Media Release: 8 000 Hectares more veld and mountain fires burned over the past 12-months
20 June 2023
Throughout the past municipal calendar year, spanning from July 2022 to June 2023, the Garden Route district, including Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn, and Kannaland, has witnessed several wildfires. Deon Stoffels, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Chief Fire Officer, says a staggering 82 fires, including several wildfires, have ravaged the region since July 2022, leaving 23,848 hectares of land burned. Comparatively, although the previous year saw three additional wildfires between July 2021 and June 2022, the extent of the damage was slightly lower, with approximately 14,500 hectares consumed.
“It remains a priority for us to continue to address this concerning trend and prioritise fire management and prevention strategies to safeguard communities,” said Stoffels.
The major areas most affected by the past year’s wildfires included the Rooiberg Mountains in Van Wyksdorp, the Swartberg Mountains in Oudtshoorn, and Molenrivier (N9 South) in the George area. The primary cause of these wildfires was due to lightning strikes, which are typically prevalent during the January and February months.
As a wildfire blazed through the Molen River in January 2023, a thick blanket of smoke enveloped the air.
Stoffels said: “On one particular day, we experienced seven (7) lightning-induced wildfires”. He says firefighters swiftly responded to this critical situation by deploying rapid aerial firefighting techniques, successfully suppressing three of these fires. “We were able to suppress the remaining wildfires through a combination of ground and aerial firefighting.”
Deon also pointed to November 2022, when a significant fire outbreak occurred in the Hessequa municipal area. “This incident was triggered by a permitted fire that escalated beyond control.”
“During this time of the year, late October and November, the Hessequa area is prone to experience gusty and rapidly changing winds, which proved to be a challenge GRDM firefighters have since learned from.”
PROACTIVE MEASURES, EDUCATION AND RISK REDUCTION MEASURES
The top priority of GRDM’s Fire and Rescue Services Unit remains to implement proactive and preventative fire management strategies. Public education initiatives are central to this, which forms part of their risk reduction measures.
According to Stoffels, the Fire Danger Index, provided by the South African Weather Services, plays a crucial role in assessing risks and guiding planning and preparation efforts.
“We urge all landowners to consult with the Local and District Fire Services, as well as the Fire Protection Association, to obtain expert advice on reducing fire risks,” said Stoffels. “Adequate measures such as maintaining fire breaks, clearing alien vegetation, and ensuring safe prescribed burning practices are essential components of fire prevention.”
Regarding the implementation of Fire Breaks, the District is actively seeking funding to establish and maintain them on its properties. However, all Local Municipal Areas already have Fire Management Systems, including Permitted Burning Systems, aimed at reducing risks and supporting ecological and agricultural objectives.
GRDM places significant emphasis on enhancing its rapid response capabilities, including the deployment of aerial firefighting resources. This method has proven highly effective in dealing with remote and inaccessible wildfires. The measures prevent such incidents from escalating into large-scale and destructive events.
An important number to save: The emergency call centre of GRDM is linked to all the emergency call centres of the region and operates 24/7, 365 days a year – dial 044 805 5071 to report any fire incident.
Feature image caption: In November 2022, a devastating wildfire swept through the Spuithoek area, leaving a trail of destruction across dozens of hectares.
Media Release: First-of-its-kind Municipal Health Dashboard created by Garden Route DM
For Immediate Release
15 June 2023
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has launched a first-of-its-kind Municipal Health dashboard this year to provide easy access to data that Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) gather and analyse on a daily basis. “This innovative tool utilises maps to present a heatmap of areas where persistent health issues, amongst others, are flagged, enabling GRDM to identify areas requiring additional interventions to meet health standards,” said Jessica Erasmus, a GRDM Environmental Health Practitioner. Erasmus was involved in the business analysis and communication side of the system development to help the system builders bridge the gap between municipal health function and technology.
According to Clive Africa, GRDM Executive Manager for Community Services, “the dashboard aligns with Section 1 of the National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003), which mandates Municipal Health Services to monitor various aspects such as water quality and safety, food control, waste management, premises health surveillance, disease prevention (excluding immunisations), vector control, pollution control, disposal of the dead, and chemical safety”.
“To monitor these focus areas, daily inspections are conducted and linked to the system, capturing details of businesses, owners, addresses, and GPS coordinates, to name a few,” said Jessica.
“The data from these inspections are then repurposed for monthly monitoring reports, providing the number of inspections per EHP, per region, and per premises.”
GRDM has leveraged its existing Geospatial Information System (GIS) Unit and an external GIS company, to help build a system that maps data and provides real-time satellite views.
“Integrating addresses of premises and GPS coordinates into the system allows GRDM to plot business and premises locations, sampling points, illegal dump sites, and communicable disease trend data,” said Africa.
“This integration also enables GRDM to access historical data on businesses, including compliance and non-compliance issues, with a single click, facilitating a better understanding of the municipality’s data.”
The landing page of the Municipal Health Dashboard offers a bird’s eye view of the entire region’s compliance.
Sampling trend results in the middle on top and then to the right is the samples, specifically what GRDM’s EHPs sample as an example.
Benefits of the Municipal Health Dashboard:
Real-time data access allows GRDM to gain in-depth insights into the causes of specific communicable disease outbreaks in certain areas.
It enables GRDM to investigate whether shared water sources or common shopping areas contribute to disease outbreaks, which helps in community education and prevention efforts.
The dashboard information facilitates collaboration with relevant authorities responsible for addressing water source issues or other underlying problems, thereby assisting in resolving health-related concerns.
Overall, the dashboard offers a holistic and real-time view of GRDM’s daily activities, serving as an early warning system to prevent environmental health-related disasters.
The dashboard allows for the management of municipal health services. This is done by looking at the birds’ eye view of the whole district to make important managerial decisions and to enhance the functioning of the Environmental Health Practitioners.
EHP Francois Koelman, recognised as one of the best EHPs in South Africa in 2018, also played a similar role as Erasmus when he worked closely with Business Engineering in 2016/17 to develop a municipal app for EHPs – another first-of-its-kind app for municipalities. The app is also used today to link information to the Municipal Dashboard.
Feature image: Green is compliant and red is non-compliant/or requires intervention (illegal dumping) and indicates the status of the region.
Second Consecutive Clean Audit for Garden Route District Municipality
For Immediate Release 6 June 2023
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) recently garnered a remarkable achievement, earning recognition from the Western Cape Government (WCG) for securing its second consecutive Clean Audit. This recognition was again highlighted after an announcement was made last year by the Auditor General (AG). This time during a Western Cape Ministerial and Mayoral Forum held in Saldanha where the Auditor General.
The GRDM is one of 21 Western Cape Municipalities out of 38 across the country that obtained a clean audit. There are 257 municipalities in South Africa, which means 14,79% of municipalities in South Africa managed to obtain a Clean Audit.
A Clean Audit signifies the meticulous financial management and accountability demonstrated by a municipality. It serves as a testament to the effective utilisation of public funds, ensuring transparency, and the absence of any irregularities or misappropriation. By achieving a Clean Audit for two consecutive years, GRDM exemplifies its commitment to sound financial practices, thereby fostering trust and confidence among its constituents.
The GRDM’s success not only enhances its standing within the region but also serves as an inspiration for others to emulate similar standards of excellence.
The municipalities of the Western Cape, 21 of 38 in the country, who obtained Clean Audits.
Feature image caption: Monde Stratu (GRDM Municipal Manager and head of the GRDM administration) presenting the Clean Audit Trophee. To his right is GRDM Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen, who officially received the Clean Audit award in Saldanha.
Die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (GRDM) het onlangs ‘n merkwaardige prestasie behaal en het erkenning van die Wes-Kaapse Regering (WKR) gekry vir die verkryging van sy tweede agtereenvolgende Skoon Oudit. Hierdie erkenning is weer aan GRDM verleen nadat dit laas Desember bekend gemaak is. Hierdie keer was GRDM herken tydens ‘n Minister en Burgemeestersforum wat in Saldanha gehou is.
Die GRDM is een van 21 Wes-Kaapse munisipaliteite uit 38 regoor die land wat ’n skoon oudit gekry het. Daar is 257 munisipaliteite in Suid-Afrika, wat beteken 14,79% van munisipaliteite in Suid-Afrika het daarin geslaag om ‘n Skoon Oudit te verkry.
‘n Skoon Oudit dui op die noukeurige finansiële bestuur en aanspreeklikheid wat deur ‘n munisipaliteit getoon word. Dit dien as ‘n bewys van die doeltreffende aanwending van openbare fondse, wat deursigtigheid verseker, en die afwesigheid van enige onreëlmatighede of wanbesteding. Deur ‘n Skoon Oudit vir twee opeenvolgende jare te behaal, toon GRDM sy verbintenis tot gesonde finansiële praktyke, waardeur vertroue en vertroue onder sy kiesers bevorder word.
Die GRDM se sukses verbeter nie net sy aansien in die streek nie, maar dien ook as ‘n inspirasie vir ander om soortgelyke standaarde van uitnemendheid na te volg.
A mapping system for visualizing the impact of climate change, socio-economic pressure, municipal and infrastructure collapse in a future South Africa
For Immediate Release 5 June 2023
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) approached Dr Roy Marcus, a Systems and Design Thinking specialist, to address the 29 June 2023 Annual GREF Climate Change and Environmental Management Indaba on the projected impacts of climate change in South Africa. The impacts, which are amplified by real-time socio-economic pressures and the systemic collapse of governance, high levels of corruption, violent crime, political instability in major municipalities and severe and sustained power blackouts in South Africa are becoming more real every day.
In 2018 Dr Roy Marcus was invited by (GREF) as a keynote speaker to commemorate the devastating June 2017 Knysna wildfire disaster which left a trail of destruction on a scale never seen before in South Africa, and at the time he also visualized a post- Covid 19 South Africa, identifying many of the impacts which are only now manifesting in the RSA economy compounding the destruction and vandalizing of vitally important hard infrastructure, poverty and increased joblessness.
Dr Marcus makes use of a mapping system for visualizing a future South Africa to better understand the socio-economic and political relationships, challenges and opportunities facing the country, for example the Just Energy Transition away from coal-based energy generation towards green energy.
According to Cobus Meiring, convener of the Garden Route Environmental Forum, much of the 2017 series of wildfire disasters, recent drought in the Karoo, flash floods in the Southern Cape and especially KZN, as well as measurable sea-level rise along the Mossel Bay coastline are the result of a changing climate. This is the case not only for South Africa but globally, where out-of-control wildfire disasters have destroyed millions of hectares of land and infrastructure in Canada, Portugal and California.
Says Dr Marcus, “As South Africa emerges from one of its worst political and economic crises since democracy was achieved in 1994, the country finds itself having to cope with the aftershock of the surreal Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, social media was awash with commentaries, advice and a whole lot of confusion. Sadly, in all of the confusion, there was little evidence of a systemic approach to gain a better appreciation of the real impact of both the virus itself, as well as the raft of legislation that was promulgated to lessen the burden of the pandemic.”
“As a present-day example, we are witnessing the demise of Eskom and Transnet which are both grossly underperforming, and there is a justified fear of what the economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resultant precarious RSA foreign policy decisions may have in alienating the country from the Western world, putting the country’s already fragile economic survival at risk.”
There is limited evidence of any discussion relating to the harsh realities the country will face going forward with severely restricted electricity and water security risk on the rise.
In view of these realities, it is suggested that a way of gaining some insight into the effect of the current impacts, as well as testing some ideas that may go some way in alleviating the burden, is to produce a systems map. Such a map will go a long way to “tell the story” and present some ideas as to what the implications of various actions could be on the long-term future of the country.”
This map attempts to present all the key role players and their influence on the future of this country. The map is based on a Systems and Design Thinking approach and suggests a number of possible outcomes, which could result from either ill-defined decisions or well-informed actions taken by key stakeholders.
Dr Marcus incorporates a mapping system called Kumu. The developers describe the system as a powerful visualization platform for mapping systems and better understanding relationships.
“We blend systems thinking, stakeholder mapping, and social network analysis to help the world’s top influencers turn ideas into impact”.
“Based on a Design Thinking approach, the model sets out to identify all those factors which contribute to the ‘Mess Formulation’. Identifying the “mess” is key to finding a way out of the difficulties. The key question in identifying all those factors that contribute to the mess is to determine how the country would eventually destroy itself if it were to continue behaving as it currently is. The mess provides a factual, verifiable and unemotional picture of the current reality.”
As part of an ongoing debate series on parallels drawn between the impact of COVID-19 and that of climate change, GREF intends to have a follow-up discussion with Dr Marcus in order to track the development of the mapping system and its indicators.
In order to enhance collaboration and the sharing of critical information, the GREF programme for the Indaba will include a host of provincial, regional and local environmental speakers who will focus on land management, environmental risk management, water stewardship, coastal management, legislation, biodiversity and possible future scenarios to enable the region to implement and fast- track adaptation models.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental management entities in the Southern Cape and a regional think tank on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Dr Roy Marcus, Design thinking specialist
Mobile: +27 82 600 0202
Email: roy@thecollab.co.za
Cobus Meiring: Chair of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) Secretariat
Mobile: 083 626 7619
Email: cobus@naturalbridge.co.za
Afrikaanse opsomming:
Die Tuinroete-omgewingsforum (GREF) het dr. Roy Marcus genooi om by hul klimaatsveranderingkonferensie op 29 Junie 2023 te praat oor die geprojekteerde impak van klimaatsverandering in Suid-Afrika. Dr. Marcus sal ‘n karteringstelsel genaamd Kumu gebruik om die toekoms van die land te visualiseer en die sosio-ekonomiese en politieke uitdagings wat dit in die gesig staar, beter te verstaan. Die impak van klimaatsverandering word versterk deur sosio-ekonomiese druk en die ineenstorting van bestuur, insluitend korrupsie, misdaad, politieke onstabiliteit en kragonderbrekings. Hierdie kwessies word verder vererger deur Suid-Afrika se stryd om te herstel van sy onlangse politieke en ekonomiese krisisse, sowel as die nasleep van die COVID-19-pandemie. Die karteringstelsel het ten doel om insigte in die huidige impakte te verskaf en potensiële oplossings te verken. GREF beplan om samesprekings met dr. Marcus voort te sit om die ontwikkeling van die karteringstelsel en sy aanwysers te monitor. Die konferensie sal ook sprekers bevat wat onderwerpe aanspreek wat verband hou met omgewingsbestuur en aanpassingsmodelle.
This annual celebration aims to raise awareness among the public around the world and South Africa about the risks associated with tobacco use. For the Garden Route District Municipality, the issue of individuals smoking in non-designated areas or businesses allowing smokers to smoke in non-designated areas is critical to address.
You as an individual have the right to a healthy and safe environment, while also standing your ground to safeguard the well-being of future generations.
Hierdie jaarlikse viering het ten doel om die publiek regoor die wêreld en Suid-Afrika bewus te maak van die risiko’s verbonde aan tabakgebruik. 𝗩𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝘀𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗸𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗱𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲, 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴.
Jy as individu het die reg op ‘n gesonde en veilige omgewing, terwyl jy ook jou plek volstaan om die welstand van toekomstige geslagte te beskerm.
Budget Speech by the Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality
30 May 2023
Honourable Speaker, Deputy Mayor, Councillors, Municipal Manager, officials, and members of the public, I want to welcome you at this stage of the tabling of my budget.
It is privileged to be here and to table the 2023/24 MTREF Budget to the council for approval. It is my pleasure to present to you a fully funded budget, given the Municipality’s financial position. The MTREF budget is projecting a deficit of R5.7m (2023/24), R6,2m (2024/25) and R7,7m (2025/26). However, it is comforting that although we are budgeting for a deficit the budget is fully funded, through the cash-backed reserves.
The total budgeted revenue for the Municipality is R526m and the total budgeted expenditure is R R532m. Our two main sources of income are the Equitable Share, which is R178m, and the Roads function allocation of R193m. This means that more than 70% of our income is derived from these two allocations. The roads allocation can only be used to finance Roads Department activities, which include resealing, re-graveling, maintenance, and upgrading of roads.
The budgeted road allocation includes capital project allocations of R 91m. The breakdown of these is as follows:
The remaining amount of R R101m will cover operational expenditure for the Roads and Transport department.
On 15 May 2023, I and the Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, visited the Gwaiing Project and we were all happy with the progress on the construction of this road. It was agreed that the project will be fast-tracked to ensure that it is delivered earlier than planned but within the available budget.
I was personally pleased to see considerable investment in EPWP workers. These projects are not only about building roads but do create much-needed employment within the region. Our EPWP workers are also being upskilled and enrolled on NQF level 2 Road Construction Course, as well as Learners and Driver’s Licenses. This project alone created 40 EPWP working opportunities. In essence, it has put bread on the table of 40 families. This process of appointing EPWP’s is replicated in other projects as well. At this stage, I would like to show gratitude to all our roads staff, from the Executive Manager to the person in his or her little corner. We are one of the best-performing roads department, although as others, we do face challenges.
The other functions and projects of the GRDM are financed mainly from the Equitable Share Allocation of R178m. This allocation will never be adequate to finance our ambitious programs or merely our function as envisaged by Section 84 of the Municipal Structures Act. The equitable share over the MTREF period grows at a slow pace. The Equitable Share only increases by about 3% per annum (R5.6m), and that is not sufficient to ensure the financial sustainability of this municipality, as it is below the annual CPIX.
If one excludes the Roads income from our budget, the remaining main revenue source to finance projects outside the roads department is R333m. More than 50% of this income is from the Equitable Share.
In addition to the Equitable Share, we apply for and received conditional grants to the value of R40m. This brings the number of Transfers from National and Provincial Governments to R220m. This means that 66% of the revenue to finance GRDM is from transfer income. This excludes the income from various SETAs which is about R15m. The reality is that the Municipality must continue to explore alternative sources of income in order to deliver on its legal mandate. This is exactly what we have been busy doing over the past few years
Our limited revenue resources have compelled the GRDM to pursue additional income sources in order to deliver the services in the region and this remains a challenge as we have limited own income sources. Turnaround strategies are compiled for properties and resorts and alternative revenue enhancement strategies are being explored – for example becoming a water services authority.
The GRDM has developed an investment prospectus containing regional catalytic investment opportunities across the Garden Route. The purpose of the prospectus is to display the region’s investment-friendly climate and its economic activities and opportunities to the national and international business community and in so doing, attract new investments and retain and expand existing investments in the Garden Route region.
The prospectus includes the investment opportunities of all seven (7) municipalities within the boundaries of the region, as well as the District Municipality’s specific opportunities. The investment opportunities identified for our region amount to more than R508 billion. These projects are classified as medium to long-term projects. As can be seen from the value of these projects, they cannot be financed through the current municipal resources. A task team will be established to ensure that credible business plans are compiled and submitted to relevant private (local and abroad) and public institutions for possible investments.
Having been faced with the above challenges we have managed to allocate funding to various projects that are key to our communities. We have made available R4,2m to fund the EPWP projects. I have already explained the importance of this funding. In the LED and Tourism section, we will be providing much-needed assistance to the SMME’s to the tune of R600 000, amongst few projects in this area. An allocation of about R 15m has been made to create employment and provide skills to our youth, through our Skills Mecca projects. Thanks to various SETAs and various government departments for their financial contributions to this project. Further details about this exciting project can be found in our investment prospectus above.
Part of our strategy is to ensure that we turn around our resorts to generate much-needed revenue for the GRDM. We have therefore made provision for R9.5m for the resorts. We have also budgeted R14m income from the same.
Our Capital projects amount to R159m. The major projects are the construction of the Regional Landfill site and the Fire Station. Both these projects are regional projects, and they will be serving the region. The Construction of the Fire Station is at the advanced stage and the Landfill site will be starting in June 2023.
The GRDM embarked on a procurement process to obtain borrowing to finance the landfill site construction. An intensive tender adjudication process was followed. Consequently, after consultative process with all the participating municipalities to analyse and determine the best and most appropriate tendered loan option, it was collectively decided that the preferred option of the tenders offered would be clearly the 10-year loan. This loan will have an all-in floating rate of 6.89% and is offered by Standard Bank.
GRDM has negotiated service-level agreements with participating b-municipalities. It is imperative that the participating local municipalities provide a signed SLA, indicating the participation for 10 years. The tariffs are included in the GRDM tariff structure to cater to the provision of this service. A Regional Waste Management Facility Project Steering Committee has been established, consisting of various sections to provide inputs and assist the project manager to ensure that the project will commence and be completed as per the timeframes set up.
Finally, I would like to thank the Municipal Manager and his management team for the sterling work they have done in ensuring a funded budget for the institution. There is still a lot of work ahead in order to realise the projects that are part of our investment prospectus. To that end, a task team will be established to ensure that credible business plans are compiled and submitted to relevant private (local and abroad) and public institutions for possible investments.
The attached detailed budget is therefore submitted for approval by this council.
Media Release: Update two (2): Gwaing Road (DR1618) Rehabilitation on schedule
For Immediate Release 15 May 2023
The R67 million Gwaing Road (DR1618) rehabilitation is progressing smoothly and remains on track for completion by June 2024. The budget for this project was allocated by the Western Cape Government (WCG). Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) continues its function through an Agency Agreement for the WCG and remains committed to delivering critical regional road infrastructure projects as planned.
A site inspection visit was conducted today, 15 May 2023 by WCG Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers with the GRDM Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen, George Executive Mayor Ald. Leon van Wyk and other representatives from Provincial and Local Governments. Findings were positive with Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers and municipalities working towards common goals of completing a world-class road within the planned budget and on schedule.
According to John Daniels, GRDM Executive Manager for Roads Services, “a team of 70 employees are working on the project, with 44 of them being employed under the EPWP”. Simmers also took time to engage with the EPWP workers and to hear what their needs were. He was subsequently briefed during a walk-about on the DR1618 by Chesney Roelf, GRDM Senior Engineering Technician about the progress of the project.
Simmers boasted about projects of nearly R500 million that were completed in the Western Cape months ahead of schedule, of which one will be officially handed over by July and the other towards the end of November 2023.
“The WCG has exceeded all our Full-Time Equivalent EPWP targets and plans to push for more EPWP workers to be upskilled going forward,” said Simmers.
Chesney Roelf, during the walkabout, said: “As of now, we are focused on erecting new fencing along the project site and busy with the first of four road layer works. The GRDM is also constructing the roadbed, and upgrading the storm-water network. The road will be 6,8m bituminous surfaced width, ideal for commercial agricultural transport.” Simmers alluded to the impact of commercial Agricultural transportation on such roads and it was confirmed by Daniels that the road layers will include cement and bitumen mixes that are flexible to provide structural strength.
Chesney Roelf, GRDM Senior Engineering Technician (middle), briefs WCG Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers on the progress of the rehabilitation of Gwaing Road. Pictured (l-r), George Mayor Ald. Leon van Wyk, WCG Minister Tertuis Simmers, GRDM Engineering Technician Chesney Roelf, GRDM Executive Manager for Roads John Daniels and GRDM Municipal Manager Monde Stratu.
Roelf also explained that GRDM is installing 27 pipe crossings with concrete headwalls to ensure effective stormwater management. This was in response to George Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Ald. Leon van Wyk, pointing to the importance of proper stormwater management. GRDM will upgrade stormwater drainage channels.
“At specific sections of the project, concrete-lined drains will be implemented to enhance drainage efficiency and prevent water-related issues,” said Roelf.
WCG and the GRDM sincerely appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as it works diligently to upgrade the road infrastructure.
WCG Minister Tertuis Simmers thanked the EPWP workers for their dedication to the project and inspired them to work towards a future where they will also be able to be contracted to manage projects in the future.
The group of EPWP workers, pleasantly surprised by the visit of Minister Simmers, Mayors and the GRDM Municipal Manager and others to their site camp.
Feature Image caption: John Godfrey Daniels, GRDM Executive Manager for Roads Services, answered several questions from WCG Minister Tertuis Simmers (right), and George Executive Mayor, Ald. Leon van Wyk (middle). With them is Ald. Memory Booysen, who expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the project.
Afrikaanse Opsomming: Opdatering twee (2): Gwaingweg (DR1618) Rehabiltasieprojek op skedule
Die Gwaingweg (DR1618)-rehabilitasieprojek, met ‘n begroting van R67 miljoen, vorder goed en sal na verwagting teen Junie 2024 voltooi wees. Die projek word deur die Wes-Kaapse Regering (WKR) befonds en deur die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit bestuur (TDM) – die TDM voer die Paaie-funksie namens die WKR uit. ‘n Terrein-inspeksiebesoek is onlangs deur staatsamptenare, insluitend die WKR Minister van Infrastruktuur Tertuis Simmers en die TDM se Uitvoerende Burgemeester, Raadsheer Memory Booysen gedoen, wat hul tevredenheid met die vordering uitgespreek het.
Die projek het ‘n span van 70 werkers in diens, van wie 44 deel vorm van die Uitgebreide Openbare Werke Program (UOWP/EPWP). Tydens die besoek het Simmers met die UOWP/EPWP werkers gesels om hul behoeftes te verstaan en het ook die belangrikheid bespreek om hulle op te lei vir toekomstige werksgeleenthede. Die projek behels die oprigting van nuwe heinings, die bou van die padbed, die opgradering van die stormwaternetwerk, en die implementering van 27 pypkruisings met betonkopmure vir effektiewe stormwaterbestuur.
Die pad sal ‘n 6,8m bitumineuse oppervlakwydte hê, geskik vir kommersiële landbouvervoer. Die padlae sal sement- en bitumenmengsels insluit om strukturele sterkte te verseker. Addisioneel, sal beton-gevoerde dreine in spesifieke afdelings geïmplementeer word om dreineringsdoeltreffendheid te verbeter en negatiewe waterverwante kwessies te voorkom.
Tydens sy toespraak het Simmers die suksesvolle voltooiing van ander projekte in die Wes-Kaap, met ‘n totale waarde van nagenoeg R500 miljoen, wat voor hul voltooing skedule klaar was, uitgewys. Hy het die WKR se verbintenis tot die bereiking en oorskryding van EPWP-teikens asook die bevordering en opleiding van werkers beklemtoon.
Media Release: Indaba to reflect on invasive alien plant management and control scenarios
For Immediate Release 15 May 2023
“In February 2023 academics from Nelson Mandela and Stellenbosch Universities co-hosted a workshop with knowledgeable experts on the subject in order to share thoughts and experiences on the impact and possible solutions when dealing with invasive alien plants on a large scale. It is quite clear that invasive alien plants remain one of the biggest risk factors facing the Southern Cape in terms of severe wildfire disasters, damaging floods, water security as well as loss of biodiversity,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
“Dr Romain Pirard who holds a PhD in Environmental Economics from Université Lyon presented at the workshop. Dr Pirard is seconded to the School for Climate Studies at Stellenbosch University which, as part of the South Africa – France scientific cooperation, develops research on the economics of land use for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and he provided some leading answers to the question:- Can value-added industries support the control of invasive trees in South Africa and beyond?”
Meiring added that “Because of its favourable climate and it is a high rainfall area, the Southern Cape is a hotspot for a host of invasive alien plants and trees, and their presence is on the increase with more species becoming visible as they spread over the landscape. Pampas grass as a prime example of an alien invasive plant (there are many more) which was introduced as a garden plant in this region in the last fifteen to twenty years is now firmly established throughout the Garden Route landscape, especially in river beds and seep- lines where conditions are ideal for seeds travelling in the wind, and the spread is prolific.”
“Due to costs associated with eradicating and controlling invasive alien plants in general, landowners and land managers are constantly looking for options to mitigate the expense of dealing with IAP’s, which include options in the clean energy sector, soil enrichment as well as bio-char and stock feed mixes. Invasive trees such as pine, wattle and eucalyptus make for fine timber, but finding suitable trees in large quantities is not sustainable, and difficult to come by and harvest before they can reach sawmills. Supply is also finite throughout the region as there are no structured replanting nor harvesting regimes in place.”
“The charcoal and firewood industry in South Africa and Namibia is a multi-million rand industry, but as demand grows, those in the industry have to reach further and further away from the market to source sufficient supplies. Areas of the Southern Cape and the Overberg have large areas covered by Rooikrans, Port Jackson, wattle and pine and that is where large-scale harvesting is currently taking place. Despite the potentially viable option to clear the land of unwanted plants and trees by selling the biomass to contractors looking for firewood, some landowners who allow harvesting entities access to their land often complain that harvesting contractors cause more harm than good when working with invasive species on their land. This can lead to aggressive regrowth when there is no methodology applied, and increased wildfire risk from dry debris left behind provides an exponentially high volume of fuel load for wildfires”.
Nevertheless, the search for solutions for the viable use of large volumes of biomass that can be harvested from landscapes badly affected by IAP’s must continue, and Dr Pirard will be delivering a presentation on the topic at the GREF Climate Change and Environmental Management Indaba which will be hosted at Nelson Mandela University on 29 June 2023.
“The GREF 2023 Indaba theme is Creating climate-smart, resilient landscapes in the Southern Cape.”
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform and climate change think tank for all those in the Southern Cape involved in active and ongoing conservation and environmental management efforts to meet up, interact and showcase what they are busy with and what they are doing in terms of planning ahead.
ENDS
Photo caption: The Southern Cape is a hothouse for invasive alien plants such as pampas grass, pine and eucalyptus which is now seen all over the Garden Route Photo: Pamela Booth Contact: cobus@naturalbridge.co.za
Indaba sal indringer-uitheemse plantbestuur- en beheerscenario’s bespreek
Akademici van Nelson Mandela en Stellenbosch Universiteite het onlangs ‘n werkswinkel gereël om die impak en potensiële oplossings vir die hantering van indringerplante op groot skaal aan te spreek. Cobus Meiring van die Tuinroete-omgewingsforum het beklemtoon dat IAP’s aansienlike risiko’s vir die Suid-Kaap-streek inhou, insluitend ernstige veldbrande, skadelike vloede, watersekuriteitskwessies en verlies aan biodiversiteit. Dr. Romain Pirard, ‘n kenner van omgewingsekonomie, het by die werkswinkel ‘n voorlegging gelewer waar hy sy insea gedeel het oor of waardetoegevoegde industrieë die beheer van indringerbome in Suid-Afrika en verder kan ondersteun.
Die Suid-Kaap, met sy gunstige klimaat en hoë reënval, is veral vatbaar vir ‘n verskeidenheid van indringer uitheemse plante en bome. Spesies is alreeds teenwoording en neem toe en versprei drasties. Pampasgras het byvoorbeeld stewig gevestig in die Tuinroete-landskap, veral in rivierbeddings waar windgedraagde sade ideale toestande vir voortplanting vind.
Die uitwissing en bestuur van IAP’s is duur, wat grondeienaars en bestuurders aangespoor het om kostedoeltreffende opsies te soek. Hierdie alternatiewe sluit in die ondersoek van geleenthede in die skoon energiesektor, grondverryking, en voorraadvoermengsels. Dit bly egter ‘n uitdaging om volhoubare en volop alternatiewe vir indringerbome soos denne, wattel en bloekom te vind, aangesien daar geen gestruktureerde herplant- of oespraktyke in plek is nie.
Die houtskool- en vuurmaakhoutbedryf in Suid-Afrika en Namibië is ‘n winsgewende sektor, maar die vraag na voorrade het gelei tot verkryging van verre plekke. Grootskaalse oes van indringerspesies, soos Rooikrans, Port Jackson, wattel en denne, vind tans in gebiede van die Suid-Kaap en Overberg plaas. Terwyl die verkoop van biomassa aan kontrakteurs wat vuurmaakhout benodig lyk na ‘n lewensvatbare opsie, spreek sommige grondeienaars kommer uit dat oeskontrakteurs meer skade as goed kan veroorsaak. Onbehoorlike metodologie kan lei tot aggressiewe hergroei, en droë takke ens. wat agtergelaat word, verhoog die risiko van veldbrande deur oorvloedige brandstof te verskaf.
Ten spyte van die uitdagings, moet die soeke na oplossings om groot volumes biomassa van IAP-geaffekteerde landskappe te benut, voortduur. Dr. Pirard sal ‘n aanbieding oor hierdie onderwerp lewer by die GREF ‘Climate Change and Environmental Management Indaba’, wat geskeduleer is om op 29 Junie 2023 by die Nelson Mandela Universiteit plaas te vind.
Die tema van die Indaba is “Die skep van klimaatslim, veerkragtige landskappe in die Suid-Kaap.”
GREF dien as ‘n platform en dinkskrum vir natuurbewaarders en omgewingsbestuurpraktisyns in die Suid-Kaap streek, wat interaksie fasiliteer, deurlopende pogings ten toon stel en toekomstige beplanning bevorder om klimaatsverandering en omgewingsuitdagings aan te spreek.
The remaining amount of R R101m will cover operational expenditure for the Roads and Transport department.
