Author: Herman Pieters
24 October 2022 Media Statement: Garden Route District Municipality’s role in the Rooikat Recycling Project
Media Statement: Garden Route District Municipality’s role in the Rooikat Recycling Project
For Immediate Release
24 October 2022
In terms of Section 36 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act 39 of 2004) the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is charged with implementing the atmospheric emission licencing system. In accordance with the Air Quality Act, the GRDM is responsible for performing the licensing function of a licensing authority.
The Rooikat recycling PTY Ltd applied for an atmospheric emission licence on the South Africa Atmospheric Emission and Licencing portal (SAAELIP) and went through an Environmental impact assessment process. This process involved, amongst others, public participation, and specialist studies (air quality impact assessment).
After consideration, the integrated Environmental Authorisation (Waste Licence) was granted after which the GRDM also granted the Provisional Atmospheric emission licence (PAEL). Both these authorisations were appealed and both appeals were rejected by the applicable appeal authorities. Please find below the granting letter issued to Rooikat as well as the appeal outcome letter from the Municipal Manager of the GRDM, Mr Monde Stratu.
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20 October 2022 Media Release: Want to make a difference? Sponsor a pair of school shoes and socks to an underprivileged child
Media Release: Want to make a difference? Sponsor a pair of school shoes and socks to an underprivileged child
For Immediate Release
20 October 2022
Eden FM, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Vodacom, and the George Museum kicked off their 2nd Walk a Child to School campaign drive on 20 October 2022. Local businesses, faith-based organisations, institutions of higher learning and community members, amongst others, will be targeted to form part of the drive to ‘walk a child to school’ – a figurative reference to donating shoes and socks to learners from rural schools. Beneficiaries will come from the Garden Route district (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland).
When asked about the campaign goal for this year, Eden FM’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Nomonde Makhubalo said: “We aim to source around 2 500 donations, an increase of more than 300% we received last year”.
“Those interested to make a difference in a child’s life are welcome to sponsor a pair of school shoes to an underprivileged child.”
A pair of shoes will help a child to enjoy a painless and less harmful walk to school. No shoes also mean cold feet, something underprivileged children also face, especially during winter months. Life is also far more expensive than years before. Compared to groceries, school shoes cost an average of R150,00. There isn’t much a person gets for R150,00 – only one or two small grocery bags without meat.
During the official launch of the 2022 campaign, the Station Manager for Eden FM, Morné Petersen, said: “It is wonderful for some people to say that they want to give something. However, many of those people only talk. Some people write books and theses about initiatives, but it takes a special kind of person that rolls up his or her sleeves and say: ‘We are going to make a difference’”. Referring to last year’s campaign, he highlighted that last year, through this campaign, “we were able to donate 750 pairs of shoes to children living in the Garden Route”.
In his address, Ald. Memory Booysen, Executive Mayor of GRDM said that he will engage other municipalities in the region to form part of the campaign.
His address focused on circumstances and that he’s seen a matriculant from his hometown, Hankey, radiating happiness. “Last year I was invited to attend a prize-giving ceremony in Hankey. The high school top achiever was dressed in a worn uniform with broken straps and shoes. Mayor said that he could see she was happy. “I looked at her and was reminded that it was God’s grace that she was happy under very difficult circumstances.” He explained that not all the kids are strong enough to navigate through difficult circumstances, however, many do go all the way and don’t allow their environment to get them down. Booysen also reminded the audience that kids get lost in the system because of many root causes.
“Children drop out of school because they do not have the bare necessities; like shoes, sometimes girls also stay away from school because they do not have sanitary towels.”
GRDM recently held a sanitary towel drive and will continue to support this cause to restore the dignity of children.
DONATIONS ALREADY PLEDGED
The Road Accident Fund donated 500 pairs of shoes today, George Museum pledged 100 pairs of shoes, Vodacom pledged R7500 worth of shoes (approximately 50 pairs), and Eden FM R5000,00 (approximately 33 pairs) worth of shoes.
The estimated number of donations, taking into account the pledges, now stands at 673 pairs of shoes.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: CONTACT EDEN FM
Get in touch with Nomonde Makhubalo if you would like to donate shoes and socks. She can be reached by e-mail marketing@edenfm.co.za, WhatsApp at 078 395 4196 or dial 044 874 5085.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: REQUEST A PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR SHOES
Companies who would like to get involved can request a “Walk a Child to School” box from Nomonde.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: DROP OFF SHOES AT SELECTED LOCATIONS
Drop-off locations this year are at locations below:
- Eden FM Offices at 97 York Street in George.
- Vodacom Offices throughout the Garden Route.
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Feature image caption: Key stakeholders of the campaign with the Executive Mayor of GRDM, Ald. Memory Booysen. They are (FLTR): Nomonde Makhubalo (Eden FM), Queeny Diko (Vodacom), Ntombesithathu Kulati (Road Accident Fund) and Errol Jafta (George Museum).
14 October 2022 Media Release: Health Education Committee invited to witness youth who dance with ‘change in mind’
Media Release: Health Education Committee invited to witness youth who dance with ‘change in mind’
For Immediate Release
14 October 2022
A small group of youngsters known as the ‘Spiritual Dance Group’ from the Kwanokutula community in Riversdale, Hessequa, last week performed various dance routines choreographed by Rebecca Johnson, Suikerbossie Soup Kitchen. Rebecca invited the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Health Education Committee to witness several of their performances. The theme of their dance routines revolved around illegal dumping, hand washing, looking after your environment and self-love.
The GRDM Health Education Committee, which consists of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP), was recently established and exists for the following reasons:
- municipal health education needs of the community are addressed by improving the GRDM municipal health education;
- standardise and streamline GRDM municipal health education materials; and
- increase public awareness pertaining to the nine key performance areas of Municipal Health Services.
EHPs have a statutory obligation to ensure that everyone lives in an environment that is not harmful to his or her health and well-being according to Section 24 of the Constitution of South Africa.
PERFORMANCE BY DANCE GROUP
Upon arrival at the old Kwanokutula sports field, EHPs were met by a group of kids between the ages of five (5) and 15. Parents, in full support of the initiative, were present as they cheered the kids who performed with precision. EHPs also joined the various groups when they danced alongside the kids in support of the initiative.
According to the Chairperson of the Health and Education Committee, Jessica Erasmus: “It is not often you find a passionate young group of children pouring their hearts out in dance and especially a dance to promote a cleaner environment, amongst others. With young children taking a stance like this, we need to show our support for them as young ambassadors for the community. We will continue to support initiatives like these and hope to have more youthful groups cross our paths to fight for a cleaner environment together and to eradicate illegal dumping as a team.”
THE STORY BEHIND REBECCA’S INSPIRATION
When asked how she came up with the idea, Rebecca said: “At the nearby bus stop with a few of my friends, Hannelie Claassen, Claradene Blaauw, Juanita Jafta and Ronica Maans, we saw bullying taking place and then decided to stand by the children to ensure it didn’t happen again. What happened in the past was that whenever a bus arrived, the older kids would push the younger ones to the back. There’s a system in place now that allows the shortest kids to stand in front while the taller kids stand in the back. After we resolved that issue, I thought about some fun, activities for kids to build relations. It’s easy for kids to get involved in the wrong things when they’re bored, which is why I recruited them for spiritual dance classes.”
MORE ABOUT REBECCA AND HER FAMILY
Rebecca has lived in Kwanokutula for 12 years. She used to be a Sunday school teacher and started a soup kitchen about four months ago. She is a mother of a 23-year-old son, 14- and 12-year-old daughters, and a 27-year-old daughter with one child. With her passion for kids, she’s also adopting six and eight-year-olds from a neighbourhood where parents struggle with substance abuse. “I want my house to become a permanent home for them,” said Rebecca.
VOORSTELLE VIR ‘N SKOON OMGEWING
Volgens Raadslid Betsie van Noordwyk van Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit wat woon in die Hessequa-streek, is daar al pogings aangewend om Kwanokutula skoon te maak, maar onwettige storting gaan voort. “Ek het self al vir ure rommel opgetel, maar die volgende dag het dit weer dieselfde gelyk”. Rdl. Van Noordwyk moedig die publiek aan om ten alle tye op ‘n verantwoordelike manier op te tree. “Die impak van onwettige storting kan tot baie ernstige implikasies lei”.
“Onwettige storting lok, onder andere, muise en rotte wat siektes aan mense kan versprei. Siektes sluit in die Hantavirus Pulmonêre Sindroom, Leptospirose, Rat-bytkoors, Salmonellose, Tularemia and Limfositiese Chorio-mengitis,” het Rdl van Noordwyk gesê.
Onwettige storting moet aangemeld word by plaaslike munisipaliteite.
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13 October 2022 Garden Route District Municipality Notice: 13/2022
Camp Fest, hosted by the Rodiac Racing Motorshow Group to Camp at Swartvlei Caravan Park from 28 – 30 October 2022
7 October 2022 Media Release: Former Garden Route District Municipality Senior Firefighter, Denver Moses, passes away
Media Release: Former Garden Route District Municipality Senior Firefighter, Denver Moses, passes away
7 October 2022
Early this week, on 4 October 2022, a former Fire Senior Firefighter of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Denver Moses, sadly passed away at the age of 49. Denver served the Garden Route district for a period of 14 years until 31 August 2022. Prior to him joining the GRDM firefighting team on 18 August 2008, he was also a firefighter at the City of Cape Town.
Moses was described by members of the GRDM Control Room as tall, friendly and calm with a generous personality – the same every day. “It was an extremely sad day on 22 September 2022, when we visited him. He held our hands and he spoke softly. In his eyes we could see he was fighting a difficult battle,” Tippie Bouwer, Control Room Supervisor said. Another colleague said: “He was taken from us at an unexpected time and he will be dearly missed”.
GRDM Chief Fire Officer, Deon Stoffels, described Moses as respected amongst his fellow firefighters. Young firefighters looked up to him. He also had a passion for training members of the public in fire safety. He was known by many names – “Oom”, “Mosie”, “Mola”, “Mr Moses”. “He earned respect not by demanding it, but just by the way he carried himself,” said Stoffels.
Edwin Lottering a former GRDM Senior Firefighter also said: “I will miss his late-night calls, stories and advice”. Heinrich Leslie, also a former colleague said Denver was a natural leader – passionate about firefighting. “He had the experience to take informed risks.” Leslie further described Denver as someone who didn’t spoon-feed others. “He was to the point and would tell you when you had to take control of a wildfire while he searched by foot for signal to report back to the control room”. Adding to this, he said: “When I think about these incidents, he instilled a mindset in all of us to take charge while staying safe during a wildfire”.
Rest in Peace Denver,
Your service to the Garden Route district will always be remembered and cherished.
“Firefigters never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they save” – Susan Diane Murphree
A prayer session will be hosted by the Garden Route District Municipality at the municipality’s Council Chambers on Friday, 7 October 2022 at 10h00am.
Members of the public are invited to view the proceedings through zoom at: https://gardenroute.zoom.us/j/99804471776?pwd=Mk9Nc2RsWDNHNTN4SHZVRUlHMEVLZz09
or through the municipality’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8PPLIw2mb4
05 October 2022 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality applies for an Alien Vegetation Control Programme Grant
Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality applies for an Alien Vegetation Control Programme Grant
For Immediate Release
5 October 2022
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has applied for a grant, through the Western Cape Government Provincial Treasury, to reduce the fire risk and improve the water supply. The proposed project, budgeted at approximately R29 million, will include a coordinated alien invasive species clearing, ecological restoration plan and community training programme. It is planned for the various catchments and rivers/tributaries and their habitats within the region.
GRDM Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen says that if funding is approved, the project will contribute to the integrated development of marginalised communities through income-generating invasive alien vegetation clearing projects.
“The GRDM and partners also plan to grow the community’s skills by enhancing their knowledge about identifying alien vegetation and clearing it,” he said.
More benefits of the proposed project include:
- Restoration of ecosystem functions (i.e., nutrient cycling, habitat value);
- Protecting biodiversity;
- Initiating regrowth of indigenous plants;
- Reducing fire risks;
- Increasing water security;
- Erosion control;
- Enhancing tourism potential;
- Restoring of wetland and estuarine functions;
- Enhance tourism potential;
- Improving agricultural potential of land (grazing and crops);
- Long-term conservation of the mountain catchments, rivers, wetlands, and remaining natural; and
- Facilitate the establishment of a positive working relationship between local communities and local government.
A lot of invasive alien plants (IAP) thrive throughout the Garden Route and its seven local municipal areas. Projections indicate IAPs could double within the next 15 years if something isn’t done soon. Such plants pose a threat to biodiversity, water conservation efforts, agricultural management and fire risk management.
Managing IAPs is based on two fundamental principles – acting early and following up. This includes initial control to drastically reduce the existing IAP footprint; and controlling seedling, root suckers and regrowth. Finally, maintenance to sustain low and decreasing IAP numbers will yield more positive results.
Dr Nina Viljoen, Head of Environmental Management says many alien plants consume more water than local plants, depleting valuable underground water resources, which results in additional fuel for veld fires. “Lower slopes, river floodplains and forest and scrub vegetation are largely invaded by species such as Acacia mearnsii and Acacia melanoxylon, amongst others, said Dr Viljoen”.
Alien plant invasions are estimated to have reduced mean annual runoff in the major rivers within the district by almost 20% by 2007 (Le Maitre et al., 2013).
Where to report Alien Invasive Species
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) – Invasive Species Forum
Biosecurity Compliance
Call Centre: 086 111 2468
Website: www.environment.gov.za
Please also contact the below person for information on training and advocacy forums:
Kay Montgomery
National Invasive Species Advocacy Project (for the DFFE)
M: +27 82 659 0939
E: kay@wordlink.co.za
Below are some of the many invasive alien plants in the region:
Feature image: According to Dr Viljoen, Acacia melanoxylon (featured) and Acacia mearnsii have invaded many lower slopes, river floodplains, forest and scrub vegetation in the region.
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Wrap-up of today’s Environmental Health Day talks by the Executive Manager of Community Services, Clive Africa
Wrap-up of today’s Environmental Health Day talks by the Executive Manager of Community Services, Clive Africa
“Section 24 of the Constitution of South Africa reads that everyone has a right to a safe and healthy environment. At the Garden Route District Municipality, we, the administration and our political elected officials, are very serious about protecting the rights of our citizens. Municipal Health Services in the district are performed by our 40 Environmental Health Practitioners, previously known as Health Inspectors. These officials do regular health and hygiene inspections at schools, créches, shops, butcheries, barber shops, hospitals and many other facilities.”
“I think you would agree with me that we live in one of the most beautiful places in our country and we have a collective responsibility to preserve our heritage – especially for future generations to come. But, we are noting that the issue of illegal dumping is becoming a huge problem within our communities. Illegal dumpsites are places where diseases easily spread and where rats and other vectors breed. These places are causing our people and in particular, children, to get sick. We have seen this, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and many families have lost loved ones because of this illness.”
“We, therefore, urge the people of the district to eliminate illegal dumping within the next 5 years. Now, this is achievable – if everyone works together, we can do it!”
“We ask you to report any incidents of illegal dumping at your local municipal offices. The motto of municipal health is “prevention is better than cure”. We will continue to urge the public to still apply good hygiene practices by continuing to wash hands and sanitise regularly.”
“Health education remains one of our most critical functions and we will keep on informing the public on any health-related issue because what you don’t know can possibly harm you or kill you,” – Clive Africa, Executive Manager: Community Services, Garden Route District Municipality.
Read more about Environmental Health Practitioners here.
#WEHD2022 #WorldEnvironmentalHealthDay #education #teamsontheground #saveearth #environment #environmenthealth #EHP #GardenRouteDM #GardenRoute #SouthAfrica #WesternCape #SDG #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #UN #UnitedNations #IllegalDumping #StopIllegalDumping
An Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) explains our role in the Disposal of the Dead
An Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) explains our role in the Disposal of the Dead
“Disposal of the dead is one of the nine key municipal health functions performed by EHP. It is governed by the Regulations relating to the Management of Human Remains, Regulation number 363 of 22 May 2013, promulgated under the National Health Act 61 of 2003.
For EHPs, the disposal of the dead involves the monitoring of funeral undertakers, mortuaries, crematoriums and cemeteries for compliance and also the management, control and monitoring of exhumation, rebuttal and disposal of human remains.
Currently, as it stands, ESKOM has continued to implement load-shedding for weeks. It is for this reason that Environmental Health Practitioners urge all funeral undertakers, crematoria and mortuaries to have a backup plan (like generators during load-shedding). Fridges need to keep running during power outages to prevent bodies from decomposing. The decomposed bodies do not only compromise the dignity of the deceased but also pose health threats for those exposed,” – Khanyisa Shoto, Environmental Health Practitioner, Garden Route District Municipality.
Read more about Environmental Health Practitioners here.
#WEHD2022 #WorldEnvironmentalHealthDay #education #teamsontheground #saveearth #environment #environmenthealth #EHP #GardenRouteDM #GardenRoute #SouthAfrica #WesternCape #DisposalOfTheDead #Exhumation #Rebuttal #Funeral #Mortuary
Prevention and surveillance of Communicable Diseases by Environmental Health Practitioners
Prevention and surveillance of Communicable Diseases by Environmental Health Practitioners
“Communicable diseases are diseases that can be spread from one person to another through a variety of ways. These include contact with blood, and body fluids, breathing air-borne viruses or being bitten by certain insects, amongst others. Communicable diseases include hundreds of viral or bacterial infections, of which some most prevalent include Covid-19, TB, Hepatitis-B and others. You can prevent the spread of communicable diseases by keeping a social distance between yourself and others. Also, avoid contact with contaminated surfaces. Last, and a very important point – always keep your hands clean – wash your hands regularly,” – Sive Mkuta, Environmental Health Practitioner, Garden Route District Municipality.
Read more about Environmental Health Practitioners here.
#WEHD2022 #WorldEnvironmentalHealthDay #education #teamsontheground #saveearth #environment #environmenthealth #EHP #GardenRouteDM #GardenRoute #SouthAfrica #WesternCape #Covid19 #TB #CommunicableDiseases #Health