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The Hermanus Times is a bilingual weekly tabloid-sized newspaper covering news and events of the greater Hermanus and Stanford areas. The best way to acquaint oneself with the area, the issues and the faces behind the stories, is to keep in touch with each issue.

We are committed to a free press, transparency and an informed community.

The Hermanus Times turned 50 in September 1999. Its forerunner, the Hermanus News, was published and printed for the first time on 17 September 1949 in Caledon.

Alan Cooper, an ex-Fleet Street journalist, started a rival newspaper, The Times of Hermanus, on 6 August 1970. It rang in an era of more local news content, more reader-friendly layout and was printed in Hermanus.

For five months Hermanus had two newspapers. However, the difficulty of running a newspaper for Hermanus from Caledon without a local reporter, among others, led to the demise of the Hermanus News at the end of 1970. Cooper bought it for R1 000 from John Simson and incorporated it into The Times of Hermanus.

After Cooper, Colin Woodhatch owned it for 11 years. Linotype operator Willie Barkhuizen spearheaded the successful printing works. In 1986 two vets - Andrew Southey and Pierre Hugo - took over, and under the editorship of Glynis van Rooyen switch from hot lead to desktop publishing.

But a new era dawned when Danie and Desireé van Niekerk bought The Times of Hermanus and its sister newspaper Overberg Venster in 1992. They invested in computer equipment and laboured alongside journalists and advertising staff, spurring them on to bigger and better newspapers.

Over the years The Times of Hermanus has become a local institution. In 1995 its design was revamped and it was renamed Hermanus Times.

In October 1997 the Hermanus Times was sold to Naspers, the giant publishing house and owners of several national dailies, like Die Burger and Beeld.

In June 2001 both the Times and the Venster had their mastheads redesigned, with the Times masthead sporting blue once again, while the Venster changed to green. Paging through back copies, some issues run through like a golden thread:

The quality of editorial comment

For more than half a century readers have been spoilt by having local news interpreted for them by vigilant and fearless, yet caring editors who were not afraid to take sides, to express concern, to lambaste or to praise. Two editors, MC Botha and Amelia Genis, received the prestigious Sanlam Community Press Journalist of the Year award.

Concern for the natural environment

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Hermanus is generously blessed with natural beauty: pristine beaches, the ocean, the cliffs and the fynbos-covered mountains. Residents who have made it their life's work to protect these have always found a sympathetic ear in the pages of the Hermanus Times.

The sea

No Hermanus newspaper has ever denied its marine links, and from the beginning there were reports about harbours, perlemoen, crayfish and fish catches, tidal pools, lagoon openings, rescues and burials at sea. “The trawlers early in the week had a good catch of red steenbras of fair size and also landed redfish, dageraad, seventy-fours and some small geelbek”, Alex Luyt reported in December 1949.

Water affairs

Column upon column of newspaper space has for years been dedicated to the availability of water to an increasing population. From reservoirs, rockfill dams and boreholes to the De Bos Dam, water conservation programmes and outrage at high water rates - all have made the headlines.

Lively letters pages

Our readers think about things and love their town dearly. They are not shy to express their opinions and we have had some lively debates on our letters pages.

Town council

Over the years decisions of both the Hermanus and Onrus town councils were regularly reported. All the different communities are known for their strong views on civic matters. The newspaper played a pivotal role in keeping the public informed during the crucial run-up to the amalgamation of Hermanus, Zwelihle, Mt Pleasant, Sandbaai, Onrus River, Vermont, Hawston and Fisherhaven into one local authority in 1995.

The same applied five years later, when the municipalities of Hangklip/Kleinmond, Greater Hermanus, Stanford and Gansbaai amalgamated to form the Overstrand municipality. Along with the transformation in local government the newspaper' vital role as watchdog of the community has been underlined anew.

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