21 February 2021
The Garden Route District Municipality Council elected its Whip, Cllr Betsie van Noordwyk (multi-party coalition), today during an Ordinary Council meeting. In terms of Section 41A of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act, 2021, Council may elect a Whip for its Council.
Cllr van Noordwyk is also a DA Ward Councillor at Hessequa Municipality.
17 February 2022
For immediate release
The Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Wesgro) recently entered into a three-year partnership agreement with Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) to accelerate the region’s economic growth, investment, trade and tourism. Clear targets and deliverables are set out in this agreement.
According to Lusanda Menze, GRDM Executive Manager for Planning and Economic Development, “Wesgro has committed to attracting local and international investors and will use the GRDM investment prospectus to do this”.
“They are, amongst others, required to develop a database of businesses per strategic sector, a list of local and international stakeholders, potential investors they engaged and provide a report of the potential leads they generated,” he said.
The agreement also states that one-on-one mentorship of 30 companies across the region has to happen. Exporters in the Garden Route shall be given practical guidance on how to implement business processes to become export-ready. Targeted export promotion of Garden Route companies to international clients is also required at international trade exhibitions where companies will be matched to potential buyers, distributors and importers.
The final part of the agreement will require Wesgro to promote tourism promotion by creating awareness of attractions, properties and itineraries in the Garden Route. Fifteen (15) participants from the travel and trade media companies from Gauteng and Western Cape will be invited to the Garden Route to place a spotlight on the region’s domestic leisure market. The focus will be primarily family- and budget-friendly activities and accommodation such as caravanning, mountain biking, watersports, high-adrenalin and nature-based tourism.
Feature image: Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has entered into a collaborative strategic partnership with Wesgro to promote tourism, investment and trade across various areas and economic sectors. Pictured (fltr): Joshua Palm (Wesgro Assistant Export Manager), Towfiq Hendricks (Wesgro Head of Investment Promotion), Germaine Habiyaremye (Wesgro Administrator: Agribusiness Investment Unit), Sibylle Pfeiffer (Wesgro District Portfolio Manager), Yaw Peprah (Wesgro Chief Business Officer), Ald. Georlene Wolmarans (GRDM Speaker), Melanie Wilson (GRDM Manager: Economic Development and Tourism), Lusanda Menze (GRDM Executive Manager: Planning and Economic Development) and Passmore Dongi (GRDM Manager: Projects, properties, facilities and resort management).
For Immediate Release
14 February 2022
The first quarterly Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) Forum for 2022 will be held on 25 February 2022 from 09:00-12:00 virtually. This setting gives Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and its stakeholders a chance to collectively work towards achieving Skills Summit resolutions.
Tshepo Manyama, Regional Manager of National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Western Cape, will be the keynote speaker. He will talk on matters of skills development plans, opportunities, and needs that support youth development in the Garden Route. Joining Manyama will be Clyde Lamberts from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. Lamberts will focus on similar matters, but with a focus on the resilient Agriculture sector of the Garden Route Growth and Development Strategy. The chairperson of the Education and Training Committee of GRDM will chair the session.
Stakeholders who wish to attend the webinar can register here.
A biography of the following Councillors are available for you to read:
Ald. Memory Booysen, Executive Mayor
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/executive-mayor/
Adv Gert van Niekerk, Deputy Executive Mayor
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/deputy-executive-mayor/
Ald. Georlene Wolmarans, Speaker
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/speaker/
Cllr Nompumelelo Ndayi, Portfolio Chairperson: Community Services
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/community-services-3/
Ald. Iona Kritzinger, Portfolio Chairperson: Corporate Services
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/corporate-services-3/
Cllr Anco Barker, Portfolio Chairperson: Financial Services
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/mayco-financial-services/
Ald. Rosina Ruiters, Portfolio Chairperson: Planning and Economic Development
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/mayco-planning-and-economic-dev/
Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, Portfolio Chairperson: Property and Asset Management
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/property-and-asset-management/
Ald. Petru Terblanche, Portfolio Chairperson: Roads and Transport Services
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/mayco-roads-and-transport-planning/
Cllr Jerome Lambaatjeen, Portfolio Chairperson: Strategic Services
https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/strategic-services/
The rest of the full council include the following members
Interested in investing in any of these opportunities offered by the Local Government in the Garden Route District? Contact the District Economic Development Office, Ms Melanie Wilson, invest@gardenroute.gov.za
For Immediate Release
28 January 2022
The newly appointed district health council for the Garden Route District was introduced by the Western Cape Minister of Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, on 24 January 2022.
‘Community involvement in health is a crucial part of a good health system functioning. It is also an integral part of Primary Health Care, that is why I am committed to meaningful engagement with communities and civil society. This is critical because it gives the district mayors and councillors representing local municipalities an opportunity to interrogate our Annual District Health Plan checking to see whether their local health priorities are considered,’ said Minister Mbombo.
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen, together with councillors reviewed the Annual District Health Plan to confirm whether their local priorities have been considered.
‘This collective approach to health in the Garden Route works because it raises the bar on health service standards,’ said Ald. Booysen. ‘Over the years, GRDM also extended its expert advice about municipal health services and will continue doing so in future.’
Councils represent their respective districts and ensure the coordination of health services with their respective municipalities. The appointment of the district health council is in accordance with the National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003) which stipulates the establishment of district health councils.
A district health council consists of:
Members of the council are:
Members of the public are requested to make use of the channels available to them, such as the district health council, to voice any matters that might need attention.
Caption:
From left: Ms Rita Kayster ( District Council on Aids and TB), Cllr Melvin Roelfse (George), Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen, Cllr Betsi Van Noordwyk (Hessequa), Western Cape Provincial Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo, Cllr Mavis Busakhwe (Bitou), Cllr Ruiters representing Mossel Bay in the absence of cllr Janse van Rensburg, Mr Zee Brickles(district director: Garden Route and Central Karoo) and Simo Sithandathu(Provincial Council on Aids and TB Civil Society representative).
END
Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Tel: 044 813 1831
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za
17 January 2022
| Hazard | Affected Municipalities | Valid from (SAST) | Valid to (SAST) |
| Veld Fire Conditions | Beaufort West, Kannaland, Karoo Hoogland, Laingsburg, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert and Swellendam | 18/01/22 10h00 | 18/01/22 18h00 |
Discussion: The warm temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds could result in the development of runaway and veld/bush fires.
Impact: Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75. Under these conditions, fires may develop and spread rapidly resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.
Instruction: Fireteams, labour and equipment are to be placed on stand-by. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time.
SOUTH AFRICAN WEATHER SERVICE
Cape Town Weather Office
2nd Floor: Oval Office Park
Cape Town Int airport
Freight Road
Matroosfontein
Cape Town
E-Mail: factfc@weathersa.co.za
Tel: 021 935 5700
Report any weather-related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at: 044 805 5071.
