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Author: Herman Pieters

18 October 2021 Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update

Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update

For Immediate Release
18 October 2021

The Garden Route District has shown a decline in COVID-19 active cases per 100 000 population with 62 active cases per 100 000 this week compared to 89 cases per 100 000 population the previous week.

The situation for the district as a whole has improved. Although some district hospitals still see pockets of COVID-19 inpatients, decreased pressure is seen across the district.

All subdistricts are planning to start escalating services again that were either stopped or rendered with decreased capacity during the 3rd wave.

Vaccination teams are actively busy with outreaches to vaccinate as many people as possible. The Garden Route had a 1% increase in vaccinations for 18 years and older with at least one dose and stands at 45%.  The percentage of the total population for the Garden Route who have received at least one dose stands at 31%. This is also a 1% increase from the previous week.

The Garden Route District is slowly moving towards its target of 70% fully vaccinated persons above the age of 50 years and 70% partially vaccinated for the age group 18 – 49 years.

If you wish to fully vaccinate by Christmas, your first vaccine should be administered no later than 20 October. The Health Department appeals to all citizens to prioritise vaccination.

High-risk warning

If you are over 50 years, you are at high risk when contracting COVID-19. During the third wave, people aged 50 years and older made up 30% of cases, 60% of admissions, and 83% of deaths due to COVID-19.

Get vaccinated now to protect yourself.

 COVID-19 stats

Feature image caption: Vaccination teams did an outreach at Knysna taxi rank.

END

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za 
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

13 October 2021 Media Release: Save our summer

Media Release: Save our summer

For Immediate Release
13 October 2021

The Garden Route District is slowly moving towards its target of 70% fully vaccinated persons above the age of 50 years and 70% partially vaccinated for the age group 18 – 49 years.

The district currently stands at 57% for those fully vaccinated aged 50 years and older.  To reach the target, a further 59 652 vaccines will need to be administered to that age group. The district has also partially vaccinated 37% of those in the age bracket, 18 – 49 years. To reach 70% of partial vaccinations, a total of 193 968 1st dose vaccines must be administered.

As have been widely publicised, a fourth wave is anticipated towards the end of this year. The Department urges citizens not to delay taking the first vaccination to ensure they have enough time between doses to complete their vaccination by December. If you wish to fully vaccinate by Christmas, your first vaccine should be administered no later than 20 October. The Health Department appeals to all citizens to prioritise vaccination.

No one needs to pre-register. Please don’t delay but visit your closest site. Please visit our web page for the list of weekend and week sites or call 0860142142 for directions.

COVID stats 12 October 2021

George Regional Hospital is experiencing decreased pressure in wards and the Critical Care unit.  The latest available data showed that there were 14 Covid patients in the Covid ward compared to the 28 a week ago. There were 4 patients in Critical Care of which one is on a ventilator.

Harry Comay Hospital, as a step-down facility for George Hospital, has no Covid patients in the wards. There are now 89 active cases per 100 000.  (One week ago it was 133).  The situation for the district as a whole continues to improve.

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

 

12 October 2021 Garden Route Skills Mecca hosts Capacity Building Session for Skills Development Stakeholders

Building Session for Skills Development Stakeholders

For Immediate Release
12 October 2021

On Tuesday, 5 October 2021, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) held a Skills Mecca Capacity Building Session by means of a webinar.  The aim of the event was to bring all service providers (public and private), who are interested in becoming part of the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) process, together, and to provide them with insights into the programme and build their capacity when applying to become accredited providers in South Africa.

When providing an overview of the progress made so far, Dr Florus Prinsloo, coordinator of the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM), highlighted the following:

  • The GRDM envisages to start building a database of service providers including professional technical specialists that can help the GRSM to move forward with their work.
  • GRDM has initiated a process with the necessary legal colleagues to copyright the GRSM brand, to strengthen and grow the brand to become a global and well-known international brand. “We want the Garden Route to be the first choice when people want to develop skills,” Florus said.
  • The next Skills Summit is scheduled to place in March 2022 – a Skills Summit Working Group will be established within the next few weeks to drive the arrangements for the Summit.
  • Service providers should consider all resolutions taken at the GRSM Summit when developing their proposals as training providers for the GRSM. For this purpose, service providers also need to study the DDM (JDMA) One Plan and the Garden Route District Skills Development Strategy. These documents can be accessed on the Garden Route District Municipality’s website.

After sharing the concept and overview of the Skills Mecca, Dr Florus said:

“Everything that we do at the GRSM is directly linked to the District Development Model, also known as the JDMA in the Western Cape”.

During the webinar, Dr Florus referred to the recent National Skills Development Summit where both the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande and the Minister of Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs Dr Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma, were both participating in. He said: “Most of participants at the Summit clearly made reference to skills development as part of the district development model”. Echoing the words of Minister Nzimande, Dr Florus said: “What we need to do is to create a district skills profile, which is necessary for such a district development model”.

To the potential service providers he advised: “Have a look at what are the strategic documents and strategic plans of the organisation that you want to partner and align your proposals to. You would want to align your proposals to the District Development Model, the One Plan of the JDMA and the GRDM Growth and Development Strategy (the two key documents that the GRSM is founded on).

The actual skills Mecca has a short, medium and long term approach. That approach will be implemented over a short period (2023) using a coaching methodology to grow internal capacity. He explained: “The GRSM, as the skills development component of the district development model is a permanent feature of what happens in the district – it’s not just a once-off, it should become a permanent feature that has staff, resources, programmes, and it just continues on and on. This concept is necessary and is now needed in the country so that we can bring skills development, right down to where it is really needed, at grass roots level”.

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Task Team

When Dr Florus elaborated on the function of the Task Team that is already established to drive the concept, he said: “We’ve got the implementation plans and reports. Those implementation plans and reports are guided by the Task Team”. Adding to this, he explained the function of the team and said: “The Task Team is the first structure that is already established and consist of a group of internal individuals that is led by the GRDM Executive Manager of Corporate Services, Ms Trix Holtzhausen. Representatives from the local municipalities in the Garden Route and at least four external technical experts that also form part of the team”. He added: “The team guides and drives all the work of the GRSM”.

Two important parts of the Task Team include the working groups and managing the external stakeholder based Skills Mecca Forum.

Working Groups

One of the working groups that is already well-established and submitted their first formal item to the District Council for a plan to establish a multipurpose and highly specialised training academy in the Garden Route. The need for community-based training in firefighting is a big focus area, which is a critical need in the district.

Forum

The Forum is an external stakeholder forum that is a webinar-based platform and is held every three months. The platform is led and chaired by Councillor Stephen de Vries, who is the Chairperson of the Training and Skills Development Portfolio Committee at GRDM. Dr Florus extended a word of gratitude to Cllr De Vries for his support relating to the GRSM so far. He said: “We hope that the new Chairperson will similarly support the GRSM and the Forum look forward to welcoming the new Chairperson after the elections in November this year”.

Funding

The forum already has five programmes/projects with substantial amounts of funding behind it. This is an indication how well in operation the forum is. The aim is, however, to multiply these proposals with the help of the service/training providers and other officials that are welcome to form part of these initiatives. Florus said: “We look forward to growing that progressively here in the Garden Route, because ultimately these efforts will benefit the people of the Garden Route”. A Funding Strategy is also in place and is starting to be utilised progressively.  However, capacity around it still need to be built so that the Strategy gets more and more people get to understand it and use it.  Part of the Strategy is a pre-approved Provider Database.

Service Providers Database

The transversal scope of work of the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) requires that the District Municipality establishes partnerships and invites bids for the registration of public, private and state owned companies as service providers on a pre-approved database to offer skills development related programmes and workplace services as required by employers and entrepreneurs within the prioritised economic growth and enabling sectors of the District.

Dr Florus explained: “After conclusion of the supply chain process and once placed on the approved list, such service providers would be expected to provide quotations on selected programmes and/or services as requested by the District Municipality”.  Meaning, “approved service providers would be selected as possible providers for a particular programme or service and then be requested to provide a quotation for the intended programme or service,” he added.

It will be expected from service providers to deliver programmes or services that must be relevant to at least one or more of the Garden Route District Growth and Development Strategy socio economic priorities that may be amended quarterly; These include: occupational based education training development, occupationally based assessment services including recognition of prior learning services; generic work readiness programmes inclusive of Core Skills within the framework determined by the International Labour Organisation; and Professional Technical Expertise Services within the categories of Facilitating, Consulting, Mentoring, Coaching, Research and Data Analytics.

According to Dr Florus, the database plays a significant role to get service providers to help the GRSM to spend the money. He emphasised: “You can sometimes get the cash, but it is almost twice as hard to spend the funds and it need to be spend in a way that is correct and under proper governance”. The provider database, as well as other documents such as the funding strategy etc. will always form part of the agendas directing the Summits and Indabas. These documents will influence the resolutions around the GRSM.

Local Structures

Dr Florus praised the local municipalities in the district for establishing their local structures where economic development and skills development colleagues meet to discuss their program.  So far, these local structures have provided the GRSM with up to four projects that they want assistance on. He said: “This is great if one has this kind of cooperation – we will progress, and this will help us tremendously in our region in terms of skills development”.

Customer Orientation Support System

The other side of the support system focuses on “customer orientation”. This approach refers to helping particularly employers and learners, as two big customer groups, together with the GRDM and the members of Council. The GRSM work closely with the GRDM Digital Transformation Strategy Group to build an employer database which will be a multi-faceted employer database.

This database is formally part of the Digital Strategy with the employer data as records that will be well-controlled. The database plays a significant role as it can build skills profiles and skills needs of employers.  “This part is linked back to the district development model, because if the GRSM does not have an effective employee database like that, regarding what employers in the area really need and be able to deliver on those skills, then the district development model will not work,” Dr Florus said.

To ensure the effective marketing of these programs and projects of the GRSM, a Digital Marketing Strategy together with the website that is being developed, as well as a comprehensive e-marketing strategy, is in the process to be implemented. The website is envisaged to go live in due course. Through this website, all the necessary information that it shared at the Forum, can be accessed.

Recruitment of seventeen (17) young people

The GRSM is in the process of securing funding to recruit seventeen (17) unemployed people as GRSM Technicians. Technicians will be trained to run the various elements of the GRSM. Two technicians will be placed at each local municipality in the district and three at the GRDM.  Dr Florus highlighted that, “as a team, we will work with them over three years to develop the skills and assist them to become professionally registered skills development technicians and in that way, we hope to make them highly employable over the three years”.

Ms Gillian Tobin from the Local Government SETA furthermore made a presentation on the requirements for Skills Development Providers in the Local Government Sector. The requirements for Skills Development Providers in the Occupational Qualifications Sub Framework were also presented by Mr Emmanuel Mbuwe from the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations.

In closing, Ms Holtzhausen encouraged participants to form part of all future engagements of the Garden Route Skills Mecca.

1 October 2021 Media Statement: Fraud case opened against two GRDM employees and service provider

Media Statement: Fraud case opened against two GRDM employees and service provider

For Immediate Release
1 October 2021

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Municipal Manager, Mr Monde Stratu, has opened a case of possible fraud against two (2) suspended GRDM employees and a Supplier. This is for the alleged payment of goods that were not received by the Municipality. The Municipality has conducted a preliminary investigation and the supplier has agreed to pay back the money that was not due and payable. This payment relates to the procurement of premix and slurry bags.

According to Mr Stratu, the Municipal Finance Management Act, 56 of 2003, section 32(6) clearly states: “The accounting officer must report to the South African Police Service all cases of alleged – (a) irregular expenditure that constitute a criminal offence; and (b) theft and fraud that occurred in the municipality. ”

GRDM Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen, commended the administration for proactively probing the alleged procurement irregularities. “Corruption at our municipality will not be tolerated because it takes away the scarce resources that are set aside from public funds,” said Booysen. The Executive Mayor urged the public to allow the legal processes to take their course.

Booysen stated that the GRDM remains committed to working together with the public and private sectors to ensure that corrupt elements in the private and public sectors face the full wrath of the law.

Remember to report any instance of fraud that is linked to the GRDM Ethics & Fraud Hotline, 0800 004 006 or e-mail gardenroutedm@behonest.co.za

ENDS

(5 – 14 October) SAVE THE DATES: FREE Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp for Business training sessions

Are you a small business owner or entrepreneur looking to take your business online to improve competitiveness and expand markets?

Please see the training invitation below and REGISTER by clicking on the topic/s you would like to attend:

5 October 2021 – Topic 1: Facebook Business Page 

7 October 2021 – Topic 2: Instagram for Business

12 October 2021 – Topic 3: Facebook Ads

14 October 2021 – Topic 4: WhatsApp for Business

 

21 September 2021 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Interns receive cellular devices 

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Interns receive cellular devices

For Immediate Release
21 September 2021

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) interns recently received cellular devices from CapaCiti, and One Digital Media these companies are partnering with the GRDM to nurture the talent of the youth. Eleven (11) CapaCiti interns and two (2) One Digital Media interns, these interns are currently being hosted by the GRDM and will use these devices as part of their duties and report-back activities to CapaCiti and One Digital Media.

The GRDM Executive Manager for Corporate Services, Trix Holtzhausen, said: “We have never before been in a position to ensure that interns have access to such tools of trade and we are thankful to CapaCiti and One Digital Media for assisting us with these resources”. “Additionally, the GRDM provides interns with Wi-Fi to access the Internet, which reduces their personal data costs,” said Holtzhausen. The two apps installed on each device are known as YES4YOUTH and YES4LIFE.

YES4YOUTH

“Yes4Youth” is an educational tool for action-based learning and it consists of “bite-sized knowledge” – it, therefore, contains value-driven and principle-based contents. The app is designed for busy professionals and executives who have no time, although they want to continue learning for their personal and professional development.

YES4LIFE

The Yes4Life app is designed to assess and measure the “Yes Youth” quality work experience through weekly, monthly baseline mid line and end line surveys. These surveys require “YES Youth” to complete a series of questions pertaining to their background, their ongoing experience taken from the very beginning of their journey and throughout their 12-month quality work experience in order to compile their unique profile, as to reassure the quality assurance and continued improvement throughout their YES journey.

GRDM remains committed to youth development, in particular developing the skills of women to be form part of the job market.

Feature Image: Onke Jako, working under the Recruitment and Selection Unit, received his cellular phone from One Digital Media

ENDS

13 September 2021 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality Mayor, Memory Booysen welcomes easing of restrictions

Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality Mayor, Memory Booysen welcomes easing of restrictions

For Immediate Release
13 September 2021

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa to move the country to Alert Level 2. This will further allow the Garden Route economy to open.

“We know that for our region to bounce back from the pandemic and thrive, Garden Routers need to use the best method to fight COVID-19, and that’s vaccines,” said Ald. Memory Booysen. The vaccine roll-out and large-scale vaccinations remain essential as it is evident in the statistics that those who have been vaccinated stand a great chance of surviving the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

“I continue to encourage everyone who is 18 years and older to get their COVID-19 vaccinations. I, like other Mayors in the region, have already received both my Phizer jabs,” said Booysen.

There are currently nearly 50 vaccination sites throughout the Garden Route, forming part of the country’s approximately 300 vaccination sites. To date, South Africa has administered approximately 14 670 161 doses of vaccines. According to the Western Cape Health Department, 157 558 Garden Routers received their first dose and 68 025 received their second dose of Pfizer.

GRDM urges all members of the public to adhere to the regulations under Alert level 2:

  • A curfew between 23:00 and 04:00;
  • The sale of alcohol from retail outlets for off-site consumption will be expanded to between 10:00 and 18:00 from Monday to Friday;
  • Non-essential establishments such as restaurants, bars and gyms may now close at 22:00 to allow patrons and employees to travel home before curfew;
  • Gatherings increased to 250 people indoors and 500 outdoors or 50% of capacity in a smaller venue;
  • Alcohol sales on-site resume as per license conditions;
  • Public spaces such as beaches will remain open;
  • Wearing a mask in public spaces remains compulsory under national lockdown regulations.

ENDS

10 September 2021 Media Release: GRDM continues extensive Covid-19 Vaccination awareness

GRDM continues extensive Covid-19 Vaccination awareness

For Immediate Release
10 September 2021

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Employee Assistant Programme (EAP) unit approached Dr Zilla North from the Western Cape Department of Health to conduct ‘Questions and Answers’ sessions with GRDM employees. These weekly virtual or contact sessions are held to address any concerns raised by employees regarding the Covid-19 vaccines.

So far, three (3) sessions took place; the first session took place on 13 August 2021 at the Conville clinic, where approximately thirty-one (31) Roads employees were in attendance. On 20 August, nearly fifty (50) participants logged into the virtual session; and on 27 August again, approximately fifty (50) employees participated.

The EAP unit furthermore facilitates the employee vaccination activities of the municipality. Apart from the question and answer sessions with Dr North, the Unit also sent out weekly vaccination information to the employees and they created “Toolbox” talks with staff members employed at the various depots, in collaboration with the Occupational Health and Safety Unit. The team distributed vaccination posters at all satellite offices of the municipality and organised a vaccination site for its employees at the AFM Church situated in Pacaltsdorp. Additionally, a vaccination webinar with Dr Nellis van Zyl-Smit was scheduled on 8 September 2021 to continue creating awareness and educating the employees about the importance of taking the Covid-19 Vaccine.

HR Practitioner: Employee Assistance Programme, Shandre Abrahams said: “The GRDM (EAP unit) is dedicated to continuously keeping and educating its employees about safety precautions to prevent getting infected by the virus and the spread thereof”. Abrahams added: “Employees get screened, and their hands get sanitised on their arrival at the office every morning. Sanitising stations are also placed at every corner within the various buildings for their easy access and they are continuously advised to wear their face masks at all times.

The Communication Unit conducted interviews with some of the staff members to determine their take on the vaccine. Ms Nontokozo Dladla responded by saying, “I have always been pro-vaccination, but I haven’t gone for my jab yet, as I recently contracted Covid-19 and must wait for 30 days till I can get it. As for encouraging other people, getting vaccinated is a sensitive subject – not everyone is for it. At this moment, I keep my opinion to myself. I do not want it to seem like I am imposing my opinion on other people”. Mr Johannes Jafta responded: “After being vaccinated, I would encourage anyone else to go and get their jab. We need to be responsible communities and to act responsibly. Taking the jab is for their own safety, and it is the right thing to do”.

Employees are encouraged to contact the EAP officer, Ms Shandre Abrahams, for more information about the programme at 044 801 1307/082 428 1984.

ENDS

10 September 2021 Weather Alert: Severe Weather Warnings – Veld Fire Conditions

 Hazard Affected Municipalities Valid From (SAST) Valid To (SAST)
 Veld Fire Conditions Beaufort West, Hantam, Kannaland, Karoo Hoogland, Khâi-Ma, Laingsburg, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert 10/09/21 08h00 11/09/21 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. A 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

Legal notice:

“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance. It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Report any weather-related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at: 044 805 5071.