gov. za/news/safetravelscapetown- website-launched-assist- tourists-visiting-wc

Media Queries:

Francine Higham

Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities

(Responsible for the Provincial Treasury and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism)

Tel: 021 483 4327

Cell: 071 087 5150

Email: francine.higham@westerncape. gov.za

Trip Advisor Award

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Slow, shared days: enjoying an oxtail potjie around the fire pit

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0200

But slow days arrived when, on 26 March 2020, South Africa went into Covid-19 lockdown. Booking cancellations were the order of the day, and it was clear that everyone and almost all business sectors have been, and will continue to be, hugely impacted.

Three international guests stayed on at Devonport House until they were able to secure flights home. Their days were spent relaxing at the pool, exercising in the gardens, and enjoying shared home cooked meals prepared by Jacques. Grant and Prudence also got into the spirit of what needed to be done by helping to deep clean the property, ensuring that the heightened pandemic-specific hygiene standards were met and maintained.

These were unprecedented times for all of us. We remained positive, however, that in the near future international visitors would show their faith in South Africa, and the hospitality sector would once again see our global and local visitors returning to appreciate and enjoy what Cape Town in particular has to offer.

In our eagerness to welcome guests anew we ran a winter special during the immediate post-lockdown period of June to August 2020. Guests staying for four nights or longer were guaranteed a repeat of Jacques's fire-pit potjie which went down so well with the travellers with whom we shared the lockdown experience.

Subsequently, many guests have asked for the recipe, so Jacques happily shares it below.

Oxtail and red wine potjie

Potjiekos is a traditional South African stew, slow cooked in a cast-iron pot over an open fire. This recipe combines the unctuousness of oxtail with the robustness of red wine to create a delicious, hearty one-pot meal.

Prep time: 30 mins. Cooking time: 4 hours. Serves 8-10. Original recipe by Jeanne Horak-Druiff.

Ingredients:

· 500g fresh oxtails (get your butcher to slice them in pieces between the bones)

· 10 slices of bacon, cut into 2.5cm pieces

· ½ cup flour, seasoned liberally with salt and pepper

· 1 litre beef stock

· 115g tomato paste

· 1 bay leaf

· 6 black peppercorns

· 1 bouquet garni

· 4 large leeks, coarsely chopped

· 2 large onions, coarsely chopped

· 6 large carrots, 2 roughly chopped and 4 finely diced

· 20 button mushrooms, quartered

· 250ml red wine

· 2 tablespoons butter

· 2 tablespoons olive oil

· 2 tablespoons crushed garlic

Method:

1. Dry-wipe the oxtail with paper towel.

2. Put the seasoned flour in a resealable plastic bag, then add the oxtail and shake to coat with flour.

3. Heat the butter and olive oil in the potjie (either over coals or gas) and sauté the bacon.

4. Remove bacon, add the oxtail to the pot and brown in the bacon fat. When each piece is browned all over, remove and drain on paper towels while keeping warm.

5. Add the finely diced carrots to the pot together with the chopped onions and leeks, and sautée until softened.

6. Return the oxtail and bacon to the pot. Add the bouquet garni, bay leaf, peppercorns, garlic, tomato paste, beef stock and red wine.

7. Bring slowly to the boil. (If you have been using gas, at this point transfer the pot to the coals). Cover tightly with a lid and allow to cook undisturbed for 4 hours.

8. One hour before serving, add the remaining carrots and mushrooms. Continue cooking slowly, without stirring.

9. For a thicker sauce, stir in some cornstarch mixed with cold water just before serving. Enjoy with rice, polenta - or another traditional South African favourite, mieliepap!