Latest news with #Blouberg
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Experience Blouberg's transformation with the new Sand & Sea venue
Perched atop Blaauwberg Beach Hotel's 12th floor, the brand-new Sand & Sea event venue not only offers breathtaking panoramic views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic, but also symbolises a bold new chapter in Blouberg's blossoming hospitality landscape. This unveiling marks the latest milestone in the hotel's ambitious transformation—driven by visionary ownership committed to elevating Cape Town's West Coast as a premier destination for events, culture, and tourism growth. 'The team is proud to offer the events industry a real knockout venue. The views from the venue - stretching over the ocean, the beach, and toward Table Mountain are simply unmatched. Sand & Sea is a setting that truly delivers," says Wayne Ward, Director of Sales and Marketing, who highlights Sand & Sea as a game changer for the Cape Town and West Coast events sector. As a fully enclosed glass-fronted venue, Sand & Sea offers a next-level experience in terms of views and aesthetics. Matching the design with real functionality, the top-floor space features both a fixed and modular bar, a plating kitchen to streamline catering, and a versatile two-level layout—ideal for formal ceremonies such as weddings or product reveals—before transitioning into more social celebrations. Source: Supplied. 'Sand & Sea', Blaauwberg Beach Hotel's top-floor event venue. When paired with the luxurious accommodation, any wedding, birthday, or corporate event is up-levelled. The rooms are spacious and comfortable with great coffee-making facilities serving up delicious coffee; in-room soaking tubs; offset working spaces with free WiFi; and plush, soft blankets for those cold winter nights. And the pièce de résistance is of course that each room comes with its own balcony overlooking the ocean and Table Mountain. Did I mention how lovely it is to keep your sliding door ajar and fall asleep to the sound of the sea? I love how the hotel's coastal lifestyle transitions seamlessly from Sand & Sea to its comfort-rich accommodation, which includes the addition of new rooms on the 10th and 11th floors, and more recently, its two other newly completed features: the chic LaBamba Pool Deck & Bar, and a professionally curated art gallery by Marco Olivier showcasing local creative talent—adding a cultural dimension to the experience. Hospitality with heart Source: Supplied. Owners Liliana and Bianca with the Blaauwberg Beach Hotel Banqueting team. Back Row: Anathi, Cally, Gillian; Front Row: Sade, Thandeka, Bianca, Josephine, and Liliana. What stood out for me is that, while elevated in status, the hotel remains grounded in its hospitality, with staff who are friendly, attentive, and generous with their time—a key feature that plays into Blaauwberg Beach Hotel's 'home from home' feel, which is well balanced with its opulence. Its personalised welcome notes in the rooms, with a mouthwatering macaron on the side, exemplify the kind of attention to detail and customer service that will long remain in your memory—many days after you check out. 'Congratulations to the team at Blaauwberg Beach Hotel on this exciting new chapter. This development is more than just a beautiful venue — it's an investment in the local economy and a boost for the broader visitor experience along Cape Town's Atlantic seaboard and into the West Coast,' says Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth. He commended the hotel for its role in enhancing regional tourism development and recognised its contribution to the Cape Town and West Coast hospitality and events sector. "By creating jobs, attracting new markets, and drawing more visitors to our shores, developments like this help us drive inclusive growth and spread tourism benefits to more communities. It also speaks to our mission of building a city of opportunity through partnerships that position Cape Town as a top-tier destination for leisure, business, and events.' Sand & Sea lives up to its name, crowning a visionary transformation—where luxury, community, and coastal beauty converge to redefine Cape Town's West Coast hospitality experience.
IOL News
24-06-2025
- IOL News
More charges added against Blouberg Couple accused of grooming and abusing daughters
The charges initially included rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming, and the production of child pornography. On Tuesday, State Prosecutor Claire Smidt confirmed that more charges have since been added as new evidence has emerged. She also indicated that additional charges are likely to follow. A Blouberg couple accused of sexually grooming and abusing their two minor daughters is now facing additional charges, as the case against them continues to grow in scope and severity. The 47- and 48-year-old accused, whose identities are being withheld to protect the victims, appeared briefly for the second time in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The pair were arrested at their home two weeks ago after an intensive investigation involving South African specialised police units, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The charges initially included rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming, and the production of child pornography. On Tuesday, State Prosecutor Claire Smidt confirmed that more charges have since been added as new evidence has emerged. She also indicated that additional charges are likely to follow. 'This is a highly complex and deeply disturbing case involving crimes of a severe nature against vulnerable victims,' Smidt told the court. 'Investigations are ongoing, and the State will strongly oppose bail.' Authorities believe the abuse spanned an extended period and that the couple used digital devices to document and distribute explicit content involving their children. Law enforcement officials have seized several electronic devices, including phones and computers, which are currently undergoing forensic examination. Some of the material allegedly linked to the couple was first discovered by international authorities, prompting a cross-border operation. 'Their arrests followed collaboration between local authorities and international partners, who had been tracking illegal online activity involving child exploitation,' said a source close to the investigation. Court proceedings were held under tight security, with several child protection groups present. Members of Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) gathered outside the court, holding placards demanding no bail and life sentences for the accused. 'This case is among the most horrifying we've seen,' said Miranda Samuels, a spokesperson for the organisation. 'It's heartbreaking that these girls were betrayed by the very people meant to love and protect them. The justice system must send a strong message.' The magistrate granted a postponement to allow police to finalise investigations and for digital forensic analysis to be completed. The couple remains in custody at undisclosed locations for their own protection, given the public outrage surrounding the case. Social workers and trauma counsellors have been appointed to provide ongoing support to the victims, who are now in a place of safety. The couple is expected to return to court in early July. Prosecutors say they are preparing what could become one of the most significant child abuse trials in South Africa's recent history. — This is a developing story.
