Author: Marillia Veldkornet
19 March 2026 Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca and ETDP SETA Launch Major Tech Training Initiative for Western Cape Youth
Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca and ETDP SETA Launch Major Tech Training Initiative for Western Cape Youth
For immediate release
19 March 2026
Garden Route District Municipality and ETDP SETA Continue Skills Training to ensure Youth are Future-ready
The Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM), a programme of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has continued its strategic collaboration with the Education Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA) to roll out 230 specialised training opportunities for youth across the Western Cape.
This initiative focuses on equipping young people with critical-future skills through two key programmes: Cyber Security Training (115 participants) and Technopreneur Training (115 participants).
The GRDM allocated 115 of these opportunities to the Hessequa area, while a further 115 are dedicated to the Overberg district. In a show of inter-district cooperation, the GRSM team will be providing direct implementation assistance to the Overberg district to the west of the region, for this rollout.
This launch follows the successful implementation of the same programme in the Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, and Bitou municipal areas in the past. By expanding into Hessequa and the Overberg district, the partnership continues to bridge the digital divide and foster economic independence among the province’s youth.
Induction and Implementation Schedule
The programme is already gaining significant momentum with high levels of engagement during the induction phase:
- Hessequa region: Inductions took place on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, across Albertinia, Riversdale, and Heidelberg. These sessions were well-attended at all three venues.
- Hessequa: Slangrivier: A successful induction session was kicked off on 18 March 2026, with strong representation from local youth.
- Overberg District: Induction sessions are scheduled for the wee k of 23 March 2026, supported by the GRSM Team.
Comprehensive training for all participants is scheduled to officially commence during the first week of April 2026.
Programme Duration and Support
The training program is designed as a six-month intensive course, running from April to September 2026. To ensure participants can fully commit to their professional development, all learners enrolled in the programme will receive a monthly stipend for the duration of the training.
Through this partnership, the ETDP SETA and GRSM remain committed to transforming the Garden Route into a hub of digital excellence and entrepreneurial innovation.
Feature Image: Reginald Salmons, Training and Skills Development Coordinator at GRDM addressing the youth in Hessequa during the induction sessions.
ENDS
16 March 2026 Media Release: Greening Townships Key to Surviving Rising Heat
Media Release: Greening Townships Key to Surviving Rising Heat
For immediate release
16 March 2026
“Given the rising temperatures across the region, serious consideration should be given to greening townships, schools and crèches where people have little protection from the blazing sun,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
“Shade provided by trees can bring much-needed relief, and greening projects should become a budgeted priority for municipalities as part of long-term climate change adaptation and planning.” In many communities there is little escape from extreme heat, particularly for children and the elderly, making urban greening an important public health intervention.
Heatwaves and extremely hot, dry conditions are currently affecting communities across the Garden Route interior. From Uniondale to Ladismith in Kannaland, drought conditions persist and residents are increasingly feeling the pressure of limited water supplies.
According to residents in De Rust, the town’s water supply is presently not suitable for drinking, highlighting the vulnerability of smaller towns during prolonged dry periods. While the Garden Route interior is accustomed to hot summers, many residents say this season has been particularly severe, with sustained high temperatures and little rainfall.
Weather forecasts indicate there is little prospect of substantial rainfall before April, and possibly even later. In recent weeks parts of the Western Cape have recorded temperatures approaching 50°C, reinforcing concerns that predicted climate change impacts and shifting rainfall patterns are becoming a reality.
Water shortages remain a grave concern not only for households but also for agriculture and the broader regional economy. Farming communities depend heavily on seasonal rainfall, and prolonged drought threatens both livelihoods and food production.
A high quality of life is not feasible without reliable potable water supplies. While communities wait for seasonal change, residents are urged to heed water-use restrictions and to use water responsibly wherever possible. Long-term climate adaptation measures will become increasingly important as temperatures rise and water scarcity becomes more common.
GREF is a public platform for environmental managers and a climate change think- tank (www.grefecsf.co.za)
ENDS
12 March 2026 Media Release: GRDM and stakeholders hand over Pistol Filling Machine worth R30 000 to Natural African Queen
Media Release: GRDM and stakeholders hand over Pistol Filling Machine worth R30 000 to Natural African Queen
For immediate release
12 March 2026
During the 2024/2025 financial year, through the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) programme, Natural African Queen, applied for a Pistol Filling Machine to grow her Oudtshoorn based business that specialises in skin and haircare products.
Two days ago on 10 March 2026, the machine was officially handed over to brand owners, Nirvana and Henricus Gysman in Oudtshoorn, to improve product output and speed up the overall production operations of their business.
Ms Gysman received a proof of purchase envelop at the 2024/2025 MSME Support and Development Programmes’ hand-over ceremony that took place in August 2025. The machine took 120 working days to be manufactured, excluding the December 2025 shutdown period, resulting in approximately six months of manufacturing.
The Pistol Filling Machine worth R30 000, is a specialised machine procured through the service provider, Casidra, and handed over by the GRDM Executive Mayor, Marais Kruger, on behalf of GRDM, in collaboration with representatives from the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and Casidra.
In addition, GRDM Portfolio Chairperson: District Economic Development and Tourism, Ald. Rosina Ruiters, shared congratulatory words to the Gysman couple saying: “We as a District Municipality through this project helps the MSMEs of the Garden Route to give them a boost and with that we extend words of appreciation to our partners SEDFA and Casidra”. In closing her remarks, Ruiters highlighted that “when all stakeholders leave this premises here today, all the efforts of the partners to procure and hand over the machine to Natural African Queen, will be worth it”.
Branch Manager of SEDFA serving the Garden Route and Central Karoo District, Quinton Coetzee emphasised that a business is about partnerships – we should build strong relationships with partners and stakeholders – a community, almost as if you go back to school. “Of the contribution that we plan to make, we have already invested 5% into the initiative and now we want to witness it grow,” Coetzee added. Warren Marcus, Senior Project Manager at Casidra, extended a congratulatory message with the Gysman couple and highlighted that “we are excited that the machine is now handed over African Natural Queen and we believe it will contribute significantly to the growth of the business”.
Mayor Kruger in the presence of Ald. Rosina Ruiters, stakeholders and officials, handed over the machine to Ms Gysman, to increase the business’s productivity contributing to the overall economic growth of Oudtshoorn and the Garden Route district. During his address, Mayor Kruger highlighted that it is heartwarming for the GRDM to know that “we could contribute to a business that knows what they are doing, what they want and how they want to grow and see the future of the brand”. In addition, Mayor Kruger stated that for GRDM to invest in your brand, “will not only make your production more efficient, but will also expand opportunities for the business and enlarge your world, ensuring that your production move forward”. In addition, Mayor Kruger expressed his excitement on behalf of GRDM to walk the journey with African Natural Queen.
Gysman admitted that it is an emotional moment for her when she explained how it all started in her mother’s kitchen with only 10 small bottles and at the time. In conclusion she said: “When we discovered that the business had the potential to grow as it changed the lives of people, especially people with health/skin challenges such as alopecia, we moved forward and expanded our brand”. For these reasons, Gysman expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders involved in providing the machine to African Natural Queen.
GRDM continuously prioritises small businesses in the district and, through the MSME Programme, envisages, with partners, to reach more businesses to improve the lives of people in the district while contributing to the growth of the Garden Route economy.
Gallery
ENDS
09 March 2026 Disposal of the dead: Transportation of Human Remains
Media Release: Disposal of the dead: Transportation of Human Remains
For immediate release
09 March 2026
The transportation of human remains to and from areas is a occurs regularly, resulting from urbanisation and family members being dispersed across South Africa and neighbouring countries.
Transportation of bodies from the Garden Route district to areas outside the boundaries of the district, takes place by either registered funeral undertakers, private individuals or public transport provided that the criteria are met as legislated.
Disposal of the dead also known as Management of human remains, are one of the nine (9) Municipal Health / Environmental Health functions assigned to Local Government in terms of the National Health Act 2003 (Act 61 of 2003).
Desmond Paulse, Garden Route District Municipality’s Manager for Municipal Health in the Klein Karoo, said that legislation utilised by the Municipal Health section to regulate management of humans remains, is Regulation 363 promulgated under the National Health Act. Paulse further added that “the Management of human remains involves the handling, storage, preparation and transportation of the human body after passing.
How are human remains transported.
- Human remains can only be transported in a manner that does not endanger public health.
- Coffins should be leak-proof and free of offensive odours during transportation with public transport.
- If a private vehicle is solely used for the transportation of human remains, the vehicle in terms of the National Health Act, should be in possession of a COC.
- If the person at the time of their passing suffered from an infectious disease which can transmit even after death, the funeral undertakers transporting the body should adhere to the requirements set out in Regulation 363 and accompanied by a declaration from a medical practitioner.
The following documents should accompany the body during transportation:
- Death Certificate
- Burial order
- Transport certificate to be issued by the SAPS
The transportation of human remains is a regulated and procedurally sensitive undertaking that requires strict adherence to the applicable legislation to preserve public health.
END
09 March 2026 Opportunities: 115 x Garden Route Skills Mecca Programme in Cyber Security
Opportunities: 115 x Garden Route Skills Mecca Programme in Cyber Security
Notice number: 18/2026
Garden Route District Municipality invites unemployed persons, male or female, residing within the Hessequa Municipal area, to apply for Cyber Security training opportunities as part of a Garden Route Skills Mecca Initiative. Opportunities are available in the following towns, with allocations divided equally:
115 GARDEN ROUTE SKILLS MECCA OPPORTUNITIES: SKILLS PROGRAMME IN CYBER SECURITY
Skills Programme: Cyber Security Programme
Minimum Requirements:
• Matric / NQF Level 4 Qualification
• Mathematics 40% OR Mathematical Literacy 50%
• English as the language subject
Opportunities: x115
Areas / Towns covered:
– Witsand;
– Slangrivier;
– Heidelberg;
– Riversdale (incl. Garcia & Vermaaklikheid);
– Still Bay (incl. Melkhoutfontein);
– Albertinia;
– Gouritsmond (including Bitouville).
Stipends will be paid for the duration of the programmes and must be used for meals, accommodation and travel
costs.
Applicants must apply using the GRDM online system called Unemployed Solutions (red button) found at
https://skillsmecca.gardenroute.gov.za/.
THE GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY WILL ONLY CONSIDER APPLICATIONS COMPLETED IN FULL AND IF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN ATTACHED:
– A copy of South African ID Document certified within last three months.
– A copy of highest educational qualifications certified within last three months.
– An updated copy of your CV that confirms previous work experience.
For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact Renola Abrahams at 028 713 7842 / renola@hessequa.gov.za /or Dineo Ramasesane at dineo@gardenroute.gov.za at 044 803 1447 or Lelethu Jantjie at 044 803 1456 / lelethu@gardenroute.gov.za during office hours only.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Should candidates not be contacted within two months of the
closing date, they must consider their application as unsuccessful.
Closing date: 13 MARCH 2026
06 March 2026 Public Notice: Garden Route District Municipality Spatial Development Framework (2025) – Adopted
Public Notice: Garden Route District Municipality Spatial Development Framework (2025) – Adopted
Notice Number: 12/2026
Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 18 (1) of the Land Use Planning Act (Act 3 of 2014), that the Spatial Development Framework 2025 of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) was adopted at a Council meeting held on 25 February 2026.
The above-mentioned document is available on the GRDM’s website at www.gardenroute.gov.za.
MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
P O Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
Notice Number: 12/2026
