ERMELO – Highvelder’s Best of Ermelo Readers’ Choice Awards has already generated significant excitement among residents and business owners, with the Highvelder receiving numerous enquiries about how the process works ahead of the voting phase.

Why the QR codes require a password

One of the most common concerns raised relates to QR codes published in the supplement in the newspaper today.

Readers who have attempted to scan these codes are currently being directed to a page requiring a password.

This is because voting has not yet officially opened.

The voting phase will go live tomorrow, April 17, and only from that point will users be able to access the relevant voting pages via the QR codes. Until then, the pages remain locked.

For clarity, readers can visit the dedicated Best of Ermelo homepage, where a live countdown indicates exactly when voting will open:
https://www.bestofsouthafrica.co.za/ermelo/

How businesses are included in the awards

The Highvelder has also noted some misconceptions around how businesses are included in the competition.

The Best of Ermelo Readers’ Choice Awards is entirely driven by public participation.

Businesses are not selected or listed by the publication itself. Instead, they must either self-nominate or be nominated by members of the community during the nomination phase.

Open nominations and public participation

The campaign has been running since December 15 and was promoted extensively both online and in print, with multiple calls for nominations issued.

Participation was therefore open to all businesses during this period.

Best of coming soon: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18ByaHpJvG/

Best of launch: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AWSD9ty9N/

Nominations now open: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16LgbutXwQ/

Who deserves to be crowned?: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FfaKqbPm5/

Who will you be voting for?: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18HY8yqD6a/

Nominations are pouring in: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16xn1LYaks/

3 days left to nominate: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17vhF9Dbi2/

Nominations close: https://www.citizen.co.za/highvelder-news/news-headlines/local-news/2026/02/12/nominations-close-for-highvelders-best-of-ermelo-2026/

Inclusion in the awards depends solely on whether a business was nominated.

Why some businesses appear — and others don’t

Some businesses were not nominated at all, while others — including some no longer operational — were put forward by members of the public.

Due to the scale of participation, with hundreds of nominations received, it is not possible to independently verify every entry. While some have been reviewed and removed where identified, the platform ultimately reflects community input rather than a curated database or business directory.

First campaign and future opportunities

Importantly, this is the first Best of Ermelo campaign. Following strong interest from the community, the initiative will now become an annual event, giving businesses further opportunities to participate in future — provided they are nominated during the official nomination phase.

Concerns about listed businesses

The Highvelder acknowledges that some readers may have concerns regarding certain businesses listed in the awards, including entries that may fall outside the area or appear outdated.

Members of the public are welcome to submit motivated requests for the review or removal of specific entries.

These submissions must be supported by verifiable information, as the publication cannot act on assumptions or unfamiliarity alone.

Each request will be considered, and where sufficient evidence is provided, entries may be independently reviewed and, where necessary, removed. However, due to the volume of nominations received, it is not possible to investigate every query without clear supporting proof.

It is also important to note that the status of an individual does not necessarily affect the inclusion of a business. For example, where a business remains operational despite a change in ownership or circumstances, it may still qualify to remain listed.

Ultimately, all voting results will be subjected to a formal audit process, during which any irregularities identified will be addressed before final outcomes are confirmed.

Voting and audit process

Once voting closes, the results will undergo an independent audit process to ensure fairness and credibility before winners are announced.

The Highvelder encourages all residents to take part when voting opens and to support their favourite local businesses.