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Roads Services

26 July 2022 Media Release: Western Cape Government hands over Construction Graders worth R9.4 million to GRDM

Western Cape Government hands over Construction Graders worth R9.4 million to GRDM

For immediate release
26 July 2022

Last week, 21 July 2022, the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works handed over two Construction Graders worth R4.7 million each to the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Roads Department.  The keys were handed over to the main operators Phillip Scholtz and Andre Mouton by the GRDM Portfolio Chairperson of Roads and Transport Services, Ald. Petru Terblanche and the Deputy Executive Mayor, Ald. Gert van Niekerk.

This year to date the GRDM received three graders from Western Cape Government. The first machine was delivered on 14 June and last week the team took the brand new graders into acceptance. According to Gerald Sinkfontein, Deputy Manager for Mechanical Services at GRDM Roads, “the first machine was allocated to the Regravel Long Distance Team and it was handed over to the Main Operator, Adam Damons and back-up Operator, Andrew Mars.  These latest additions will be utilised by two (2) maintenance teams serving roads on the outskirts of George.

GRDM Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu, at the event, said: “It is indeed wonderful to witness events such as today.  We are always under extreme pressure in terms of the expectations for the maintenance of the roads, and these machines are remarkable additions to the plant that we already have”. To the Operators, Stratu said that not any person is able to operate a machine valued at approximately R5 million machine – “so you are the chosen ones”. Adding to this, Stratu extended words of gratitude to the WCG and for the support and the appreciation of the work that GRDM delivers. “We are proud to be the district with the largest fleet in the Western Cape and we promise to continue looking after the machines that we receive – your cooperation is important to us”.

Deputy Executive Mayor, Ald. Gert van Niekerk, highlighted that, “it is quite a proud moment to see the super tools of trade in front of us for the job that lies ahead with our roads stretching from Slangrivier to Bitou through to Kannaland.” Adding to this he emphasised: “Without the tools of trade it will all be in vain. Hence we are proud to accept these two (2) significant machines”.  To all representatives present, including Marilise van Wyngaardt, Chief Engineer Mechanical Services at the WCG and Heinie Brand from Komatzu, he said: “We can assure you that the machines will be fully utilised in the best interest of the people of the region”. Van Niekerk also extended words of gratitude to everyone involved and present, for their efforts in the process.

Ald. Petru Terblanche, after witnessing keys being handed over to GRDM, said to the operators: “Looking at almost R5 million under your seats, you are encouraged to look well at each machine that is yours to operate.”

Heinie Brand from Komatsu, in closing, shared words of gratitude to the WCG and GRDM and said: “We have been fortunate that you had faith in Komatsu for having our machines on your sites and to put it into good work and maintaining your beautiful side of the country”.

John Daniels, a proud GRDM Executive Manager for Roads and Transport Planning facilitated the event in the presence of many other Roads and Transport Planning employees.

ENDS

Did you know?

The Garden Route District Municipality Road Agency services an area of approximately 47 000 sq km. The area is divided into 15 wards that are serviced by 16 maintenance grader operators. According to the agreement with Provincial Government, a minimum of 10 000 km of gravel road surface must be graded annually. Where needed, re-graveling projects are undertaken and it is the Road Agency’s responsibility to rehabilitate the quarries where the gravel is sourced from. Each ward also has one maintenance team.

 

14 June 2022 Media Release: Update 3 – Status of Saasveld Road (George) Construction (MR355)

14 June 2022 Media Release: Update 3 – Status of Saasveld Road (George) Construction (MR355)

For Immediate Release
14 June 2022

Garden Route District Municipality, is the agency function contracted to execute work on behalf of the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works on MR355, Madiba Road.

The following outcomes were agreed upon during a recent planning session to address the construction works at Madiba Road:
1. Due to the high moisture content in the base layer, priming and sealing is not an option at this stage. Madiba Road is in a shaded area surrounded by hundreds of trees, resulting in little direct sun during the autumn and winter months.
2. To protect the base layer from rainwater and to promote the drying of the base layer, a dry layer of 100mm gravel wearing course will be placed onto the base layer.
3. The base layer will be dried out once a sealed gravel layer is placed to drive rainwater away from the road surface.
4. Weekly assessments of the base layer’s moisture content will be done.
5. As soon as the moisture reduces to satisfactory levels, we can compact the wearing course layer.
6. The road will then be opened to traffic with a temporary gravel surface. (NB: no date can be linked to this yet due to various factors like weather and direct sun)
7. Once conditions as per above become favourable the base and seal layers will need to be constructed in half widths, the road will not be closed again when this takes place.

ENDS

11 May 2022 Media Release: Update 2: Status of Saasveld Road (George) Construction

Media Release:  Update 2 – Status of Saasveld Road (George) Construction

For Immediate Release
11 May 2022

GRDM Construction Team is hard at work on-site at Madiba Drive under the supervision of the Senior Engineering Technician, Mr Lungisa Qendu.

Construction and repairs to Madiba Drive are progressing swiftly after pipe laying was completed on 13 April 2022. The second layer of bedding, a cradle constructed from boxed wet soilcrete, which allows for weathered edges at collars, began on 28 April 2022 and was completed on 6 May 2022.  A 200mm by-pass pipe was removed and water is now flowing through the newly laid 1.8m diameter pipe.

According to Lungisa Qendu, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Senior Engineering Technician, the project has now reached 75% of its completion (excluding the headwalls and gabions).  “Headwalls and gabions are outside the roadway and will be constructed at a later stage because the priority for us is to open the road to the public,” said Qendu. “

The GRDM is working hard to maintain and repair roads damaged by floods. Please drive carefully whenever approaching construction sites. Let us work together to ensure that our roads are safe.

ENDS

05 May 2022 Notice: Applications for Fencing Subsidies to assist Landowners are now open

05 May 2022 Notice: Applications for Fencing Subsidies to assist Landowners are now open!

Garden Route District Municipality gives subsidies for fencing on a yearly basis to assist landowners on neighbouring rural roads with fencing of their properties. This is subject to a budget as received from the Western Cape Government.

The funding will only be applicable on a subsidy basis.  It effectively means that 60% subsidy will be contributed towards the cost of the fencing. The subsidy is determined by an average price for material. The material is deemed as 60% of total cost. Labour cost is deemed as 40% of the total cost and must be carried by the applicant.   All initial costs must be carried by the applicant and subsidy will be paid out after the successful completion of the fence. For more information refer to the Fencing Subsidy Policy of Garden Route District Municipality.

The new fences must adhere to the specifications of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape:  Roads Infrastructure Department.  Minimum specifications will be made available to successful applicants.

Application process

  • Application forms can be obtained from Mr Qamani Nkebana or Mr Lungisa Qendu at the Roads Transport & Planning Department. Contact numbers at the office are 044 803 1506 / 044 803 1577 or email Qamani@gardenroute.gov.za / Lungisa@gardenroute.gov.za.
  • Alternatively download it from www.gardenroute.gov.za.
  • Application period: 06 May 2022 to 03 June 2022.
  • Applications will be audited and evaluated according to risk analysis by a panel.

Risk factors include: Status of road, traffic count, operating speed of vehicles, type of farming, condition of current fence, etc

  • The panel outcome will be decided by 01 July 2022. All applicants will be informed.  A fencing subsidy contract will be signed with successful applicants.  Unsuccessful applicants can apply again in the next financial year.
  • All fences must be fully completed by 30th November 2022 for payment before 28 February 2023.
  • Payment will be done after an inspection and an approval for the fence has been made.

Click below to download all the applicable documents:

Closing date:  03 June 2022

Notice number: 36

MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
P.O. Box 12
George
6530

12 April 2022 Media Release: Saasveld road construction is nearing completion

Media Release: Saasveld road construction is nearing completion

For immediate release
12 April 2022

Good progress is being made on repairs of Madiba Drive, also known as Saasveld road. Months of earth-and foundation work have been done by the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Roads Services.  Ten Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)  contract workers are appointed to assist with the project. The work is performed using in-house resources, personnel, and EPWP contract workers. The Saasveld road has been inaccessible since November’s flash flood last year.

Earlier this year, the old Armco structure under the road was removed, and the work area was accessed. Approximately 600 m3 of material had to be excavated to reach the bottom of the pipe and to lay the 200 mm diameter pipe (bypass pipe) in order to prevent the trench from flooding.

On Tuesday, 1 March 2022, a further 600 mm was excavated due to the wetness of the in-situ material. The GRDM Construction Team had sourced more materials to strengthen the bedding before they could lay off the 1.8 m concrete pipe.

Four to five layers of bedding were constructed; the first was rock-filled, the second was gravel material mixed with cement, and the third, the laying of the pipes.

 

Pipe laying commenced on 4 April 2022.  Mr John G Daniels, Executive Manager of the GRDM Roads Services and the Portfolio Chairperson of Roads and Transport Services, Alderman Petru Terblanche, were on-site to witness the laying of the first pipe.  The anticipated date to finish laying all the pipes is 14 April 2022.  Upon completion, in-situ material mixed with cement will be used as a cradle to support the pipes and bulk backfilling to 300 mm below road level will commence.  Three layers will then be constructed; 150 mm of sub-base, 150 mm of base course and the surface layer.

According to Mr Lungisa Qendu, Senior Engineering Technician on the construction site, they have already laid six units.  “The in-situ material has been taken to the laboratory for testing, and other materials are currently in the procurement process,” said Qendu.

Mr Qendu further explained that the team’s aim and priority are to lay all pipes, backfill, and open the road as soon as possible.  Activities like headwalls and gabions will not affect road users as these are outside the roadway.

The road closure has caused inconvenience to regular users of the road who has to make use of alternative routes. We thank them for their patience and assure them that we are doing everything possible to have the route reopened as soon as possible.

Click on the link below for a short video of on-site operations.

 

25 March 2022 GRDM and Hessequa Executive Mayors with delegation praise Roads team with progress of Roads Project in Jongensfontein

GRDM and Hessequa Executive Mayors with GRDM delegation praise Roads team for progress of Roads Project in Jongensfontein

For immediate release
25 March 2022

Wednesday, 16 March 2022, is a day to remember for the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Roads workers who have been working tirelessly to complete the Jongensfontein roads project.  The team was surprised with a visit from the GRDM Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen, the Mayoral Committee Members,  Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Lusanda Menze, and officials. Soon after their arrival, the delegation was also joined by Executive Mayor of Hessequa  Municipality, Cllr Grant Riddles.

The purpose of the visit was for the delegation to view the progress of the project and to extend warm words of gratitude to the team members that are actively busy repairing the road that was swept away by floods late last year. The road which is now in its final stage (99%) of completion plays a critical role, especially for the Tourism Sector in the Hessequa area and the Garden Route.

GRDM Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen, addressing the delegation and GRDM Roads team at the Jongensfontein road construction site.

In his welcoming address at the site, Cllr. Riddles, shared words of appreciation with Mayor Booysen and said: “I am thankful to you Mayor Booysen, and the GRDM Roads team for your favourable response in ensuring that the road gets repaired”. With these words he added: “With the situation currently experienced in our country, it is incredible to see that a district municipality handles the needs of the local municipality as a priority – we thank you for your commitment,” he said.

The Roads project in Jongensfontein (Hessequa) that is now in its final stage (99%) of completion.

Ald. Petru Terblanche, GRDM Portfolio Chairperson responsible for Roads and Transport Planning, described the area and the view to the beach as a breath-taking experience when he gave an overview of the project. He said: “About six (6) weeks ago I was shocked to see the huge landslip halfway filled up, and now to see the progress made so far, I am thankful to the engineers and road workers for their splendid work”.  Adding to this he said: “The R7 million invested in this project was for the purpose to prevent this incident from occurring in the future again so that our grandchildren one day will be able to see the superb work performed by their grandparents”.

When sharing the methodology/recipe for a project of this nature, Japie Strydom, GRDM Manager of Maintenance, Construction and Mechanical Services, explained that skilled people, a good design office and material are needed. He said: “We have the skilled people, a good design office; however, we still have a challenge with the material”. In explaining his statement, he said: “We need all the relevant stakeholders to come together and have discussions as to how we can prevent the high costs incurred for these projects”.

GRDM Acting Municipal Manager, Lusanda Menze, expressed a word of gratitude to all stakeholders and staff for their contribution to the project. When referring to the aspect of skills development, he said: “Unemployed workers that were appointed on the project, will now be able to do work for themselves elsewhere with the skills transferred to them. For these reasons, the project is doing very well,” he said.

GRDM Executive Mayor mentioned the importance of the cooperation between district and local municipalities for the benefit of the people and he highlighted: “Behind the scenes, I always bring up the idea that municipalities can work together – and this project is a clear indication that municipalities are able to work together”. To the Roads Department under the leadership of John Daniels, who facilitated the programme, he said:  “I am always happy with the work you perform and we will do whatever we can for the Garden Route to remain tops”.  In closing, Mayor Booysen referred to how Mayor Riddles always react to the roll-out of projects in the Hessequa area and he said: “One of the most important aspects Mayor Riddles is always interested in is how many jobs the project can create for the residents of Hessequa. Lastly, he said: “I am impressed with the work performed thus far – let us all keep up the good work, and let us continue with it”.

In closing, Executive Deputy Mayor, Adv. Gert van Niekerk, extended words of appreciation to all involved and specifically to the road team he shared his sentiments relating to the art of road construction projects. He referred to a few detailed aspects of a successful project and with this, he motivated the team as follows: “Nothing is more encouraging for road workers to see how others appreciate their work.  What you have built is a permanent structure – this is not something that can be taken away. Every single aspect is an artwork and every single part of the project will contribute to its overall success. In essence, this project reflects the skills that we have in our area, and we thank you that you have given us enough reason to be proud of”.

Feature Image: GRDM Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen (3rd left) and Hessequa Exexutive Mayor, Cllr Grant Riddles (left), with Executive Manager for Roads and Transport Planning, John Daniels (back middle) with the Roads team during the visit to the Jongensfontein Roads project site.

ENDS

15 March 2022 Media Release: Growth And Development Of The Agricultural Sector In The Garden Route

Media Release: Growth And Development Of The Agricultural Sector In The Garden Route

15 March 2022
For immediate release

Clyde Lamberts from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture was invited to speak at the first Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) Forum of 2022 and his focus was on the growth and development strategy of the department for the Garden Route. He opened his comprehensive presentation with the following quote by Allan Savory:

“Agriculture is not crop production as popular belief holds – it’s the production of food and fiber from the world’s land and waters. Without agriculture, it is impossible to have a city, stock market, banks, university, church or army. Agriculture is the foundation of civilization and any stable economy”.  

To put this quote into perspective, Lamberts shared one of the Department’s recent success stories: A farm in Herald was in a dilapidated state due to a lack of interest in purposing the land. A businessman who was passionate about farming bought it, and spent the next five (5) years turning it into a viable business that now produces honeybush and proteas. He is the first black commercial farmer to produce honeybush in the Southern Cape. It is because the Department assisted him that his business was able to create sixteen (16) permanent jobs, with opportunities for an additional twenty (20) seasonal workers.

Before this, in Waboomskraal, the Department assisted another farmer, who became the first black farmer in the area to produce proteas and hops.

Lamberts noted: “When all spheres of government work together in an integrated fashion, these are the type of results we will see”. 

Lamberts listed the activities and services the Department provides to farmers and all other stakeholders as the following:

  • Independent agricultural advice and information
  • Supporting Livestock farmers – Development program. Livestock Forum
  • Performance testing/annual evaluation/ID limitations and opportunities
  • Investigating and implementing new hardy breeds and crossbreeding
  • Investigations in lowering inset cost through conservation agriculture – cover crops
  • Investigations into pasture species for marginal lands
  • Crop production advice and information
  • Niche crops/markets
  • Training

The type of training that is provided includes evidence-based and practice-based farmers’ capacity building. This is done through farmers’ days, demonstrations, peer-to-peer learning, and face-to-face interactions. Since 2018, the department trained 820 beneficiaries and this ranged from vegetable training to farm implement operation training.

The Department has a memorandum of understanding with GRDM and vacant land has been identified that the municipality owns which is conducive for agricultural development opportunities. The Department is researching the potential of commodity processing facilities in the Garden Route, which will be a source of immediate job creation – a game-changer for job creation in the region.

The Department furthermore envisions the building of Agri-Business Platforms for clients where potential products can be processed ready for consumption. Through Conservation/Regenerative agriculture, farmers are encouraged to rehabilitate and look after their own soil to turn it into organic matter that fertilizes with very few chemicals. Trials on livestock projects have yielded very positive results to date, and the global view is that going regenerative holds many financial and ecological benefits.

Agritourism needs to be promoted as it holds several untapped opportunities for the tourism sector. There is a need to compile tour packages to visit farms and processing facilities for both local and international tourism. The Roads Department has a role to play as well, as it must ensure easy access through regular road maintenance and upgrades.

The Department is in the process of revisiting mechanization which would allow for a central point that offers services such as ploughing, for example, as well as repair and maintenance services on farm implements.

Lamberts concluded his presentation by saying that we can be very proud of our district and that the Department is very excited to continue its work in the area.

01 December 2021 Media Release: Garden Route officials mourn the loss of another dear colleague

As 2021 drifts slowly towards its end, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) family, sadly bids farewell to another colleague who has passed on in the early morning hours of Friday, 26 November 2021. This brings the total employees lost during 2021 to six (6).

The late Yolande Fielies, a talented Senior Worker in the Heidelberg Maintenance team, started her career at the then Eden District Municipality on 01 March 2008.  The 39-year-old Fielies was married to Wane Fielies and had two children, ages 13 and 18 years, respectively.

Fielies is remembered by her immediate Supervisor, Mr David Meyer and the Superintendent of the GRDM Riversdale Roads Maintenance, Mr Jacques Joseph, as a wonderful, hardworking and positive person. “When it comes to her work, she was known for being a loyal and reliable person, ready to always give her best in the workplace. Her positive attitude made her well-known and loved, resulting in colleagues always wanting to be around her. Yolande will be dearly missed,” Josephs concluded.

GRDM will host an official memorial service to celebrate the life of our late colleague on Thursday, 2 December at 09:00.  Family members, friends, colleagues and members of the public, who will not be in attendance, are invited to follow the proceedings through the municipality’s YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/RAhpW0xVnTc or join the webinar at: https://gardenroute.zoom.us/j/93617229168

Yolande Fielies leaves behind her husband, two (2) children, her parents, two (2) sisters, and three (3) brothers.

Rest in Peace, beloved Colleague – till we meet again!  

Memorial Services Program

27 November 2021 Media statement: Madiba Drive remains closed

Media statement: Madiba Drive remains closed

For Immediate Release
27 November 2021

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has noted with concern that some members of the community are still accessing Madiba Drive (MR355) in George. This is of great concern because the road was closed earlier this week. Signs were placed at various entry points and adjacent to the sinkhole that cut off George from Nelson Mandela University.

Pictures below show some of the many signs placed by GRDM on the MR355.

The public is kindly reminded not to make use of the road as it remains closed. It is a high-risk road that is extremely volatile at the moment.

Those planning to travel to Nelson Mandela University should do so via Wilderness.

An article appeared on the George Herald website today about a cyclist who sustained serious injuries after falling into the huge gap left in Madiba Drive

ENDS

Issued by Garden Route District Municipality