Notice Number: 17/2026
Notice is hereby given that a SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers, 54 York Street, George and via Zoom, on 12 March 2026 at 11:00.
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03M0goZzF20
04 March 2026
The road project is anticipated to be completed by the end of March 2026.
The project incurred some delays as a result of the recent rainfall which delayed the curing and drying process of the layerworks.
The final gravel layer on the left hand side (LHS) lane has been processed and the team is awaiting the laboratory test results of the soil samples taken. As soon as the layer is approved, the final bituminous seal is ready to be placed on the lane. Once the LHS lane has been sealed, the road markings will be painted and all road signage will be erected.
The Concrete team is in the process of completing all concrete works on the site, and the final shaping of the road shoulders are also in progress.
ENDS
For immediate release
02 March 2026
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) welcomes the development of South Africa’s Draft National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2036), facilitated by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). Municipalities and stakeholders nationwide have contributed to the draft, underscoring the growing urgency of addressing invasive alien species.
South Africa faces a serious and escalating problem with invasive alien plants (IAPs), particularly along river systems, mountain catchments and biodiversity hotspots. While a national strategy is necessary, it is not new. Comprehensive policies already exist under legislation such as the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA). “South Africa has strong environmental legislation, but implementation and sustained funding remain the real challenges,” says Cobus Meiring of GREF. “Without consistent action across all spheres of government, invasive species will continue to spread faster than we can contain them.”
The Garden Route is one of the regions most affected by IAPs, with infestations expanding steadily. Invasive species are transforming natural landscapes, reducing biodiversity and placing immense pressure on already vulnerable ecosystems. The financial burden of clearing operations including capital equipment, labour and follow-up treatments continues to rise, impacting municipalities, conservation agencies and private landowners alike.
The implications are far-reaching. Invasive alien plants reduce water runoff in critical catchments, directly threatening water security in the drought-prone Southern Cape. Dense infestations also increase fuel loads, contributing to more intense and destructive veld fires. Recent severe wildfire seasons have prompted stronger compliance among landowners, many of whom have demonstrated commendable commitment to clearing their properties in accordance with environmental legislation.
Climate change further intensifies the challenge. Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns favour invasive species, compounding stress on indigenous habitats and ecosystems.
A concerning decline in national funding for eradication programmes means municipalities and landowners are increasingly required to rely on their own limited resources. GREF supports a strengthened, properly funded and measurable national action plan focused on catchment-level priorities to safeguard biodiversity, water security and regional resilience.
GREF is a public platform for environmental managers and landowners and serves a climate change think tank (grefecsf.co.za)
Picture: Lantana Camara: an aggressive alien invasive plant in the Garden Route
Notice No. 08/2026
Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 129(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003) that the Garden Route District Municipal Council hereby makes the Oversight Report on the Annual Report for the 2024/2025 financial year public.
The 2024/2025 Annual Report was also approved in a Council Meeting on 12 February 2026.
The 2024/2025 Annual Report and Oversight reports are available at the Garden Route District Municipality’s IDP Unit, 54 York Street George and on the Garden Route District Municipal website at www.gardenroute.gov.za.
For further enquiries, please contact: Mercy James (IDP Unit) at Tel no: 044 803 1431.
M G STRATU
MUNICIPAL MANAGER
Click here to download the Official Notice
For immediate release
30 January 2026
Due to water restrictions and in some areas, shortages of potable water, Bitou Municipality recently reached out to the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Gift of the Givers, for assistance in refurbishing four existing boreholes to augment the municipality’s water supply system.
Following the discussions and assessment conducted, representatives from Gift of the Givers in collaboration with Shoprite on 28 January 2026 donated borehole equipment in order to refurbish the designated boreholes.
Executive Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Municipal Manager of Bitou together with Bitou Councillors Swart and Olivier, as well as Manager of Disaster Manager at Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Gerhard Otto and representatives of the Bitou Infrastructure Department officially accepted the equipment on behalf of Bitou Municipality.
Subsequent to the donation, the Bitou Municipality already initiated the process to install the equipment within the next week to fast-track improved access to additional groundwater to provide some relief on current surface water abstraction, as well as to ensure additional emergency water supply in addition to the current water obtained from the town’s desalination plant.
Gerhard Otto during the handover said: “ Some actions and processes that can take governmental organisations three months to implement can be done by NGO’s and Faith-Based-Organisations in three days”. In addition, Otto highlighted that “this again is an example of how local government can work together with humanitarian organisations towards a common goal i.e. we need to avoid a DAY Zero and that means all hands-on deck”.
In conclusion Otto emphasised: “Every drop counts and while as a collective we aim to implement as many as possible water augmentation projects, we must work together to drive down consumption to a maximum of 50 liters of water per person per day”.
Feature Image: Representatives from Bitou and Garden Route District Municipalities, as well as Gift of the Givers during the official handover of the borehole equipment.
ENDS
WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING, INTERNSHIPS AND LEARNERSHIPS
The Garden Route District Municipality invites unemployed persons currently residing within the Garden Route District Municipal area, to apply for Garden Route Skills Mecca Programme as listed below. Preference will be given to candidates with a qualification as categorised below. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply and those who previously formed part of these programmes are not allowed to re-apply. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 (classified as youth).
Programme and Entry Requirements:
Applicants will be selected based on the following sequentially prioritised criteria and the opportunities will be distributed across the Garden Route district (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland):
1. Graduate Internship Programme
Number of Opportunities: x35
Stipend: R6 000 p/m
2. Work Integrated Learning
Number of Opportunities: x5
Stipend: R5 500 p/m
3. Learnership
Number of Opportunities: x20
Stipend: R5 500 p/m
For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact Kayakazi Klaas at 044 803 1434, or Berma Losper at 044 803 1344 during office hours only (Monday to Thursday, 7:30 – 16:30 and Friday, 7:30 – 13:30). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Should candidates not be contacted within two months after the closing date, they must consider their application as unsuccessful.
Closing Date: 06 February 2026
Notice number: 3/2026
Notice Number: 01/2026
Notice is hereby given that a 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 27 January 2026 at 11:00.
Members of the public are invited to view the proceeding through the GRDM YouTube channel at:
https://youtube.com/live/a2_MG_B-X-8?feature=share
MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
P O Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
For immediate release
19 January 2026
Today, 19 January 2026, the Department Community Services, handed over mattresses and blankets to Graceland Crèche in Conville, George, as part of an Early Childhood Development Health and Hygiene Awareness session presented by Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from GRDM.
EHPs Janine Koopman (left) and Lana Don (right) demonstrate proper hand wash techniques and an illegal dumping presentation to kids and caretakers of Graceland Crèche.
To start off the programme, the team of EHPs Janine Koopman and Lana Don, demonstrated how hands must be washed during the day in order to prevent the spread of germs and prevent illnesses. Another important aspect of concern in the environment, is illegal dumping of litter in the environment. During the presentation the team emphasised the importance how litter must be handled, that it must be put in a dustbin instead of littered in the communities. All kids present were also encouraged to share these messages with parents at home.
When handing over the items to the crèche, Cllr Hoogbaard emphasised that “although it might not be plenty items to fulfil all the needs of the creche, the gesture comes from a District Municipality that cares for its communities”.
Johan Compion, Senior Manager responsible for Municipal Health at GRDM, during his address emphasised the importance of proper rest in a learning environment stating that “good rest allows your body to restore enough energy in order for you to focus better in class, especially during lessons – you think better, you listen better and complete your tasks better in the class,” he emphasised.
The principal of the crèche, Mandy Booysen, extended words of gratitude to all EHPs who delivered presentations about good hygiene practices and the negative impact of illegal dumping on the environment. She also stated that “every single gesture of support to the facility is appreciated,” when she referred to how expensive daily essentials are to operate optimally and to provide the best possible service to the children enrolled at the crèche.
“We thank the District Municipality, Cllr Hoogbaard and the team for the visit today and for choosing Graceland Creche so early in the year,” Booysen added.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gallery:
ENDS
