Author: Marillia Veldkornet
13 February 2025: Notice of a Council Meeting, 25 February 2025 at 11:00
NOTICE OF A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON 25 February 2025 AT 11:00 Notice is hereby given that a SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George, on 25 February 2025 at 11:00. |
05 February 2025 Media Release: GRDM’s Bitou EHPs and Kurland Clinic Staff Host Norovirus and Health & Hygiene Awareness Session
Media Release: GRDM’s Bitou EHPs and Kurland Clinic Staff Host Norovirus and Health & Hygiene Awareness Session
For immediate release
05 February 2025
The Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Bitou Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP), in collaboration with the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health’s nursing staff at Kurland Clinic, recently conducted an informative awareness session on the Norovirus.
Stakeholders also focused on informing community members about the critical importance of health and hygiene practices.

The team provided comprehensive insights into the symptoms and effects of the virus, preventive measures to curb its spread, proper health and hygiene practices, symptom management, and recognizing signs of dehydration with appropriate responses. The heightened need for vigilance during peak seasons when Norovirus cases typically surge, was also raised.
In the second part of the program, the GRDM team conducted a step-by-step demonstration of proper handwashing techniques, highlighting that handwashing remains the most effective method to prevent the spread of Norovirus. They also demonstrated how to prepare a Sugar-Salt Solution (SSS), explaining its crucial role in preventing dehydration. The importance of staying hydrated was repeatedly stressed, with the team noting that “early hydration is critical to managing symptoms and preventing severe dehydration.” Participants were advised to seek immediate medical assistance if symptoms persisted.
Throughout the session, it became clear to attendees that hand hygiene plays a vital role in breaking the transmission chain of Norovirus.
Participants expressed a heightened understanding of Norovirus, the significance of proper handwashing, and the preparation and use of the SSS. They also gained valuable knowledge on managing hydration effectively. The session was interactive, with many questions from the attendees, and was well-received by all.
What is Norovirus?
Norovirus is a type of viral gastroenteritis causing inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Symptoms
- Nausea; vomiting, and
- diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
How Norovirus spread
- Contaminated food,
- water,
- surfaces, and
- person-to-person contact.
Sugar-Salt Solution (SSS):
- Mix 1 liter of clean water with 6 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
- Sip slowly throughout the day.
Should anyone develop symptoms, they are reminded to stay well hydrated
- Signs of dehydration include extreme thirst, dry mouth, reduced urination, and dizziness.
- In cases of severe dehydration, seek immediate medical attention.
- Encouraged caregivers to watch for symptoms in vulnerable individuals, such as children and the elderly.
ENDS
29 January 2025 Media Release: National Deputy Minister of Electricity & Energy, open and ready to support municipalities in the Garden Route in terms of Energy
Media Release: National Deputy Minister of Electricity & Energy, open and ready to support municipalities in the Garden Route in terms of Energy
For immediate release
29 January 2025
During an engagement on the 20 January 2025 between the National Department of Electricity & Energy, Executive Mayors and officials of the Garden Route district, Ms Samantha Graham-Maré, the Deputy Minister, shared her department’s willingness to support the municipalities in terms of energy and electricity.
The meeting was hosted by the GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, which created a platform for officials from the National Department to share valuable information on the initiatives of the Department and various types of assistance that the Department is able to provide to municipalities.
Information presented by the Deputy Minister and officials included: issues experienced by Eskom, the financial sustainability of municipalities regarding energy, IPP procurement, wheeling and small-scale embedded generation frameworks, waste-to-energy projects, and the clean and safe cooking programme. They also shared information about the ongoing program of Energy Efficiency which enables municipalities to replace air conditioning systems and lights for more energy efficient ones.
Municipal representatives also presented their projects, programmes and challenges, in terms of energy and electricity within their respective municipal areas. The biggest concern raised by municipalities, is the need to accommodate informal settlements to ensure their needs are met in terms of the provision of energy. The issue of unaffordable electricity rates was also noted. Municipal representatives, as part of their challenges, also mentioned the need for increased capacity, financial resources and funding for the pursuance of studies and projects.
Sharing her strong passion for Local Government, Graham-Maré recognised the immense pressure on municipalities to provide services whilst acknowledging infrastructure and maintenance backlogs and simultaneously having to navigate policies and overarching concepts on a national level and how easily people on the ground may be forgotten.
She praised the Western Cape Province by describing them as being “on the pulse of energy” with numerous energy-related projects in place. Graham-Maré shared her plans on various types of support that the Department envisages for the district.
In terms of informal settlements, Graham-Marè said: “We have to find ways to look at addressing the needs of the informal settlements differently – how to get at least some level of access to electricity on the normal grid or alternative energy sources, for e.g. microgrids for larger informal settlements, villages and areas where it is difficult to get normal grid access and electrification”.
Another significant aspect she pointed out, was that “we need to simplify our initiatives, particularly as we look into new methods of doing things, especially with the new technology continuously being developed,” she added.
Graham-Maré expressed her gratitude to all municipalities present for the honest engagement when they shared their respective challenges with the Department. This engagement with the District Municipality will be followed by consultations with the local municipalities in the area.
In his closing remarks Monde Stratu, Municipal Manager of GRDM extended his support to local municipalities and said: “As the Garden Route District Municipality we stand ready with colleagues in respect of capacity and look forward to working together with all stakeholders in terms of this initiative”.
ENDS
28 January 2025 Media Release: Knysna has sympathy for the people of Los Angeles
Media Release: Knysna has sympathy for the people of Los Angeles
For immediate release
28 January 2025
“For the moment overshadowed by President Trump’s inauguration, the full impact of the Los Angeles (LA) fire disaster is fast unfolding, and the hearts of the Knysna and Plettenberg Bay communities who endured a similar experience in 2017 goes out to the people of LA,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
From the Knysna experience, trauma and loss experienced by all those who lived in the LA burn scar and the city as a whole, is something that will take time to fully manifest and much hardship lies ahead for all affected.
Fire damage done to LA is seemingly obvious but only time will tell how bad it will be for the environment given that the toxins and debris from 12 000 burnt structures are severe. Because of the toxins present, homeowners are currently banned from cleaning their own property. It is feared that toxins are already finding their way into the ocean through rain water running down seep lines and stormwater systems and dispersed through wind, and is expected to have a detrimental impact on marine life.
Globally experts agree that the severity of wildfires has been growing because of climate change. This has put more homes in danger.
Over time the Garden Route will burn again and again and as long as invasive alien plants on the landscape prevail, the fire danger rating will remain unnecessarily high and rapidly increase. As a result of climate change and unpredictable weather, the regional fire season is now all-year round impacting on sparse resources of those tasked with fire-fighting.
GREF would like to urge landowners at risk to clear their land of invasive alien plants and in the process prevent an imminent repeat of the 2017 Knysna disaster.
(The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental managers and a Climate Change think-tank – www.grefscli.co.za).
Photo: Remains of a Knysna homestead following the June 2017 wildfire disaster – (Cobus Meiring)
13 January 2025 Media Release: Garden Route environment key to its economic prosperity, but wild fires remain a threat
Media Release: Garden Route environment key to its economic prosperity, but wild fires remain a threat
For immediate release
13 January 2025
“Thousands of tourists from all over the world flocked to the Garden Route over the 24/25 holiday season to experience one of the most beautiful places on earth, and in doing so, they make a vital contribution to the regional economy,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
Garden Route regional and local government and conservation bodies consistently go to great lengths to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to ensure a well- managed environment for all to enjoy. These efforts do come at a cost for those responsible for managing the environment, but the return on investment is high and the jobs created through the tourism sector is vital to the quality of life for all those living in the region.
Easily accessible clean and safe beaches, several world class nature reserves, hiking trails through forests and mountains, picnic spots, restaurants and high standard accommodation options – all contribute to the Garden Route value proposition for tourists.
Unfortunately during the festive season, the Garden Route suffered from increasingly frequent wild fires which kept authorities busy in actively fighting and monitoring several wild fires scattered all over the region. This ever- present threat will only increase as summer temperatures are set to rise to record highs in 2025.
The devastating fires presently raging through Los Angeles is a stark reminder to Garden Route residents who experienced the Knysna wildfire disaster back in June 2017. Fact is that, as climate change shows its teeth, the danger of regional wild fire disasters are clear and present and on the increase, and in many respects, there are correlations between the factors which contributed to the ferocity of the LA and Knysna wildfire disasters.
Garden Route regional authorities and professional firefighting entities such as the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (FPA), are better prepared than ever to prevent and manage wildfires. Despite best efforts and equipment, the Los Angeles disaster showed that when nature unleashes its full fury, nothing will stop it from destroying everything in its path.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental managers and a climate change think- tank (www.grefscli.co.za)
Photo: The scenic Garden Route is a major draw card for thousands of tourists and makes an invaluable contribution to the economic prosperity of the region.