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17 June 2025 Media Release: GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners Gearing Up for Upcoming Oyster Festival

Media Release: GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners Gearing Up for Upcoming Oyster Festival

17 June 2025

Annually, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) of the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Knysna Municipal Health office act proactively in planning and implementing mitigation measures and monitoring work schedules before, during and after the Oyster Festival.  This is done to minimize and address public health issues that might arise during the festival.

The 42nd Knysna Oyster Festival will take place this year from 4 – 13 July 2025 under the theme – “It’s time to come out of your shell” – setting the tone for a flavour-packed festival where culinary creativity takes centre stage. Based on attendance in previous years, more than
50 000 visitors are expected this year.

As always, the EHPs will focus on ensuring that the oysters sold to the public, as well as all culinary activities, are safe and fit for human consumption.

FOOD CONTROL

Inspections of informal food premises will include the following:

  • Daily inspections at the Oyster Festival “hot spots” and various food premises within the Greater Knysna area.
  • Inspections at the central festival grounds, which will host more food stalls and other activities than the year before.

This year, the oyster cooking competition is also back by popular demand.  Special attention will be given by the EHPs (both locally and within the District) to ensure that all oysters used during the event are sampled and monitored for compliance.

  • Several batches of oyster samples will be dispatched to the Merieux NutriSciences Laboratory in Cape Town for bacteriological analysis prior to the start of the festival, to establish the bacteriological quality status of the oysters.
  • Drinking water (sachets) to be provided to athletes participating in the Forest Marathon will be analysed to ensure compliance with the Bottled Water Regulations: “Regulation 692 of 1997, promulgated under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act (Act 54 of 1972)”.

WATER QUALITY MONITORING

  • Bacteriological water monitoring of the Knysna Estuary will be conducted by sampling water at 14 identified sites in and around the estuary.
  • Bacteriological water monitoring will also be carried out at sites where recreational water sport events will take place.

HEALTH SURVEILANCE OF PREMISES

Regular inspections and health surveillance of premises of all related public amenities will be conducted during the festival, including:
•    Public toilet facilities;
•    Accommodation establishments;
•    Festival grounds;
•    Food markets; and
•    Tobacco control at premises.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OUTBREAK

A strict communication protocol for reporting any communicable disease outbreak to the local District Municipal Health Authority has been established with all relevant medical healthcare providers, included private and provincial hospitals, general practitioners and pharmacies.

A glimpse of the usual festivities at the Knysna Oyster Festival.

For any additional information regarding the festival, please contact:

James McCarthy
Knysna Region Office
26A Queen Street, Knysna
james@gardenroute.gov.za / 044 382 7214 / 082 805 9417

Johan Compion
Senior Manager: Municipal Health & Environmental Services
info@gardenroute.gov.za / 044 803 1300 / 082 803 5161

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