What Bay icon makes your heart flutter?

EVER wondered what you really love most about city of Nelson Mandela Bay? Is it its beaches, its proximity to Big Seven game reserves, its friendly people? Or is it the fact that you can get around the city in just 15-minutes, moving from shopping centres to the airport, to the beach? Perhaps the vibe in Nelson Mandela Bay’s townships is like nowhere else in the world and that’s what makes your heart flutter.

Or do you love Nelson Mandela Bay because it is named after Nelson Mandela, a world icon who stands for freedom, tolerance and humanity.

Many cities have one special icon that is synonymous with the place. Cape Town has Table Mountain, Kimberley has the Big Hole, but what is it about Nelson Mandela Bay that makes it special? Finding this one icon is the objective of a new initiative started by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) which aims to market the city through the chosen icon.

“Over the years, we at Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism have identified 101 reasons why we love Nelson Mandela Bay. Now, we are asking the diverse spectrum of our locals to choose just one special thing that stands out among the many others,” said NMBT chief executive Mandlakazi Skefile.

“The time has come for Nelson Mandela Bay to find its Eiffel Tower, its Statue of Liberty. Perhaps the icon is not even that tangible – perhaps you most love the coastal weather, the friendliness of the people, or our relaxed lifestyle. Just tell us what it is you love most,” said Skefile.

Over the next three months, NMBT will go all out to find Nelson Mandela Bay’s one single icon that is most loved and for the month of October locals can contribute to the “I love NMB” competition.

By telling NMBT what you love most about Nelson Mandela Bay could earn you one of many great prizes that include a: Cannon camera, weekend at Shamwari for two, an awesome Big Seven Tour with the Addo Elephant National Park, Raggy Charter and Alan Tours, two vibrant township tours for a group of six adventurous people, lunch and a weekend at the Zuurberg Inn, Nelson Mandela Bay Passes, zooty Nelson Mandela Bay braai aprons, Herald subscriptions and more. Lucky draw prize winners will be announced during the first week in November 2011.

The Herald Miss Port Elizabeth Nandipa Mnuma certainly didn’t hesitate to share what she most loves about the city and what stands out for her as a marketable icon: ‘’It just has to be the Red Location Museum in New Brighton.”


“It shows the significance of our history, culture and where we come from. Red Location is one of the few historical sites in Nelson Mandela Bay which reflect so much about our history – from the apartheid era to the legends that have come from this city.

“I love this specific place because it incorporates the old with the modern – it still reflects the concept and lifestyle of the original Red Location but gives it a present day, modern touch,” said Mnuma, who is also believes Nelson Mandela Bay locals should be proud of the award-winning museum, designed by top South African architect, Joe Noero.

“There are also many cultural and social events happening in this museum which I love because it brings people to the township areas to experience the township life.”

Readers who want to enter the competition must SMS “LoveNMB” to 31970 followed by what they love most about Nelson Mandela Bay, their age and name to enter.

Entrants can also like, snap and load a photograph of themselves at their favourite spot, activity or icon on NMBT’s Facebook page Nelson Mandela Bay – South Africa.

The lucky draw prize winners will be announced in the first week of November. “Come on love is all around, share with us what makes your heart beat race about Nelson Mandela Bay and stand the chance of being a winner,” said Skefile.