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Author: Herman Pieters

17 November 2020 Media Release: Garden Route DM collaborates with Oudtshoorn Municipality on a home composting model

Media Release: Garden Route DM collaborates with Oudtshoorn Municipality on a home composting model

For Immediate Release
17 November 2020

 Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has collaborated with the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality in a home composting pilot project to motivate households in the municipal area to consider home composting to reduce the burden on the Grootkop Waste Disposal facility.

The project was launched on 4 November 2020 at the Oudtshoorn Municipality’s Banquet Hall, in an information session attended by the residents of the Greater Oudtshoorn who showed interest in participating in the initiative. The 30 residents of the Greater Oudtshoorn who committed to participate in this pilot project received home composting bins, guidelines, worm farms, datasheets and scales.

Johan Gie, the GRDM’s waste management officer said the reason that motivated the GRDM to initiate this project with municipalities throughout the district is because, “approximately 30% of all household waste being disposed of at landfill consists of organic waste that could potentially be diverted from landfill by means of household composting”.

“The organic waste stream in municipal areas is increasingly becoming a challenge to manage,” Gie said. “Growth in population densities, new environmental legislation, limitations in the sustained availability of disposal space and public pressure to accept a more environmentally friendly approach has led to an increased awareness on local government level of the role that organic waste materials play in waste management.”

The Oudtshoorn Municipality welcomed this initiative. “Although we are not in a dire situation like our neighbouring municipalities with regards to landfill space in the district, we eagerly welcome this initiative to make the best of our household and garden waste to the benefit of our communities,” said Rodwell Witbooi, Oudtshoorn’s manager for solid waste.

“The active participation of our community members is illustrating the eagerness to partake in sustainable development projects – addressing waste management; and this is exciting.”

During the information session, the officials showed residents how to do composting, introduced the participants to composting methods and the benefits of composting, among others. Each participant was required to sign a contract to abide by the requirements of the agreement with the GRDM, which include the weighing of the collected data, and submission of a monthly report of composting for a period a year.

“A successful implementation of the home composting project could result in more opportunities for residents,” Gie concluded.

6 November 2020 Media Release: GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners, SAPS and Local Municipalities visit spaza shops

Media Release: GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners, SAPS and Local Municipalities visit spaza shops

For Immediate Release
6 November 2020

During October a number of role players visited 126 Spaza Shops in the Garden Route to ensure that compliance to regulations governing general hygiene requirements, including COVID-19 regulations; food premises standards; and the transport of food and related matters, were adhered to.  The visits were arranged by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) and approached jointly with the help of the South African Police Services (SAPS) and local municipal officials from town planning, law enforcement, building control and local economic development.

“The Garden Route District Municipality command centre collectively decided that unannounced visits to Spaza Shops were needed,” said Johan Compion, GRDM Manager: Municipal Health and Environmental Services. “Spaza Shops are visited by a great number of people and especially nowadays, with the risk of a second wave of COVID-19 emerging, it is more important than ever that businesses are safe and compliant to regulations,” he said.

During the inspections the focus is on the following issues:

  • Checking if all Spaza Shops had Certificates of Acceptability (CoAs);
  • compliance to local municipal bylaws;
  • compliance to hygiene standards;
  • adherence to COVID-19 safety measures (hand sanitizer at designated points available to customers and employees; social distancing for queues);
  • monitoring of employees and customers wore face masks;
  • sanitising of hands before and after servicing customers;
  • sanitising of hands after handling money.;
  • displaying appropriate signage and awareness information;
  • maximum ventilation;
  • daily cleaning and disinfection of high risk surfaces and objects;
  • wearing of utility gloves by those removing refuse;
  • proper sealing of waste bags; and
  • no illegal dumping of waste.

Challenges identified at some of the Spaza Shops, include:

  • Sanitising and wearing of masks in some Spaza Shops were not adhered to.
  • Social distancing of 1.5 m in and outside shops when queuing and inside some Spaza shops were not followed by customers.

Where non-compliance was identified, additional awareness and education was provided and an inspection report issued, which will include a follow-up inspection. This has to happen to ensure that hygienic requirements are met and COVID-19 preventative measures are followed to combat and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Picture: Gcobani Tshozi, EHP for Garden Route DM and Thomas Fosibo (Manager of Shop 2 in Thembalethu)

ENDS

2 November 2020 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality welcomes 30 interns for workplace experience

Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality welcomes 30 interns for workplace experience

For Immediate Release
2 November 2020

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) recently welcomed thirty (30) interns from various sectors for an internship programme at its Head-Office in George. This, after the Department of Western Cape Department of Local Government created an opportunity for interns to be placed at various municipalities for a period of six months from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 in the 2020/2021 financial year.

The Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) required each municipality to do a Skills Audit of all the qualifications of their staff members. The information obtained was then collated onto the GAPSKILSS Programme which is an online national system. In order to reach the desired outcomes, the DPLG approached the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) to fund the interns, as a means to assist the Department with the entire process. DEDAT then granted municipalities the funds to appoint interns. The funds were transferred to all municipalities who participate in the programme, such as the GRDM.

All municipalities who take part in the programme have to adhere to certain requirements. Two of the requirements are that the municipality have to indicate the need or number of interns needed within the municipality and that they must fund four to five of the interns that they accommodate. The rest of the interns will be funded by the DEDAT.
With the GRDM who accommodates 30 interns, these interns will be able to require the necessary skills and gain workplace experience within their specialised fields. This will allow them to be job-ready and will enable them to start building their careers. Also, the initiative further aims to assist households within rural areas financially.

Interns from various sectors welcomed to the Garden Route District Municipality on the 1st of October 2020.

Strict measures are in place and proper monitoring are done to ensure that the desired outcomes are reached. Currently the interns are tasked with meaningful work activities and proof thereof must be provided together with an attendance register that have to be signed by each participant on a daily basis.

ENDS

1 November 2020 NOTICE 61/2020 – 2019/2020 UNAUDITED DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Notice 61/2020

2019/2020 UNAUDITED DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT

Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 21 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000) read with Section 127 (5) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003) that the 2019/2020 Unaudited Draft Annual Report has been tabled to Council on 30 October 2020 and was compiled in terms of Circular 63 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003).

The Unaudited Draft Annual Report for the 2019/2020 financial year is open for comments. Comments regarding the Unaudited Draft Annual Report 2019/2020 financial year must be lodged in writing to The Municipal Manager, PO Box 12, George, 6530 or by e-mail at rekords@gardenroute.gov.za before or on 18 December 2020.

Persons who are unable to read or write are encouraged to contact the Garden Route District Municipality during ordinary office hours, where they will be assisted to formulate their written comments or objection.

The 2019/2020 Unaudited Draft Annual Report is available for inspection on the website at www.gardenroute.gov.za and at the IDP unit of Garden Route District Municipality, 54 York Street, George.

For any further enquiries, please contact: Ms M James (IDP Unit: Garden Route District Municipality) at telephone number: 044 803 1431.

M G Stratu
Municipal Manager
Garden Route District Municipality

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRIKSMUNISIPALITEIT

 Kennisgewing 61/2020

 2019/2020 ONGEOUDITEERDE KONSEP JAARVERSLAG

Kennis geskied hiermee ingevolge Artikels 21 van die Wet op Plaaslike Regering: Munisipale Stelselswet (Wet 32 van 2000) saamgelees met Artikel 127 (5) van die Wet op Plaaslike Regering: Munisipale Finansiële Bestuurswet (Wet 56 van 2003) dat die Ongeouditeerde Konsep Jaarverslag vir die 2019/2020 finansiële jaar  aan die Raad voorgelê is op 30 Oktober 2020 en dat dit saamgestel is in terme van Omsendkrywe 63 van die  Munisipale Finansiële Bestuurswet (Wet 56 van 2003).

Die Ongeouditeerde Konsep Jaarverslag vir die 2019/2020 finansiële jaar lê ter insae vir publieke kommentaar. Kommentaar rakende die 2019/2020 Ongeouditeerde Konsep Jaarverslag kan skriftelik gerig word aan Die Munisipale Bestuurder, Posbus 12, George, 6530  of per epos na rekords@gardenroute.gov.za  voor of op 18 Desember 2020.

Persone wat nie kan lees of skryf nie word uitgenooi om die kantore van die Garden Route  Distriksmunisipaliteit te kontak gedurende normale kantoor-ure waar personeel behulpsaam sal wees met die formulering van die kommentaar of beswaar.

Die 2019/2020 Ongeouditeerde Konsep Jaarverslag  sal beskikbaar wees vir bestudering op die munisipale webtuiste www.gardenroute.gov.za. asook die GOP afdeling, Garden Route Distriksmunisipaliteit, Yorkstraat 54, George.

Vir enige verdere navrae, skakel asseblief: Mev M James (GOP Afdeling: Garden Route Distriksmunisipaliteit) by telefoonnommer: 044 803 1431.

M G Stratu
Munisipale Bestuurder
Garden Route Distriksmunisipaliteit

30 October 2020 Speech by Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen at an Ordinary Council meeting of Garden Route DM

Speaker Alderman Groenewald

Once again I would like to extend my gratitude to all the frontline workers who are fighting COVID-19, which is causing havoc in our region and South Africa as a whole. The figures still don’t look favourable in the Garden Route, seeing that numbers are rising daily.

Alderman Groenewald, earlier this week the Garden Route District Municipality launched the District Safety Forum in Mossel Bay which was attended by all seven B-municipalities and representatives from the Western Cape Department of Community Safety, as well as sector departments within the district. We are privileged to announce that the project is funded by the Western Cape Department of Community Safety and that all sector departments and municipalities that were present pledged their full support towards the project. As a District Municipality, we believe it is not just about the financial safety in our district, but also about the well-being of our communities which in turn will play a big part in changing the community’s morals. We want to commend the Mossel Bay Municipality for already stepping forward in formulating their safety plan and we want to encourage the other municipalities to follow suit.

The funds are here, so if a municipality does not want to make use of it, they will definitely lose out. The current situation of overcrowdedness and newborn babies at correctional facilities within the district are some of the critical priorities that need to be addressed by the District Safety Forum.

As a District Municipality, we also strive towards seeing our people live in a healthy and clean environment. That’s why we are pleased to announce that the Garden Route District Municipality in collaboration with the George Municipality will tomorrow, 31 October 2020, host an illegal dumping awareness session in Thembalethu. As a District Municipality, we do not want to overstep or take over the local municipality’s roles. We are aware that some of the municipalities in the district are struggling and for that reason we want to partner with them and assist them in terms of finance or capacity.

In terms of the upcoming by-elections, we would like to plea to the different political parties in all the local municipal areas to continue conducting their campaigns in good spirit. Up until today, there was no record of violence and that’s the spirit we want to encourage in the Garden Route District.

Thank you Speaker Groenewald.

22 October 2020 SMME Support & Development Programme – Call for business proposals

SMME Support & Development Programme – Call for business proposals

Garden Route District Municipality is embarking on a programme to help dynamic and committed entrepreneurs to grow their business. A broad scope of non-financial assistance will be provided, which will include required business development interventions (equipment and input material) and trainings. Only serious applicants with a workable business concept or business profile that they believe in and with which they want to expand their business operations with, must apply.

IMPORTANT

Applicants must complete an application form (obtained from the District Economic Development Office, 54 York Street, George, 6530, from Mr. Johannes Jafta via email at johannes@gardenroute.gov.za) and submit with the following supporting documents attached:

  • Company Profile/ Business Proposal or Business Plan;
  • 6 months Profit and Loss Summary or (recent Financial/Bank statements, if available – will be treated confidentially);
  • Tax clearance certificate;
  • Confirmation of employees (Document attached on the application form);
  • Certified ID copy;
  • Certified copy of proof of residence (where business is situated)

CRITERIA

  • Must be a registered and viable business operating for at least 2 years with clear direction/deliverables;
  • Must be available to do a presentation to a selected panel and to attend the compulsory business development interventions and trainings identified by panel.
  • Must be tax compliant. (If not, submit tax matters with the application for assessment);
  • 100% South African owned;
  • Applicant must be in full control of business and operations.
  • Formally registered or incorporated e.g. with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC);
  • Operating in the Garden Route;
  • Classified as a micro or small enterprise in terms of the National Small Enterprises Act;
  • Individuals/Businesses that have previously participated in any skills development/training programmes rolled out by the LED & Tourism unit of GRDM can apply.

All applications must be submitted via email to Mr. Johannes Jafta at johannes@gardenroute.gov.za or placed in an envelope and physically delivered to the Garden Route District Municipality, 54 York Street, George, 6530. All applications must clearly state GARDEN ROUTE SMME SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2020.

  • Shortlisted applicants will be required to present their business concepts to an evaluation panel.
  • The Garden Route District Municipality reserves the right to evaluate and select only the highest ranking business concepts according to the above criteria.

PLEASE NOTE

  • At the end of the programme all participating businesses must be tax compliant.
  • Applications will close at 12h00 on 06 November 2020.

For further information, please contact:
Ms Natalie Raubenheimer
Senior Economic Development Officer
Garden Route District Municipality
natalie@gardenroute.gov.za or 044 803 1458

Download PDF file here: SMME Support and Development programme, Call for Proposals, Garden Route District Municipality

16 October 2020 Media Release: COVID-19 Garden Route Update

Media Release: COVID-19 Garden Route Update

For Immediate Release
16 October 2020

We would like to thank the residents of the Garden Route for helping us to stay safe by wearing your masks, washing your hands often, and keeping a distance from others. Please continue to remain vigilant to prevent a possible second wave.

“It has been 7 long months of lockdown and the natural reaction to the easing up of these restrictions are to catch up on all that we have missed out on over the past months but we can’t become complacent now. It has always been feared that when the lockdown restrictions ease up, the infection rate would increase. We have unfortunately already seen a 196% increase in covid-19 cases in the district over the past 14 days. (This increase is compared to the previous 14 day-period). We know how quickly the virus can spread and now is the time that we must do our utmost best to prevent or contain a second wave,” said Garden Route District Director for Health, Mr Zee Brickles.

“We as individuals, members of families and communities, are responsible for ensuring that we protect ourselves and keep those near and dear to us, safe at all times. We should ask ourselves in every situation how we can make it safer for ourselves and our loved ones, knowing that we can easily and unknowingly pass the virus on or take it home to our families. Remember to wash your hands regularly, wear your mask when you are in public spaces and avoid large gatherings”.

It is very importing that you avoid possible super-spreader events, such as crowded places, poorly ventilated spaces, and close contact with others.

Reintroduction of Services

The Department’s risk and impact-based approach is guiding the services to be reintroduced – identifying those services which have low risk yet high impact (such as Diabetes, Hypertension, HIV, TB, Child, and Women’s health (including immunizations)). These services which had reduced significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, will have a significant long-term impact for those clients who had missed immunisations, follow-up appointments and scheduled non-emergency treatment.

While elective surgeries are slowly being re-escalated, life-saving surgeries (such as cancer surgeries and urgent cardiac surgeries) will be prioritised with the more urgent cases being dealt with first. However, emergency surgeries have not stopped and will also continue.

Awareness drive campaign

The Department realises the need to continue with normal activities such as going back to work and using public transport. We also need to make sure that we are looking after our health.

In order to ensure that this happens, the Department is currently embarking on an awareness drive at places of gathering and within communities to get residents to take up basic health services again, with a focus on general health, well-being, and ongoing care for vulnerable groups. Be on the lookout for this campaign within malls, taxis, while waiting at the bus shelter and when washing your hands in washrooms at malls.

This awareness drive also includes reminding residents that the best way to keep us moving forward is to wear a mask, keep our hands clean and keep at least a 1.5 metre distance from other people.

Stats as from 16 October 2020

Sub-district Total Active Recovered Died
Hessequa 332 5 309 18
Mossel Bay 2 452 63 2 320 69
George 3 690 113 3 467 110
Knysna 1 584 9 1 526 49
Bitou 650 10 616 24
Kannaland 133 10 122 1
Oudtshoorn 1 533 82 1 353 98
TOTAL 10 374 292 9 713 369

Hospitalisations

From the latest information to our disposal we can confirm that 37 patients are receiving care in both public and private hospitals.

For more information visit: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/

END

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health

16 October 2020 Media Statement: Regional Landfill Facility still on the cards, but delayed

Media Statement: Regional Landfill Facility still on the cards, but delayed

For Immediate Release
16 October 2020

The COVID-19 lockdown has directly impacted the South African economy, bringing with it unforeseeable and unprecedented repercussions for both public and private organisations. Not only has it had devastating and crosscutting negative impacts on businesses, but it also changed the way in which businesses have to navigate into a new economic landscape. Many businesses are now faced with unavoidable and irrecoverable job losses and a discontinuation of various projects.

The proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and Eden Waste Management (RF) (Pty), which includes Interwaste as the lead sponsor, is one such project directly impacted by the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interwaste has recently informed GRDM that it has to pull out from the Garden Route District Municipal Regional Waste Management Facility PPP project.

Municipal Manager for GRDM, Mr Monde Stratu, is of the firm view that various options will be explored to save the project as the GRDM and PPP funders have all invested millions of Rand to get to this advanced stage of the project. “We have advised both National and Provincial Treasury, The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the participating municipalities about the situation,” said Stratu.

The GRDM is currently investigating the following options:

  1. District to build its own regional landfill facility with capital injections (grants and investments)
  2. Involving earlier interested parties
  3. Leasing out the regional landfill site and facility to a private company to operate
  4. Reserved bidder options

GRDM has in the meantime come to an agreement with PetroSA to extend its use of their landfill facility till the end of December 2021.

Reasons for withdrawal from PPP Agreement

Before the final signatures of the PPP Agreement between the two parties could take place the lead shareholder of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Eden Waste Management Propriety Ltd (Private Partner), informed GRDM that they have withdrawn their partnership and as lead shareholder from the SPV. The other shareholders left in the SPV indicated that they are not willing to go forth with the PPP process.

The letter received from the lead shareholder indicated that “In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented challenges and constraints it has had on their business, their board has determined that:

  1. It is paramount to preserve their existing business and not to jeopardise the jobs and livelihoods that are supported by their business;
  2. In light of the economic constraints and the ongoing uncertainty as to the future outlook, it is impossible for them to provide the proposed equity investment to ensure the funding of the concomitant debt obligations required in respect of the Project as currently envisaged; and
  3. To proceed with the Project as currently envisaged may compromise their financial position in the future, and consequently, having regard to their fiduciary duties and their obligations as directors in the company the only reasonable decision for Interwaste Proprietary Limited is to withdraw its participation as a shareholder in the Private Party, Eden Waste Management Proprietary Limited, in respect of the Garden Route Regional Waste Management Facility and Alternative Technology Public, Private Partnership Project.”

GRDM is confident that an amicable solution to this crisis will be found, with the assistance of all stakeholders, including the Provincial and National Treasury.