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Author: Marillia Veldkornet

Floods in the Garden Route

23 June 2025 Media Release: Another intense cold front is expected to hit the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape and the Western Cape from Wednesday to Friday, 25 to 27 June 2025

Media Release: Another intense cold front is expected to hit the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape and the Western Cape from Wednesday to Friday, 25 to 27 June 2025

For immediate release
23 June 2025

An intense cold front is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, over the south-western parts of South Africa, bringing a significant shift in weather conditions across the region. The system is expected to result in the following impacts:

For the public:

  • Heavy rainfall with a risk of localised flooding over the western parts of the Western Cape, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas on Wednesday into Thursday (25-26 June 2025).
    Wet and slippery roads may result in dangerous driving conditions. Motorists should exercise caution and adhere to safety measures.
  • Strong and gusty winds over the interior may cause localised damage to structures and uproot trees.
  • Cold to very cold conditions can be expected, along with possible snowfall over the western mountain ranges of the Western Cape, spreading into the south-western interior of the Northern Cape.

For Maritime:

  • Gale force winds and very rough seas, with wave heights between 5,5 to 7,5 metres, along the coastlines of the Northern Cape and Western Cape, will lead to disruptions to fishing and port operations, an increased risk of vessels capsizing, accidents at sea, and hazardous shoreline conditions. Coastal residents and beachgoers are urged to exercise caution.
  • As the system progresses eastwards, it will affect the Eastern Cape, a region already vulnerable to weather-related impacts. The key concern is the strong damaging winds expected across most parts of the province on Thursday, 26 June 2025.
  • Interior winds are expected to pick up and spread over the remainder of eastern provinces on Thursday and Friday, 26 and 27 June 2025, with daytime temperatures dropping to the cold category.

The South African Weather Service will continue to monitor any further developments relating to the weather systems and will issue subsequent updates as required. Furthermore, intermediate updates may be followed on X (@SAWeatherServic), Facebook (South African Weather Service) or other SAWS-supported social media platforms.

Compiled by: Tokelo Chiloane, Henning Grobler and Wayne Venter
Edited by: Jacqueline Modika
Approved by: Mr Rudzani Malala
For technical and weather enquiries:
National Forecasting Centre: Tel: 012 367 6041

Media enquiries: Mr Oupa Segalwe, Senior Manager: Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Cell: 0722643273; e-mail oupa.segalwe@weathersa.co.za /or
Ms Hannelee Doubell: Manager, Communications
Tel: (012) 367 6104; Cell: 072 222 6305; e-mail: hannelee.doubell@weathersa.co.za
USSD: Dial *120*7297# 

09 June 2025 Public Notice: GRDM Top Layer Service Delivery & Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) open for public perusal and comment

Public Notice: GRDM Top Layer Service Delivery & Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) open for public perusal and comment

09 June 2025

Notice is hereby given that the Garden Route District Municipality’s SDBIP is available for public perusal and comments for 14 days, ending 23 June 2025.

All questions and recommendations must be directed to:
GRDM Manager: Performance Management, Ms Ilse Saaiman
Tel: 044-803 1300 / E-mail: pms@gardenroute.gov.za.

Click here and download the document

Click here to download the Official Notice

07 June 2025 Media Release: World Food Safety Day – The Role of Environmental Health Practitioners

Media Release: World Food Safety Day – The Role of Environmental Health Practitioners

For immediate release
7 June 2025

Today, 7 June 2025, Food Safety Day is commemorated across the globe, with the theme “Science in Action”.

Did you know? Approximately 200 diseases in humans are caused by the consumption of unsafe food, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers. On top of this, close to 1.6 million people world-wide fall ill daily due to them consuming unsafe food, according to the World Health Organisation.

Why is food safety important?

The World Health Organisation defines ‘Food Safety’ as the assurance that food will not harm consumers when prepared and eaten. ‘Food Hygiene’ encompasses measures to ensure food safety from production to consumption.

The purpose of food safety is to ensure that FOOD IS SAFE TO EAT. However, contaminated food and water sources are the main contributors to food borne illnesses that affect people, particularly across South Africa. This phenomenon is also noted globally.

When contaminated, foodstuff impose considerable health burdens, ranging in severity from being mildly sick, to fatalities. Related illnesses impact health, livelihoods, education and economies.

In South Africa, health authorities are continuously enforcing food safety principles to protect consumers. These principles focus on ensuring food safety during production, handling, storage, processing, and distribution.

While food safety increasingly becomes an important public health issue, governments all over the world are intensifying their efforts to improve food safety, according to the WHO. This is largely due to rapid globalisation, overpopulation and the importance of the safety when food gets transported from one country to another.

The role of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) in ensuring Food Safety within the Garden Route

Daily inspections 

According to the numerous of responsibilities of EHPs, Food Control is one of the areas which require the complex responsibilities. Food Control relates to a mandatory regulatory activity of enforcement to provide consumer protection and to ensure that food is:

  • Handled in a hygienic manner during production, storage, processing, distribution and sale;
  • safe, wholesome and fit for human consumption and conforms to safety, nutrition and quality requirements; and
  • honestly and accurately labelled as prescribed by law.

The role of the EHP includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • Inspection of food premises and vehicles;
  • Compliance monitoring in terms of legislative requirements and provisions and instituting remedial and preventative measures;
  • Issuing of Certificates of Acceptability;
  • Examining sampling and analysis of foodstuffs;
  • Examining food labels;
  • Addressing complaints;
  • ‘Law enforcement’ by serving compliance notices, or if deemed necessary, by issuing summonses to appear in Court (Sect 56 of Criminal Procedures Act. 1977)
  • Export control when requested; and
  • Health promotion and training, etc.

According to Johan Compion, Snr. Manager for Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management and Air Quality Control, “Many diseases can be prevented when the public is educated and informed; and action is taken”.

“Particularly during the month of June, in celebration of World Food Safety Day, the GRDM EHPs plan to visit various areas/premises in the Garden Route to conduct Food Safety awareness and education sessions.”

On 3 June, the GRDM EHPs serving the Klein Karoo area, conducted an educational and awareness session at Linza Sales Foods where they educated participants regarding the Five Keys to Safer Food.  On Thursday, 5 June, EHPs from GRDM, EHPs from Beaufort West and the Department of Agriculture engaged in discussions at the South Cape Central Karoo Forum held in Sedgefield on the status of meat production in the Western Cape. On 8 June, the Outeniqua team serving the George area will have a Health and Hygiene education and awareness session targeting communities they serve. In the Bitou area, the GRDM’s Bitou team plans to host a targeted food safety training session for managers of both formal and informal food premises in Plettenberg Bay.

To report any Food Safety related complaints, contact your nearest GRDM Municipal Health Office:

Johan Compion
jcompion@gardenroute.gov.za
044 803 1550 / 082 803 5161

Desmond Paulse – Manager: Municipal Health Klein Karoo
desmond@gardenroute.gov.za
044 272 2241 / Cell: 083 678 6530
94 St John Street, Oudtshoorn

Rinay Cloete – Acting Chief: Municipal Health Mossel Bay
rinay@gardenroute.gov.za
044 693 0006 /Cell: 083 630 6108
C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay

Emmy Douglas – Chief: Municipal Health George (Outeniqua)
emmy@gardenroute.gov.za
044 803 1537 / Cell: 078 457 2824
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530

Jessica Erasmus – Acting Chief: Municipal Health George (Wilderness)
jessica@gardenroute.gov.za
044 803 1522 / Cell: 081 346 3118
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George

James McCarthy – Chief: Municipal Health Knysna (Lakes)
james@gardenroute.gov.za
044 382 7214 / Cell: 082 805 9417
26A Queen Street, Knysna

Gawie Vos – Chief: Municipal Health Bitou (Lakes)
Gjvos@gardenroute.gov.za
044 501 1600 / Cell: 083 557 1522
7 Gibb Street, Plettenberg Bay

 Haemish Herwels – Chief: Municipal Health Hessequa (Langeberg)
haemish@gardenroute.gov.za
028 713 2438 / Cell: 083 678 6545
23 Mitchell Street, Riversdale

 *Landline numbers are only in use during weekdays

ENDS

06 June 2025 Public Notice: Notice to Smutsville residents:  Fire Safety Project – Smoke Detector Installations

Public Notice: Notice to Smutsville residents:  Fire Safety Project – Smoke Detector Installations

Notice Number.  56/2025

The Western Cape Fire and Rescue Services, Garden Route Fire and Rescue Services, Knysna Fire and Rescue Services, and Garden Route Disaster Management, in partnership with Asivikelane Community Facilitators, are leading a fire risk reduction project in your area.

As part of this program, smoke detection devices will be installed in informal structures to help protect households from fire-related risks. Installations will be carried out by trained team members.

Installations will begin on Monday, 9 June 2025 daily between 09:30 and 15:00 over three weeks. The names of the areas that will be visited, will be published as the programme moves forward in phases.

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) encourages the community to support this initiative by giving the teams access to their homes. If no one will be home on the day of planned installation, please make arrangements with a trusted neighbour.

The devices are provided free of charge, and through this initiative, the GRDM will also raise awareness, and educate residents about fire safety.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping to make the Smutsville community safer.

Click here to download the Official Notice.

Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu
Acting Municipal Manager
54 York Street
P O Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel:   044 803 1300
Notice Number 56/2025
6 June 2025

03 June 2025 Media Release: Young recycling fashion designers crowned at the ‘Designing a Greener Future’ event

Media Release: Young recycling fashion designers crowned at the ‘Designing a Greener Future’ event

For immediate release
03 June 2025

On Friday, 30 May 2025, stakeholders including the South African Police Service, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), George Municipality, Eden FM Radio, attended and participated in the Designing a Greener Future event that was hosted at Tyholora Primary School in Thembalethu, George.

Stakeholder representatives and learners during the “Designing a Greener Future” event that was hosted at Tyholora Primary School in Thembalethu.

With the theme “Using Creativity to Teach Crime Prevention,” stakeholder representatives shared their insights on illegal dumping and littering, highlighting the importance of recycling and its impact on the environment. More importantly, the link between illegal dumping, littering, and crime was also emphasised.

Starting off the event, was the Waste Management Team of George Municipality explaining the purpose of the event as well as educating all present regarding waste management and how to become a responsible resident in favour of a clean environment.

Further into the programme, an interactive awareness session with all learners regarding the signs of abuse and how to prevent becoming a victim of abuse, was conducted. Learners participated in the discussions that were presented by Advocate Marilyn Olifant-Scheepers.

In his address at the event, GRDM’s MMC for Community Services, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, stated that “illegal dumping and littering doesn’t just harm the environment – it brings down the quality of life, creates health hazards, and often attracts more serious crimes. When areas are neglected or full of waste, it can create a “broken window” effect, where disorder invites further illegal activity,” he said.

Learners from various schools in George showcasing their creative talents wearing designs made from recycling material. 

When referring to the youth, Hoogbaard emphasised: “When young people are educated about caring for their communities – whether by picking up litter, recycling, reporting dumping or creating clean, green spaces, it creates pride, responsibility, and unity. These are key ingredients in preventing crime. They become part of something bigger,” he emphasised. “This sense of ownership and pride can steer youth away from crime because it replaces chaos with purpose,” Hoogbaard added. He encouraged all stakeholders present to invest in education and awareness, not just to protect the environment, but to protect the future of the youth. “Together, through small steps, we can build safer, cleaner, and stronger communities,” he concluded.

During his keynote address at the event, Garden Route District Commissioner, Major-General Phumzile Cetyana, said: “We are heading into a direction of becoming a clean town. Stating that “crime prevention and cleanliness goes together,’ he said: “Crime thrives in an environment that is not clean”. He added that “by making our places orderly, we are preventing crime”.

Learners from various schools and the Market Theatre drama group during their stage performances shared educational messages through poetry, song, dance and drama.

He further encouraged stakeholders, more specific learners, to never give up on a better world and concluded: “I take inspiration in knowing that our future lies in your hands. To the stakeholders, teachers and the community, he said: The creativity is inspiring, but let us all allow our children to be creative and to be part of this new world”.

Many enthusiastic learners showcased fashion designs made from recycled material, and the event furthermore featured vibrant performances in poetry, song, dance, and drama by learners from various schools in George, as well as the Drama Group from the George Market Theatre.

The winners of the Fashion design competition with the judges and organisers of the event.

The programme concluded with the prize-giving ceremony – and a deeper understanding of how illegal dumping and littering is linked to crime, leaving attendees with meaningful lessons to take forward.

Feature image: Contestants of the Recycling Fashion Design Competition soon after the announcement of the winners.

ENDS