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Author: Herman Pieters

200 Tourism and/or Hospitality Work Experience Placement Opportunities – Another Garden Route Skills Mecca Initiative

The Garden Route District Municipality invites unemployed persons currently residing within the Garden Route District Municipal area, to apply for an opportunity to be placed at a Tourism and/or Hospitality Organisation for an 18 month work experience opportunity as part of a Garden Route Skills Mecca Initiative. Preference will be given to persons with disabilities. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35.

Opportunities are currently available within the following municipal areas within Garden Route District. Each municipal area will be able to accommodate up to 30 people.

Programme and Entry Requirements

This is an eighteen-month work experience placement programme at Tourism / Hospitality organisation in the Garden Route.

Applicants will be selected based the following sequentially prioritised criteria:

  • 1st Criteria: Persons with a NATED N6 Tourism / Hospitality Qualification that need 18-months work experience for a National Diploma.
  • 2nd Criteria: Persons with any Local or International Tourism / Hospitality Qualification that have had no work experience.
  • 3rd Criteria: Persons with any Local or International Tourism / Hospitality Qualification that have had less than six months’ work experience.
  • 4th Criteria: Persons with at least a NQF 1 Qualification that have a desire to work in the Tourism / Hospitality Sector.
  • Persons with a disability supported by a medical certificate are encouraged to apply and will be exempt from any of the above criteria.

In addition, the GRDM, subject to receiving enough applications and available workplaces, will also attempt to allocate applicants evenly across all Municipal Wards in the District.

Scope of Work and Duties

  • This will be determined by the Tourism / Hospitality organisation but could include administration, reception, room services bar services, restaurant services, food services customer services or any other typical work within tourism and hospitality.
  • All shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a pre-assessment to assist with correct career development.

Stipends will be paid for eighteen months by the Garden Route District Municipality. Stipends must be used for meals, accommodation, and travel costs. The Programme also does not include uniforms, PPE or any equipment unless supplied voluntarily by the host employer.

Applicants must apply using the GRDM online system called Unemployed Solutions (click the red button) found at https://skillsmecca.gardenroute.gov.za/.

THE GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY WILL ONLY CONSIDER APPLICATIONS COMPLETED IN FULL AND IF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN UPLOADED:

  • A copy of South African ID Document certified within the last six months.
  • A copy of highest educational qualifications certified within the last six months.
  • An affidavit certified within last six months that confirms previous work experience, including any Learnerships.
  • A criminal record clearance report from the SA Police Services.

For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact Mr Reginald Salmons on 044-803 1363, or Mrs Angela-Ziva Coetzee at 044 803 1344 during office hours only. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Should candidates not be contacted within two months of the closing date, they must consider their application as unsuccessful.

Closing Date: 10 May 2024

Notice Number: 35/2024

16 April 2024 Media Release: GRDM continues to create fire breaks on its properties

Media Release: GRDM continues to create fire breaks on its properties

16 April 2024

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in collaboration with Working on Fire (WoF), created several fire breaks on its properties. The GRDM owns several properties along coastal areas like Rheebok, Glentana, Herolds Bay, Hansmoeskraal, Victoria Bay, Swartvlei and Buffalo Bay. WoF and GRDM work hand-in-glove to create fire breaks in high-risk fire areas.

During Autumn and Winter, properties are prioritised for several reasons – the effects of a change in climate, compliance with relevant legislation, wildfire risks, as well as management of alien invasive plant species. Compliance with the National Veld and Forest Fire Act 101 of 1998, also remains a priority.

The teams already covered Rheebok in February 2024 and concluded the project by clearing the highly invasive Rooikrans (Acacia cyclops) trees in the first week of April 2024. On 15 April, the team proceeded to a second property based in Glentana, which borders the George and Mossel Bay Municipalities. This property has significant fuel load and especially dozens of Black Wattle Trees need to be reduced.

It is important to note that alien Invasive plants contribute mostly to fire fuel loads. Some of the most prevalent invasive plants include Black Wattle, Rooikrans, Pine (wild growing), Gum trees (Eucalyptus), Hakea, Port Jackson, Long leaved wattle, and Black Wood.

According to Deon Stoffels, the GRDM Fire Chief: “Landowners are responsible for preparing and maintaining fire breaks. Each owner on whose land a veldfire may start, or from whose land it may spread must prepare and maintain a firebreak on his or her side of the boundary between his or her land and any adjoining land.”

Firebreaks are particularly important as it provides for an area of reduced fuel load which will reduce the intensity of a wildfire and allow for more effective combating.

Feature Image: A firebreak on a Rheebok property that is owned by the Garden Route District Municipality.

ENDS

09 April 2024 Media Statement: Urgent Public Warning – Fraudulent Tender Activities Alert

Media Statement: Urgent Public Warning – Fraudulent Tender Activities Alert

9 April 2024

It has come to our attention that individuals have been approached by a person or persons claiming to be involved in the municipality’s supply chain and tender decision-making process. One fraudulent actor, using the name “Patrick Schata” among others, have contacted potential tenderers, promising favourable outcomes in exchange for E-Wallet payments or other forms of financial compensation.

What to do if you encounter this fraudulent activity:

Do Not Respond: Do not click on links, open attachments, make payments, or provide any personal or financial information.

Report Immediately: Contact the GRDM’s Ethics and Fraud Hotline on 0800 116 616, e-mail grdm@thehotline.co.za or SMS 30916

The GRDM is investigating these fraudulent activities while remaining committed to ensuring the integrity of our tender processes.

Your vigilance and cooperation in reporting such incidents are greatly appreciated to combat these fraudulent schemes.

Here is a copy of a fraudulent letter presented to a company:

ENDS

26 March 2024 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality once again empowers Small and Medium Enterprises with Equipment and Support

Media Release:  Garden Route District Municipality once again empowers Small and Medium Enterprises with Equipment and Support

26 March 2024

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Council has again supported Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) with a significant allocation of R600,000 in the 2023/2024 budget. This funding is geared towards interventions and needs of SMEs within the region.

During a formal handover ceremony held yesterday, 25 SMEs meeting the specified criteria were provided with equipment in order to grow their businesses.

The selection process for beneficiaries began with widespread outreach efforts, including advertisements in local newspapers and rural areas within the Garden Route. A total of 83 businesses responded to the call for proposals. Facilitated by the SEDA, the vetting, screening, and verification process ensured fairness and transparency. The Adjudication Committee, comprising Local Economic Development (LED) Managers, the Department of Agriculture, the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership  (WCEDP), and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT, carefully reviewed pitches from businesses and made recommendations.

During the ceremony, Alderlady Rosina Ruiters, Portfolio Chairperson of the Planning and Economic Development Department, welcomed attendees and highlighted the program’s origins. Dr. Keith du Plessis, CEO of Casidra, expressed appreciation for the SME program, acknowledging its vital role in supporting small businesses, which are recognised as the backbone of many economies worldwide. “I want to take my hat-off to the GRDM for recognising the plea of the struggling SME’s, what these small businesses are facing, and what our programme assists with,” Du Plessis said.

Program Director and Acting Manager of District Economic Development and Tourism Unit, Richard Dyantyi, emphasised the program’s focus on reaching rural businesses and collaboration with SEDA to provide ongoing support and assistance in marketing.

The Western Cape Provincial Manager of SEDA, Alex Qunta, delivered an inspiring message to SME owners, urging them to prioritise working on their businesses for long-term success. “You have to work on your business first, before it can work for you.  As entrepreneurs and business owners, we always want the business to work for us.

GRDM Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen reiterated the municipality’s dedication to changing lives through initiatives like these, despite budget constraints. “Every year during this gathering I say the same things, but the fact of the matter is, facts don’t change, the truth doesn’t change, circumstances might change from time to time.” He elaborated on the District Municipality Council’s proactive decisions made five years ago to positively impact the lives of people in the district.

Alderman Booysen further acknowledged the GRDM’s commitment to prioritising initiatives like supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), even if it meant reallocating funds from other projects. He stressed that a project like this, despite not being part of the GRDM’s core functions, is essential for the growth and prosperity of the community.

Dyantyi shared the success story of 68 previously benefited SMEs, all of which remain operational, highlighting the program’s impact and sustainability.

GRDM Acting Municipal Manager, Lusanda Menze, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their support and contributions in all the different forms, to the success of the SME Program.  He said that GRDM remains committed to empowering SMEs and driving economic growth and prosperity across the region.

Below are photos of the beneficiaries with Ald. Memory Booysen (GRDM Executive Mayor), Ald. Rosina Ruiters (Portfolio Chairperson: Economic Development and Planning), Lusanda Menze (GRDM Acting Municipal Manager), Dr. Keith du Plessis (CEO: Casidra), and Alex Qunta (WC Manager: SEDA).

ENDS