Author: Marillia Veldkornet
14 September 2023 Media Release: GRDM Fire Services Public Education Interventions continue
Media Release: GRDM Fire Services Public Education Interventions continue
For immediate release
14 September 2023
The GRDM Fire Services visited various primary schools within our district over the months of August and September 2023.
Fire safety awareness and education interventions facilitated at schools play a crucial role in ensuring that whilst learners are in the learning environment, they are also exposed to information and educated on Fire Safety prevention at school, at home and outside in the environment.
Educators are also learning with the students. They all become aware of prevention and what actions to take within their immediate environment and share the message with family and friends at home. It is a three-step process, which includes Awareness, Prevention and how to deal with fire ignition and/or occurrence and/or how to escape and protect themselves in any specific situation, as well as alerting the Fire Brigade Services about the incident.
Prioritising schools and in particular Primary Schools, is viewed as the most effective target audience in this regard.
Schools that were visited are as follows;
- Avontuur Primary & Haarlem Primary – 03 August 2023
- Herold Primary – 10 August 2023
- Geelhoutboom Primary – 29 August 2023
- Hoogekraal Primary – 30 August 2023
- Franken Primary – 5 September 2023
- Diepkloof Primary – 7 September 2023
Some of the key learnings that students gained from fire safety education include:
Understanding Fire Basics:
- The basic science of fire, including how it starts, spreads, and the elements necessary for combustion.
Unwanted Fire Prevention:
- Common causes of fires, such as electrical faults, open flames, and flammable materials.
- The importance of fire prevention measures, including proper storage of flammable materials, not overloading electrical outlets, and safe handling of ignition sources such as candles, stoves, etc., other appliances, e.g., gas heaters, electric heaters, leaving candles and cooking unattended.
Cautions with Matches and Lighters:
- Not to play with matches or lighters and to immediately hand over to an adult if they find them.
- Learning to recognise the early signs of a fire, such as the smell of smoke or the sound of a smoke detector.
- Vegetation Fires: leaving ‘outside’ fires unattended that has the potential of starting vegetation fires, the dangers of starting vegetation fires, as well as how to make and confine fires in designated areas.
Dangers of Smoke(Carbon Monoxide Awareness)
- The dangers of smoke, carbon monoxide inhalation, and in particular the dangers of ‘boma’ fires within the home.
Fire Safety Equipment:
- Familiarisation with fire safety equipment like fire extinguishers, fire blankets and smoke alarms, as well as other measures that can be used, i.e., sand.
- How to use a fire extinguisher properly and understanding its limitations.
- Actions to take: Stop, Drop, and Roll.
- Teaching the “stop, drop, and roll” technique in case of clothing catching fire.
Calling of Emergency number:
- How to call emergency services in their immediate areas to report a fire.
- Emphasising the importance of providing accurate information and remaining calm during the call and moving to designated safe places.
Fire safety education in schools not only imparts important life-saving knowledge but also instils a sense of responsibility and preparedness in learners and educators alike. It empowers them to take correct action in the event of a fire and to promote fire safe practices within their immediate communities.
Information supplied: Heinrich Leslie, GRDM Acting Station Officer: Fire Services
ENDS
14 September 2023 Impact Based Weather Warnings and Advisory: Damaging Wings, Damaging Waves & Wet and Cold Conditions
Impact Based Weather Warnings and Advisory: Damaging Wings, Damaging Waves & Wet and Cold Conditions
The Cape Town Office has issued severe weather warnings for Damaging Winds, Damaging Waves and an Advisory for Very Cold, Wet and Windy conditions valid from Friday, 15 September to Sunday, 17 September 2023.
Areas affected by the damaging waves include Bitou, George, Hessequa, Knysna and Mossel Bay.
Areas affected by the damaging winds include Bitou, Knysna, George, Mossel Bay, Hessequa, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland.
Oudtshoorn will be affected by the very cold, wet and windy conditions.
Report weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.
6 September 2023 Public Notice: Five (5) x 100 KVA Emergency Back-up Diesel powered Generators on order for the Garden Route District Municipality
Public Notice: Five (5) x 100 KVA Emergency Back-up Diesel powered Generators on order for the Garden Route District Municipality
After obtaining approval form both Provincial Treasury, as well as the Council of the Garden Route District Municipality for the rollover of the Emergency Municipal Loadshedding Relief Grant the Garden Route District Municipality could finally place an order to the successful bidder, AK Electrical Consultants, to supply and deliver five mobile 100 KVA diesel powered generators, to be used as back-up units during the current energy crisis.
These units will be placed at Garden Route District Municipal offices in the district to be available to assist as back-up power units in case of emergencies.
MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
Notice number: 122/2023
Click here to download the Official Notice
12 September 2023 Media Release: Addressing the complex challenges faced by children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Media Release: Addressing the complex challenges faced by children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
For immediate release
12 September 2023
International Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)Awareness Day is commemorated annually on 9 September to create awareness among women and communities on the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This day also aims to shed light on the challenges and difficulties for both the mom and the child diagnosed with FASD. The theme this year was ‘beyond all limits’. We want to encourage individuals and the community at large to go ‘beyond all limits’ in supporting, caring for and loving those affected.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy results in a number of neurological, physical and mental conditions. ‘A child with foetal alcohol syndrome often presents with coordination difficulties, hyperactivity, poor judgement, poor impulse control, delayed gross motor development, sensory hypersensitivity and low frustration toleration,’ said Michelle Jenkins (occupational therapist, George Hospital).
Staff Nurse, Dornay Ceasar said that these children are usually seen for assessment and then referred to the patient’s nearest clinic for further follow-up. The Inclusive Education Team may become involved to assist with school placement if indicated. Encounters with children who have been diagnosed with FASD can be extremely challenging as they tend to display extreme emotions of playfulness and happiness or extreme emotions of irritation and anger. Anne-Marie Syfers (nurse, George Hospital) said that when caring for children diagnosed with FASD and other underlying conditions associated with FASD, it is important that you are patient and interact with them on their level.
At George Hospital, through therapy both occupational and physiotherapy aims to improve fine and gross motor control through activities such as playing, building, climbing etc, and addresses the sensory sensitivity depending on the main areas of concerns that the parents of children with FASD and schools are reporting.
‘It is essential that the parents form part of the therapeutic team as these children are dependent on good carry over of exercises addressed in an OT or PT session into the home environment. Therapy unfortunately cannot “cure”; instead it helps address challenges faced and can assist the family in developing coping strategies,’ Michelle added.
It can be difficult for moms to admit that they have consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Sr Syfers and Staff Nurse Ceasar provide these moms with emotional support and refer them to the social worker or occupational therapists at George Hospital where the mom and child can undergo treatment and develop coping strategies.
Remember: No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. FASD causes permanent damage, but it is 100% preventable.
Photo caption: From left, Sr Anne-Marie Syfers and SN Dornay Ceasar in the Paediatric Ward. They go above and beyond to care for their little patients.
ENDS
04 September 2023 Media Release: Sod-Turning Event marks a milestone for Regional Waste Management Facility
Media Release: Sod-Turning event marks a milestone for Regional Waste Management Facility
For Immediate Release
04 September 2023
In a significant step towards more sustainable waste management practices, the official sod-turning ceremony for the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Regional Waste Management Facility was held on Friday, 1 September 2023. The journey to this milestone began back in 2006 when investigations and processes for establishing the Regional Landfill Site commenced.
Sharing in this historic and groundbreaking occasion, were Executive Mayors and Municipal Managers and across the district, the GRDM Mayoral Committee Members and officials, representatives from National and Provincial Government, as well as engineering consultants and stakeholders from Standard Bank, Tefla and Zutari.
During his address, Municipal Manager of GRDM, Monde Stratu, gave a thorough background about the project. He explained: “Local municipalities have reached a point where their waste management sites have become exhausted, which is why this regional waste management facility is being constructed”. Further to this he said: “It was a blessing in disguise that the initial model did not realise as it saved GRDM millions of rands.
Stratu particularly commended the GRDM officials who have been driving the project to this point. “The resilience and commitment of all involved are paying off. And today, it is time to celebrate – despite what happened, we are still delivering on our promises,” Stratu emphasised.
In his remarks at the event, the Head of Public Sector- SA at Standard Bank, Timothy Mtlatla, spoke passionately about Standard Bank’s support to GRDM’s commitment towards green energy. He said: “Our institution remains focused on its purpose; our commitment is a profound purpose and is underscored by the meaningful impact to the community. We are serving the sector that serves us”. Adding to these words, Mtlatla highlighted that the event is a remarkable example and testament of good working relations. And for this reason, he said: “With this initiative, we foresee a future that is cleaner and healthier for all communities we serve”. Representatives from Tefla and Zutari also delivered their messages of commitment to the project.
Executive Mayors and Deputy Mayors from the local municipalities that were present, also shared words of support on behalf of their respective municipalities. Deputy Mayor of Mossel Bay, Cllr Cliffie Bayman, referred to this day as a significant step that is taken towards more sustainable waste management and environmental practices in a changing world of climatic changes and the now more common outbreaks of communicable diseases. With these words, he added that this event deserved to be on the 1 September, as it is the 1st day of Spring. He highlighted that “this is a season for new beginnings and the reason in which our environment shows the fruit of hard work – work that we have put in during the winter months”. Bayman in addition reiterated that Mossel Bay Municipality will take accountability with the GRDM to ensure that the objective of the facility is reached. In conclusion he said that Mossel Bay is a proud partner in full support of the project and therefore they are eager to see many benefits such as employment deriving from the facility.
Knysna Executive Mayor, Cllr Aubrey Tswenga, in his congratulatory speech to GRDM and participating municipalities, said: “Thank you for making the Regional Waste Management Facility a reality”. Tswenga, however, mentioned that more work still lies ahead to educate communities about waste management. “As municipalities,” he said that “we need to educate our communities to reduce waste to landfills. Further to this he urged the GRDM on behalf of Knysna, to continue to roll-out a regional educational programme to extend the lifespan of the facility.
Bitou’s Deputy Executive Mayor, Cllr Mavis Basukwe, during her words of support, said: “Bitou took a decision to participate in the project fully understanding the implications and consequences we would face from our communities and ratepayers”. As a result of showing leadership and the fact that Bitou fitted the cost implication in their budget over the years, she emphasised that “it is indeed pleasing to see the site is now finally under construction”. She thanked all participating municipalities and said that without them, the project would not have been feasible for Bitou alone and would have left Bitou in a serious predicament.
Executive Mayor of GRDM, in his keynote address extended warm words of gratitude to the service provider and consulting engineer, Tefla and Zutari, as well as to Standard Bank and participating municipalities for this legacy project. In unpacking his statement, Mayor Booysen added: “After today it won’t only be a legacy project anymore, but also a catalytic project, meaning that this project is a catalyst of what is coming”.
Mayor Booysen further referred to the realities of working together as stakeholders and said: “It is not easy for different municipalities to work today, as there are many aspects that can hamper initiatives such as this project. However, he commended Mossel Bay Municipality, especially Municipal Manager Collin Puren, for setting the tone on how government can work together and how intergovernmental relations should be executed. To the Deputy Executive Mayor of Mossel Bay, Cllr Bayman he said: “You went as far as advising us,” to safeguard a less complicated process. Given the background of the project, Mayor Booysen urged councillors, professionals, and ward councillors to be decisive when decisions are made. “When we are decisive,” he said: “The ratepayers would back us up, because they would then understand what they are paying for and not making their own assumptions”. He elaborated that whenever a proposal is on the table, councillors would ask “how the project is going to affect the rates and taxes”. He advised: “It is our duty as politicians to go and explain to the taxpayers and ratepayers why we are doing what we do and why are we making the decisions in terms of what it will cost them”.
An Inaugural Site Meeting and Commencement of Works took place on the 13th of June 2023, which saw the official handover of the site to the appointed contractor, Tefla Group (Pty) Ltd. Over the following weeks, the site was established, benchmarks were verified by a surveyor on July 11, and the refurbishment of an existing farmhouse, set to become the site offices, is nearing completion. Clear and grub operations, excavations and material stockpiling is underway on the access roads and on Cell 1A.
The Regional Waste Management Facility, once complete, will include a domestic waste cell (Class B) and a separate hazardous waste cell (Class A) to accommodate low and medium-hazard-rated hazardous waste. Other infrastructure elements encompass roads, stormwater pipelines, leachate storage dams, contaminated stormwater dams, offices, laboratories, weighbridges, workshops, and security infrastructure. The project also includes a 3-hectare portion that will be used for a waste tyre recycling facility. Both the Domestic Waste Cell 1 and the Hazardous Waste Cell will have a lifespan of approximately of 20 – 25 years.
The project’s timeline are as follows:
- Construction Tender Closure (concluded) – October 25, 2022
- Finalization of Debt Agreement (concluded) – July 2023
- Contractor on Site (concluded) – July 2023
- Operations & Maintenance Tender Award – October / November 2023
- Completion of Phase 1 – February 2024
- Estimated Completion of Project – March 2025
The sod-turning event heralds the beginning of a cleaner and healthier future for the Garden Route region.
Listen to all the speeches here:
Welcoming remarks
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/message-of-support-cllr-cliffie-bayman-deputy-executive-mayor-mossel-bay-1
Background of the project
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/project-backround-monde-stratu-grdm-mm
Message of Support by Standard Bank
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/message-of-support-standard-bank-timothy-matlala-head-of-public-sector
Message of Support by Zutari (PTY) LTD
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/message-of-support-by-zutari-pty-ltd-andre-keyser-project-manager
Message of Support by Tefla (PTY) LTD
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/message-of-support-ceo-of-tefla-group-pty-ltd-as-principal-agent-luvuyo-bugle-mlilo
Message of Support by Mossel Bay Municipality
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/message-of-support-cllr-cliffie-bayman-deputy-executive-mayor-mossel-bay
Message of Support by Knysna Municipality
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/message-of-support-knysna-municipality-aubrey-tsengwa-executive-mayor
Message of Support by Bitou Municipality
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/message-of-support-bitou-municipality-cllr-mavis-busakwe-deputy-executive-mayor
Commitment to Service Delivery
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/commitment-to-service-delivery-ald-memory-booysen-grdm-executive-mayor
Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks
https://soundcloud.com/communications-162287886/closing-remarks-and-vote-of-thanks-ald-gert-van-niekerk-deputy-executive-mayor
Feature Image: Sharing in this historic and groundbreaking occasion, were Executive Mayors and Municipal Managers and across the district, the GRDM Mayoral Committee Members and officials, representatives from National and Provincial Government, as well as engineering consultants and stakeholders from Standard Bank, Tefla and Zutari.
ENDS
01 September 2023 Public Notice: IDP/Budget/ PMS Time Schedule & 2022/2023 Draft Unaudited Annual Report
PUBLIC NOTICE: IDP/BUDGET/ PMS TIME SCHEDULE & 2022/2023 DRAFT UNAUDITED ANNUAL REPORT – Notice 66/2023
Open for Comments
Notice is hereby given that the 2024/2025 IDP Budget & PMS Time Schedule has been adopted in terms of Section 21 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003) by the Garden Route District Municipal Council, at a Council meeting held on 30 August 2023.
Furthermore, the 2022/2023 Draft Unaudited Annual Report has been noted by Council in terms of Circular 63 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003. The Unaudited Draft Annual Report for the 2022/2023 financial year is open for comments. Comments must be lodged in writing to The Municipal Manager, PO Box 12, George, 6530 or by e-mail at rekords@gardenroute.gov.za before /or on 2 October 2023.
The document will be available for public inspection during office hours at the IDP unit, Garden Route District Municipality, 54 York Street, George as well as at all the satellite offices of the Garden Route District Municipality: Riversdale, Mosselbay, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Bitou as well as the municipal website www.gardenroute.gov.za.
Persons who are unable to read or write are encouraged to contact the Garden Route District Municipality during ordinary office hours, where they will be assisted to formulate their written comments or objection. For any further enquiries, please contact: Ms M James (IDP Unit: Garden Route District Municipality) at telephone number: 044 803 1431.
M G Stratu
Municipal Manager
Garden Route District Municipality
Click here to download the 2024/2025 IDP Budget & PMS Time Schedule
Click here to download the 2022/2023 Draft Unaudited Annual Report