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Author: Herman Pieters

19 August 2021 Media Release: Ald. Memory Booysen gets his 2nd Pfizer jab

Media Release: Ald. Memory Booysen gets his 2nd Pfizer jab

For Immediate Release
19 August 2021

Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality, Ald. Memory Booysen, today, 19 August 2021, received his 2nd Pfizer jab at the Knysna Town Hall. Last month, on 8 July, Mayor Booysen received his 1st Pfizer jab at the Thembalethu Clinic in George – read about it here. Like most Mayors in the region, Booysen has been encouraging the public to also get the jab to protect themselves from severe illness. A joint statement was issued about this recently.

During a short interview, Mayor Booysen said: “My wife, Elethu, and I made a decision to get vaccinated because we want protection from severe Covid-19 illness. We’ve witnessed too many friends and family members being ripped away from our lives over the past year and a half. This is why I want to urge you to register to get vaccinated. Let’s all make the right choice together; please, I encourage you to trust science. We all want to enjoy a normal festive season later this year and not be faced with losing more loved ones.”

According to Mr Gerhard Otto, Manager for Disaster Management at GRDM, the vaccination uptake in the Garden Route is going well. “We encourage Garden Routers to keep up the momentum so that we reach our milestone of having at least 80% of citizens vaccinated before the end of November 2021,” said Otto.

Mr Siphiwe Dladla, Chief of Staff for the GRDM also joined Ald. Booysen to Knysna. They were both vaccinated at the same site on 8 July over a month ago.

Here is what to do if you are 18 or older and interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine: Register for your COVID-19 vaccine by browsing here: https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/ or by calling 0860 142 142 between 8 am and 8 pm on weekdays. You can also leave a message and the Health Department will call back. Alternatively, WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 0600 123 456 or dial *134*832# from any SA network for free.

Feature image caption: Sister Claire Vegter with Ald. Memory Booysen at the Knysna Town Hall, shortly after Ald. Booysen received his second Pfizer jab. Photo credit: Ms Nwabisa Pondoyi, Knysna Municipality

ENDS

 

18 August 2021 Media Release: Garden Route DM hosts successful Waste and Biomass Beneficiation Conference 

Media Release: Garden Route DM hosts successful Waste and Biomass Beneficiation Conference

For Immediate Release
18 August 2021

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape Economic Development Partnership and Climate Neutral Group, concluded a very successful Waste and Biomass Beneficiation Conference on 12 August 2021.

During his opening remarks, Ald. Memory Booysen said that he was confident that the GRDM would be setting the tone for the Garden Route to become the most resilient and progressive in the Western Cape and South Africa. Mayor Booysen stated that the GRDM regards energy remained a central part of what was being explored during the Conference. “Beneficiation is key for us to become sustainable – we already tick many of the boxes and we have the political will to carry it through,” he said.

During the Conference, it was evident that there is an appetite for developing waste and biomass beneficiation solutions and how it can benefit the Garden Route to form part of a new drive to go green with a selection of technologies. These technologies include alien invasive plants (AIPs) and general waste as a resource. Some applications discussed during the Conference included the manufacturing of syngas or ethanol, to produce Black Pellets or carbon-rich material produced during a pyrolysis process for agricultural use, generating energy (electricity) and many other applications.

Twenty-four (24) industry experts presented their topics under the following main conference themes:

  • The Waste and Biomass situation in the Garden Route and Western Cape
  • Completing the value chain — keeping the Cluster sustainable and looking after the environment
  • Logistics and infrastructure
  • Turning Waste and Biomass into Value
  • Finance and Development options

The Conference covered a wide variety of topics to assist technology and solution providers with access to all the essential facts and numbers needed to build a true business development project, based on tangible collaboration opportunities in a potential Waste Beneficiation Cluster or precinct. Close to 180 delegates (including presenters and organisers) attended the Conference with representation from the Private Sector, Government, Investors, NPOs and Academia.

During his closing remarks and unpacking of the steps to follow the Conference, GRDM Municipal Manager, Mr Monde Stratu thanked the organisers and said: “We invite all stakeholders to participate in formulating a strategic framework and action plan for the invasive biomass economy in South Africa and more specifically the Garden Route.” Stratu also stated that the development of a new brand of Small-, Medium and Micro Enterprises would be a critical component to ensure that the biomass value chain of the region is elevated beyond the supply and demand towards a restorative economic model.

The GRDM and its partners are keenly looking forward to taking the next steps forward to find solutions to minimise waste and maximise value.

Download all presentations here.

View the conference:

ENDS

16 August 2021 Joint Media Release: COVID-19 Vaccinations: Garden Route Executive Mayors lead by example and encourage others to do the same

Joint Media Release: COVID-19 Vaccinations: Garden Route Executive Mayors lead by example and encourage others to do the same

For Immediate Release
16 August 2021

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen and Executive Mayors from local municipalities in the Garden Route call on all Garden Routers eligible to register (35 years and older) to get their COVID-19 jab.

 “I received my first COVID-19 jab at the Thembalethu Clinic in George on 8 July 2021 and will receive my second 19 August 2021,” said Ald. Booysen.

He added: “I want to make it clear, the Medici has clearly stated that minor side-effects after receiving your jab is normal and doesn’t mean that it is more or less effective”.  Mayor Booysen also stated that with the help of Western Cape MEC for Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo’s three-day visits, two weeks ago, a lot of awareness was created and many Garden Routers became better informed about the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccines to prevent severe illness.

Details of each Mayor’s vaccination status has been made publicly available and include:

  • Hessequa Executive Mayor Cllr Grant Riddles received his first jab on 19 July 2021 and will get his second one at the end of August.
  • Mossel Bay Executive Mayor Ald. Harry Levendal received his first jab on 9 June 2021 and his second in July.
  • Knysna Executive Mayor, Cllr Ricky van Aswegen, received his first jab on 9 July 2021 and his second one is on 20 August 2021.
  • Bitou Executive Mayor, Cllr Sandiso Gcabayi, received his first vaccine dose on 16 July and will receive his second one on 27 August 2021.
  • Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Chris Macpherson, received his first vaccine dose on 10 June 2021 and his second one 22 July 2021.
  • Kannaland Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Magdalena Barry, received her first vaccine dose on 23 June 2021 and received her second one on 11 August 2021.

Mayors agree that there remains a strong alignment between saving lives and saving livelihoods – two inseparable priorities. They’ve asked that the generation of tech-savvy youngsters go out of their way to help their elders with registering. It is easily done in a quick and simple process. Mayors also trust the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) findings of the current vaccines and their efficacy, safety and quality are up to standard. This is only one of many other reasons why all Garden Routers are urged to register when it’s their turn to fight back against COVID-19 and continue to save lives and livelihoods.

People 35 or older must register to receive their free COVID-19 vaccine by following these quick and easy steps:

  • You can also dial *134*832# and follow the prompts (FREE on all South African Networks) or WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 0600 123456
  • You will need your ID/Passport/Refugee number, as well as a smartphone, tablet or computer
  • The welcome screen will tell you what to do next
  • Follow the instructions to complete your registration
  • When you have registered, the EVDS system will send an SMS to the phone number you provided. You will receive a second SMS to tell you when and where to get your vaccination. You will need to show this at vaccination sites together with your identification document.

ENDS

13 August 2021 Public Notice: Noise Disturbance Advisory, Mossel Bay (13-15 August 2021)

PUBLIC NOTICE: NOISE DISTURBANCE ADVISORY,
MOSSEL BAY (13 – 15 AUGUST 2021)

Starting this afternoon (Friday 13 August 2021 until 15 August 2021), PetroSA Voorbaai Tank Farm (TK 109D) will be emptying one of its tanks at Voorbaai using air pumps. There are no risks associated with the activity other than noise disturbance in the Voorbaai and Bayview areas.

PetroSA apologises in advance for any inconvenience caused and would like to thank the public for their patience during this time.

MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530

Tel: 044 805 5071 (after-hours)

NOTICE NO: 68/2021

10 August 2021 Media Alert: Garden Route Waste and Biomass Beneficiation Conference to take place on 12 August 2021 from 09:00 till 17:00

Garden Route Waste and Biomass Beneficiation Conference – 12 August 2021 from 09:00 till 17:00

Presentations and panel discussions on the state of the Waste and Biomass situation in the Garden Route and possible opportunities for Waste and Biomass beneficiation and minimisation solutions.

Despite the Covid-19 economic implications and other issues, there is a huge interest to develop waste and biomass beneficiation solutions that can benefit not only our region, but also be part of a new drive to go green with a selection of technologies, using both alien invasive plants (AIPs) and general waste as a resource.

Interest was expressed to use AIPs and other waste to either manufacture syngas or ethanol, produce Black Pellets or biochar for agricultural use, generate energy (electricity) for local use and becoming less dependent on Eskom, or many other applications.

The Garden Route District Municipality, the Western Cape Government, the Garden Route Development Partnership and the Climate Neutral Group have partnered to present the Waste and Biomass Beneficiation Conference in August. We are privileged to confirm the services of more than 20 presenters and experts across a wide variety of topics to assist you – as a technology and solution provider – with
access to all the important facts and numbers you will need to build a true business development project that is based on tangible collaboration opportunities in a Waste Beneficiation Cluster or precinct.

THE FOLLOWING BROAD TOPICS WILL BE COVERED:

  • The Waste and Biomass situation in the Garden Route and Western Cape
  • Completing the value chain — keeping the Cluster sustainable and looking after the environment
  • Logistics and infrastructure
  • Turning Waste and Biomass into Value
  • Finance and Development options

Join us to minimise waste and maximise value –

Biomass Expo 2021 – Invite

Presenter Biographies -Waste and Biomass Conference 12 Aug 2021

Programme Waste and Biomass Conference 12 Aug 2021