Author: Herman Pieters
30 June 2022 Media Release: Bojanala Platinum DM pays a visit to Garden Route DM to benchmark emergency-related services
Media Release: Bojanala Platinum DM pays a visit to Garden Route DM to benchmark emergency-related services
For Immediate Release
30 June 2022
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Fire and Rescue Services had a successful year of firefighting thanks to the public reporting incidents and for assistance provided by various role players. During the past financial year starting 1 July 2021 and ending 30 June 2022, no lives were lost in wildfires. A countless number of homes and shacks were protected while only ±40 structures, including shacks, were destroyed by wildfires. Shacks are included in the statistics of the GRDM because the municipality renders a local municipal firefighting function for Kannaland.
It is because of the world-class firefighting response by the GRDM and the state-of-the-art Disaster Management Centre of the District, that Bojanala Platinum District Municipality (BPDM) visited the region to learn from the best. The BPDM was here on a mission to benchmark its fire services and meet global standards while safeguarding its communities.
HIGHLIGHTS OF BPDM VISIT
During her opening remarks upon arrival at the GRDM Head Office, Cllr Matlakala Nondzaba, Executive Mayor of BPDM said: “We have chosen the GRDM because the district has one of the best firefighting units in the country”.
“It can never be too late to learn from your peers who are excelling. Our visit here also comes at the right time as we enter a new financial year. We might have to relook our priorities going forward,” said Mayor Nondzaba. Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen responded with how the region has been hit by several disasters over the past ten (10) years. “This has made us very resilient and experts in coordinating regional responses to emergencies, however, we can improve like any other municipality,” said Booysen.
Booysen also took a moment to thank BPDM and the province it represents for them and others for extending lending a helping hand during the Knysna fires.
BPDM visited the GRDM Disaster Management Centre and the main firebase of GRDM which is situated at 17 Pioneer Road in Pacaltsdorp Industria, George. During their visit to the firebase, they did a walk-through of the property, learnt more about all the firefighting vehicles of the district and were shown how the GRDM’s thermal drone operates. At the Disaster Management Centre, they also had the opportunity to better understand the GRDM’s response to emergencies.
The session was closed by both municipalities agreeing to formulate a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU). GRDM Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu, made it clear that the MOU should have clear deliverables to ensure a meaningful outcome for all future engagements between both institutions. Some of the issues touched on during MOU discussions included policy matters, budget planning for disaster management and fire services, specifications for equipment, and strategic approaches to improving workforce morale.
OVERVIEW OF FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR
In assessing the 2021/2022 financial year, the GRDM fought over 90 wildfires, be it by foot or with the support of aerial firefighting. This means that on average, a wildfire occurs every 4th day of a 365-day period. With the Garden Route district area being 2 333 100 hectares in size, including residential areas, only 12 669 hectares were burned. This calculates to 0,54% of the region impacted by wildfires over the past 12 months.
Battling blazes always requires a joint response. It is therefore only prudent for the GRDM Fire and Rescue Services to once again officially thank all the role players who put their lives on the line to keep communities safe. Role players include Cape Nature, South African National Parks (SANParks), Mountain To Ocean (MTO), Local Municipalities (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Greater Oudtshoorn and Kannaland), Working On Fire (WoF), PG Bison, South Cape Fire Protection Agency (SCFPA), Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Albertinia and Still Bay Farm Watch, First Care Volunteer Wildfire Services, Knysna Fire Rangers and Bitou Farm Management Unit, local farmers (Mossel Bay, Riversdale, Gysmanshoek) and volunteers.
On top of the rapid response of firefighters, the GRDM held 36 information sessions with schools and communities, three (3) per month throughout the seven (7) municipal areas. These sessions were facilitated by 40 firefighters of the GRDM who report to firefighting bases in George, Riversdale and Ladismith.
The information sessions generally include topics such as:
- What to do when discovering a wildfire;
- Using evacuation routes and sheltered areas;
- What not to do in a fire situation;
- Fire behaviour;
- How to put out a fire without water;
- Preventing fires from spreading;
- Assisting vulnerable citizens, such as the elderly and children and pregnant women;
- Locating and using fire extinguishers;
- How to safely evacuate;
- Safe practices around and inside homes.
Another contributing factor to the success of firefighting efforts is resources. The GRDM Fire and Rescue Services Unit has the following transport assets: five (5) tankers, 6 firefighting bakkies, a command vehicle, hazardous material fire truck and a quadbike.
If the public comes across any wildfire, please make contact with the GRDM Emergency Call Centre on 044 805 5071. The call centre is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and each day of the year.
Feature image: GRDM and BPDM representatives at the main firebase of the District.
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30 June 2022 Media Release: Food safety during load shedding
Media Release: Food safety during load shedding
For Immediate Release
30 June 2022
Load shedding occurs often in South Africa. Other countries in the northern parts of Africa and the Middle East, also experience power outages on an average of 23.5 times a month which lasts on average 9.4 hours at a time. South-East Asia is hit with an average of 17 power outages a month, lasting over an hour each time.
These outages have a direct impact on food safety. Three (3) factors are at play here – the length of the outage, its frequency of it and where food is stored.
One key fact to remember is: As long as it is cold, food should be safe.
Food in a refrigerator may be safe as long as:
- Power outages do not last longer than four hours
- the fridge door is closed
- the temperature of the refrigerator was at 4 °C when load shedding started.
Food safety issues including spoiling are especially likely to occur with perishable goods such as fresh meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, and leftover food (depending on how long they were stored before load shedding started). The recommended temperature for the fridge to operate at, for food to remain safe to consume, is 4°C. It is therefore a better option to discard perishable food stored in a fridge that operates at a temperature higher than 4°C, especially when load shedding took place for two (2) or more hours.
Different bacteria grow at various temperatures. For every 1°C increase above that minimum growth temperature, the bacteria growth rate will double (depending on the type, living environment and access to nutrients). It is therefore essential to keep the door closed to ensure that the refrigerator stays as cold as possible during a power outage
If a freezer door is kept closed, frozen food will stay frozen for up to 48 hours. Perishable food must be cooked as soon as possible if they begin to defrost. Refreezing perishable food is dangerous.
Given the price of food, one is hesitant to discard it, but weighed against the risks of consuming unsafe food – it is best to discard it. Some perishables might not necessarily smell or taste much different but may be filled with bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses.
If one knows the load-shedding schedule, one can prepare for it as follows:
- Ensure that the temperature in the refrigerator is 4 °C or as near to it as possible.
- Frozen leftovers, milk, fresh meat and poultry, fish, and other goods should be moved from the fridge to the freezer that you might not need right away.
- Buy fresh food in smaller quantities, prepare it fast, and enjoy it instead of buying it in bulk and storing it in the fridge.
- Take special note of purchasing long-lasting items, such as unopened canned foods and sterile or ultra-heat heated temperature drinks. These have a lengthy shelf-life outside of the fridge, however, once they’re opened, they too need to be chilled.
- Another method used to keep perishable goods as cold as possible for as long as possible is to place ice packs around the items in the fridge.
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28 June 2022 Media Release: Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and SASSETA visit GRDM
Media Release: Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and SASSETA visit GRDM
28 June 2022
For Immediate Release
An Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) delegation consisting of national and provincial officials visited the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) on 13 and 14 June 2022. The aim of the two-day visit was to learn more about the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) model and to investigate the possibility of replicating the Skills Mecca concept in other parts of the country.
On the first day, representatives from GRSM and the GRDM EPWP section accompanied the delegation on several site visits to training centres in the area that support the GRSM. Delegates visited Cheeba Africa, African Skills and François Ferreira Academy where they were given thorough insights of each facility and the type of training provided. Through several Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) grants and EPWP programmes, learners have successfully completed courses at the training centres visited by delegates and have been able to enter the job market.
The second day was reserved for engagement. Lusanda Menze (GRDM Executive Manager:: Planning and Economic Development) gave an overview of GRDM and its Growth and Development Strategy and Dr Florus Prinsloo (GRSM Coordinator) gave a comprehensive overview of the GRSM model.
Tsholofelo Pooe from National EPWP presented on the their EPWP Training Framework and possible linkages to the Garden Route Skills Mecca.
MOU between GRSM and SASSETA discussed.
Joining the delegation on the second day, were Chris Mudau and Thamsanqa Mdontswa from the Safety and Security SETA (SASSETA). After listening to the presentations given by GRDM and GRSM, they presented on the SETA’s mandate, Skills Development Levy (SDL) breakdown, and strategic scope amongst other topics.
SASSETA’s sub-sections and constituencies include:
- Policing
- Corrections
- Justice
- Defence
- Intelligence Activities
- Legal Services
- Private Security and Investigation Activities
There are 17 SDL contributors in the Garden Route, which comprises law firms and security companies. It is for this reason that SASSETA and GRDM will enter into talks to establish an MOU that will see closer cooperation with GRSM.
The two-day delegation visit was concluded with a visit to Calitzdorp Hot Springs where a Security Training Centre has been established through formal partnership between BM Skills Development (who is a SASSETA Accredited Training Provider) and the GRDM.
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28 June 2022 Media Statement: Auditor General clarifies ambiguous reporting
Media Statement: Auditor General clarifies ambiguous reporting
For Immediate Release
28 June 2022
The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) recently directed a letter to Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu, to clarify the ambiguous reporting done on 15 June 2022 during a media briefing session. The AG, during the session, tabled a report outlining the 2020/21 Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) audit outcomes of local government.
The AGSA, in its letter to GRDM, stated:
“The GRDM has achieved a clean audit outcome due to the adequacy of the action plans that were instituted to address prior year findings and we commend the municipality on this achievement.”
“We would like to further clarify that:
- the statement by the Auditor-General, during the tabling press conference, was in relation to municipalities residing within the boundaries of the district and not to the GRDM itself, hence the reference to auditees that had obtained a qualified and unqualified audit outcome, and
- the paragraph included in the provincial overview of the general report was in reference to the fact that the GRDM had not obtained a clean audit outcome in the prior year (2019-20) and therefore did not sustain/extend their clean audit outcome from the prior year, unlike the other Western Cape district municipalities.”
The GRDM issued a media release about its Clean Audit position in December last year – Media Release: Garden Route DM celebrates Clean Audit and commits to retain it
GRDM remains committed to ensuring that it has all preventative and detective controls in place to ensure good governance continues to be embedded in our organisational culture for years to come. The audit outcome was, therefore, a result of a concerted effort by all officials to ensure that good governance and sound financial management remain at the heart of what we do at the Municipality,” said Monde Stratu.
A copy of the letter is included below:
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22 June 2022 Media Release: First phase of the Regional Waste Management Facility scheduled to conclude by 30 June 2023
Media Release: First phase of the Regional Waste Management Facility scheduled to conclude by 30 June 2023
For Immediate Release
22 June 2022
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) appointed Zutari (Pty) Ltd to design and draft tender documentation and contract supervision for the Garden Route Regional Waste Management facility and associated infrastructure on Farm 419 in Mossel Bay. The design drawings and report have already been submitted on 6 May 2022 to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for statutory approval.
COST OF THE NEW SITE
The final cost of the site can only be determined once the loan tender, construction tender and the operations & maintenance tender have been concluded. The loan tender will require funding institutions to provide 10-, 15- and 20-year loan funding options. The costs will include the construction of the landfill and associated infrastructure, the loan repayment and associated interest rates, operation costs including plant and equipment, rehabilitation costs etc.
WHAT WILL THE SITE INCLUDE?
The Regional Waste Management Facility will include a domestic waste cell (Class B) and a separate hazardous waste cell (Class A) to accommodate hazardous waste with low and medium hazard ratings. Other infrastructure includes roads, stormwater pipelines, a leachate storage dams, a stormwater dam for contaminated liquids, offices, a laboratory, weighbridges, a workshop, and security infrastructure. Provision has also been made to accommodate a waste tyre recycling facility by means of a 3-hectare portion of land for long-term lease to the Waste Bureau. The domestic waste Cell 1, as well as the hazardous waste cell, will both have a lifespan of approximately 20 – 25 years.
HOW FAR HAS THE PROJECT PROGRESSED?
An Environmental Impact Assessment was concluded in 2012 and GRDM received Environmental Authorisation. A Waste Management Licence was issued by DFFE in 2014. A section 78 investigation in terms of the Municipal Systems Act, concluded to provide the Regional Waste Management Services by means of a Public-Private Partnership. A Private Partner was appointed to construct the facility and operate it for a period of ten years, however, withdrew from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) at the final stages of the process on 29 September 2020.
GRDM then concluded to no longer pursue the PPP process and opted to rather make use of loan funding to construct the facility and to outsource the operations and maintenance to a reputable service provider.
The Geotechnical and Geohydrological Investigations required to finalise the designs of the facility have been concluded and the design drawings and design report have been finalised & submitted to DFFE on 06 May 2022 for approval which is required prior to commencement of construction.
The loan tender was advertised on 15 May 2022 and closed on 21 June 2022. The construction tender specifications are being finalised & scheduled to be advertised in July 2022. The operations & maintenance tender will also run concurrently to the construction tender process.
Phase 1 of the construction of the facility is currently scheduled to be concluded by 30 June 2023, at which time waste disposal can commence.
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22 June 2022 Media Release: Chairperson appointed to the GRDM APAC
Media Release: Chairperson appointed to the GRDM APAC
For Immediate Release
22 June 2022
Today, during an Ordinary Council meeting, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Council approved the proposed appointment of Alewijn Dippenaar as the new Chairperson of the Audit and Performance Audit Committee (APAC). The previous Chairperson, Dr Adele Potgieter’s role came to an end on 30 March 2022 after she formed part of APAC since 1 November 2012.
Dippenaar has a special interest in auditing, performance management, and relevant fields of legislation and training. He has in the past served as an APAC member for Swartland Municipality for 10 years, 6 years for Mossel Bay, George, Kannaland and for the GRDM years ago. He is also currently the Chairperson of Oudtshoorn and Prins Albert Municipalities’ APAC. These are only some of the leadership and other key roles he has fulfilled to date in the Local Government sphere.
Council also today resolved to appoint Christo Lamprecht as a member of APAC for a period of three years. Lamprecht is a registered Chartered Accountant (SA) and has vast experience in internal audit and accounting fields. He also served as APAC Member, APAC delegate to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) and Risk Management Committee (RMC) Chairperson at George Municipality for the period 2018 – 2021.
Council also requested the administration to re-advertise for a 5th member in the APAC to ensure there is a fair balance between race and gender on the Committee.
According to Pamela Lufele, GRDM Chief Audit Executive: “In accordance to Section 166 of the MFMA relating to the constitution of Audit Committees as well as the execution of their duties, it is integral that the Committee possess different skill sets in order to efficiently and effectively perform their function. I am proud to state that the formation of GRDM’s APAC has skills relating to Performance Management, Risk Management, IDP, Policy formulation, Finance, Internal Audit and Legal to name a few. This provides the end-user departments confidence that the oversight provided by the committee will be of value and enhance the processes of GRDM and bring the successes of the municipality to even greater heights.”
The full list of the four (4) current APAC members include the following:
Alewijn Dippenaar (Chairperson), Suren Maharaj (member), Lindiwe Mtunzi (member) and Christo Lamprecht (member).
Section 166(4)(a) of the Municipal Finance Management Act states: “An audit committee must consist of at least three persons with appropriate experience, of whom the majority may not be in the employ of the municipality or municipal entity”.
The GRDM APAC Charter requires its members to collectively possess the following skills and experience to efficiently fulfil their duties:
- Private and public sector experience;
- An understanding of service delivery priorities;
- Good governance and/or financial management experience;
- An understanding of the role of GRDM’s council and councillors;
- Familiarity with risk management practices;
- An understanding of internal controls;
- An understanding of major accounting practices and frameworks (ISO 9001) and public sector reporting requirements;
- Familiarity with legislation applicable to municipalities;
- And understanding of the roles and responsibilities of internal and external auditors;
- An understanding of the treatment of allegations and investigations;
- An understanding of the performance management system; and
- At least one member must have expertise in performance management.
Feature image: The GRDM Council approved two appointments today, that of the Chairperson and a new member to APAC.
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22 June 2022 Media Release: Garden Route District sources smoke detectors for Qolweni and Bossiesgif
Media Release: Garden Route District sources smoke detectors for Qolweni and Bossiesgif
For Immediate Release
22 June 2022
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in conjunction with Bitou Municipality, and Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees, installed 1 368 smoke detectors in Qolweni and Bossiesgif informal settlements in March 2022. The intervention came after shack fires destroyed several informal structures and claimed the lives of three (3) Garden Routers in 2021. During incidents, 13 informal structures were destroyed, leaving 50 people homeless. Many residents are temporarily displaced during structural fires or do not have the means to rebuild their lives.
Cllr Nompumelelo Ndayi, GRDM Portfolio Chairperson for Community Services, said: “I am grateful for the intervention that was initiated by the GRDM’s Disaster Management Centre and for the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre who donated the smoke detectors, as well as for Bitou Municipality’s assistance during the installation of the devices. I have already been informed of these early warning devices have saved several lives in Qolweni and Bossiesgif”.
The smoke detector installation project created temporary jobs for eight (8) EPWP individuals from Bitou who received comprehensive training on installing and testing the devices after concluding each task. The installation followed a phased approach to cover high-risk dwellings.
According to Lee-Ann Joubert, GRDM Disaster Management Officer: “Each installation had to be done according to a strict procedure, requiring the address, person’s name and surname and contact details to be provided. EPWP officials also recorded the ID numbers and contact details of those who stayed at dwellings without addresses.”
Community members were informed of the installations by means of loud hailing over weekends. Similar interventions will be rolled out to the rest of the region in all high-risk areas identified through a GRDM Disaster Risk Assessment. According to District’s risk assessment, Smutsville in Sedgefield, Kwanonqaba in Mossel Bay and Thembalethu in George, are in dire need of similar interventions. This will cost the GRDM Council R1 695 000 and include 4 500 smoke detection devices (including installation costs). The estimated cost per smoke detector is between R350 and R400 each and all installed devices in Qolweni and Bossiesgif were funded by the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre.
Through this risk reduction initiative, the most vulnerable communities are notified by a loud and timely alarm, allowing everyone to escape safely. During the installation, each household will continue to receive fire-wise education material too.
Feature image: EPWP workers who installed the smoke detector devices at dwellings in Bossiesgif and Qolweni.
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22 June 2022 Media release: Name and logo of Calitzdorp Spa changed to Calitzdorp Hot Springs
Media release: Name and logo of Calitzdorp Spa changed to Calitzdorp Hot Springs
For Immediate Release
22 June 2022
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Council has today decided to approve the renaming of the Calitzdorp Spa and to adjust its logo to Calitzdorp Hot Springs. The decision was made after several tour operators and guests expressed concerns about the hot springs that do not offer spa-related facilities. During the World Travel Market Africa, the District Municipality’s resorts and campsites were marketed and this is where similar questions arose about Calitzdorp Spa’s name. “Rename the accommodation facility to its unique selling point – hot springs,” is what tour operators said.
“The name Calitzdorp Spa is misleading in the sense that guests who have not yet visited the hot springs are of the opinion that it offers various spa-related facilities and services. It has been misleading, to say the least,” says Garden Route District Municipality’s Portfolio Chairperson for Properties and Asset Management, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard.
“Calitzdorp Hot Springs gives an accurate indication of what guests can expect,” says Hoogbaard.
The logo was adjusted by the communications department of GRDM and no additional costs were incurred by involving service providers during the process. The District will continue to manage the roll-out of the new identity cost-effectively.
Now that the new logo and name have been revealed with the GRDM council’s approval, an identity guideline will also be, which will include templates that can all be used for marketing purposes. To begin with, the new logo will be amended on the current social media and websites, which will be relatively inexpensive. All other Calitzdorp Hot Springs points of contact with the public will subsequently need to be updated or replaced in a phased approach.
Feature image: The old logo of Calitzdorp Spa (left) and the new logo of Calitzdorp Hot Springs (right).
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22 Junie 2022 Persvrystelling: Naam en kenteken van Calitzdorp Spa verander na Calitzdorp Warmbron
Media Vrystelling: Naam en kenteken van Calitzdorp Spa verander na Calitzdorp Warmwaterbron
Vir Onmiddelikke Vrystelling
22 Junie 2022
Die Tuinroete Distriksraad (Garden Route District Municipality Council) het vandag besluit om Calitzdorp Spa te hernoem en sy kenteken te verander na Calitzdorp Warmwaterbron wat in Engels bekend sal staan as Calitzdorp Hot Springs. Die besluit is geneem na verskeie reisagente en gaste hul kommer uitgespreek het oor die warmwaterbron wat nie spa-tipe fasiliteite bied nie, maar eerder by sy unieke verkoopspunt geïdentifiseer moet word. Tydens die World Travel Market Africa is die Distriksmunisipaliteit se oorde en kampeerterreine bemark en dis waar soorgelyke vrae opgeduik het oor Calitzdorp Spa se naam.
“Die naam Calitzdorp Spa is misleidend in die sin dat gaste wat nog nie die warmwaterbron besoek het nie van mening is dat hul verskeie geriewe en dienste verwag het – soos die ou naam wat “spa” insluit mens laat dink,” meen Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit se Portefeulje Raadslid vir Eiendom en Batebestuur, Rdl. Jobieth Hoogbaard.
“Calitzdorp Warmwaterbron gee ‘n akkurate aanduiding van wat gaste kan verwag,” sê Hoogbaard.
Die kenteken is deur die kommunikasie-afdeling van die distriksmunisipaliteit aangepas en addisionele kostes is nie aangegaan om diensverskaffers te betrek tydens die proses nie. Die Distriksmunisipaliteit sal voortgaan om die uitrol van die nuwe identiteit kostedoeltreffend te bestuur.
Noudat die nuwe kenteken en naam onthul is deur die raad se goedkeuring, sal’n handleiding en -gereedskapstel saamgestel word, wat onder meer template sal bevat wat alle vir bemarkingsdoeleindes gebruik kan word. Om mee te begin, sal die nuwe kenteken op ons verskillende digitale platforms aangebring word, wat betreklik goedkoop sal wees. Namate die Warmwaterbron se ander kontakpunte met die publiek dan bygewerk of vervang moet word, sal ons die nuwe kenteken stelselmatig infaseer.
Foto van embleme: Ou embleem (Calitzdorp Spa, links) en nuwe embleem (Calitzdorp Hot Springs, regs).
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