Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) staff reach out to various communities across the district in support of the annual International Mandela Day celebrations

For immediate release
1 August 2025

𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 d𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝘆𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘂

In honour of Mandela Day, Departments at GRDM reached out to various communities and facilities across the district to continue with the legacy left behind by the late and former father of the nation, Nelson Mandela. Teams contributed their 67 minutes towards the international campaign as follows:

Office of the Municipal Manager donate sanitary pads to Tyholora Primary School

Office of the Municipal Manager employees from GRDM chose girls from Tyholora Primary School in Thembalethu, George, as the beneficiary of their sanitary pad donation drive.  Although schools were closed on the day, employees managed to collect the sanitary pads varying from 8 to 32 per pack and handed it over to the school on Thursday, 31 July 2024. This initiative aims to help reduce school absenteeism among girls and promotes dignity. Speaker of GRDM, Ald. Georlene Wolmarans, also attended the handover occasion.

De Hoek Mountain Resort clean graves of possible former owners of the resort

Staff from the Garden Route District Municipal resort, De Hoek Mountain Resort, cleaned nearby graves of the possible former owners of the resort. Die span het hul dankbaarheid uitgespreek en gesê: “Ons is dankbaar dat ons as deel van hierdie veldtog ‘n klein bydra kon maak deur menswaardigheid te herstel”.

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗶, 𝗞𝗻𝘆𝘀𝗻𝗮

The Disaster Management team visited the Bergvallei community to create awareness about the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre (GRDMC). A key component of the campaign was raising awareness about the Emergency Communications Call Centre. Residents learned the critical importance of what to say and do when reporting an emergency, ensuring that vital information is conveyed effectively to facilitate a swift and appropriate response. The outreach also included basic life-saving first aid skills education. Lastly, soup and bread were shared with all attendees.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲

The Integrated Planning and Economic Development Department visited the Rosemoor Old Age Home to deliver much needed adult diapers. The donation was warmly received, as the home is often in urgent need of these essential supplies. The staff of the Old Age Home expressed their sincere gratitude for the thoughtful gesture and emphasised how much the support means to the well-being of their residents.

EHPs 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯

The Garden Route District Municipality’s Bitou (Plettenberg Bay) Environmental Health Practitioners, together with community volunteers, spent the day painting and revitalising the garden at the New Horizons Pensioners Club. The team also made monitory donations in support of Bitou’s Victim Support initiative. This outreach beautifully combines community service, environmental beautification, and meaningful fundraising to uplift elderly residents and strengthen local social support networks.

𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲 and 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲, hosted 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲

GRDM’s Municipal Health Services in Riversdale, in collaboration with Child Welfare – South Africa-Riversdale, celebrated Mandela Day by hosting a soup kitchen drive at the offices of Child Welfare. The team extended a word of gratitude to all businesses who contributed towards the initiative, including: Riversdale Superspar, JC Slagtery, Savemore Store, the All in One Solomon Shop, Cabby’s Family Market, Lexean and Pop Shop.

𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

For the second year in a row, the Western Cape Blood Service was supported by GRDM and George Municipality to promote blood donation. This year’s blood drive was hosted at the George’s Banquet Hall, where every donor also received a pair of warm socks as a token of appreciation. GRDM Employee Assistance Practitioners and George Municipality Practitioners, together with Communicators, worked hand-in-hand to encourage staff and residents to participate in this life-saving initiative. Each person who donated blood can save three lives.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 and 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱.

Garden Route District Municipal Fire & Rescue Services visited the George Waste Management Facility, as well as the Men on the Side of the Road in Industrial Street, George. The team handed out hotdog rolls and soft drinks to those present. “It was indeed a humbling experience – it was evident how grateful the beneficiaries were, for just something to put in their stomachs over the lunch time period”.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗱𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

Community Services’ Municipal Health section in Oudtshoorn, reached out to the Spies Kamp community, a rural area outside Schoemanshoek, Oudtshoorn. The team donated clothes to the community which they handed over to a community leader/representative within the specific area. They also took responsibility for the sorting and distribution of the clothing items to residents that may have a need.

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗣𝗖𝗔

Staff from the Finance Department at Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) visited the SPCA today to hand over dog food to the facility. The event formed part of the Mandela Day celebrations and their 67 minutes contribution in honour of his legacy.

Officials at SPCA welcomed the outreach and visit from the officials and extended words of gratitude to the team for their caring hearts in contributing to the wellbeing of the dogs at their facility.

𝗚𝗥𝗗𝗠’𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴

EHPs presented a health education session to the Golden Valley community regarding illegal dumping. Team members also handed out magnets depicting contact information about where communities can report illegal dumping cases. More than 50 households were reached during the campaign. They also joined George Municipality’s Waste Management section and  Environmental Management educators to conduct a clean-up campaign in the same area. They collected over 20 bags within the first hour.

𝗚𝗥𝗗𝗠 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗾𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗰𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮

GRDM’s Waste Management Unit, Bitou Municipality and Masiqhame Recycling, launched two Buy Back centers in the Bitou. District Waste Management Officer, Innocentia Sikweyiya, encouraged the community to make use of the Buy Back centers, by separating their waste at home as it will contribute to the reduction of waste disposed at the landfill facility. She emphasised that “promoting recycling is a vital tool for environmental preservation and sustainability”.

𝗞𝗻𝘆𝘀𝗻𝗮 EHPs 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁, 𝗞𝗻𝘆𝘀𝗻𝗮

Municipal Health Knysna office embarked on feeding the destitute community surrounding the Knysna office situated in Queen Street. During the event, approximately 20 people were provided with food and beverages, donated by local businesses, as well as mutual contributions from the Knysna office. “Mandela Day is not just a celebration, but a call to action for all of us, encouraging people to continue Madiba’s fight for a better world by addressing issues like poverty, inequality and a lack of education and health care.”

𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵

In honour of International Mandela Day celebrations, the Garden Route Municipal Roads Maintenance and Fire Services teams responsible for the Ladismith area, took part in a soup drive feeding community members residing in the area.

The community welcomed the initiative and extended words of appreciation to the GRDM teams involved.

ENDS

Feature Image: Speaker of GRDM, Ald. Georlene Wolmarans with staff from the Office of the Municipal Manager, handed over the sanitary pads to the Tyholory Primary School in Thembalethu.