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Year: 2024

26 August 2024 Media Release: Uncertain future as sand dunes are washed away

Media Release: Uncertain future as sand dunes are washed away

For immediate release
26 August 2024

“The frequency and severity of winter storms are on the increase and as sand dunes protecting infrastructure and residential properties from the ferocity of the ocean that are regularly damaged and often completely washed away, beachfront home owners have reason for concern”, says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).

Primary and secondary sand dunes covered by indigenous vegetation are considered natural infrastructure and act as vital barriers protecting the interior from incoming high tides and wave action. As much as storms and super high tides affecting coastlines and dune systems can be considered normal, it is their frequency and increased ferocity that are posing a real and present threat to hard infrastructure and properties along beaches and low-lying areas such as lagoons, river mouths and estuaries.

Along the SA coastline homeowners with valuable beach properties are concerned about the long term future prospects of their houses. Along sections of the N2 highway in the Southern and Eastern Cape the ocean recently breached the vital road a number of times leading to road closures and damage.

Sand dunes and beaches are protected under environmental legislation and landowners are not permitted to strengthen and re- enforce washed- away dune systems in front of their properties without permission from the powers that be. Still, there is no doubt that the problems and threats of rising seas and storm surges are getting worse and there is reason for concern.

Even where permissions have been granted to protect dunes from being completely washed away those interventions are expensive and need to be comprehensive in order to be effective against the power of the sea. More often than not municipalities lack the funds to build back climate resilient infrastructure with damage incurred due to flooding, landslides and high seas.

Insurance entities are well aware of where high risk properties are located and may well amend their policies over time to be able to compensate for the high levels of exposure to the elements.

Disaster management entities monitor the impact of the ocean on high risk areas and regularly issue advisory notices when strong wind, super high tides and torrential rain all join forces in creating potential threats to coastal communities and properties.

Feature Image: Wilderness beach: Beach-front properties are increasingly threatened by rising sea levels and storm surges. –Photo Supplied

Issued: GREF

GREF is the premier public platform for regional environmental and conservation managers in the Southern Cape.

ENDS

26 August 2024 Media Release: GRDM’s Fire & Rescue Services completes the first ever External Integrated Summative Assessment for Firefighting in South Africa

Media Release: GRDM’s Fire & Rescue Services completes the first ever External Integrated Summative Assessment for Firefighting in South Africa

For immediate release
26 August 2024

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and Fire & Rescue Services through the municipality’s Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) programme on 22 August 2024, completed their first ever External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) for Firefighting in South Africa.

Learners undertaking their final assessment as part of the External Integrated  Summative Assessment.

The Assessment was performed in collaboration with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA). The EISA were conducted at the Municipality’s Calitzdorp Hot Springs, which is also accredited by the QCTO as a Training Assessment Centre.

Deon Stoffels, Chief Fire Officer at GRDM Fire and Rescue Services said: “The External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) is the final assessment managed and conducted by the Quality Partner/Assessment Quality Partner; used to assess all learners nationally. In the EISA the learner proves his/her competence against the Exit Level Outcomes of the Qualification. Learners qualify for entry into EISA via a Statement of Results (SoR) issued by the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) – the GRDM in this regard”.

Learners pictured with the LGSETA External Integrated Summative Assessment Facilitators and Invigilators. Front: Gillian Tobin (middle), Mpume Madondo (right) and back Donald Mathebula (right) and Albert Sekhwela (far right). Also in the picture is Daniel Dippenaar, GRDM Station Commander: Fire Safety & Training (far left), who took over as lead facilitator from the now retired, Brian Afrikander, and successfully saw out the last quarter of the program.

In August 2023 the GRDM Fire & Rescue Services commenced with the implementation of the NQF Level 04 Occupational Certificate in Firefighting. This qualification is a national qualification that is achieved through a training program offered by an accredited fire training institution or a fire department. The GRDM obtained accreditation as a Skills Development Provider for this qualification in September 2022. This accreditation was obtained through joint efforts of the GRDM and the Fire & Rescue Services.

The qualification bears 149 credits, equating to 1490 notional hours of learning, and in effect a total of 187 days of training, including classroom study, assignments and examinations.

This qualification addresses a need to have qualified entry level firefighters who can respond to both structural and incidental emergency situations in South Africa.

It is an entry-level qualification for persons wishing to start a career in the emergency services, especially fire and rescue services. It is aimed at learners from formal schooling background and/or employees who are currently employed as fire fighters or individuals performing firefighting related activities.

Stoffels added: “Learners who successfully complete this qualification will have a range of foundational competencies relating to emergency services, firefighting, rescue operations, victim care and protection of property and the environment, as well as generic skills in workplace processes”.

The completion and attainment of this qualification will benefit learners in terms of employment in various public and private sector organisations, as they will be in possession of the required skills. In addition, Stoffels highlighted: “The employment of qualified learners by the industry will benefit both the communities and the South African economy at large”.

The 24 learners who completed the programme include three (3) members from Bitou, five (5) from Knysna, two (2) from Mossel Bay, three (3) from Kannaland, three (3) from Oudtshoorn, two (2) from Hessequa, as well as six (6) members from George.

Students will be capped at a passing out parade on 27 August 2024, whereafter they will be eligible for work opportunities locally, as well as elsewhere.

It is a good example of how the GRDM through the GRSM initiative, continues to lead skills development throughout the district in a collaborative, cooperative and integrated manner.

Did you know?

  • The qualification has been developed in compliance with the South African National Standards, particularly Community Protection against Fire (SANS 10090:2003). This SANS standard, in turn, gives normative references to seven National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards that are registered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The most relevant NFPA standards for this qualification are NFPA 1001 and 472.
  •  The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) is an international organisation that accredits over 100 Fire Service Providers internationally basing its accreditation on NFPA standards. This qualification has been compared against four NFPA certificates which deal with entry-level fire-fighter requirements, namely: (1) Fire fighter 1; (2) Fire fighter 2; (3) Dangerous goods awareness; and (4) Dangerous goods operations.

Feature Image:  A happy and relieved group of learners after the completion of their final assessment.

ENDS

22 August 2024 Media Release: Early warning and planning important in coping with severe weather

Media Release: Early warning and planning important in coping with severe weather

For immediate release
22 August 2024

“The advent of public information platforms developed over the past two decades timeously informing populations of all incoming weather events has been a game-changer in dealing with direct climate change impacts such as record rainfall figures received in 2024,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).

As climate change- related events such as storm surges, severe weather, damaging wind, flood and wild fire alerts affect the Southern Cape with increased regularity, the question begs if communities still pay sufficient attention to adverse weather advisories.

Running the risk of information saturation communities are urged to always take note of weather advisories and act in accordance as they are issued for good reason and can save lives and assets as environmental threats are on the increase.

Damaging weather- related impacts have become common- place as flooding events regularly wash away hard infrastructure, mountain passes are regularly closed and roads becoming inaccessible for extended periods.

Perhaps one of the most devastating results of changes in rainfall patterns and flooding in recent times were experienced by KZN and areas in the Western Cape where national and regional access roads and bridges were damaged and washed away leaving communities living in flood plains and along river banks severely affected.

Compounding matters further, the impact of a slow- growing economy is felt as municipalities across the board are suffering from diminishing budgets and restraints inhibiting them from rebuilding damaged infrastructure and impacting negatively on planned development.

Ironically countries just north of RSA including Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe are suffering from severe drought effecting food security. Given the sustained rain received during the past few years the prospect of drought in the Garden Route may seem unlikely right now but it may well return towards the end of 2025 and is something to constantly be aware of in terms of planning for the needs of increased population and development.

In dealing with natural disasters, the well- being of natural infrastructure such as priority water catchments, feeder streams, riparian zones and wetlands are vital. Much of these invaluable natural systems fall within the borders of private land and are badly affected by invasive alien plant densities having a destructive effect on not only the functionality of these systems but also loss of critical biodiversity.

GREF is the premier public platform for regional environmental and conservation managers in the Southern Cape.

Issued by: Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF)

Picture (Cobus Meiring): Sand and debris along the Botrivier N2 Highway crossing cleared to prevent a recurrence of the road being washed away as it did earlier in 2024.

 

ENDS

22 August 2024 Media Release: GRSM and stakeholders engage in capacity building workshop in preparation of R 36,4 million project to benefit Tourism and Hospitality sector

Media Release: GRSM and stakeholders engage in capacity building workshop in preparation of R 36,4 million project to benefit Tourism and Hospitality sector

For immediate release
20 August 2024

On Monday, 5 August 2024, delegates from various organisations including officials from the Garden Route  District Municipality (GRDM) responsible for Skills Development, Finance and Tourism, members from the National Skills Fund (NSF), Eden Hospitality & Training and Africa Skills George Tech (formerly known as Africa Skills College), participated in a Nationals Skills Fund (NSF) Tourism & Hospitality Project Capacity Building Workshop.

The purpose of the workshop was for all stakeholders involved in the R 36,4 million project that was approved by the Director-General of the National Department of Higher Education and Training in collaboration with the NSF on 5 July 2024, to plan and discuss the technical groundwork and way forward in relation to the project.

The project will be implemented by the GRDM as the largest single project under the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) since its emergence in 2017 from the Knysna Fires disaster.

Officially called the Garden Route and Klein Karoo Hospitality and Tourism Skills Development Project, it has its two key objectives:

  • Train 200 unemployed persons across the Garden Route on the nationally occupationally accredited programme for Cooks; and
  • Offer workplace experience for 200 unemployed persons who have already completed Tourism and Hospitality programmes at academic institutions.

Although the official approval of the project came through on 5th July 2024, the award for the project was issued on 20th October 2023. Since that time the Skills Mecca Team across the Garden Route have been busy with preparatory work that included advocacy and recruitment of learners as well as host employers and an accredited provider for the Cook training programme.

Dr Florus Prinsloo, Programme Manager of the GRSM, said: “That preparatory work has resulted in 400 applications for Cook Training and 644 applications for Work Experience Placement. This recruitment process was completed utilising the first-ever online recruitment system developed by the GRDM specifically for the NSF project simply because of the size of the recruitment process, with over 1 000 persons applying. Such a process would have been immensely difficult if completed manually.” Prinsloo added.

The preparatory work also included a tender process for accredited providers to apply for the Cook Training, that has resulted in locally based Eden Hospitality & Training, also known to many as the Francois Ferreira Academy, being awarded the contract.

Although a number of employers have put their names forward to host both sets of learners over the next 12 – 18 months, many more are required and the GRSM Team are engaging with Tourism and Hospitality employers across the District to open up their workplaces to offer unemployed persons the opportunity to learn and work in this critical industry.

“Given the size and complexity of these large NSF projects, there is always a need for careful designed and detailed planning and capacity-building processes right at the beginning of these programmes”. To further ensure the success of the project, Dr Prinsloo highlighted that “the Municipality has a good structure in place which is the GRSM and as part of the structure are individuals located at all local municipalities in the district,” he added.

Items that were discussed during the session includes:

  • Key project deliverables and Management;
  • First tranche payment;
  • Financial Reporting;
  • Learner data reporting and safekeeping;.
  • Circular 5/Audit readiness;
  • Project communication channels;
  • Learner sites and visits; and
  • Project team roles

The importance of the project to the Garden Route has also been acknowledged by the newly appointed Executive Mayor for the GRDM, Mayor Andrew Stroebel, who has agreed to host a formal launch of the project at Carpe Diem School in September this year.

ENDS

21 August 2024 Public Notice: GRDM Unaudited Draft Annual Report for the 2023/2024 Financial Year Now Available

Public Notice: GRDM Unaudited Draft Annual Report for the 2023/2024 Financial Year Now Available

Notice is hereby given that the 2023/2024 Draft Unaudited Annual Report was noted by the Council at its meeting held on 21 August 2024, in accordance with Circular 63 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003).

The Unaudited Draft Annual Report for the 2023/2024 financial year is now available for public comment until 30 September 2024. We encourage you to review the document and submit your comments via email to rekords@gardenroute.gov.za on or before 30 September 2024.

The Final Audited Annual Report for 2023/2024 will be presented to the Council for approval in December 2024.

The document is available for public inspection during office hours at the IDP unit, Garden Route District Municipality, 54 York Street, George, and at all our satellite offices in Riversdale, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, and Bitou. It can also be accessed on our municipal website: www.gardenroute.gov.za.

Persons who are unable to read or write are encouraged to contact the Garden Route District Municipality during ordinary office hours, where they will be assisted to formulate their written comments or objection. For any further enquiries, please contact: Ms M James (IDP Unit: Garden Route District Municipality) at telephone number: 044 803 1431.

M G Stratu
Municipal Manager
Garden Route District Municipality

02 August 2024 Media Release: Further Community Clean-Up Initiative in Concordia West

Media Release: Further Community Clean-Up Initiative in Concordia West

2 August 2024

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Waste Management section again worked together with the Waste Management section of Knysna Municipality, Asivikelane, and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to clean Concordia West Kop n Lop on Wednesday, 31 July 2024. This event followed an earlier clean-up on 18 July (Mandela Day) at the Concordia West wetland.

GRDM commended the participants for their dedication in trying to maintain clean environments and stressed the importance of continued education and awareness. During the clean-up, some community members were observed dumping waste even as others were cleaning. According to the GRDM District Waste Management Officer Innocentia Sikweyiya, “this truly highlighted the need for ongoing education about proper waste disposal in our communities”.

GRDM recognises the importance of joint clean-up efforts and stressed the need for stakeholders to revisit and revise their strategies. Integrating education, awareness, and recycling programs into their initiatives is seen as essential for long-term success.

 Stakeholders and Contributions

  • Asivikelane: 37 participants
  • GRDM: Provided gloves, masks, and rakes
  • Polyco: Supplied plastic bags
  • Aquelle: Donated beverages
  • Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE): 30 participants
  • Community Members: 6 participants
  • Knysna Municipality: Provided a refuse truck

In total, 320 bags of waste were collected during the clean-up.  “These two clean-ups clearly demonstrate the value of collaborative efforts in promoting a cleaner and healthier environment,” said Sikweyiya.

 Moving Forward

GRDM encourages ongoing community participation in maintaining cleanliness and stresses the importance of incorporating educational programs to foster better waste management practices. By working together and staying committed to these initiatives, the community can ensure a sustainable, healtier and cleaner future for all.

On the featured image and on the other images, you can see all of the clean-up activities.

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02 August 2024 Media Release: GRDM EHPs provide training to Informal Food Traders in Dysselsdorp and Spaza shops in Uniondale and Haarlem

GRDM EHPs provide training to Informal Food Traders in Dysselsdorp and Spaza shops in Uniondale and Haarlem

For immediate release
02 August 2024

The Informal Food Services Sector is a significant contributor to economic development, especially in micro-businesses. It creates jobs, helps alleviate poverty, and has the potential to expand the economic base of a region.

Food control includes the monitoring of food premises and safe handling of food at formal and informal food premises. Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) perform health and hygiene education to the public.

In terms of Regulation 638 of 22 June 2018, REGULATIONS GOVERNING GENERAL HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD PREMISES, THE TRANSPORT OF FOOD AND RELATED MATTERS, promulgated under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972), anyone that handle food for selling it to the public, must be in possession of a CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTABILITY (COA).  EHPs from GRDM ensure compliance of food premises by issuing COAs.

On 24 July 2024, GRDM’s EHPs based in Oudtshoorn, in collaboration with Oudtshoorn Municipality, presented a Health and Hygiene training session for informal food traders of Dysselsdorp at the Dysselsdorp Thusong Service Centre. Twenty-one (21) informal food traders attended the session.

The EHPs assisted and educated prospective informal food traders on how to apply for a CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTABILITY. The team further presented a health and hygiene education session and provided training on basic food hygiene principles. The health and hygiene education session focused on the safe and hygienic transportation, storage, handling and preparation of food and the selling of safe food stuffs, for example using meat obtained from an approved abattoir.

The training highlighted the significance of hygienic food handling practices and selling safe food to prevent food poisoning and other food-related diseases. Ensuring that the food consumed is healthy and safe, is crucial to public health. The structural requirements for food premises were also explained.

The content of the health and hygiene training session was based on the World Health Organisation’s Five Keys to Safer Food training package, which includes the following five important aspects:

  1. Keep clean.
  2. Separate raw and cooked foods.
  3. Cook thoroughly.
  4. Keep food at safe temperatures.
  5. Use safe water and raw materials.

The GRDM EHPs also conducted a Health and Hygiene Education session at the Spaza shops in the Uniondale and Haarlem areas on 25 July 2024. The following topics were further discussed:

  • Compliance with a Certificate of Acceptability
  • Structural requirements
  • Hygiene requirements
  • Protection of food
  • Temperature Control

Participants at both sessions actively engaged in discussions and now have a clearer understanding about complying with food safety legislation. The importance of their roles and responsibilities as informal food traders on how food is handled when it is sold it to the public, were also emphasised.

For more information or to report unhygienic practices by food handlers, contact the following GRDM offices within the Garden Route:

Klein Karoo & Kannaland
Desmond Paulse – Manager: Municipal Health (Klein Karoo)
94 St John Street, Oudtshoorn
Tel: 044 272 2241 / Cell: 083 678 6530

Mossel Bay
Rinay Cloete – Acting Chief: Municipal Health
C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay
Tell: 044 693 0006 / Cell: 083 530 3709

George Outeniqua
Emmy Douglas – Chief: Municipal Health (Outeniqua)
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530
Tel: 044 803 1501 / Cell: 078 457 2824

George & Wilderness
Khanyisa Shoto – Acting Chief: Municipal Health
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530
Tel: 044 803 1599 / Cell:071 883 6335

Knysna
James McCarthy – Chief: Knysna
26A Queen Street, Knysna, 6571
Tel: 044 382 7214 / Cell: 082 805 9417

Bitou
Gawie Vos – Chief: Lakes (Bitou)
4 Virginia street, Plettenberg bay, 6600
Tel: 044 501 1600 / Cell: 083 557 1522

Hessequa
Haemish Herwels – Chief: Hessequa
24 Michell Street, Riversdale, 6670
Tel: 028 713 2438 / Cell: 083 678 6545

Johan Compion
Manager: Municipal Health & Environmental Services
E-mail: info@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 803 1300 / Cell: 082 803 516

_______________________

Op 24 Julie 2024, het Omgewingsgesondheidspraktisyns (OGP) van GRDM aan voornemende informele voedselhandelaars van Dysselsdorp ‘n opvoedkundige sessie aangebied oor hoe om aansoek te doen vir ‘n SERTIFIKAAT VAN AANVAARBAARHEID. Verder het die span ook ‘n opleidingsessie aan die betrokke deelnemers rakende Basiese Voedselhigiënebeginsels aangebied. Die laasgenoemde sessie het veral klem gelê op die veilige en higiëniese vervoer, berging, hantering en voorbereiding, asook die verkoop van veilige voedsel.

Die opleiding was gebaseer op die Wêreldgesondheidsorganisasie se Vyf Sleutels tot Veiliger Voedsel, naamlik:

  1. Hou jou hande, kookgerei en ookoppervlakte skoon.
  2. Skei rou en gaar kosse.
  3. Kook deeglik.
  4. Hou kos by veilige temperature.
  5. Gebruik veilige water en rou materiaal.

Verder het OGPs verantwoordelik vir die George en omliggende areas, op 25 Julie 2024 ook Spaza-winkels in die Uniondale- en Haarlem-areas besoek om aan handelaars die 9 Sleutelprestasie-areas van Munisipale Gesondheidsdienste wat die onderwerp van voedselveiligheid insluit, oor te dra. Die volgende onderwerpe is tydens die sessie aangebied:

  1. Voldoening aan ‘n Sertifikaat van Aanvaarbaarheid
  2. Struktuurvereistes
  3. Higiënevereistes
  4. Beskerming van voedsel
  5. Temperatuurbeheer

ENDS

01 August 2024 Media Release: GRDM Skills Mecca programme launches its first ever RPL Firefighter Programme with LGSETA Funding

Media Release: GRDM Skills Mecca programme launches its first ever RPL Firefighter Programme with LGSETA Funding

1 August 2024

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Skills Mecca programme is coordinating and facilitating skills development projects in collaboration with all seven Garden Route district Local Municipalities (LM) and the Central Karoo District Municipality.

During October 2023, a Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) Discretionary Grant funding window application period opened. GRDM, with the support of other Local Government stakeholders, applied for R1.75 million in funding to offer recognition of prior learning (RPL) to 50 employed municipal officials  for an Occupational Certificate: Fire Fighter. The application was subsequently approved, and the funding was approved for GRDM.

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for Occupational Certificate for Fire Fighters qualification is a process that results in an opportunity for recognizing and validating existing skills, knowledge, and experience of persons who have been working in the firefighting environment for many years but without formal certification.

The GRDM is an accredited provider and assessment centre with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), specifically for the Occupational Certificate: Fire Fighter NQF Level 4 qualification. This means the GRDM can roll out training and RPL programs related to firefighting.

Yesterday, 31 July 2024, the induction for the program took place for learners from Kannaland, Bitou, the Central Karoo District, Beaufort West, and the GRDM. The RPL programme will officially commence in August 2024.  At the end of the programme, the learners that comply with all the necessary evidence will write an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) exam, and successful candidates will receive a national certificate.

Feature image caption: Learners from Kannaland, Bitou, the Central Karoo District, Beaufort West, and the GRDM who form part of the RPL programme.

A couple of mood shots captured during the induction session.

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