{
  "id": 795226,
  "title": "RIGHT IDEA, WRONG DIRECTIONS: Sign of incompetence – Gqeberha’s Sho’t left takes a very wrong turn",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/right-idea-wrong-directions-sign-of-incompetence-gqeberhas-shot-left",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T19:00:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-13-sign-of-incompetence-gqeberha-s-sho-t-left-takes-a-very-wrong-turn/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new sign erected at the Pollock Beach parking lot in Gqeberha has left locals confused and tourists potentially lost, as the arrows on the sign point in the opposite direction of the attractions they indicate. The sign, which is meant to guide visitors to popular destinations such as King's Beach, Bayworld, and Cape Recife, appears to have been installed incorrectly, sending people in the wrong direction. Ironically, the sign also claims that Schoenmakerskop is only a 225-minute walk away, leading those who follow the arrows to inadvertently head away from the attractions they are trying to find or even into the sea.\n\nThe mishap highlights serious safety concerns on Gqeberha's beachfront, which have been plagued by vandalism, broken streetlights, and a lack of municipal attention. In June, Ward 2 councillor DA MP Baxolile Nodada and his friend were attacked on the beachfront, with Nodada's friend sustaining six stab wounds. Nodada had previously raised these safety issues in Parliament, criticizing the municipality for its neglect of residents' safety, which includes non-functioning streetlights, cable theft, and insufficient security patrols.\n\nSean Tappan, a councillor, expressed frustration with the situation, stating that he had not been able to inspect the sign due to other commitments, but if the pole was drilled into the ground, it would be difficult to correct, suggesting that whoever installed the sign was incompetent. Tappan emphasized the unacceptable delay in addressing the issue, noting that it had been there for several days. The member of the mayoral committee for Economic Development, Tourism, and Agriculture, Bassie Kamana, pledged to correct the sign, calling it an \"unfortunate tourism blunder\" that portrays the municipality as foolish.\n\nLocal DJ Daron Mann found the sign amusing, comparing it to the city's governance and mocking the fact that it was installed correctly, pointing everyone in the wrong direction. Social media users also made light of the situation, with former SuperSport presenter Derek Alberts initially assuming the sign was AI-generated before acknowledging the municipality's incompetence. However, some residents found humor in the situation, with Andrew McLean sarcastically questioning the municipality's spending priorities, and Mubeen Baboo playfully suggesting tourists should turn right only if they could swim.",
  "summary": "A new sign on the Gqeberha beachfront has left locals bemused and tourists possibly lost – its arrows point in the opposite direction to the attractions they name.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sign at Pollock Beach parking lot points opposite of indicated attractions",
    "Sign claims Schoenmakerskop is 225-minute walk, leading visitors astray",
    "Councillor Bassie Kamana vows to correct the sign, calls it tourism blunder"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}