THE MIDLANDS TOWN OF HOWICK COULD BE AWARDED TOWN OF THE YEAR - EXCELLENT RETAIL FACILITIES, CLEAN STREETS, A WONDERFUL GOLF COURSE, GREEN BELTS OF FORESTS AND MAGNIFICENT SCENERY. PLUS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL LANDMARKS IN SOUTH AFRICA - THE NELSON MANDELA CAPTURE SITE WHICH MARKED THE BEGINNING OF NELSON MANDELA, A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE GLOBAL ICON'S 27-YEAR IMPRISONMENT - A PROFOUND SACRIFICE IN HIS UNWAVERING FIGHT AGAINST APARTHEID. THE VISITORS CENTRE IS WELL WORTH A VISIT BUT THERE IS NO SIGN BOARD INFORMATION, THE ROADS ARE IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR & SHABBY. A YOUNG INTERN TRIES TO DEAL WITH 4 VEHICLES ARRIVAL AT ONE TIME HOLDING A CLIPBOARD TO RECORD PERSONAL DETAILS - THIS IS DEFINITELY A BRAND FAIL FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MUSEUM & THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY! NO RESPECT SHOWN FOR THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MANDELA!

BARRYDALE AWARDED 'SMALL TOWN OF THE YEAR' IS A VILLAGE ON THE BORDER OF THE OVERBERG & KLEIN KAROO OF THE WESTERN CAPE WITH DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF THE INDIGENOUS KHOISAN TRIBE AS WELL AS ENGLISH & AFRIKAANS RESIDENTS, FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH & ITALIAN RESIDENTS!