Media Release: GRDM rolls out proactive disinfection activities in George
For Immediate Release 2 December 2020
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) today, 2 December 2020, bumped up its disinfection interventions, proactively extending its activities to more areas in George. GRDM firefighters did this for Blanco (George) at spaza shops, small supermarkets, butcheries and liquor stores. Such operations were already started in April 2020 when communal toilets (taps, handles, seats and walls etc.), taxi ranks and other public spaces were frequently cleaned.
Tomorrow, 3 December 2020, disinfecting activities will continue, this time at taxi ranks and shops in Pacaltsdorp. Over the coming weekend, Thembalethu, Rosemoor and Parkdene sites will be disinfected, followed by similar activities in Protea Park, Maraiskamp, Syferfontein and Rosedale.
The fire season officially started yesterday, which means firefighters are now required to carefully plan and balance their primary roles and responsibilities with the resurgence of COVID-19. Five (5) firefighters from GRDM conducted disinfection activities today; however the number is expected to increase as more activities are rolled out to other hotspot areas.
GRDM urges the public to continue to commit to safer behaviours- wear your mask, wash your hands regularly and keep your social distance. This festive season, when shops and other areas are expect a lot of feet, remember to avoid confined spaces, close contact and crowded areas. Lastly, remember to reduce the size of gatherings, or postpone them until it is safer, take your gatherings outdoors, and at all times.
Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality EHPs receive pepper spray training
For Immediate Release 18 November 2020
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) and the Administrative Clerks received pepper spray training on 10 and 11 November 2020. The South African Police Services (SAPS) provided the training and placed a strong emphasis not only on self-defence methods but also about identifying risky situations to avoid assaults.
According to Mr Clive Africa, GRDM Executive Manager for Community Services, the training came at a time when crime statistics are on the rise and EHPs feel evermore unsafe while conducting inspections.
“The majority of our EHPs are women and they are particularly vulnerable, furthermore, in our country crimes committed against women and children remains a major concern for everyone,” said Africa.
Another reason for such training is, the GRDM’s intervention after an EHP was assaulted by a shop owner while conducting a compliance inspection. The EHP found that the foodstuffs at the business did not comply with the South African Regulations: Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs R146.
According to R146, labelling requirements include, but are not limited to:
Information in English and where possible one of the official languages
Product Name / descriptor
Address
Ingredients including compound ingredients
Indication of additives
Indication of ALL allergens
Country of origin
Batch ID
Date marking
Storage instructions
Weight declaration
Letter sizes for some items need to be in a designated font size and / or in a bold and / or uppercase font and positioned in a certain place.
The training also comes at a time when Government prepares for its 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which starts on the 25 November and ends on 10 December 2020. In addition, there have been numerous reports of ambulance crews in South Africa who have been victims of crimes, especially during the lockdown. The GRDM sees it as important to provide employees with the necessary tools to protect themselves. No one should feel threatened to do their work and everyone has the right to protect themselves from harm.
ENDS
Pictured: Bronwen Moolman, Environmental Health Practitioner for Garden Route District Municipality holding the pepperspray she now keeps by her when doing inspections.
Media Release: GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners, SAPS and Local Municipalities visit spaza shops
For Immediate Release 6 November 2020
During October a number of role players visited 126 Spaza Shops in the Garden Route to ensure that compliance to regulations governing general hygiene requirements, including COVID-19 regulations; food premises standards; and the transport of food and related matters, were adhered to. The visits were arranged by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) and approached jointly with the help of the South African Police Services (SAPS) and local municipal officials from town planning, law enforcement, building control and local economic development.
“The Garden Route District Municipality command centre collectively decided that unannounced visits to Spaza Shops were needed,” said Johan Compion, GRDM Manager: Municipal Health and Environmental Services. “Spaza Shops are visited by a great number of people and especially nowadays, with the risk of a second wave of COVID-19 emerging, it is more important than ever that businesses are safe and compliant to regulations,” he said.
During the inspections the focus is on the following issues:
Checking if all Spaza Shops had Certificates of Acceptability (CoAs);
compliance to local municipal bylaws;
compliance to hygiene standards;
adherence to COVID-19 safety measures (hand sanitizer at designated points available to customers and employees; social distancing for queues);
monitoring of employees and customers wore face masks;
sanitising of hands before and after servicing customers;
sanitising of hands after handling money.;
displaying appropriate signage and awareness information;
maximum ventilation;
daily cleaning and disinfection of high risk surfaces and objects;
wearing of utility gloves by those removing refuse;
proper sealing of waste bags; and
no illegal dumping of waste.
Challenges identified at some of the Spaza Shops, include:
Sanitising and wearing of masks in some Spaza Shops were not adhered to.
Social distancing of 1.5 m in and outside shops when queuing and inside some Spaza shops were not followed by customers.
Where non-compliance was identified, additional awareness and education was provided and an inspection report issued, which will include a follow-up inspection. This has to happen to ensure that hygienic requirements are met and COVID-19 preventative measures are followed to combat and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Picture: Gcobani Tshozi, EHP for Garden Route DM and Thomas Fosibo (Manager of Shop 2 in Thembalethu)
Garden Route District Municipality, in collaboration with Kannaland Municipality, will roll out a Household Composting Pilot Project in Zoar. Approximately 30% of household waste being disposed of at landfill consists of organic waste that could potentially be diverted from landfill by means of household composting. Further, household composting could subsequently result in a huge waste management cost saving and put sorely needed nutrients back into our soil.
The pilot project will run for a duration of one year and the data collected will be used to motivate the further roll out of the project to all households in the Kannaland municipal area. Permanent residents in Zoar are invited to apply for participation in the pilot project.
It must be noted that provision was made to accommodate only thirty (30) households in the pilot project who will be provided with a composting bin, and / or a worm farm, a scale and data sheets. Due to the limited number, the first thirty applications received will be selected to participate in the project.
All applicants must conform to the following criteria:
Must reside permanently in Zoar for the duration of the pilot project (at least one year).
Must attend an information session regarding the composting project that will be held in Zoar.
Must be willing to participate in the pilot project and report organic waste quantities on a monthly basis for the duration of the pilot project (one year).
Composting bins will only be distributed to households with a garden / lawn / vegetable garden(s) generating green waste.
Households / apartments that do not have gardens / yards i.e. that generate green waste can be provided with only a worm farm for kitchen scraps etc.
Click here to download the application forms to participate in the pilot project.
Completed application forms must be sent to wayne@gardenroute.gov.za by no later than Friday, 30 October 2020.
Media Release: Reduce, reuse and replant – home composting project rolled out in Bitou
For Immediate Release
19 October 2020
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) continues to roll our home composting projects throughout the Garden Route.
GRDM Waste Management Officer, Mr Johan Gie presenting an insightful presentation about home composting during the information session.
Home composting not only keeps material from overburdening landfill sites but also reduces transport costs of refuse removal services. An earlier waste characterisation study revealed that large quantities of organic waste still got transported from households and businesses in the Garden Route district. Since most landfills sites in the Garden Route are already closed or nearing their fully capacity, the GRDM initiated a home composting pilot project in 2018 to practically and gradually advocate and promote the reduction of organic waste from households going to landfills.
The home composting project aims to motivate the different councils to roll out this project to all households in the municipal areas, and thus extending the lifespans of landfills. After months of waiting due to COVID-19 restrictions, officials from the Bitou Municipality’s Waste Management section and residents from Bitou welcomed the rollout of the project.
Mr Douglas Baardman was very excited for the project to finally kick-off.
A formal information and handover session took place on Wednesday, 14 October 2020. At the event, the Bitou Municipality’s Waste Management Manager, Mr Douglas Baartman, who officially open the session, expressed his Councils gratitude towards the GRDM for initiating the project in the Bitou municipal area. He also mentioned that residents responded in excitement and great numbers to the project – a lot of applications were received. In concluding he thanked the GRDM Waste Management team for their leadership role and guidance.
Johan Gie with a participant (right), ready to start her own home composting project
Mr Johan Gie, Waste Management Officer of the GRDM did an in-depth presentation about home composting, which was followed by a question and answering session. He discussed topics inclusive of benefits of home composting; what and what not to compost; how to compost; and the different types of composing. One of the highlights of the session was when participants were provided with established worm farms. In addition, each participant also received a troubleshooting guide and guidelines on composting; an electronic scale to record monthly waste diverted for composting, and datasheets to complete monthly statistics.
The information session was conducted in a very informative way and participants were very eager in asking questions.
GRDM Municipal Waste Management section agreed with participants to complete monthly updates to enable the GRDM to monitor the progress of the project and capture data for future reference. The pilot project will run for a year and results from the study will be presented to Local Municipal Councils. In this report, the exact quantities of organic waste diverted from landfills with the assistance and buy-in from households and businesses will be listed.
Considering that 30% – 40% of the normal household black bag waste contains organic waste originating from the garden and kitchen, the project will seek to change these worrying numbers. Composting is a simple, environmentally friendly and cheap way to add nutrient-rich humus to fuel plant growth and restores vitality to depleted soil.
Media Release: Medical male circumcision to benefit men and their partners
For Immediate Release
16 October 2020
Primary Health Care clinics are once again continuing services that were high risk during the peak of the pandemic. One of these are medical male circumcisions (MMC).
“Apart from drastically reducing the risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted illnesses, MMC also improves hygiene and reduces the risk of developing penile cancer and the risk of passing the virus that causes cervical cancer to their female partners”, said Programme Manager Sandra Smit.
Smit also elaborates on the great turn-out of young men during MMC outreaches.
“Our programme did really well, and although we had to postpone outreaches and procedures we are excited to get back on track and assist as many men as possible. We implore the youth to make the best decisions for their current and future health. One of those is getting circumcised. The new guideline focus on ages 15 years and older but we will not deny services of those that are younger. Boys under the age of 18 must have parental consent”, she said.
Twenty-year-old Luwayne Michaels says he had the procedure done to ensure he has a healthy family one day. “I wanted to minimize my risk for opportunistic infections, and the fact that I can reduce the risk of my partner developing cervical cancer made it easier to decide”.
MMC is the complete removal of the foreskin. The procedure requires only local anaesthetic and takes about 20 minutes. Patients can leave the facility and go home after the procedure. The wound takes about 6 weeks to heal.
Male Circumcision is not a guarantee that you will not get HIV. Men still need to use a condom each time they have sex, even if they have been circumcised.
Men who are interested should visit their nearest clinic or Primary Health Care Centre to make an appointment for the procedure. The service is free of charge.
-END-
Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Media Statement: Municipal communicators make shocking discoveries at illegal dump site
For Immediate Release
8 October 2020
Municipal communicators from Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) recently visited an illegal dump site in Pacaltsdorp to photograph the progress made by contractors tasked to clean sites. With shock, communicators noted a countless number of items, including toxic, sharp and dangerous ones, as well as foul smelling water – leaving one communicator almost vomiting from the stench. “The scariest part is that there were kids playing in the same area, metres from the dangerous field of waste and water,” said one communicator.
Water samples will soon reveal how toxic the pools of water at some dumpsites are.
Children in a public space in Pacaltsdorp who risk getting infected or losing their lives because of selfish acts by illegal dumpers in the area.
The GRDM, in collaboration with George Municipality are hard at work trying to clear illegal dump sites in the George area, including Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp. GRDM has committed R2.47 million to the project. George Municipality earlier announced that they will contribute R500 000.00 to curb illegal dumping. JCB backhoe loaders are utilised to clear sites and 35 Expanded Public Works Participant (EPWP) waste pickers work alongside these trucks to collect smaller items. More activities are lined up to take place over the next few months, including a survey to find out why people illegally discard of waste; and door-to-door awareness about the impact of illegal dumping , etc.
The question many Garden Routers is asking is – do we all want the areas cleaned or have many of us decided that a clean and safe environment is not important? The GRDM stumbled upon concerns raised on Facebook by a government employee who said that an illegal dumpsite was cleaned by the municipalities (Garden Route District and George), but moments later someone dumped their waste there again. Others commented on her post by saying that municipalities should plant trees at the sites, however this suggestion was said not to work because some community members might remove the trees. Another person said that the municipalities cleaned an area on a Monday, but by Tuesday the area was dirty again.
GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) monitor the areas each day after a clean-up was conducted. EHPs are already aware that water at illegal dumping sites are toxic, but a decision was made to take water samples which will be analysed. Test results will indicate how dangerous these sites are (backed by scientific evidence).
Packaging for medication was found with the full names of the patient who has subsequently been reported to Law Enforcement for intervention.
A piece of glass found at a dumpsite in Pacaltsdorp.
The public are urged to remind their friends, family and neighbours that the illegal dumping of waste is dangerous and that it poses a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builders’ rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road).
Communities can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged illegal dumpers and make a statement in this regard by contacting Law Enforcement at 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. George Municipality states that a person doesn’t need a photograph of the perpetrator, but that it would strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.
Members of the public are also welcome to report illegal dumpsites to 044 802 2900.
Illegal dumping remains an offence and carries a R1000 fine.
Media Release: Environmental Health Practitioners still optimistic amidst the pandemic
For Immediate Release 30 September 2020
Since March 2020, all Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) have worked at grassroots level to raise awareness about COVID-19 to formal and informal business sectors. Awareness shared not only included the signs and symptoms of the Coronavirus disease, but more importantly, ways in which to minimize and prevent the spread of it.
“Since March 2020, three (3) EHPs out of 39 contracted COVID-19,” said Mr Johan Compion, GRDM Manager: Municipal Health & Environmental Services. “It has been a stressful time for EHPs and their families, especially for those who have family members at home stressed if their partners contracted COVID-19 while moving around,” he said.
GRDM Executive Manager, Mr Clive Africa explained that the multi-agency approach to curbing the spread of the virus is one of the reasons why not many lives were lost. “Our Firefighters and the additional 20 Expanded Public Works Programme workers, since 1 April 2020, disinfected a countless number of sites,” said Africa.
“None of these front-line workers contracted the virus, which is something we can be very grateful about”.
More frequent inspections were conducted at premises to ensure that the public stayed protected. Basic principles such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and social distancing were taught. In addition, important factors such as adequate ventilation, the use of personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfection of transport vehicles and pest control, were also shared and monitored.
Disinfection taking place at ablutions in Rosedale, George.
Disinfection taking place at a shopping centre.
Today, COVID-19 education is still done at informal and formal businesses, which include the following:
beauty salons (barbers, hairdressers and tattoo parlours)
old age homes/retirement homes
retail stores
churches
banks
SASSA PAY points
soup kitchens
clinics
schools
crèches
homes of COVID-19 patients
correctional services
police stations
door-to-door awareness
libraries
farms
holiday resorts/spas
hospitals
funeral undertakers
milking parlours
EHPs monitor compliance at a funeral.
Despite the hard work already done by EHPs, many community members do not wear masks. EHPs also found that many people do not adhere to social distancing protocols and ignore other COVID-19 preventative measures. In some cases, family members of those who were awaiting test results moved around while they should have been in quarantine. It has also noted with concern that social stigma and discriminatory behaviour occurred against people with COVID-19 or those who recovered from it. GRDM urges the public to play their part in helping to curb the spread of this virus instead of fuelling the stigma around this pandemic.
Despite all the challenges faced, EHPs will continue to roll out preventative measures to combat and curb the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease.
Fighting COVID-19 is a collective responsibility. Therefore, this guideline is developed to guide churches and places of worship to adhere to the golden rules of COVID-19 to curb the spread of the disease.
The virus can spread in churches and places of worship through singing, shouting, talking, preaching, sneezing and coughing. It can also spread if social distancing and no physical touching protocols are not adhered to.
Everyone should be aware that returning to place of worship will be different and a lot of adjustments need to be made. All churches are different and it is important that these principles should be viewed as a guide in developing their own document.
For more information, contact:
Mr Johan Compion,
Manager: Municipal Health & Environmental Services
Tel: 044-803 1300 / 044-803 1525
E-mail: jcompion@gardenroute.gov.za
