NOTICE OF A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON 11 November 2025 AT 12:30
Notice Number: 118/2025
Notice is hereby given that a SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George, on 11 November 2025 at 11:00.
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Click here to download the Official Notice
5 November 2025
Minor traces of a smearable and sticky sheen-like dark substance have been found on a number of beaches along the Garden Route coastline in recent weeks. The exact source of it remains unknown. At a special JOC meeting called by the District Disaster Centre earlier today, Gerhard Otto, Garden Route District Municipality Manager: Disaster Management: indicated that
“Initial reports were received about traces of the substance found along the Bitou municipality coastline, with subsequent sightings gradually moving westward across the region up to Still Bay”.
“The substance typically dries out and breaks down within approximately 6 days,” says Otto.
Traces of small smearable and soft globule patches have been found on most beaches along the Garden Route coastline over the past few weeks with the exact source being unknown.
Some beachgoers have reported traces of the sticky patches of residue on their feet, surfboards, and strips of patches visible along the high and low tide marks.
Currently, there are no reports of any impact on wildlife.
Members of the public who spot traces of the residue are urged to contact the GRDM Emergency Call Centre via WhatsApp at 081 709 5193, and to include a location pin of where it was spotted. These pins help GRDM accurately map and track where patches have occurred and where clean-up operations are required.
An interactive map where residues have been discovered, will be published within the next week.
Ongoing assessment and clean-up operations are underway by local municipalities and stakeholders to remove any visible residue. It is important to note that when these incidents occur at sea, the National Department of Transport is responsible for responding to the spill and implementing the relevant contingency plan. Only once residue reaches the coastline above the high-tide mark do municipalities assume responsibility for clean-up operations.
Approximately 30 bags have been collected during clean-up operations and will be transported to approved hazardous waste disposal sites located in Cape Town and Gqeberha.
Samples of the residue will be tested; however, there is currently no conclusive evidence linking it to any specific source. Investigations of this nature are complex and can take some time to conclude.
A follow-up update will be provided again on 19 November.
ENDS
Tender Number: GRDM/12/25-26
Appointment of a Service Provider to Undertake Specific Initiatives and Collaborations in terms of Destination Marketing, Destination Marketing and Destination Management and Destination Development for a Period of Three Years
INITIAL NON-COMPULSORY BRIEFING SESSION
An Open Session Via Microsoft Teams.
Use link below to join the meeting.
Meeting ID: 384 273 643 253 1
Passcode: CM3vW7Hc
Date: Thursday, 30 October 2025 10:00-11:00.
NEW NON-COMPULSORY BRIEFING SESSION
An Open Session Via Microsoft Teams.
Join the meeting here: https://shorturl.at/SeK1z
Meeting ID: 315 017 549 795 9
Passcode: yN9Bo9Sd
Date: Thursday, 06 November 2025 10:00 – 11:00.
Tender documents for GRDM/12/25-26 are obtainable from Norman October during office hours (Mondays to Thursday 08:00 – 16:30 and Fridays 08:00 – 13:30) Tel: (044) 803 1338;
E-mail: normano@gardenroute.gov.za.
Tenders will be evaluated and adjudicated in terms of the Preferential Procurement Policy of Council based on the Preferential Procurement Regulations of 2022 and the Garden Route District Municipality Supply Chain Management Policy, where 80 points will be allocated in respect of price and 10/10 points in respect of B-BBEE level contributor status and Locality.
CLARITY ON BIDDING PROCEDURES MAY BE DIRECTED TO:
Norman October; Tel: (044) 803 1337; E-Mail: normano@gardenroute.gov.za
CLARITY ON TECHNICAL INFORMATION MAY BE DIRECTED TO:
Denver Johnson Tel: (044) 803 1427 / Cell: 067 037 0352.
E-Mail: denver@gardenroute.gov.za / Ms Raynechia Goliath. Tel: (044) 803 1420
Email: raynechia@gardenroute.gov.za.
Closing Date: 18 November 2025
Notice Number: 117/2025
Click here to download the Official Notice
Upgrading of the Gwaiing Road between the R404 and the R102 remains the focus of the Garden Route District Municipality Roads Construction Team.
During the month of October, a triple seal has been completed in full on the right hand side (RHS) lane of the project, which brings the construction of the RHS to completion. Traffic has since been redirected to the completed RHS lane as the construction operations are now directed to the left hand side (LHS) lane. The next phase in construction on the LHS lane is the cement stabilisation of the subbase layer, which will commence at the beginning of November.
The concrete team remains focused on the completion of the concrete lined side-drains, as well as constructing of the concrete edge beams at all accesses along the road.
Completion date of the project still remains at 31st January 2026, with the progress standing at 87%.
ENDS
Media Release
29 October 2025
The Buisplaas Community Hall near Mossel Bay, yesterday, 28 October 2025, was a hive of activity as the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), in partnership with the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and the Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA), hosted an Awareness and Information Session aimed at unlocking local economic opportunities.
The session provided residents of Buisplaas with direct access to key government and sectoral representatives, focusing on agricultural support, skills development, and employment programmes. The event was directed by Evon Mayekiso from the WCDoA.
The WCDoA team, including Jorita Van der Merwe and Ben Booysen, presented in detail about Agricultural Producers Support and Development initiatives, while Dr. Heidi Schlechter provided essential information on VETS animal health care. This information is crucial for local farmers and producers seeking to enhance their operations and maintain healthy livestock.
A significant portion of the session was dedicated to skills and development. Athenkosi Mata, a representative from the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) encouraged attendees to establish Non-Governmental- (NGO) and Non-Profit Organisations (NPO). Mata further explained that the SETA primarily provides opportunities and funding to registered organisations, not individuals. This highlighted a clear path for community leaders to formalise structures and access broader training funds.
Representatives from the GRDM furthermore outlined immediate opportunities available through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). GRDM’s Androlene Killian detailed that the training focuses, specifically on Law Enforcement Officer training and Early Childhood Development (ECD). In addition, Reginald Salmons, Coordinator of the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) and Training Development at GRDM, highlighted the work of the GRSM, noting the recent Drivers License Programme opportunities that were advertised. Salmons on behalf of the GRSM further committed to work closely with the Buisplaas community moving forward.
The WCDoA concluded the session with a vote of thanks, indicating that further engagements and follow-up activities in the Buisplaas area are already being planned.
Describing the initiative, Evon Mayekiso, Programme Director of the event, highlighted that “the engagement we witnessed in Buisplaas was exceptionally positive and it demonstrated a clear appetite for growth and development”. In addition, Mayekiso emphasised: “Our goal is to ensure that every community member understands the support structures available, whether it be for expanding an existing farm, starting a new NPO, or accessing job-readiness training”.
This session marks the beginning of intensified, ongoing collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and the people of Buisplaas.
ENDS
For immediate release
23 October 2025
The National Marine Week in South Africa is held annually from 7 – 11 October, with a broader Marine Month running from 1-31 October. The annual event aims to raise awareness about marine and coastal ecosystems through commemorative events such as coastal clean-up operations and promote their sustainable use for current and future generations.
The 2025 theme is “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity,” emphasizing the importance of ocean conservation.
As part of the celebrations, the Hessequa Municipality conducted a clean-up operation in collaboration with the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) which coordinated the resources of the Department of Environmental Affair and Development Planning, at the Preekstoel Beach in Hessequa. Thirty (30) learners and 4 teachers from Melkhoutfontein Primary School with 10 adults formed part of the operation.
During his address, as part of the awareness session, prior to the clean-up operation, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, Portfolio Chairperson for Community Services at GRDM, said: “Marine Week is not only about celebrating our coastlines; it’s about taking responsibility for them. Every piece of litter we pick up today is a small but powerful act. A bottle cap, a plastic straw, a fishing line – these might seem insignificant, but to a turtle, a seabird, or a fish, they can mean the difference between life and death. By cleaning up, we prevent waste from entering the marine food chain and protect the biodiversity that keeps our oceans alive”.
In addition, Hoogbaard highlighted that “our coastline is a shared treasure – a treasure that supports tourism, fisheries, recreation, and provides livelihoods for many families. But more than that, it is a living system – a delicate balance of plants, animals, tides, and winds. When we pollute it, we disturb that balance; when we protect it, we restore hope”.
In respect of collaborative initiatives and protecting marine conservation, he said: “As we work together today, let’s remember that marine conservation doesn’t end when we leave the beach. It continues every time we refuse a plastic bag, recycle properly, or teach someone about ocean care. It continues when municipalities enforce coastal management laws, when schools include marine education, and when each of us treats the environment not as a resource to use, but as a legacy to safeguard”.
Coastal waters are packed with life and are massively important to society from a biodiversity and food security perspective, as well as being part of cultural and natural heritage. The World Wildlife Fund in a report said that “as a country with more ocean territory than land, our rich and productive coastal waters support thousands of jobs and contribute billions of rands to the national economy each year. In terms of fisheries alone, historically we have harvested around 600 000 tons of fish a year which provides livelihoods to over 127 000 people and food security to millions.” Humanity should therefore preserve this precious resource for future generations to enjoy.
Dr Nina Viljoen, Head of Environmental Management at GRDM, advised: “Let’s celebrate our magnificent ocean – it’s the only one we have. Take your family or friends out for a beach or river cleanup or just aim to read up a bit more on our beautiful coastline”.
“Every action we take, on land or sea, has ripple effects across coasts, currents, and communities. Together, we can safeguard a healthy, sustainable ocean for all, “Viljoen concluded.
This collaborative partnership between the local Municipalities, District Municipality, Western Cape Government, and other Governmental authorities is a clear example of how Government institutions can work together and make a difference in ensuring the success of environmental projects within communities.
Tomorrow, 24 October 2025, the team, including 60 Slangrivier Primary School learners and educators, will be heading to the Witsand Beach to conclude their annual Marine Month campaign.
ENDS
Notice is hereby given that a COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George, on 29 October 2025 at 11:00.
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https://youtube.com/live/siw4C07psnE?feature=share
Notice Number: 114/2025
20 October 2025
Every year on 16 October, World Food Day is commemorated. This year, under the theme, “Hand in Hand for better Food and a Better Future,” the Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) of the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Knysna sub-office, celebrated the day at the Masithandane Centre in Smutsville, Knysna.
EHP Mitetho Sithonga visited the Centre on 15 October 2025, where he addressed all the caregivers and beneficiaries, providing health education and awareness on several insightful topics. Topics included the following:
Buying only what you cannot grow locally and encouraging locals to start vegetable gardens in their own yards.
These topics highlighted this years’ theme, a call for global collaboration in create a peaceful, sustainable, prosperous, and food-secure future by working together across governments, organisations, sectors, and communities.
-END-
For immediate release
20 October 2025
The team of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) at Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) serving the George (Outeniqua) region, on 15 October 2025 celebrated Global Handwashing Day at Kwakhanya Crèche in Zone 9, Thembalethu. Global Handwashing Day is a partnership of a group of international organisations, including UNICEF, the World Bank and public health agencies globally – this is why the GRDM forms part of this annual campaign.
The take-away message for this year was “Clean hands are within reach – a small action that creates a big impact on global health”
The localised campaign rightfully therefore focused on highlighting the importance of handwashing with soap and water as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. The GRDM team educated the learners/toddlers about the importance of washing hands with soap and the effects of germs on people’s health. Approximately 50 children displayed great excitement and enthusiasm, particularly during the handwashing demonstration, which was presented by EHP Lulamile Macala, which made the session engaging and enjoyable for all who participated.
Representatives from the Breede Olifant Catchment Management Agency were also in attendance.
In conclusion of the event programme, the team donated a few backpacks and water bottles which they handed over to the principal of the facility. This gesture, along with the overall celebration and educational activities at their creche, was warmly welcomed by the principal and the children who expressed their appreciation for the visit and programme.
The celebration also aligned with this year’s theme: “Be a Handwashing Hero!”
ENDS
Notice Number: 112/2025
Notice is hereby given that the Garden Route District Municipality will do a traffic switch to allow motorists to drive on the completed surfaced lane on 21 October 2025.
However, access is restricted to Residents & their Stakeholders residing along DR1618.
One way traffic flow with a speed limit of 40km/h will be enforced. Construction operations on the other lane are still ongoing, and due diligence will be applied to keep our employees & the public safe.
All questions and recommendations must be directed to the Site Safety Officer, Stenly Zambezi, at: Tel: 044-803 1415/ 0789810566 / E-mail: stenly@gardenroute.gov.za.
Click here to download the Official Notice.