On a crisp Karoo morning, Mayor Linda Jaquet planted the first female pistachio tree at Platberg Farm, just outside Prince Albert, launching the town’s first commercial pistachio venture.

There was great excitement and gratitude on 1 July when the municipality hosted a significant title deed handover ceremony at the Leeu Gamka Community Hall. This warm occasion marked a milestone as legal ownership was officially transferred to beneficiaries — representing security, pride, and a better future for the community.

The young kitten makes himself right at home in the big motorcyclist's arms, and it's difficult to say who enjoys it more on this icy morning at Bushman Valley in Prins Albert. KykNET's 1Spoor Avonture motorcycle team has covered about 3000km from Fouriesburg to Cape Agulhas – and what would it have been without daring to tackle the journey over the majestic Swartberg Pass?

Councillors recently conducted oversight visits to Klaarstroom and Leeu-Gamka, which showcases significant infrastructure advancements in these towns. The visits underscored the Municipality’s commitment to improving quality of life through strategic development projects, aligning with its vision of high-quality service delivery.

In the heart of the Karoo, part of Prince Albert’s unique charm lies in its rugged landscapes and vibrant biodiversity. Municipal Manager Adv Thys Giliomee has teamed up with local botanist Dr Sue Milton-Dean of Renu-Karoo to embark on an inspiring mission to replace invasive plants and trees in public spaces in our town with indigenous species that define our region’s ecological heritage.

A bitterly cold Karoo wind cuts through the crowd as they wait for the sun to rise over the stage. The otherworldly sounds of Siya Makuzeni, fits this strange scene of a disused quarry that has been transformed into a 90-seat open-air amphitheatre, perfectly.

On 21 July 2025, the Prince Albert Municipality hosted a vibrant town hall meeting at The Showroom Theatre in Prince Albert to discuss the Karoo Geophysical Research Project Seismic Survey, led by the Petroleum Agency SA (PASA) and Wits University. The event drew over 70 residents from Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka and provided a platform for robust dialogue on the proposed seismic survey research, its environmental assessment process, and its potential impacts on the Central Karoo.

Mr Hendrik Kellerman was honoured with a 35-year service certificate for his unwavering dedication to the Prince Albert community. As the supervisor of the municipal sewer truck, he delivers exceptional service with reliability and consistency. His long-standing commitment and hard work serve as an inspiration to all.

Former school principal, Mr Sammy Delport, recently took advantage of the municipality’s offer to install new prepaid water meters free of charge. For him, the choice was easy. “You’re not always at home when the team comes to read the meters, and then an estimate is made. With the new meters, estimates and manual readings are eliminated,” he explained.

On 30 June 2025, the Prince Albert Municipality took a powerful step toward improving community safety by installing a modern security camera in Tortelduif Street, North End — an area struggling with rising crime. In collaboration with Smhart Security, a trusted South African security provider, the municipality aims to deter illegal activities and restore peace of mind to residents. The camera, equipped with advanced surveillance technology such as number plate recognition, represents a significant investment in the community’s wellbeing.

On 18 June, the Leeu-Gamka community was buzzing with excitement when the Karoo Kokers, a talented youth group trained by the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT), hosted a lively concert at the Leeu-Gamka Community Hall.

Prince Albert’s timeless beauty took centre stage when KLM, the Dutch airline, filmed a captivating one-minute video montage to showcase the charm of the Great Karoo.