It is with dismay that we have recently noted a cap in a local shop depicting the G-anchor-B as Gordon’s Bay. This is far from the truth.
We have also noted a local wine label and a shopping mall using the mountain logo, again with some irritation.
One should research one’s facts before purloining an historical icon.
The mountain logo depicts the South African Nautical College General Botha, which was the successor of the world-renowned South African Training Ship (SATS) General Botha and the precursor of the South African Nautical Academy General Botha, located on a ship. It should not be appropriated to stand for the area’s name. Botha was a South African Prime Minister who died in office in 1919.
The mountain logo was created by cadets of the Nautical College in November 1949. This was supervised by officers stationed on the parade ground of the college who communicated with the cadets on the mountain by means of semaphore. The cadets would maintain and paint the mountain logo regularly, at least once a year.
The present-day premises are the South African Naval College and their navy midshipmen maintain the logo.
Today there is a plaque positioned on the Gordon’s Bay beachfront depicting the origins and meaning of the mountain logo.
It would be appreciated if this misnomer was corrected to the public and tourism operators.
