The Department of Local Government has been requested by the Plettenberg Bay Municipality to change its name to Bitou Municipality. This followed a council decision by the Plettenberg Bay Municipality to this effect. A name change or an alteration to the name of a municipality is the responsibility of the provincial minister for local government and requires an amendment to the establishment Notice of the specific municipality.

A consultation process with organised local government as well as a public participation process have now followed the initial request.

I am proud to announce that he Establishment Notice for the Plettenberg Bay Municipality has been amended and the amended Establishment Notice has been published in a Provincial Gazette. With immediate effect this Municipality will be the Bitou Municipality.

The name change in the three official languages will be:

• Bitou Municipality
• Bitou Munisipaliteit
• uMasipala waseBitou

The Municipality of Bitou must be congratulated for taking the initiative in this regard to bring the Municipality in line with the tourist approach of the region.