Media Release: Blue flags to fly at twenty Garden Route beaches
6 November 2024
Twenty (20) Garden Route beaches have been awarded Blue Flag Status this year by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), in partnership with coastal municipalities and private entities. Three of the Garden Route beaches were awarded pilot Blue Flag status. South Africa has participated in the Blue Flag Programme for 23 years, since 2001.
GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel upon receiving the news, said: “The awards symbolise that beaches have been recognized for their excellent water quality, safety, security, sound environmental management, and accessibility.”
“Blue Flag Beaches have improved tourism facilities and includes enhanced approach to the management of coastal systems,” says Stroebel.
Stroebel also shared his gratitude to the coastal municipalities for their dedicated efforts: “Thank you to Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George and Bitou municipalities for your commitment in applying for Blue Flag Status and maintaining our beautiful beaches to the highest standards. Your hard work is truly commendable. This achievement not only boosts the image of the Garden Route but also reinforces our region as a top destination for both locals and visitors.
GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, paid a visit to Victoria Bay to witness how welcoming the beach already is for the holiday-goers that are expected from all over South Africa and abroad.
Each Blue Flag Beach has a board dedicated to the Blue Flag Programme and these sign boards provide detailed guidelines on what is expected from each beach-goer.
Plettenberg Bay boasts six (6) Blue Flag beaches (Source: Plett Tourism)
Herold’s Bay near George, viewed from the Voelklip view site. Picture: Roger de la Harpe.
Garden Route beaches with successful Blue Flag accreditation include the following:
George (3) – Visit George Tourism website
* Herold’s Bay
* Victoria Bay
* Wilderness Beach
Plettenberg Bay (6) – Visit the Plett Tourism website
* Robberg 5
* The Waves
* Nature’s Valley
* Lookout Beach
* The Dunes
* Singing Kettle Beach
Hessequa has six Blue Flag Beaches, the only municipal area in South Africa that has all its Beaches flying the Blue Flag. (Source: Hessequa Tourism)
Iconic Mossel bay which boasts five Blue Flag beaches. An additional two (2) beaches in Mossel Bay are on Pilot Status to become recognised as Blue Flag Beaches. (Source: Istock)
Mossel Bay (5) – Visit the Mossel Bay Tourism website
* De Bakke Beach
* Hartenbos Beach
* Little Brak Breach
* Santos Beach
* Glentana Beach
The Blue Flag Pilot Sites in George include Leentjiesklip, and in Mossel Bay it includes Tweekuilen and Suiderkruis beaches.
On top of the beaches that received Blue Flag Status, the following marinas and sustainable boats also received Blue Flags!
Two (2) marinas and 2 sustainable boating tourism operators have been awarded Blue Flag status. The marinas are Thesen Islands and Thesen Harbour in Knysna, while the sustainable boats are Robberg Express and Oceanic Express operated by Offshore Adventures in Plettenberg.
Enjoy your time exploring these beautiful spots along the Garden Route!
Feature image: Victoria Bay received Blue Flag Status for the second consecutive time. Pictured is also the Victoria Bay Caravan Park sites – the Western Terrace in the left corner and the Railway Terrace at the top. Both of these sites are fully booked for the holiday season.
Media Release: New Executive Manager for Community Services at Garden Route District Municipality
5 November 2024
Today, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel and his Mayoral Committee Chairperson for Community Services, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard met the newly appointed Executive Manager for Community Services, Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu. Monde Stratu, the Municipal Manager for GRDM, was also present during the meet-and-greet session in Mayor Stroebel’s office.
Mayor Andrew Stroebel with the Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu at his office in George.
Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard (MMC for Community Services) warmly welcomed Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu yesterday during a staff meeting by handing her a beautiful bouquet.
A little bit of background – Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu
Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu brings extensive experience in community services, health, and safety to the GRDM.
She was born and raised in the Eastern Cape. She obtained her National Diploma in Environmental Health in 2007 in the Free State, followed by a BTech in Environmental Health in 2013. She attained her BTech in Project Management in 2020 and completed the Municipal Finance Management Program in 2016. Currently, she is furthering her studies with a Master’s in Environmental Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management.
She began her career as an Environmental Health Practitioner for the Department of Health in the Eastern Cape in 2008. She later moved to Harrismith in the Free State, where she worked as a Meat Inspector for a year. From 2010 until the end of 2019, Raisa-Mlandu was employed by the Walter Sisulu Local Municipality in Burgersdorp, where she held several positions, including Waste Management Officer, Manager: Environmental Management and Compliance, and Acting Director of Community Services. Continuing her career journey across various provinces, she later worked as the Manager of Social Services at Ngwathe Local Municipality in Parys. Her last employer before joining the GRDM team was the Govan Mbeki Municipality in Secunda, Mpumalanga, where she served as Director of Community Services for nearly two years.
She officially joined the GRDM on 4 November 2024, where she will “steer the ship” alongside more than 100 professionals in her Department. Her team encompasses sections such as Disaster Management (managed by Gerhard Otto), Fire & Rescue Services (Managed by Deon Stoffels), and Municipal Health (Managed by Johan Compion), which includes sub-sections like Environmental Health, Waste Management (Managed by Johan Gie), and Air Quality (Managed by Dr Johann Schoeman).
On a personal note, she is the first-born in her family. She is married and a mother of three, with her eldest daughter currently completing her law degree. She is looking forward to them joining her soon in George.
Nthabeleng described herself as a dynamic, goal-driven person, motivated by a result-driven approach to work. “My actions are motivated by wanting to achieve. I have strong leadership skills and experience in strategic management, project management, etc. I possess working knowledge of development issues, along with excellent time and financial management skills and good interpersonal and communication abilities. My decision to join this municipality is motivated by a desire to make a positive change in the community, as communities rely on us for the provision of services. I look forward to adding value, contributing positively, and show my valuable contributions to this institution,” she concluded.
GRDM leadership expresses confidence that this appointment will strengthen efforts to enhance the quality of services provided to residents of the Garden Route district and would like to welcome Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu to #teamGardenRoute.
Feature Image: Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard (MMC for Community Services), Andrew Stroebel (GRDM Executive Mayor), Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu (Executive Manager: Community Services) and Monde Stratu (Municipal Manager).
Mediaverklaring: Pille gevind in “chips” en ander voedselverpakkings – Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit se reaksie
Vir Onmiddelike Vrystelling 5 November 2024
Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM), die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisidiens (SAPD), Plaaslike munisipale Wetstoepassers en ander rolspelers is bewus van insidente in die Groot-Brak en Friemersheim-omgewing waar vreemde voorwerpe/pille in “chipspakkies” en ander produkte gevind is. ’n Ondersoek is tans aan die gang om die feite rondom hierdie insidente te bepaal. Die TDM is toegewyd en verantwoordelik om te verseker dat voedsel wat aan die publiek verkoop word, veilig is vir verbruik.
In reaksie tot sosiale media plasings en berigte in die media, het Burgemeester Andrew Stroebel, die volgende genoem: “Ons verseker die publiek dat ons hierdie saak uiters ernstig opneem en onmiddellik alle amptenare ten volle van die situasie in kennis gestel het. Die veiligheid van die publiek, veral met betrekking tot gesondheid, sal prioriteit bly.”
Die SAPD het die TDM in kennis gestel van vreemde pille wat in chips-pakkies en ander voedselpakkies aangetref is en dis vervolgens by die Groot-Brak Polisiekantoor gerapporteer.
‘n Pil, afgeneem saam met skyfies wat deur SAPS gekonfiskeer is (Bron: Verskaf en geverifieer deur Omgewingsgesondheidspraktisyns)
Blitsoperasies word weekliks uitgerol, waarvan nog een môre sal plaasvind. Tydens hierdie sessies word verskeie informele voedselhandelaars besoek. Belanghebbendes wat deel vorm van hierdie operasies, sluit in die SAPD, Plaaslike Munisipale Wetstoepassers, en die Departement van Binnelandse Sake, onder andere.
Meer inligting oor die insident sal op ’n latere stadium bekendgemaak word.
Lede van die publiek word aangemoedig om hul naaste SAPD-stasie te kontak of direk uit te reik na die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit se Omgewingsgesondheidsdienste, indien hul op voedselprodukte afkom wat verdag lyk.
Johan Compion – Senior Bestuurder: Munisipale Gesondheid, Vaste Afvalbestuur en Lugkwaliteitsbeheer
Media Statement: Pills Found in Chips and other Food Packaging – Garden Route District Municipality response
For Immediate Release 5 November 2024
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), the South African Police Service (SAPS), local municipal law enforcement, and other stakeholders are aware of incidents in the Great-Brak and Friemersheim areas where foreign objects/pills have been found in packets of chips and other food packaging. An investigation is currently underway to determine the facts surrounding these incidents. In this regard, the GRDM is dedicated and responsible for ensuring that food sold to the public is safe for consumption.
GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, in response to reports of these serious incidents, said: “We can assure the public that we regard this matter with utmost seriousness and have immediately made all officials fully aware of this situation. The public’s safety in terms of health is a priority.”
SAPS informed the GRDM about the foreign pills found in packets of chips and other food packaging, which were earlier reported to the Great-Brak Police Station.
A pill found in one of many packets of chips and reported to SAPS (Source: Supplied, verified by Environmental Health Practitioners)
Blitz operations are conducted weekly, with another scheduled for tomorrow. During these sessions, various informal food vendors are visited. Stakeholders involved in these operations include the SAPS, local municipal law enforcement, and the Department of Home Affairs, among others.
Further information about the incident will be released at a later stage.
To report any incidents of suspected counterfeit or tampered foods, members of the public are urged to contact their nearest SAPS or reach out directly to the Garden Route District Municipality’s Environmental Health Services.
Johan Compion – Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control
Media Release: Illegal dumping a threat to the prosperity of the Garden Route
For immediate release
4 November 2024
“Industrial- scale illegal dumping and littering was one of the major drivers impacting on the severity of the April 2022 Durban flood disaster when some 459 people lost their lives with billions of Rands’ damage to hard infrastructure, property and the economy”, says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
Globally the advent of climate change enhanced the severity and regularity of flooding with storm water drainage systems and infrastructure simply not designed for such severe events. During the Kwazulu-Natal 2022 floods, the impact of storm water drainage systems blocked by waste and rubble rendered them ineffective to channel storm water. The severe flooding caused severe damage to infrastructure like bridges, roads and resulted in thousands of tons of waste washing up on KZN beaches – a disaster on its own.
All Garden Route towns are serviced weekly in terms of standard waste removal best practice but despite best efforts illegal dumping and littering prevail unabated.
The degrading impact of littering and pollution on the well- being and quality of life of communities is well documented. Changes in climate will further the damage caused by unmanaged waste and litter if social behaviour patterns do not change.
Garden Route municipalities have no choice but to spend millions of Rands, earmarked for service delivery annually, to clean illegal dumping sites and remove mountains of litter from vacant land and township borders.
Illegal dumpsites are a breeding ground for pests and diseases.
Littering and illegal dumping, just like the impact of invasive alien plants have become an immense threat to not only the environment but also human safety and well- being. The degradation of water quality, river health, bio-diversity, marine and coastal environments and general quality of life of those living in the Garden Route is at stake.
Many Garden Route residents do take ownership with regular community beach and river clean-ups, and we salute all who assist the overwhelmed public services.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental managers and a climate change think- tank. (grefscli.co.za).
Feature Image: Children are often subjected to illegal dumping hotspots.
Media Release: GRDM bids farewell to dedicated Roads employee, Daniel Bruiners
For immediate release 31 October 2024
This week, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Roads Department will bid farewell to a cherished colleague, Daniel Bruiners, with a special memorial service celebrating his life on Friday, 1 November 2024.
Daniel, who sadly passed away on Friday, 25 October 2024, at the age of 55, dedicated 20 years of service to the GRDM. Appointed on 1 September 2004, he worked as a member of the Herold Maintenance Team in his hometown of Herold – the place where he was born, raised, and educated.
Daniel’s passing has left an emptiness among his colleagues. Team members remember him as a quiet, diligent worker known for his precision and neatness in every task. Gert Verwey, Deputy Manager of GRDM Roads, remarked: “Daniel’s meticulous work ethic and the significant contributions he made to GRDM Roads are deeply felt by our team. His absence is already felt profoundly.”
Born as the youngest of seven brothers, Daniel is survived by his siblings, his three children – one daughter and two sons – and a niece with whom he shared his home. The GRDM extends its heartfelt condolences to Daniel’s family, friends, and colleagues as they mourn his unexpected loss.
The memorial service will be held at the GRDM Council Chambers. Family, colleagues, friends, and community members are invited to join virtually through the municipality’s YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/msbtcr3x.
Rest in Peace, Daniel
Your dedication and service to the people of the Garden Route will be remembered.
Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality Introduces Innovative Exemption Policy for Dog-Friendly Dining
31 October 2024
In recent years, South Africa has seen a growing trend of patrons bringing their dogs to restaurants, a practice that many restaurant owners have embraced. This is also the trend in many countries abroad.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that the Regulation Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises and the Transport of Food and Related Matters R 638 of 22 June 2018 mandates that animals, with the exception of guide or service dogs accompanying individuals with disabilities, should not be allowed in areas where food is handled. To address this, the GRDM Council took a proactive step of developing an exemption policy related to Section 14(1) of Regulation 638. This new policy aims to provide clear guidelines for municipal health services and restaurant owners on establishing “dog-friendly areas” in compliance with existing regulations.
GRDM Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel, who spearheaded the policy change soon after he took office, said the following during the Council meeting on 30 October 2024: “I want to thank the Community Services Department for the record time in which they developed this policy. Also, thank you to Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, the Portfolio Chairperson for Community Services and the GRDM Council, who assisted to get this policy developed and approved”.
“The GRDM Council made significant strides by approving this pioneering exemption policy and it is a first-of-its-kind at a District Municipality the country. This initiative not only enhances service delivery, but reduces red-tape and positions the Garden Route as an attractive tourist destination which is open to more segments of society.”
“As the holiday season approaches, we recognize that restaurant owners are eager to implement their plans,” said Stroebel.
The key documents to download and read through for those interested in this exemption policy can access, include the following:
Alternatively browse to this link to access the documents.
Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel (right) with his Deputy Executive Mayor, Vlancio Donson, on the day that the Policy for the Exemption of Section 14(1) of Regulation 638 was passed by the GRDM Council.
Johan Compion, Snr. Mgr. Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control who manages Environmental Health Practitioners throughout the entire region is pictured on the right. With him is Trix Holtzhausen (Executive Manager: Corporate Services), Monde Stratu (Municipal Manager), Rian Boshoff (CFO), John Godfrey Daniels (Executive Manager: Roads Services), Lusanda Menze (Executive Manager: Integrated Planning and Economic Development). At the back is Adv. Sinekaya Maqekeni (Council Secretariat) with Speaker, Ald. Georlene Wolmarans.
According to Johan Compion, Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control, “It is important to note that submitting an application for a dog-friendly area does not guarantee automatic approval. A thorough application and approval process will be in place to ensure compliance and safety.”
Within the next week, a general notice will be distributed to all food establishments, outlining more details relating to the application process for establishing dog-friendly areas.
Please note that full compliance with the application requirements is essential for the review and approval process.
For more information, please use the following contact information (download the list of contact details of Municipal Health Chiefs here) to submit your forms to and to request for any questions of clarity:
*Landline numbers are only in use during weekdays
Johan Compion – Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control
E-mail: jcompion@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 803 1550 / 082 803 5161
Desmond Paulse – Manager: Municipal Health Klein Karoo
Email: desmond@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 272 2241 / Cell: 083 678 6530
94 St John Street, Oudtshoorn
Rinay Cloete – Acting Chief: Municipal Health Mossel Bay
Email: rinay@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 693 0006 /Cell: 083 630 6108
C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay
Emmy Douglas – Chief: Municipal Health George (Outeniqua)
Email: emmy@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 803 1537 / Cell: 078 457 2824
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530
Jessica Erasmus – Acting Chief: Municipal Health George (Wilderness)
E-mail: jessica@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 803 1522 / Cell: 081 346 3118
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George
James McCarthy – Chief: Municipal Health Knysna (Lakes)
Email: james@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 382 7214 / Cell: 082 805 9417
26A Queen Street, Knysna
Gawie Vos – Chief: Municipal Health Bitou (Lakes)
Email: Gjvos@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 501 1600 / Cell: 083 557 1522
7 Gibb Street, Plettenberg Bay
Media Release: Wrapping up Transport Month – A Look into Garden Route District Municipality’s Roads Services
31 October 2024
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) serves a diverse region known for its coastal towns, arid Klein Karoo stretches of land, lush forests, and mountainous landscapes, and farmlands. Through its Roads Services Department, GRDM services approximately 47 000 square km2 roads on behalf of the Western Cape Government Provincial Department of Infrastructure.
GRDM ensures that, within its resource capacity, that road schedules are carefully planned while taking into consideration adverse weather conditions. The Roads Services personnel undertake various tasks such as infrastructure upgrades, re-graveling, resealing, and upgrading roads. These are all aimed at ensuring a reliable and safe trip for road users.
The total length of roads maintained within the Garden Route District is 6003km. The gravel roads serviced, account for 44.32% of all gravel roads in the district. The area serviced by GRDM is divided into 15 wards and these are maintained by 16 maintenance grader operators. According to an agreement with the WCG, a minimum of 10,000 km of gravel road surface must be graded annually. Where necessary, re-graveling projects are undertaken, and the Road Agency is responsible for rehabilitating the quarries from which the gravel is sourced.
A maintenance team is assigned to each ward, as well as a dedicated reseal team. They also address potholes and seal to road surfaces. These teams rely heavily on farm owners and workers to also inform them of road-related issues after floods.
Garden Route Road Services Fleet
The Garden Route Roads Department currently has a fleet of 436 vehicles, valued at R439 134 592, consisting of both minor and major plant equipment and making it the largest fleet in the Western Cape. The budget for the 2023/2024 financial year, according to the Service Level Agreement, was R201 427 000.
Minor plant includes smaller equipment such as concrete saws, compactors, mowers, pumps, and other tools used for various construction tasks on-site. These items can typically be operated by a single person.
Major plant primarily consists of heavy machinery but also includes smaller buses and vans. The heavy machinery refers to larger machines designed for tougher tasks, with commonly used equipment in the department including bulldozers, backhoe loaders, excavators, crane trucks, and more.
Road network
The road network which is maintained covers a combined distance of 6003km of road, of which 5282km are gravel surfaced roads, and 721km are bituminous surfaced roads.
Weather incidents and its impact on roads
The Garden Route District has experienced severe weather over the past year, which have left several roads in poor condition for road users. Some roads were temporarily closed due to the extent of the damage, while others have since been repaired and are now operational again.
At GRDM, we recognise that infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation have a direct impact on the quality of life for individuals. Well-maintained roads and highways alleviate traffic congestion, reduce travel time, and improve the safety of road users. This is achieved through regular inspections of the road network, which provide valuable input for future maintenance plans.
Current Projects and their values
The following current projects have been identified along with their budgeted allocations:
PROJECT NAME
AMOUNT
Reseal Project
R26.25 million
Gwaing Road Construction
R67 million
Maintenance Work
R107 million
Regravel
R28.665 million
Flood damage
R20 million
The total budget for the current financial year, which services these projects, is R196.8M.
Current Projects
Maintenance Section
Blacktop Patching target: 3000 m2
Blacktop Patching actual: 468,00 m2(May 2024)
Projected at end of FY: 3000m2
Blading Target: 10 000 km
Blading Actual: 2 115,11 km (May 2024)
Projected at end of FY: 10 000km
2. Reseal Team
Reseal Target: 268 652,00 m2
Projected at end of FY: 268 652,00 m2
3. Regravel & Construction team
Re-gravel- and Construction Teams is currently busy attending to Flood damages as per list below:
Our staff component To ensure that the roads in the Garden Route District are well-maintained, it is essential for Council to have the best personnel in place, as this specialised work requires specific skills. At GRDM, staff are trained to perform their duties with a high level of professionalism and expertise. Strict policies and procedures are in place for employees to follow, ensuring that everyone works together toward a common goal, while also ensuring that time and resources are used efficiently.
The Roads Services Department is one of GRDM’s key departments where specialised training, skills development, and mentoring opportunities are highly successful. These initiatives are essential in helping officials grow within the organisation, ensuring they acquire the expertise needed to excel in their roles and contribute to the department’s continued success.
Our Engineering Team The Engineering technicians in GRDM are primarily involved in various engineering projects that include civil (construction, reseal & maintenance). Their responsibilities typically encompass:
Technical Support: They provide technical assistance by performing calculations, field surveying, drafting plans, and using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Community Engagement: Given the municipality’s focus on community development, engineering technicians often engage with local residents to gather input on projects that affect their lives such as gathering complaints.
Project planning and design, maintenance management and site supervision, among others are functions they perform.
Media Release: Is the Garden Route better prepared to deal with disasters? Yes it is!
29 October 2024
“The June 2017 wildfire disaster, which caused immense damage to Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, and surrounding areas, served as a rude awakening for Garden Route residents and authorities alike,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
A recent open-air expo at Wilderness, featuring all relevant entities involved in firefighting and fire management in the Garden Route, showcased an impressive array of regional firefighting assets.
The Garden Route is fortunate to have world-class firefighting equipment, highly trained personnel, early warning systems, and a fully functional disaster management centre, which has repeatedly proven effective in managing not only wildfire events but also a wide range of serious disasters.
Awareness of fire risk among Garden Route communities has increased significantly since the Knysna wildfire disaster. Residents outside the urban edge are generally making serious efforts to ensure their properties are protected with fire breaks and standard precautions in place. Many residents have joined the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA), whose preventative measures continue to help limit exposure to wildfire disasters.
The fuel load from unacceptably high levels of invasive alien plants on the Garden Route landscape remains the biggest threat for repeat wildfire disasters, and landowners are not doing enough to reduce its expanding footprint. Outeniqua mountain catchments, previously managed under formal plantations, have not been responsibly maintained over the past five years. The exponential spread of invasive plants over large areas continues to be a serious concern.
Ultimately, the power of nature should never be underestimated. The Garden Route’s history of natural disasters serves as a reminder that the threats posed by a changing climate are ever-present, including runaway wildfires, storm surges, floods, and drought.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental managers and a climate change think tank. (grefscli.co.za)
