Media Release: SANDF to arrive in the Garden Route tomorrow, 8 January 2021

For Immediate Release
7 January 2021

Members of the South African National Defence (SANDF) force will arrive in the Garden Route tomorrow, 8 January 2021 to assist the South African Police (SAPS) to ensure that communities comply with regulations. Police Minister Bheki Cele yesterday visited the Garden Route and confirmed the SANDF’s arrival in the Garden Route.

According to Mr Otto, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Manager: Disaster Management, SANDF and SAPS will meet to discuss particulars about their deployment. Mr Otto said, “This intervention comes at a time when more than 350 members of SAPS are in isolation and close to 800 SAPS member in quarantine. Those in quarantine were in close contact with others who tested positive for COVID-19”.

A total number of 40 SANDF members are expected and they will be housed in Hartenbos and Sedgefield. Mr Otto said that he can’t confirm exactly what areas SANDF will patrol, but he suspects that it will change as time goes by and intelligence is received about areas of non-compliance. “It is important for the public to ensure that they comply with the lockdown regulations, or else they could end up with criminal records,” Otto concluded.

Picture: GCIS

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Media Statement: Visits to Garden Route District Municipal offices are limited 

For Immediate Release
7 January 2021

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Executive Management today agreed to limit public visits to all its offices in the region. Simultaneously, a maximum of 50% of the GRDM employ will work from its municipal offices, while those who are able to work remotely will do so until 15 January 2021. Essential services will continue as per usual and include the GRDM Council, Emergency Call Centre, Fire Fighting Services, Disaster Management, Municipal Health and Communication Services.

Members of the public are therefore required to make prior-arrangements to visit any GRDM office.

HEAD OFFICE

• GRDM George Head Office: 044 803 1300, 54 York Street, George, 6529.
• GRDM Emergency Call Centre: 044 805 5071 (24/7)

SUB OFFICES

• Knysna, 044 382 7214, 24A Queen Street, Knysna, 6570
• Mossel Bay, 044 693 0006, C/O Marlin & Samson street, Extension 23, Mossel Bay, 6506
• Plettenberg Bay, 044 5011600, 4 Virginia Street, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
• Oudtshoorn, 044 272 2241, 15 Regent Street, Oudtshoorn, 6620
• Riversdale, 028 713 2438, 24 Mitchell Street, Riversdale, 6670
• Roads Services, 044 803 1500, Mission Street, George Industria, George, 6529
• Community Services, 044 803 1522, Mission Street, George, 6529
• Fire Services, 044 805 5071, 17 Pioneer Road, Pacaltsdorp Industria, George, 6529

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A letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa

Dear President Ramaphosa

Happy Day of Reconciliation to you. I, Alderman Memory Booysen, Executive Mayor for Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) am writing to you from the Local Government of the Garden Route district, stakeholders from public and private sectors, as well as Garden Routers and domestic and international tourists currently in and/or planning to visit our region over the current festive season. I want to firstly thank you for your leadership and support this past year, a trying one it has been. Secondly, I want to provide my assurance that this district continues to stand beside you as the struggle against the Covid-19 resurgence continues.

However, I must implore you to reconsider the decision to close the public beaches in our region. The particular regulations I refer to is that of the Amended Regulations on 15 December 2020 in the Government Gazette (No 1346 in GG 439997), in accordance to section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002.

The decision to close our beaches, while I do have some understanding for it, is in all likelihood not based on evidence that it will contribute to fighting the virus. In fact, the opposite is likely to happen as we now see large crowds of people flocking to every other amenity, including inland rivers, lagoons, lakes and shopping centres – centres which are enclosed spaces and where social distancing is far more difficult to adhere to than outdoors.

Our disaster management and health specialists, including Government’s scientific advisors, are convinced that the decision to close large open areas, in particular beaches, to the public may well have the opposite effect of that which we are hoping for. It may in fact lead to the Covid-19 numbers getting worse. Being outdoors in hot temperatures and receiving vitamin D is known to be effective in combating Covid-19. Vitamin D has been scientifically shown to have a beneficial impact in preventing infection with bacterial and viral diseases. In a recent study conducted by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, researchers found that those with severe Covid-19 are more vitamin D-deficient than those with mild disease.

Our district has worked very hard over the past year to have structures in place to do enforcement of venues including beaches and we will monitor every public area to ensure compliance to regulations if our beaches are re-opened. I am sure the people of the Garden Route and our visitors over the festive season, will also work with us and be responsible given the opportunity. We are also extremely concerned about the trend of cancellations by tourists
who had planned to visit our region over the festive season; this time of the year adds up to 35% to the annual turnover of our small and micro businesses over December and January. The seasonal income is also that which helps sustain the very businesses we have worked so very hard to support and promote.

Those providing accommodation to domestic and international travellers have been brought to their knees. We received an update from one of our accommodation booking sites who highlighted the following shocking statistics that they witnessed. “We have had 477 cancellations between 8pm (speech) and 2pm yesterday, worth 3.8 million. And that was just the online bookings from one large online agent and client’s own website.”

It is in light of all my concerns above, that I must humbly ask that you reopen our beaches. If not for the entire season, then please on the same basis as KwaZulu-Natal beaches, with beaches closed for public holidays only. To view the beaches affected by the recent amended regulations, access this link:
https://gardenroutedm.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c5645d8e62cd4d0aa148a965411ec611

This matter can be resolved with a simple phone call or an announcement from your office to allow the reopening of our beaches.

I look forward to hearing from you as a matter of urgency.

With thanks.
Yours sincerely

ALDERMAN MEMORY BOOYSEN
EXECUTIVE MAYOR

DATE: 16 December 2020

Image of President Cyril Ramaphosa: Jairus Mmutle, GCIS
Image of Alderman Booysen, Executive Mayor for Garden Route District Municipality: Herman Pieters, GRDM

Media Statement: Garden Route District Municipality and stakeholder challenging the decision to close beaches

For Immediate release
15 December 2020

The Garden Route district now faces similar COVID-19 restrictions as the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, which are meant to curb resurgence of the COVID-19 coronavirus. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday, 14 December 2020 that Cabinet took a decision to declare the Garden Route District municipal area as a Coronavirus hotspot with some additional restrictions. Some restrictions are already in place while others will follow over the festive season, including the controversial closing of Garden Route beaches from 16 December until 3 January 2021.

Alderman Memory Booysen, Executive Mayor for the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), said: “The closure of beaches is a hard pill to swallow because we are a tourism destination and our economy is still struggling to recoup from the hard lockdown.”

An urgent Garden Route District Coordinating Forum (DCF) was called by Mayor Booysen this morning where he engaged with local municipal mayors, municipal managers, command centre cluster leads, and stakeholders from SANParks, Cape Nature, National Prosecuting Authority, Western Cape Government Health, South African Police Services (SAPS), Western Cape Government Department of Local Government etc. to discuss the consequences of the President’s announcement. “Our plea and request/submission from this morning’s engagement and from the onset of the resurgence of COVID-19 in our region, has been for beaches in the Garden Route to remain open,” Ald. Booysen said.

Noon today, Alderman Booysen represented the Garden Route municipalities and presented the agreed submissions from this morning’s GRDM DCF engagement at a Provincial Coordinating Forum (PCF). The next step is for submissions to be communicated to the National Command Council, with the backing of the Western Cape Government. “One submission of particular importance to the Garden Route is for the Cabinet to relax the restrictions relating to the closure of beaches and to change it to the same restrictions faced by Kwazulu-Natal (KZN).” KZN beaches only have to be closed on 16, 25, 26 and 31 December 2020.

“I am adamant that we can still get through this if we avoid crowded places, close-contact settings, confined spaces and enclosed spaces. In addition, Garden Routers and tourists need to adhere to the golden rules of keeping safe and adhere to the new regulations. We agree wholeheartedly with the tightening of alcohol sales because it will lower the unnecessary alcohol-related trauma cases we often see at hospitals. We are hopeful that this resurgence will be over quickly,” Ald. Booysen concluded.

Below find an overview and impacts of the new regulations on the Garden Route.

ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS

Drivers and operators of all public transport must ensure that passengers wear a mask. Similarly, managers and/or owners of buildings, places or premises (including retail stores), must ensure that those entering their premises wear a mask. Each employer must ensure that their employees wear a mask while at work. Please note that a person who contravenes these compliance measures are liable to a fine or imprisonment of up to six months.

CURFEW

The curfew is the same as Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, which starts at 22:00 and ends by 04:00. Non-essential establishments, including restaurants, casinos, gyms and bars, etc. must close at 21:00 to allow sufficient time for employees and patrons to return to their residences. Please remain inside your residence during those five (5) hours, except for emergency-related matters. Essential workers will still be permitted to move around during those hours.

SALE OF ALCOHOL

The sale of alcohol will only be permitted from 10:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Thursday. No one is allowed to consume alcohol in a public space, including at a beach or a park.

GATHERINGS

No more than 100 people will be allowed to attend indoor events, while the limit for outdoor events will be 250 persons. In addition, the number of people in a venue may not exceed 50% of its capacity. All post-funeral gatherings remain prohibited.

 BEACHES

The following link contains a list of all the beaches in the Garden Route: https://gardenroutedm.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c5645d8e62cd4d0aa148a965411ec611

Feature image caption: One of the popular beaches along the Garden Route coastline, the unspoilt, safe and breathtakingly beautiful Wilderness beach.

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Media Release: Environmental Health Practitioners and Firefighters roll out more COVID-19 awareness at taxi-ranks

For Immediate Release
8 December 2020

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) recently again embarked on awareness activities at taxi ranks in all municipal areas of the district in an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 amongst passengers, the elderly, vulnerable community members and communities in general. The initiative took place from 30 November to 4 December 2020.

As part of awareness sessions, GRDM EHPs and Firefighters from the GRDM and local municipalities in the region currently also focus on disinfection of public places and premises where people gather on a frequent basis – taxi ranks are included during these sessions. Although taxi ranks and mini-bus taxis are allowed to operate, taxi rank areas must be cleaned frequently with soap and water or detergents during their operating hours, as well as after it.  These activities will protect taxi drivers and passengers from contracting the virus. Added to the cleansing activities, drivers of mini-bus taxis are not allowed to permit any member of the public access to a taxi, if such a person is not wearing a mask. Passengers, drivers, guards and rank attendants must at all times wear a mask.

Any person can become infected with COVID-19 if they touch contaminated surfaces and then their face, eyes, nose or mouth or if they have come in close contact with persons who are infected.

Do the following:

Wipe down the surfaces at the taxi ranks with a diluted bleach solution (6 teaspoons of bleach in 1 litre water) while the rank is in use.

Steps to clean the outside of the minibus taxi:

• Wash the minibus taxi daily with soap and water; and
• Disinfect with a diluted bleach solution (6 teaspoons of bleach in 1 litre water -it is important to always wear gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces).

Steps to clean the inside of the minibus taxi:

• Wipe the door handles thoroughly, as well as window ledges and seats with diluted bleach solution (6 teaspoons of bleach in 1 litre water).
• Leave windows open.

Precautionary measures:

• Passengers waiting in queues must keep a distance of 1.5m from the next person. Use the markers as a guide and avoid contact with other passengers.
• Individual passengers must not open the taxi doors, as the taxi door must be left open while waiting for passengers.
• Passengers are encouraged to limit contact with hand rails, vehicle doors etc.
• Only the attendant is allowed to open and close doors when picking up passengers along the route.
• Spray passengers’ hands with 70% alcohol–based hand sanitisers to clean their hands before they enter the minibus.
• The driver or attendant must rub their hands for 20 seconds with alcohol-based hand sanitiser after taking money from each commuter and request passengers to pay exact taxi fares if possible to limit contact with attendants and money.
• Although 100 % of the licensed capacity is allowed if not a long distanced trip, passengers have to sit as far from each other as possible. Long-distance trips are limited to carry 70% of the licensed capacity of the taxi.
• Windows must be kept open to allow fluid droplets to escape in case a passenger coughs or sneezes during the trip.
• Door handles must be sanitised, as well as windows ledges and seats, after each trip.
• The entire inside of the vehicle must be cleaned with soap or usual cleaning materials and must be disinfected at least twice a day.

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Media Release: “Communities should champion the containment of COVID-19”

For Immediate Release
7 December 2020

These are the words of Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize, who visited the Garden Route District Municipality on 5 December 2020. Dr Mkhize visited the district to touch base with some of the most critical role players involved in the Garden Route District COVID-19 response. He also said that it is important to understand the nature of the problem of why the COVID-19 numbers are climbing in the Garden Route. He referred to the Garden Route as part of a “belt” along the coast of South Africa, adjacent to other areas of huge concern, including Sarah Baartman District Municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

Dr Mkhize made it clear that issues presented to him will be discussed with the Coronavirus Command Council, who will subsequently consider issuing further restrictions. He made it clear that the intent of National Government has always been to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and lessen the pressure on hospitals. He also urged Alderman Memory Booysen, Executive Mayor for GRDM, to identify issues that all municipalities agree upon and communicate such recommendations to his office.

The enforcement of Covid-19 related Disaster Regulations is still an issue facing all municipalities. GRDM has already implemented a training programme for the deployment of additional law enforcement officers to assist local municipalities with COVID-19 related enforcement.

Representatives from the health sector echoed the sentiment that higher levels of trauma are again experienced at hospitals since restrictions on the sale of alcohol and curfews were lifted. “At the moment it seems that such admissions are back at what it was at a pre-COVID-19 level,” said Michael Vonk, CEO for George Hospital.

Dr Terrence Marshall, who is responsible for leading the Garden Route Command Centre’s health response, stated that hospitals are under sustained pressure. “We have specific strengths in our district, which include the competence, ability and motivation of our people,” he said. “Our staff is resilient and we shall continue to do what we have to do.”

Dr Marshall praised the inter-sectoral cooperation, which has been the cornerstone of the coordinated response by the region’s various clusters that report to the Garden Route Command Centre on a weekly basis. “Our systems are in place, there is no doubt about that; the systems are working well,” Marshall said. He shared his concerns about the extent of what the near future may hold due to the fast approaching holiday season, accompanied by many visitors to the district from various parts of the country. “We need to carefully consider how to manage the situation going forward,” Marshall concluded.

After listening to all the presentations by executive mayors, the health sector and GRDM Disaster Management, Dr Mkhize commended stakeholders on the coordinated and combined approach to curb the spread of COVID-19. “One of the most important factors, for me, is the attitudes of cooperation I see here today.” He also welcomed any further ideas from the Garden Route that could be emulated in the rest of the country.

Minister Mkhize stated that he is of the firm belief that it is possible for the region to prevail over the current COVID-19 outbreak. “I am optimistic about the Garden Route’s ability to recover,” he said, while not specifically mentioning which other districts do not have structures and effective combined approaches in place like the Garden Route. He urged stakeholders to engage at a community-level to ensure that civil society, labour and communities at large fully understand their role in curbing COVID-19. “A unified message about COVID-19 and the importance of how to prevent the spread must be promoted by mayors and influencers,” he said.

He also highlighted the following:

• we can’t afford higher numbers and we must intervene to ensure that our health system is not overrun;
• a vaccine will take a couple of months to reach South Africa and it is therefore not an immediate local solution;
• the festive season is a concern as it might represent a resurgence in COVID-19 infections;
• the surge of infections coincided with the lifting of the restriction of movement;
• monitoring of COVID-19 is far more accurate, why it is possible to single out districts that face issues of rising active cases;
• National Government is in favour of a risk-adjusted response per area as risks are not the same in all areas;
• available beds at health facilities in the Garden Route is becoming an issue, as experienced in other parts of the country;
• healthcare workers all over the country are experts in how to deal with COVID-19 as they’ve dealt with a surge in COVID-19 cases before;
• the fear of COVID-19 has subsided amongst many healthcare workers because of their knowledge and experience, but psychosocial needs must also be attended to;
• he highlighted the benefits of the newly rolled out antigen testing which speeds up tests;
• alcohol-related trauma is still an issue that places additional strain on the entire healthcare system. He explained that those admitted because of diabetes, cancer or other illnesses are placed second in line because of alcohol-related emergency admissions. Those admitted for such admissions were either stabbed or injured in a motor vehicle accident related to intoxication;
• he welcomed proposals by stakeholders to promote the responsible consumption of alcohol by considering a reduction in trading hours and hours of onsite consumption. Dr Mkhize said that such a decision would have to be carefully balanced with the industry’s revenue, as alcohol sales increase by 25-30% during the December holidays and businesses must recover;
• on the issue of border control between the Eastern and Western Cape, he used the example of Limpopo where it did not work, saying that the issue must be discussed further;
• he agreed that law enforcement needs to be bumped up and, where possible, by-laws should be utilised;
• he requested more discussions surrounding the influx of tourists from all over South Africa to the region’s coast and how congestion would be managed be held;
• the queues at pay points remain a problem and better solutions must be sought to lower the congestion at these sites; and
• initiation season remains suspended because of COVID-19. Dr Mkhize said those not abiding by the law should be charged accordingly.

Feature image caption 1: National Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize; Executive Mayor for Garden Route District Municipality, Alderman Memory Booysen; Western Cape Government MEC for Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo; and Western Cape Government MEC for Human Settlements, Mr Tertuis Simmers.

More photos f the day:

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