Notice Number 32/2024
Notice of a Council meeting on 27 March 2024 at 10h00.
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, 24 York Street, George, on 27 March 2024 at 10h00.
MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
For Immediate Release
20 March 2024
20 March 2024 – The legal proceedings relating to property disputes in Knysna, initiated against Monde Stratu, Municipal Manager of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), have been officially withdrawn, at Knysna Regional Court today. All costs relating to the baseless accusations will be carried by those who brought it before the court.
The case pertained to unsubstantiated allegations surrounding the disclosure and the treatment of contingent assets (properties) valued at approximately R64 million in the 2018/2019 Annual Financial Statements of both Knysna and Garden Route District Municipality. These frivolous allegations included forgery, utterance, and the manipulation of a 2018/19 audit report.
“This decision did not come as a surprise, because from the onset the GRDM Council has unanimously and categorically refuted the allegations as frivolous, vexatious, and unfounded. The decision of the court confirms that the GRDM Council has always been correct in its assessment of such unfortunate allegations,” said Ald. Memory Booysen, GRDM Executive Mayor.
Before the official withdrawal of the case by the Knysna Regional Court Judge, the State made recommendations for the charges against Mr Monde Stratu to be withdrawn by the National Prosecution Authority.
GRDM remains committed to maintaining transparency and accountability in all of its dealings and will continue to work diligently to serve and protect the interests of communities.
ENDS
For Immediate Release
20 March 2024
An extensive sampling program is continuously rolled out across various Garden Route district. The region is divided into several focus areas which include the Klein Karoo, Lakes (Knysna), Lakes (Plettenberg Bay), George (Outeniqua), George (Wilderness), Langeberg (Mossel Bay), and Langeberg (Hessequa).
According to Johan Compion, GRDM Senior Manager: Municipal Health and Environmental Services, “sampling is central to our mission to ensure the protection of public health , compliance with current legislation and the identification of potential contaminants in the products our communities consumes”.
Food and water can become contaminated at various stages, from production to distribution. The GRDM’s sampling approach enables the precise identification of harmful bacteria, viruses, chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants.
Sampling efforts have the potential to identify food and water contaminants, pathogens, or toxins. EHPs are proactive in sampling various sources to detect hazards, initiate timely measures to mitigate risks and prevent possible outbreaks of foodborne illnesses or waterborne diseases.
Monthly routine bacteriological and chemical water testing are done at established sampling points, complemented by additional sampling in response to complaints or known spillages. Similarly, bacteriological food samples are collected monthly from various locations to verify hygienic standards in storage and preparation. Chemical food samples are evaluated quarterly to confirm the accuracy of product labels.
GRDM EHPs capture sampling data on the institution’s data management system where they can draw reports and monitor compliance. Furthermore the sampling data is available on our Municipal Health Dashboard where they can track the areas of non-compliance as well as historical data to identify any trends of concern.. The historical data also assists EHPs with investigations to determine possible causes and to remedy them as soon as possible to ensure the water or food are compliant to legislated standards.
Chemical and bacteriological water and food samples are analysed by an accredited laboratory for bacteriological samples and the Forensic Chemical Laboratory do all the GRDM’s chemical food samples.
Johan Compion – Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control
E-mail: info@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 082 803 5161
Klein Karoo and Kannaland Region
Desmond Paulse – Manager: Municipal Health Klein Karoo
Tel: 044 272 2241 / Cell: 083 678 6530
94 St John Street, Oudtshoorn
Langeberg (Mossel Bay)
Acting Chief: Municipal Health Mossel Bay
Tel: 044 693 0006 /Cell: 083 630 6108
C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay
George (Outeniqua)
Emmy Douglas – Chief: Municipal Health George (Outeniqua)
Tel: 044 803 1537 / Cell: 078 457 2824
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530
George (Wilderness)
Acting Chief: Municipal Health George (Wilderness)
Tel: 044 803 1522
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George
Lakes (Knysna)
James McCarthy – Chief: Municipal Health Knysna
Tel: 044 382 7214 / Cell: 082 805 9417
26A Queen Street, Knysna
Lakes (Bitou)
Gawie Vos – Chief: Municipal Health Bitou
Tel: 044 501 1600 / Cell: 083 557 1522
7 Gibb Street, Plettenberg Bay
Langeberg (Hessequa)
Haemish Herwels – Chief: Municipal Health Hessequa
Tel: 028 713 2438 / Cell: 083 678 6545
23 Michell Street, Riversdale, 6670
Feature Image: Water Sampling being done by an Environmental Health Practitioner at the Kaaimans River mouth
ENDS
16 March 2024
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is now ranked as the 3rd-best District Municipality in South Africa, according to the 2024 Governance Performance Index (GPI). Good Governance Africa (GGA) rated South Africa’s 8 metros, 205 local municipalities, and 44 district municipalities.
The top four (4) district municipalities under the C1 category are all located in the Western Cape, with the Cape Winelands District Municipality ranked first, West Coast District Municipality second and the GRDM third. Overberg District Municipality is ranked fourth.
GRDM is known as a C1 district, which has no water supply and sanitation responsibilities like 22 other districts in South Africa. Twenty-one of the 44 district municipalities (known as C2 district municipalities) of South Africa are water services authorities (WSA).
Under the GPI, the GRDM demonstrated exceptional performance across various sectors, including administration, governance, and service delivery.
They have centres and coverage in Eastern Africa, Nigeria, the South African Development Community (this includes Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). and West Africa.
Feature Image: GRDM has been under the leadership of Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen (left) and Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu (right), since 2017.
ENDS
28 Februarie 2024
‘n Afvaardiging van die Tuinroete-distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM) het vroeër vandag ‘n konstruktiewe gesprek gehad met verteenwoordigers van die Dysselsdorp-gemeenskap. ‘n Deurslaggewende ooreenkoms is bereik dat geen plaaslike inwoners uitsetting in die gesig staar nie.
Die TDM gaan voort met sy regstappe teen die Gona-Hesse! Khwe Royal Koninkryk wat tans ‘n deel van Erf 2 en Erf 975 huur en nie kontraktuele verpligtinge nakom nie.
Gesprekke met die Oudtshoorn Munisipaliteit en ander sleutelbelanghebbendes sal voortgaan om gemeenskapskwessies verder aan te spreek.
Die gemeenskapverteenwoordigers van Dysselsdorp het die geleentheid om direk met die GRDM-afvaardiging te gesels hartlik verwelkom en die positiewe uitkomste van die verbintenis waardeer. Na afloop van die produktiewe vergadering het die gemeenskap takke en klippeuit die paaie verwyder en sodoende normale verkeersvloei en toegang tot Dysselsdorp herstel.
Die Tuinroete-distriksmunisipaliteit (GRDM) betuig sy dank aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiedienste, gemeenskapsleiers en die inwoners vir hul bereidwilligheid en samewerkende gees om te werk aan ‘n vreedsame en konstruktiewe oplossing.
EINDIG
Dysselsdorp se gemeenskap is gelukkig met die uitkomste van die gesprekke wat plaasgevind het tussen TDM en die Dysselsdorp-gemeenskap se verteenwoordigers. (Foto: Bonisile Desha)
28 February 2024
A delegation from the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), earlier today, held a constructive dialogue with representatives of the Dysselsdorp community, reaching a crucial agreement that no local residents will face eviction.
The GRDM is set to continue its legal actions against the Gona-Hesse! Khwe Royal Kingdom who are currently leasing a part of Erf 2 and Erf 975 and who are in breach of the contract they entered into with the GRDM.
Discussions with the Oudtshoorn Municipality and other key stakeholders are set to proceed to further address community concerns.
The Dysselsdorp community warmly welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with the GRDM delegation, appreciating the positive outcomes of the engagement. Following the productive engagement, the community removed obstacles from the roads, thereby restoring normal traffic flow and access to Dysselsdorp.
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) extends its thanks to the South African Police Services, community leaders, and the residents for their patience, understanding, and collaborative spirit in working towards a peaceful and constructive resolution.
ENDS
‘n Foto geneem tydens die gesprekke wat plaasgevind het deur ‘n afvaardiging van Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (links) en gemeenskapsverteenwoordigers van Dysselsdorp (regs).
28 February 2024
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is aware of the land-claims of two of its properties in Dysselsdorp (Erf 2 and 975) and remains committed to a fair and humane process to be followed going forward. The GRDM will engage several stakeholders to find a fair resolution for the situation.
Background
In 2021, the Gona-Hesse! Khwe Royal Kingdom, a non-profit entity, approached the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) with a proposal to lease land within the district’s jurisdiction. Their initial interest was in Kleinkrantz, a small community situated between Wilderness and Sedgefield. However, they were informed that Kleinkrantz was unavailable, but alternative land within the municipality’s area of jurisdiction could be leased, in particular erf 2 in Dysselsdorp.
Subsequently, the Gona-Hesse! Khwe decided to pursue a lease for erf 2 near Dysselsdorp, specifically the area known locally as ‘Bloupunt’. Initially, they made a deposit, but failed to fulfill their monthly rental obligations as per the lease agreement. By September 30, 2022, they had accrued rental arrears amounting to nearly R60 000,00. Despite repeated requests for payment, the Gona-Hesse! Khwe did not settle their debt, prompting the GRDM to implement measures in accordance with its Credit Control Policy to recover the owed amounts.
On February 2, 2024, the GRDM filed a notice of application pursuant to section 4(2) of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, No 19 of 1998 (the PIE Act), against the Gona-Hesse! Khwe. The group, despite neglecting their lease obligations, controversially issued illegal title deeds, falsely asserting ownership over the land based on their claimed royal status. This action was contrary to official deeds records. Consequently, the GRDM had no option but to take legal action to protect its property rights.
The one eviction notice pertains to erf 2. The other eviction is of the illegal occupation of erf 975, but the GRDM Council has decided to withdraw this eviction notice. The contractual violation specifically involves erf 2 and is associated with the Gona-Hesse! Khwe group. The individuals protesting are residents of erf 975 and have been misled by the Gona-Hesse! Khwe, who have failed to honour their contractual obligations regarding erf 2.
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Council is set to deliberate on the situation concerning erf 975 with the Oudtshoorn Municipality, aiming for a harmonious resolution.
For more information, please contact the GRDM Communication Manager, Herman Pieters at 044 803 1419 or at herman@gardenroute.gov.za.
-END-
28 Februarie 2024
Die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM) is bewus van die grondeise van twee van sy eiendomme in Dysselsdorp (Erf 2 en 975) en bly toegewyd om ‘n regverdige en menslike proses te volg om die situasie te beredder. Die TDM onderneem om verskeie belanghebbendes te betrek, om sodoende ‘n regverdige oplossing vir die situasie te vind.
Agtergrond
In 2021 het die Gona-Hesse! Khwe Koninklike Koninkryk, ‘n nie-winsgewende entiteit, die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM) genader met ‘n voorstel om grond binne die distrik se jurisdiksie te huur. Hulle aanvanklike belangstelling was in Kleinkrantz, ‘n klein gemeenskap tussen Wildernis en Sedgefield, maar was egter ingelig dat Kleinkrantz nie beskikbaar is nie. Alternatiewe grond binne die munisipaliteit se jurisdiksie wat wel beskikbaar was vir huur, Erf 2 in Dysselsdorp was aanbeveel. Erf 2 is ongeveer 100 km in afstand vanaf Kleinkrantz, waar die Gona-Hesse! Khwe Koninklike Koninkryk aanvanklik ‘n eiendom wou huur.
Later het die Gona-Hesse! Khwe besluit om ‘n huurkontrak vir Erf 2, in Dysselsdorp na te streef, spesifiek die gebied wat plaaslik bekendstaan as ‘Bloupunt’. Hulle het aanvanklik ‘n deposito betaal, maar het versuim om hul maandelikse huurverpligtinge na te kom soos bepaal in die huurooreenkoms. Teen 30 September 2022 het hulle agterstallige huurgeld tot R60 000,00 opgeloop. Ten spyte van herhaalde versoeke om betaling, het die Gona-Hesse! Khwe versuim om hul skuld te vereffen, en wat daartoe genoop het dat die TDM maatreëls inplementeer in ooreenstemming met sy Kredietbeheerbeleid om sodoende die verskuldigde (uitstaande) bedrae terug te eis.
Op 2 Februarie 2024 het die TDM ‘n kennisgewing ingedien ingevolge artikel 4(2) van die Wet op die Voorkoming van Onwettige Uitsettings en Onwettige Besetting van Grond, No 19 van 1998 (die PIE Wet), teen die Gona-Hesse! Khwe. Die groep het, ten spyte van die nalating van hul huurverpligtinge, omstrede onwettige titelaktes uitgereik, waardeur hulle valse eienaarskap oor die grond beweer het, op grond van hul beweerde koninklike status. Hierdie optrede was teenstrydig met die amptelike aktes se rekords. Gevolglik het die TDM geen ander opsie gehad as om regstappe te neem om sodoende sy eiendomsregte te beskerm.
Die een uitsettingskennisgewing het betrekking op Erf 2. Die ander uitsetting is vir die onwettige besetting van Erf 975, maar die TDM Raad het intussen besluit om hierdie uitsettingskennisgewing terug te trek. Die kontraktuele oortreding het spesifiek betrekking op Erf 2 en word geassosieer met die Gona-Hesse! Khwe groep. Die individue wie protes aanteken, is inwoners van Erf 975 en word mislei deur die Gona-Hesse! Khwe, wat nie hul kontraktuele verpligtinge met betrekking tot Erf 2 nagekom het nie. ‘n Administratiewe en politieke delegasie is tans oppad na Oudtshoorn om met die gemeenskapsverteenwoordigers te praat.
Met die oog op die toekoms is die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM) Raad en die administrasie besig om te beraadslag oor die situasie met betrekking tot Erf 975 met die Oudtshoorn Munisipaliteit, met die doel om ‘n harmonieuse oplossing te bereik.
Vir meer inligting, kontak asseblief die TDM Kommunikasiebestuurder, Herman Pieters by 044 803 1419 of by herman@gardenroute.gov.za.
-Einde-
Notice nr. 23/2024
Notice is hereby given that a SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the GRDM Council and via Zoom on 28 February 2024 at 09:00.
MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
P O Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
Click here to download the official notice
