Media Release: First Garden Route District Safety Forum for this year hosted by the Garden Route

For immediate release
21 February 2025

Yesterday, 20 February 2025, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) hosted the first District Safety Forum meeting for this year at the Joint Operation Centre of the municipality.

Stakeholders at the District Safety Forum meeting held at the Joint Operation Centre of the GRDM.

The Portfolio Chairperson of Community Services, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, highlighted the importance of working together, not only as spheres of government but a whole of society approach to ensure a safer District for all. Hoogbaard informed the meeting that the GRDM is currently in discussions with the South African Police Service on how the District might be able to share and strengthen collective resources. “This will be to ensure a more coordinated and effective response to address the current situation, as well as foreseen safety and security challenges of the District”.

The main objectives of the meeting was for all stakeholders to provide progress reports on their current safety and security related programs and projects funded as part of the Provincial Whole of Society Approach grant. In addition, the meeting also endeavoured to prioritise the projects and programs to be funded for the remainder of this financial year.

The seven local municipalities of the Garden Route (Kannaland, Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Oudtshoorn and Bitou), were requested to compile business plans that speak to their specific needs as captured – as part of their local safety plans. They were also prompted to indicate their specific needs for inclusion as part of the 25/26 Garden Route District Safety Forum business plan. This proactive approach will ensure that GRDM’s future project proposals are aligned with the district’s most pressing safety priorities.

Feature Image: The first Garden Route District Safety Forum of the year held on 20 February 2025.

ENDS