Author: Marillia Veldkornet
23 May 2025 Update 6: Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George
23 May 2025 Update 6: Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George
The construction team has commenced activities on 1 April 2025, with the upgrading of the Gwaiing Road construction project that includes the processing and placement of the basecourse layer on the right-hand side (RHS) lane. This is the final layer before the bituminous surface gets applied – 2km of the basecourse has already been placed, and the construction of the remaining 2.4km is underway.
Once the RHS lane has been completed in full, the traffic flow will be relocated to the RHS lane, as the completion of the left-hand side lane will then commence.
Focus also remains on the improvement of the stormwater drainage network, as new concrete lined side-drains are being cast along various sections of the road shoulder.
“As mentioned before, the GRDM Road Services Department is upgrading this road entirely in-house without any external contractor assistance, and this is commendable,” said GRDM Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel.
Feature Image: The compaction process after processing the basecourse layer.
22 May 2025 Media Release: Fire danger place Invasive Alien Plants in the spotlight
Media Release: Fire danger place Invasive Alien Plants in the spotlight
For immediate release
22 May 2025
Approaching winter fronts have the Garden Route on edge as fears of a repeat of the 2017 mega fire disaster looms as a clear and present danger”, says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
Regional environmental and disaster management agencies are in agreement that the 2017 conditions conducive to the worst fire disaster in South African history are again ready for the perfect storm.
Despite best efforts and collaboration between landowners affected by the 2017 fire disaster, Invasive Alien Plants (IAP’s) have made a comeback on the Knysna as well as the 2018 Outeniqua burn scars providing more fuel for a wild fire than ever before. Not only is Knysna and surrounds again in the path of danger, but many other areas including George, Wilderness, Sedgefield and Great Brak.
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), George Municipality the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association and many other entities involved with – fighting has ramped up their collective strength to deal with an increasingly number of wild fires, but the core problem remains: Invasive Alien Plants on the Southern Cape landscape.
Garden Route landowners in the urban edge are especially exposed as they can only do so much in terms of safeguarding their properties by creating defendable zones, cleaning their gutters and prepare escape routes. All river systems, mountains and river corridors in the garden Route are infested with high density IAP plant growth.
Landowners are not unaware of the danger invasive plants pose, but more often than not lack the resources to do anything meaningful about it. Still, fire- proofing the Garden Route is important, and a collective effort u
Government efforts (e.g. The DFFE Working for Water Programme) to eradicate IAP growth has collapsed as a result of a lack of funding, no further investment in bio- control and limited capacity to enforce legislation.
GREF will be focusing on climate change and Invasive alien plant implications at the Annual Climate Change and Environmental Indaba in partnership with Nelson Mandela University on 27 June. At stake is not only fire risk, but hard hitting drought is looming in coming years and loss of critical bio diversity is negative for the region’s appeal as a world class destination.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental managers and landowners, and a climate change think tank. (www.grefscli.co.za).
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14 May 2025 Media Release: Western Cape Provincial Government and GRDM address the water needs of Oudtshoorn and Kannaland with the provision of 35 water tanks
Media Release: Western Cape Provincial Government and GRDM address the water needs of Oudtshoorn and Kannaland with the provision of 35 water tanks
For immediate release
14 May 2025
The Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, handed over 35 water tanks on 13 May 2025 to the communities of Kannaland and Oudtshoorn. Of the total, 20 are for Kannaland and 15 for Oudtshoorn.
This initiative that forms part of the GRDM’s water security programme for local municipalities in the Garden Route, supported by the Western Cape Provincial Government (WCG) Department of Local Government (DLG), ensures that municipalities affected by limited water resources, have access to clean drinking water and water for household use.
During his address to all present, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, MMC for Community Services at GRDM, shared the municipality’s commitment to serve communities experiencing challenges in terms of access to basic services, such clean drinking water. Hoogbaard shared his gratitude to Mayor Stroebel and the Disaster Management team under the leadership of Gerhard Otto, at GRDM for all their efforts in ensuring the successful outcome of the programme.
Mayor Stroebel highlighted the importance of water and expressed his gratitude to the WCG DLG for the funding provided for this initiative. To the Kannaland Municipality, Mayor Stroebel said: “Thank you for allowing the GRDM to assist Kannaland with their water needs”.
Twenty water tanks handed over to the Kannaland Municipality. GRDM Executive Mayor, councillors and officials from GRDM and Kannaland were present.
Reflecting on the impact of climate change, Mayor Stroebel noted: “Twenty years ago we all wondered what climate change is, as it was only something seen on the news. Today we all witness the effects of climate change – seen in the number of fires, as well as floods and it has a direct impact on the amount of water resources”. Regarding the prioritisation of community needs, he concluded:
“Please be sure, GRDM will put the residents of the Garden Route first and the municipality will always be there to support local municipalities in respect of the needs within communities”.
Sharing his remarks at the event, Adv. Dillo Sereo, Municipal Manager of Kannaland Municipality, expressed his deepest appreciation to the GRDM, stating that “this initiative is testimony of the joint district development model and sound intergovernmental relations between GRDM and Kannaland. He further noted that the initiative forms part of the broader support plan from the District Municipality for which Kannaland is sincerely grateful.
Fifteen water tanks handed over to Oudtshoorn Municipality. In the picture (bottom right) are: Mayor Andrew Stroebel (GRDM), Cllr Ashwill October (GRDM & Oudtshoorn), Jacques Le Kay (Oudtshoorn), Chris Swart (Oudtshoorn), Gerhard Otto (GRDM) and Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard (GRDM).
Sereo emphasized that this support demonstrates that Kannaland Municipality is not standing alone but is backed by the GRDM.
Speaker of Kannaland Municipality, Cllr Peter-George Rooi explained that Kannaland has severely been affected by drought over the past years and he noted that many of the challenges faced by the community will be addressed through this initiative.
On behalf of the Kannaland, Rooi expressed his gratitude towards the GRDM for their valuable contribution to the residents of Kannaland while restoring their dignity.
The tanks will be placed at following areas within Kannaland, including:
- 4 x Van Wyksdorp
- 4 x Calitsdorp (split between Bergsig and Royal Heights)
- 4 x Zoar (Split between Amalienstein and Zoar)
- 4 x Hoeko (Split between the school and collective points)
- 4 x Ladismith (Split between Sakkies Bay, Le Grange Dam and Varkieskloof)
During the next visit to Oudtshoorn Waterworks in Dysselsdorp, Gerhard Otto, also shared a word of thanks to the WC DLG for the funding of the 15 water tanks and to Oudtshoorn Municipality that will place the tanks at all the identified areas.
Chris Swart, Senior Manager for Water and Sanitation at Oudtshoorn expressed his gratitude to the WC DLG and GRDM for the provision of these thanks to address the water needs of the people of Oudtshoorn, especially in times when there are pipe bursts and power outages.
The tanks will be placed at the following areas within Oudtshoorn, including:
- 10 x Split between Dysselsdorp and De Rust
- 2 x Stolsvlakte
- 3 x Klipdrift School
As part of this initiative, Otto further explained that Environmental Health Practitioners from GRDM will additionally provide water monitoring services whereby they will regularly draw samples for testing to ensure that it remains adequate for human consumption.
The events were also attended by councillors and officials from GRDM, including councillors Werner Meshoa and Koos Malooi (Kannaland), as well as Cllr Ashwill October (Oudtshoorn).
Feature Image: Mayor Andrew Stroebel (right) handing over 20 water tanks to Speaker of Kannaland, Cllr Peter-George Rooi for distribution in the Kannaland municipal area.
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06 May 2025 Public Notice: Register on the Garden Route Skills Mecca Unemployment Database
Public Notice: Register on the Garden Route Skills Mecca Unemployment Database
6 May 2025
The Garden Route District Municipality invites unemployed persons currently residing within the Garden Route District Municipal area, to register themselves on the Garden Route Skills Mecca Unemployment Database.
WHY REGISTER?
By registering, you will:
- Be included in a central database used to match job seekers with opportunities.
- Be considered for skills development programs and employment initiatives.
- Receive communication about relevant training and development projects.
HOW TO REGISTER:
1. Visit: https://skillsmecca.gardenroute.gov.za/.
2. Click the red button labelled “Unemployment Solutions”.
3. Select “Create Account”.
4. Go to “Your Profile” and choose “Create Your Unemployment Profile”.
5. Fill in all required information.
6. Upload the following documents:
– Your CV;
– A certified copy of your ID; and
– Certified qualifications
For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact Reginald Salmons at 044 803 1363, Ms Khanyisa Madolo at 044 803 1456 or Mrs Nolwando Sambokwe at 044 803 1345 during office hours only. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Should candidates not be contacted within one month of the closing date, they must consider their application as
unsuccessful.
Click here to download the Official Advert.
Closing date: 30 June 2025
Notice number: 41/2025
05 May 2025 Media Release: Indaba to discuss the likely impact of Climate Change on the Garden Route: A 20 year outlook
Media Release: Indaba to discuss the likely impact of Climate Change on the Garden Route: A 20 year outlook
For immediate release
05 May 2025
“The Garden Route is no stranger to natural disasters and increasingly so to which many ascribe to a fast-changing climate”, writes Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF). The question begs how can environmental managers look into the future and make projections on what may be impacting on the region over the next two decades. The Garden Route conservation and environmental management community is blessed with recognised and highly educated academics and practitioners capable of modelling scenarios and impacts capable of creating scenarios of what an uncertain future may hold.
Floods, storm surges, drought and non-stop wild fire disasters are all posing serious challenges to hard infrastructure, fragile ecosystems and vulnerable Garden Route communities. Perhaps more importantly, a changing climate may well adversely affect the regional economy as it becomes harder for the all-important agricultural sector to be viable and sustainable unless it is able to adapt. The other significant regional economic driver is tourism, and a deteriorating natural environment due to natural disasters and loss of natural infrastructure, e.g. the deteriorating coast line and risk to properties will also be discussed at the upcoming Climate Change Indaba.
Over time budgets to repair hard infrastructure such as roads, bridges, storm water systems and infrastructure along the coast are decreasing, and governmental entities responsible for planning and construction must take into account potential risks associated with the impact of a changing climate and rain fall patterns. Torrential and episodic rain storms are becoming the order of the day, and storm water systems and roads must be designed in order to be able to survive such impacts.
The negative impact of Invasive Alien Plants (IAP’s) on the environment including providing fuel for out- of control wild fire disasters an severely affecting biodiversity, preventing water catchments and feeder streams to function effectively is not being addressed by landowners and spreading fast.
Across the region environmental disasters are on the increase, and disaster management agencies responsible for dealing with their aftermath must be better funded, better equipped, better trained and be pro-active in putting early warning systems in place to reduce exposure.
The GREF Climate Change and Environmental Management Indaba will take place on 27 June 2025 at Nelson Mandela University: George Campus.
Enquiries can be sent to louisamare@gmail.com.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum is a public platform for environmental practitioners and a climate change think- tank.(www.grefscli.co.za).
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05 May 2025 Media Release: Garden Route Forest Villages receiving life-saving training
Media Release: Garden Route Forest Villages receiving life-saving training
For immediate release
5 May 2025
Since the start of April, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Fire and Rescue Services Unit is visiting forest villages in the region. To date, community members from Witfontein in George, Diepwalle and Goudveld (Bibby’s Hoek) in the Knysna, as well as Ruiterbos in Mossel Bay, have received awareness about fire safety.
Among the topics covered in relation to veld and mountain fire safety awareness, information, and education intervention, are:
- Historic wildfire path in relation to their location;
- Risk Awareness;
- Preventative Measures;
- Clearing methods;
- Safety measures in the home;
- Designated and safe burn areas (waste); and
- Escape routes in case of approaching fires.
Several forest villages in the region are subject to high risk in terms of wildfires especially and these interventions aim to make the inhabitants more fire resilient with good knowledge and tips to understand wildfire behaviour, and how to best protect themselves with safeguarding practices.
It is to note that whilst it is important to continuously inform and educate, firefighting authorities will prioritise rapid response to these remote areas in case of fire break out close to, and in proximity of.
More campaigns to be rolled out during May, include:
- Bergplaas and Uitsig, George
- Beervlei, Knysna
- Kransbosch, Bitou
For more information regarding Fire Education related queries, contact the Deon Stoffels (Fire Chief), deon@gardenroute.gov.za.
Diepwalle, Knysna Municipal area
Goudveld, Knysna Municipal area
Witfontein, George Municipal area
Ruiterbos, Mossel Bay Municipal area
ENDS