Port Alfred, the heart of the Sunshine Coast, is beaming with pride after being announced as a finalist in KykNET’s Kwêla Dorpie van die Jaar competition. Lauren Meyer, board member of Sunshine Coat Tourism in charge of marketing and membership, shared her excitement.
“This is more than a competition—it’s an incredible opportwunity for exposure on a national scale. Port Alfred is still very much an undiscovered gem in the Eastern Cape. Being part of this initiative allows us to showcase not only what we have to offer but the lifestyle we live here.”
Long known for its scenic coastline and relaxed holiday vibes, Port Alfred is undergoing a transformation, says Meyer. With increased investment and a growing number of young families settling in the area, the town is being redefined as a place to live—not just visit.
Chairperson of the Port Alfred Business Forum, Clinton Millard, reflected on this shift and said, “If you look at the past five years, Port Alfred has turned a corner. People are investing here. December was one of the best seasons we’ve had in years, and that’s because the community, private entities, the municipality, everyone pulled together to make it work.”
Millard noted that nearly half of his business last year came from clients under the age of 40, a clear indicator of the town’s growing appeal to younger generations.
“We’re seeing people return to their roots, former residents coming back, buying homes, and raising their families here,” he added.
While winning Town of the Year comes with substantial prize money, Meyer emphasised that the real reward lies in what the funds could do for the town.
“The money isn’t just handed out freely, it must be directed toward community development. We had to submit a detailed proposal outlining how we’d use it to uplift Port Alfred. It’s not just about tourism, but the town as a whole.”
Plans include improvements in public facilities, beautification projects, and continued collaboration between the private sector and local government. Meyer added that the proposal
required pulling together a coalition of stakeholders—from municipal officials to community leaders and tourism operators.
Meyer and Millard both stressed the importance of public participation in the voting process.
“Even if we don’t win, the exposure is massive,” said Meyer. “But while we’re in the race, we’re urging every resident to vote. You can vote up to 30 times, and every vote counts.”
“If you can’t vote, share a post. If you can’t share, talk to someone. The goal is to spread the word and bring everyone on board,” Millard added.
As part of the campaign, they’ve reached out to schools, businesses, universities, and even supermarkets, anyone with a voice and a network is encouraged to get involved.
“We’ve challenged establishments, schools, churches—everyone—to cast their votes,” said Millard. “Let’s show the rest of the country what makes Port Alfred special.”
Both Meyer and Millard agree that what truly sets Port Alfred apart is its people.
“There’s a real sense of accountability and pride here,” Meyer explained. “Our residents take care of their spaces. Tourists feel that. It’s not just the beaches or restaurants—it’s the warmth of the people and the quality of life.”
Port Alfred’s journey to the finalist stage involved a prior public voting round, which saw enthusiastic community engagement. The final stretch—13 to 19 July—will determine the winner, but the spirit of unity already sparked is here to stay.
“This is Port Alfred’s moment,” Meyer concluded. “Let’s own it.”
Port Alfred is one of nine finalists selected from across South Africa and Namibia vying for the title of South Africa’s best small town for 2025. A first round of SMS voting in March determined 27 towns that would be in the running overall, with three semifinalists selected from each of the nine regions. A second round of SMS voting determined the nine finalists. A segment filmed in each of the nine finalist towns was scheduled for airing on Kwêla, with the last finalist featuring at 7pm this Sunday on KykNet.
Voting opens at 7pm on Sunday July 13 and closes at midnight on July 18 and each person can vote up to 30 times. The winning town will be announced on August 2, 2025 on Kwêla.
Follow the official Port Alfred community, tourism and Talk of the Town Facebook pages this week for more information on how to vote.
- This article was first published in Talk of the Town, July 10, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
