Author: Marillia Veldkornet
9 July 2025 Media Release: Climate experts agree that red lights are flashing
Media Release: Climate experts agree that red lights are flashing
For immediate release
09 July 2025
“Experts presenting at the 2025 GREF Climate Change Indaba in collaboration with Nelson Mandela University did not paint a rosy picture”, says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
At this point in time scientific data used to monitor climate change indicate that the meeting of targets and time frames to avert global catastrophe are unlikely to be achieved.
Already South Africa is feeling the pain as fire, torrential rain and angry seas hammer coastal provinces with increasing regularity causing death and destruction.
What is reported in mainstream media does not always portray wider implications. One example is local rural roads and infrastructure which are repeatedly damaged and not rehabilitated given slow economic growth and capacity. In many places the damage caused by floods to access roads and infrastructure isolate rural communities from the outside world and negatively affect mobility, trade, service delivery, economic prosperity and rural productivity.
The take- home massage for South Africa is that the country will have to get its act together and do so very fast. There is simply no more room for wasting sparse resources, Â counter- productive policies and tolerating predatory entities hampering vital maintenance, construction, service delivery and development.
The development of resilient infrastructure and responsible environmental management must be escalated from “nice to have” to essential. Fire, floods and drought are real and present dangers. The state of South African water quality, rivers and catchments is dire and deteriorating fast. These systems are vital not only for the sake of bio- diversity conservation, but for ensuring water security going forward.
All is not lost just yet and there are promising signs that the reaching of some climate tipping points might just be averted, but nothing can be left to chance in a fast changing natural world and failure to plan ahead will no doubt have severe implications.
Issued by:
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) – a climate change and environmental management think- tank.Â
Photo: Expert panel at GREF
Mr Peter du Toit, Dr Roy Marcus, Dr Anna Taylor, Mr Anton Cartwright, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, Dr Bianca Curry
ENDS
08 July 2025 Update 7: Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George
Update 7: Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George
The GRDM construction team has continued with the upgrading of the Gwaiing road – nearing the completion of the placement of the final gravel layer on the right hand side lane for the full length of the project. Once this layer has cured and the final test results have been issued, the layer will then be sealed with a temporary bituminous seal.
As we are currently in the winter season, the intention is to seal the layer during the month of July with a protective armor seal, which would allow for the residential traffic to be diverted onto the right hand side lane. This would then enable the team to construct the remaining layers of the left hand side.Â
The project has reached 83% completion and the focus now remains on the improvement of the stormwater drainage network and the completion of the concrete headwall structures. The intended completion date for this part of the project 18 September 2025.
The final anticipated completed date for the project is 31 January 2026.
ENDS
4 July 2025 Public Notice: Access Control Measures for motorists using DR1618 – Gwaiing Road
Public Notice: Access Control Measures for motorists using DR1618 – Gwaiing Road
Notice Number: 67/2025
Notice is hereby given that the Garden Route District Municipality will only permit access to residents residing along DR1618 to utilise the road which is under construction. Due to operational intensity and hazards/risks associated, only card holders and their Stakeholders will be considered. One way traffic flow with speed limit of 40km/h is enforced.
All questions and recommendations must be directed to the Site Safety Officer, Stenly Zambezi, at tel: 044-803 1414/ 078 981 0566 / Email: stenly@gardenroute.gov.za.
Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu
Acting Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
Notice number: 67/2025
Click here to download the Official Notice
03 July 2025 Media Release: Public-Private EV Charging Partnership Launched in Garden Route
Media Release: Public-Private EV Charging Partnership Launched in Garden Route
For immediate release
03 July 2025
The Garden Route’s green mobility future is charging forward with the confirmation of a landmark public-private pledge signed this afternoon at the François Ferreira Academy. The initiative commits land and infrastructure for the establishment of a new Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station in George – one of the first of its kind in the region.
As part of this pioneering initiative, the François Ferreira Academy has donated the site for the first EV charging station to be installed by Solar Energy Africa, a leading national provider of solar power solutions. The pledge signed by Mayor Stroebel and stakeholders includes the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and Africa Skills Private Training, both instrumental in the region’s economic and skills development.
This collaboration marks the first step in a broader rollout of EV charging stations strategically located along the N2 and in rural tourism nodes from Cape Town International Airport to Plettenberg Bay. The goal is to future-proof mobility in the Garden Route and beyond—supporting the transition to electric transport and enabling infrastructure for both locals and visitors.
This collaboration follows the Garden Route EV Seminar, hosted last week at Africa Skills GeorgeTech, where the growing demand for skilled artisans to support the EV sector took centre stage. The seminar explored South Africa’s evolving EV market and its impact on training, artisan development, and job creation.
The EV pledge was formally signed by:
- Executive Mayor of GRDM, Alderman Andrew Stroebel
- Jessica van der Merwe, Managing Director of Solar Energy Africa
- Phillip Harmse, Director: New Business Development of UXi Artisan Development
The Western Cape Government is actively transitioning its public transport and fleet vehicles to electric alternatives. In alignment with this, Africa Skills has already introduced EV-relevant artisan training through its work-integrated learning model and accredited electrical apprenticeships.
“This shift to electric mobility is more than just an infrastructure change – it’s a skills revolution,” said Phillip Harmse. “From battery technology and EV maintenance to solar integration and charging installation, Africa Skills is equipping young artisans to meet this fast-growing demand.”
Speaking at the seminar, Anthonie Janse van Rensburg, Acting Chief Director of the Western Cape Department of Mobility, confirmed the rollout of new EV infrastructure. “Our vision is to establish fast, efficient EV charging hubs across the N2 corridor and urban centres. This is part of our broader EV fleet migration strategy for provincial and local government.”
Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel reaffirmed the municipality’s vision: “As a global tourism hub, the Garden Route must be EV-ready. We’re embracing innovation and partnerships to make this happen.”
As demand for EV adoption increases and the national government explores limitations on internal combustion imports, the Garden Route stands poised to become a leading green mobility destination – powered by solar, driven by skilled artisans, and supported through strong public-private collaboration.
Issued by UXi Artisan Development
Enquiries Images, Soundbites or Interviews:Â Jan Greyling – 082 556 8778, jan@uxi-ad.co.za
Feature Image:
FLTR: Alex Engelke (Corporate Services: UXi Artisan Development & Africa Skills, Phillip Harmse (New Business Development: UXi Artisan Development), Jessica van der Merwe (CEO: Solar Energy Africa), Andrew Stroebel (Executive Mayor: Garden Route District Municipality), Johan du Plooy (Operations Manager: François Ferreira Academy & Apprentice) and Lizelle Wessels (Corporate Services: UXi Artisan Development).
ENDS
27 June 2025 Public Notice: Garden Route & Klein Karoo (GR&KK) Tourism Strategy is open for public perusal and comment
Public Notice: Garden Route & Klein Karoo (GR&KK) Tourism Strategy is open for public perusal and comment
Notice Number: 65/2025
Notice is hereby given that the Garden Route & Klein Karoo Tourism Strategy is available for public perusal and comments for 14 days closing on 10 July 2025.
All questions and recommendations can be directed to Raylene Meyer at tel: 044-803 1405 / E-mail: raylene@edendm.co.za.
Click here to download the Official Notice.
Click here to download the Tourism Strategy
Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu
Acting Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
Notice number: 65/2025
26 June 2025 Public Notice: Third Adjustment Budget 2024/2025 Approved
Third Adjustment Budget 2024/2025 Approved
Notice 66/2025
Notice is hereby given that the Garden Route District Municipal Council’s Third Adjustments Budget for the period 2024/2025-2026/2027, was compiled in accordance with the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act 2003 (Act 56 of 2003).
This document was approved by the Garden Route District Municipality at a District Council meeting held on Thursday, 26 June 2025.
This document will be available for public inspection and comments on the GRDM municipal website www.gardenroute.gov.za from 27 June 2025.
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments or representations to the municipality in respect of this document. All comments and inputs must be directed to:
The Acting The Municipal Manager
Garden Route District Municipality
54 York Street
George
6530
Please contact the Budget Manager (Ms Louise Hoek) at 044 803 1300 with any enquiries.
N Raisa-Mlandu
Acting Municipal Manager
Garden Route District Municipality