Public Notice: Closure of Offices – Friday, 26 June 2026 at 12:00
Notice Number 58/2026
Notice is hereby given that the offices of the Garden Route District Municipality, at 54 York Street, will close on Friday, 26 June 2026 at 12:00 and re-open on Monday, 29 June 2026 at 07:30.
All emergency services will continue to be rendered during this period.
The number 044 805 5071 can be contacted at all hours for such services.
MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
P.O. Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
Media Release: Cost of Recent Weather-Related Disasters Only Becomes Clear Over Time
For immediate release 17 June 2026
“Figures released by the Western Cape Government show that the damage to the region following the recent extreme weather events is already running into billions of rand,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF). Roads damaged by stormwater will take months to repair, while several communities continue to experience disruptions to power and water supply.
It is often only in the weeks following a disaster that the true extent and cost of the damage emerge. Engineers assessing damaged roads and infrastructure frequently discover underlying structural failures that must first be addressed, delaying repairs and significantly increasing costs.
Authorities and disaster management agencies have once again demonstrated exceptional commitment in responding to emergencies, clearing fallen trees, reopening roads and restoring essential services. However, recent events raise an important question: how do communities and authorities adapt to a future where severe weather increasingly inflicts substantial damage on both natural and built infrastructure upon which thousands of residents depend?
Reflecting on the aftermath of disasters is critical if lessons are to be learned. Understanding what worked, identifying vulnerabilities and improving preparedness can help build resilience in the face of a changing climate.
GREF and its partners, in collaboration with Nelson Mandela University (NMU), will host the Garden Route Extreme Weather Reflection Summit on 2 July 2026. A panel of experts in climate science, environmental management and disaster management will analyse recent events and collectively explore practical ways forward for the region.
Interested and affected parties wishing to attend the Summit can RSVP to louisamare@gmail.com.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum is a public platform for environmental practitioners and a climate change think tank (www.grefecsf.co.za).
Awareness Article:World Environment Day Commemorated – 5 June 2026
For immediate release 05 June 2026
Theme: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future”
As Azerbaijan hosts World Environment Day 2026 (5 June 2026) under the global theme climate change, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) echoes the urgent call: Our Climate. Our Future.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states that 2026 is about “the urgent signals the Earth is sending and the signals we choose to send back”. In the Garden Route district, those signals include, but are not limited to, the severe floods of 2023 and 2024, and more recently, the floods and gale-force winds of the cut off low storm system in May 2026. Prolonged droughts, sea level rise, storm surges, coastal and soil erosion, invasive alien vegetation infestations, and escalating wildfire risks are challenging how we live, farm, and work.
What is the environment?
It’s not just faraway forests. It’s the air we breathe in George, the water in the Knysna Estuary, the soil our Outeniqua farmers use, and the fynbos that protects our mountains from erosion. It’s the beaches in Plettenberg Bay, the rivers in Wilderness, and the wetlands in Sedgefield that soak up floodwater. Our environment is everything around us that keeps us alive, safe, and able to work.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed this directly at the Presidential Climate Commission in February 2026: “Climate change is an existential threat to the future of humanity and the planet. We must act with others across the globe to ensure that we do not breach the 1.5-degree warning above pre-industrial levels”.
Why does this matter to you?
Climate change is not only about melting ice caps. It affects water in our taps, food on our tables, and safety in our communities. When rivers are in flood, roads are being closed and homes and infrastructure are being damaged. When dams like the Garden Route Dam run low, farmers struggle, food prices rise, and we all face water restrictions. When alien plants and trees spread, fires burn hotter and longer. Protecting the environment means protecting our daily lives.
The Climate Change Act 22 of 2024 now requires all municipalities to plan for these risks.
This World Environment Day, GRDM is:
Repairing and strengthening infrastructure damaged by recent floods, including stormwater systems and rural roads.
Restoring natural defences – wetlands, riverbank, and catchments – that absorb floodwater and store water for dry months.
Improving early warnings so that communities get alerts before disaster strikes.
How can you help:
Everyone has a role to play. Save water by fixing leaks and using less. Keep stormwater drains clear – never dump waste or building rubble in them. Report illegal dumping, blocked rivers, or fire risks to your relevant local Municipal offices.
World Environment Day reminds us: the Garden Route’s forests, rivers, and coastline are not just scenery. They are our life support. The earth is sending signals, and it is time we send a strong one back.
Media Release: Youth explore Future Careers at GRDM and MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy Roadshow in George
For immediate release 03 June 2026
Today, 3 June 2026, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and the MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy hosted a highly anticipated career roadshow in George. Designed to create life-changing opportunities, the event connected potential candidates with exciting vacancies for those looking to start their careers at sea with MSC Cruises.
This second public awareness session successfully hosted residents from the Garden Route in the George Civic Hall, to inform locals about these job opportunities that will continuously become available across the globe on MSC cruise ships.
Executive Mayor of GRDM, Ald. Marais Kruger.
Reginald Salmons, GRDM’s Training & Skills Development Coordinator.
Allister Joubert from the MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy.
Nicole Niewenhuis from the MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy.
MMC for Corporate Services at GRDM, Ald. Nompumelelo Ndayi.
A packed hall with members of the public in attendance.
A completely packed hall with eager individuals gathered for presentation that were delivered by officials from both organisations. This initiative highlights the massive variety of careers available at sea, offering exciting pathways in areas like hospitality, culinary arts, and guest services, to name a few.
Reginald Salmons, Training and Skills Development Coordinator at GRDM, as well as Coordinator of the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) initiative, welcomed everyone to the event and explained the significance of the GRSM in creating opportunities for the youth of the Garden Route. His address specifically focused on the opportunities of the MSC cruise ships created through the GRSM.
“Through this initiative, young people are exposed to recruitment processes, required documentation, and industry standards, while also receiving career guidance and access to both local and international opportunities,” Executive Mayor of GRDM, Ald. Marais Kruger, highlighted. Referring to the success of these roadshows, Mayor Kruger further added: “Approximately 60 young people from the Garden Route district have already benefited through opportunities linked to this programme”.
Allister Joubert and Nicole Niewenhuis from the MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy, have proudly shared their humble beginnings and journeys from when they started entry-level roles at the Shosholoza Ocean Academy and climbing the ranks within MSC Cruises. Their inspiring stories highlight incredible career growth and serve as a powerful motivation for aspiring interested candidates looking to apply and transform their futures at sea.
MMC for Corporate Services at GRDM, Cllr Nompumelelo Ndayi, delivered the vote of thanks and expressed her gratitude on behalf of GRDM to the representatives of the MSC Shosholoza for their valued partnership with the GRDM. “As a Municipality, we remain committed to supporting these initiatives. Together, we can continue to create pathways that empower our youth and contribute to a more prosperous future for the Garden Route district, ” Ndayi said.
Members of the public or prospective cruiser, specifically the youth that were unable to attend the roadshow, are invited to visit the following website or join the webinar for information on opportunities and processes to apply for vacancies in the MSC cruise ships: Discover the World with MSC Cruises Webinar.
Public Notice: Intention to Alienate Municipal Properties by Public Auction
Notice Number: 28/2026
Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 14 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003) (“MFMA”), read together with the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations (Government Notice R. 878 of 2008), that the Garden Route District Municipality intends to alienate certain municipal (council-owned) immovable properties by way of public auction.
Notice is further given that the Municipal Council of the Garden Route District Municipality, at a duly constituted meeting held on 23 April 2025 via item H.2, adopted a resolution in terms of Section 14(2) of the MFMA, wherein it was resolved that the identified properties are not required to provide the minimum level of basic municipal services and may be alienated.
A list of the properties proposed for alienation, including their locations, erf numbers, extent, and any applicable conditions, will be made available for public inspection at the GRDM offices and on the municipal website. The local community and other interested parties are invited to submit comments or make representations in respect of the alienation of the properties.
Any comments and/or objections to the proposed alienation, with your reasons for such objection(s), must be submitted in writing and addressed to the Municipal Manager, Garden Route District Municipality, P O Box 12, George, 6530, by no later than 30 June 2026.
Any comments and/or objections which are received after the above-mentioned closing date, may possibly not be taken into consideration. In terms of section 21(4) of the Systems Act, notice is hereby given that people who cannot write may approach the Integrated Planning and Economic Development Department during office hours, where a member of staff will assist them in converting their comments or objections into writing.
