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Author: Marillia Veldkornet

20 January 2022 Impact Based Warning – Veld Fire Conditions

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued an extended (24 hour) Impact Based Warning for the Western Cape and Namaqua Region of the Northern Cape as follows:

Hazard
Veld Fire Conditions		 Affected Municipalities
Beaufort West, Bergrivier, Cederberg, Drakenstein, Hantam, Kamiesberg, Kannaland, Khâi-Ma, Laingsburg, Langeberg, Matzikama, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert, Swartland, Witzenberg		 Valid From (SAST)
20/01/22 06h00		 Valid To (SAST)
21/01/22 20h00

Discussion: The warm temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds could result in the development of runaway and veld/bush fires.

Impact: Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75. Under these conditions fires may develop and spread rapidly resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.

Instruction: Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on stand-by. A first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time.

Report any weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at: 044 805 5071.

________________________________________

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

_________________________________________

19 January 2022 Impact Based Warning: Veld Fire Conditions

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following Impact Based Warning for the Western Cape and Namaqua Region of Northern Cape:

Hazard
Veld Fire Conditions		 Affected Municipalities
Beaufort West, Bergrivier, Cederberg, Kamiesberg, Kannaland, Laingsburg, Langeberg, Matzikama, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert, Swartland, Witzenberg		 Valid From (SAST)
20/01/22 06h00		 Valid To (SAST)
20/01/22 20h00

Discussion: The warm temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds could result in the development of runaway and veld/bush fires.

Impact: Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75. Under these conditions fires may develop and spread rapidly resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.

Instruction: Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on stand-by. A first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time.

Report any weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at: 044 805 5071.

________________________________________

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

_________________________________________

10 January 2022 Impact Based Warning: Severe Thunderstorms

The Cape Town weather office has issued a ‘Level 2 Thunderstorms’ Impact Based Warning for the Western Cape and Namaqua Region of Northern Cape.  In addition, please find a map indicating alternative routes should Meiringspoort be closed due to flooding.

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

10 December 2021 Media Release: GRDM Executive Mayor and stakeholders motivate matric students to achieve success

GRDM Executive Mayor and stakeholders motivate matric students to achieve success

For immediate release
10 December 2021

It was a stirring evening for matric students from Rosemoor, Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp in George on 7 December 2021. They received a special visit from the Executive Mayor from Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and George Municipality as motivation for them to achieve success.

These students attend evening classes driven by Indigo, a non-profit organisation based in Pacaltsdorp (George) to study towards obtaining their matric certificates. Since August this year, the night school has been running for people who need to complete their matric qualification.

The project has now been expanded to the areas of Rosemoor and Thembalethu to reach all those who have the vision to build a promising future for themselves. GRDM Executive Mayor earlier this year also got involved in the project by ensuring that R15 000 was donated to the school. 

Motivational speakers, representatives from Indigo and matric learners from Thembalethu, during the visit.

According to Myrtle Sacuenda (chairperson of Indigo), the funds were used to procure stationery for the participants. During the visit, the representatives handed the stationery packs over to the students in Rosemoor where the first visit took place.

During his address to the participants in the presence of the educators, Executive Mayor of GRDM, Ald. Memory Booysen, shared his background with a specific focus on his school years and the challenges he faced as a learner. He mentioned that those challenges never stopped him from achieving many successes. “I got second chances too; that is why GRDM did not hesitate to reach out to Indigo,” said Booysen. He added: “You must demonstrate perseverance”. He also emphasised that the future of South Africa is education. Adding to this he said: “I, therefore, take my hat off to the teachers – we must appreciate our teachers because when you plan to enter any career or profession in life, you have to go through a teacher”.

From left are: Pastor Vernon Arries , Georgina Arries (retired nurse, George Hospital), Alderman Memory Booysen (Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality) and Myrtle Sacuenda (Chairperson and Project Manager of Indigo), soon after the event in Rosemoor.

Mayor Booysen also had a message for the teachers: “Be careful what you say to the learners.  We do not always understand what words can do to our learners.  Suppose an educator says something to a learner once per week. In that case, learners will probably start to believe what is said to them and then, sadly, those learners would want to drop out of school”.

In closing, Mayor Booysen praised the students, teachers and Indigo with the following words: “What you are doing with this initiative and what South Africa needs to succeed, is for every single person or individual to be able to help him or herself. He concluded: “By helping yourself, you are helping South Africa”.

Georgina Arries also inspired students by telling her story of when she matriculated, which she was able to do by pushing through life’s challenges working during the day and attending night school.

Myrtle Sacuenda, Chairperson and Project Manager of Indigo, also extended a word of appreciation to project coordinator at Indigo, Julian Folding, as well as the team and also the motivational speakers, including: Malcolm Damons (Western Cape Department of Education), Pastor Vernon Arries,  Georgina Arries (retired nurse, George Hospital), Cllr Jayze Jantjies, as well as Errol Jaftha (Jaftha Foundation), for their thoughtful and inspiring messages to the matric students.

Feature Image: Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality, Alderman Memory Booysen during his motivational address to the matric students of Rosemoor.

ENDS

8 December 2021 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality mourns the tragic loss of another employee

Garden Route District Municipality mourns the tragic loss of another employee

For Immediate Release
8 December 2021

On Monday, 6 December 2021, when management and staff arrived at the respective offices of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), they learned about the tragic passing of their colleague, William Jonas.

William sadly passed away on Sunday, 5 December 2021 at the age of 44 after he was a victim of a brutal attack in George, a few days prior to landing up in the Intensive Care Unit. He leaves behind his wife and children, as well as many friends and colleagues.

According to a Human Resources official from GRDM, Lynn Marajh, the late William was appointed on 3 June 2016 on an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) contract. His contract would have come to end during January 2022.

The late William will be remembered for his reserved and level-headed personality. Although he was employed at the EPWP Unit, he was known to almost the entire organisation, as his worked spanned across the entire region alongside the Maintenance Unit. Those who worked close to him such as Mario Appels, Superintendent at GRDM, remembers the late William as an enthusiastic, hardworking and goal driven individual – always respectful. “Being the reserved person he was, he had a fine eye for details around him. Apart from being his quiet self, he was also funny and knew how to make his colleagues laugh,” said Medron Bussak, Administrative Assistant: Resorts.  On a more personal level, William knew what his responsibilities as a family man were – “he loved his family,” Medron said. His music taste for the old school genre was symbolic to the type of characteristics he embodied.

“At GRDM we will always remember William as a helpful person who had a great passion for his work.”

The municipality will on Monday, 13 December 2021, host a memorial service to celebrate William’s life and to share a moment with his family, to bid him farewell.

“Rest in peace William, you will be dearly missed.”

The link to follow the proceeding via our Youtube channel will be published in due course.

Feature Photo: William Jonas, with the Executive Mayor, Memory Booysen (middle) and his team members (fltr) Wayne Cronje, Irvin Siljeur and Sheldon Flemming earlier this year at an event that was hosted by GRDM at the Rosemoor Stadium in George.

ENDS

1 December 2021 Media Release: Health Platform Update – 1 DECEMBER 2021

For immediate release
1 December 2021

Media Release: Health Platform Update – 1 December 2021

The Garden Route District recorded 74 additional cases of COVID-19 in the previous 7 days (data until 30 Nov).  There are now 15 active cases per 100 000 (one week ago it was 10). Most sub-districts had an increase in the active cases per 100 000 population.  The Western Cape Government remains on high alert following the announcement of a new variant, Omicron.

The district has plans in place for the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, based on learnings form the first three waves.  ‘As with previous waves, our hospitals are currently preparing for a possible increase in COVID-19 admissions’, said District Director for Health, Mr Zee Brickles. This includes staffing arrangements, oxygen contingency plans, decommissioning of wards when needed make space for COVID-19 patients and more.

George Hospital is also gearing up for the fourth wave by ordering sufficient stock of necessary consumables / Personal Protective Equipment,  significant upgrade of the hospital’s oxygen system to treat patients with high-flow nasal oxygen in general ward beds, recruiting additional contract nurses to allow for escalation of services, trying to maximize elective surgery during the current inter-wave period due to lost capacity in previous waves and expected reduction in 4th wave and encouraging staff and patient vaccinations and  booster injections.

VACCINATION IS KEY

Scientists agree that vaccination remains the most effective tool we have to save lives and that this is even more important now with the discovery of a possibly more transmissible variant.

We encourage our residents to take up this opportunity as soon as possible especially if you are over 50 years old, or if you have comorbidities.

Vaccinations in the Garden Route stands at 66% for the population over 18 years who are fully vaccinated and 42% for the population who have received at least one dose vaccine.

The total vaccinations administered to date stands at 350 194.

VACCINATION OF IMMUNOCOMPROMISED ADULTS

As from 1 December 2021, the following groups of adults 18 and older will be eligible to receive an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine as part of their primary vaccine schedule:

 Individuals with the following conditions:

Haematological or immune malignancy

Moderate to Severe Primary immunodeficiency disorder

HIV infection with CD4 count < 200 cells/μL within the last 6 months

Asplenia

Individuals receiving the following treatments:

High dose steroids or systemic biologics (e.g. for autoimmune conditions)

Long term renal dialysis

Transplant recipients (Solid organ or bone marrow)

VOOMA VACCINATION WEEK

Vooma Week 3-10 December

The third  Vooma vaccination campaign kicks off on Friday 3 December 2021.

Vooma Vouchers for 50+!

The Vooma Voucher has been increased to R200 for those who vaccinate for the first time during Nov/Dec to spend at Shoprite, Checkers or Usave.

Lucky Draw– R1,000! R10,000! R100,000!

The lucky draw has been launched to encourage people in South Africa aged 12 and older to come forward for Covid-19 vaccination.

Everyone who has been vaccinated this year is automatically entered into the five weekly draws. Everyone who has been vaccinated this year is automatically entered into the five weekly draws. That is

if they have been vaccinated by the date of specific draws and by no later than the 31st of December 2021. Their details need to have been captured on the EVDS systemin time for each draw or, in the case

of the final draw, by 25 January 2022.

 Garden Route Vooma sites 4 & 5 December:

VACCINATION SITE DATE TIME
GARDEN ROUTE MALL POP-UP SITE 4 & 5 09:00 – 13:00
HEIDELBERG CLINIC 4 08:00 – 13:00
RIVERSDALE CLINIC 4 08:00 – 14:00
LADISMITH CIVIC CENTRE 4 09:00 – 14:00
KHAYELETHU CLINIC 4 09:00 – 14:00
DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH HALL GREAT BRAK RIVER 4 09:00 – 14:00
TOEKOMSRUS CLINIC 4 & 5 09:00 – 15:00

Please call 0860 142 142 for more information on weekly sites or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WCGHealth/

Also watch local media and municipal pages for details

END

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Tel: 044 813 1831
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

24 November 2021 Impact Based Warning: Level 8 Damaging Winds & Level 2 Damaging Waves

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued impact based warnings for (1) Level 8 Damaging Winds and (2) Level 2 Damaging Waves for the Western Cape and Namaqua Region of Northern Cape as follows:

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance. It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Report any weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044-805 5071.

ENDS

23 November 2021 Media Release: Health Platform Update

Media Release: Health Platform Update

For immediate release

23 November 2021

December is within arms reach and with it comes year end celebrations and farewells. The latest Covid-19 statistics for the Garden Route shows an increase of 34 cases the past 7 days compared to 7 to 14 days ago. The district currently has 62 active cases.  ‘Although these numbers are still small, we must stay vigilant. In order to mitigate a possible fourth wave, we need to get as many people vaccinated as possible, especially those older than 50 years and those with co-morbidities’, said District Director, Mr Zee Brickles.

Petronella Williams from Plettenberg Bay and her two daughters received their vaccination. ‘ We had to think of Ashley(12) first who has type 1 diabetes. We also want to keep ourselves safe as well as friends and family with comorbidities’, she said.

Vaccination teams in the district are actively busy with outreaches to outlying area, businesses, education institutions, etc.

To date, 345 313 vaccines have been administered in the Garden Route District.

The Garden Route District is showing a small increase in the number of people older than 50 that have been vaccinated. 65% of those 50 years and older have been fully vaccinated.

There has been a one percentage point increase since the previous week for the population over 18 years who have received at least one dose vaccine, and stands at 51%. The percentage of the total Garden Route population who have received at least one dose vaccine stands at 35%. (1 percentage point increase from the previous week).

The Department appeals to all residents, especially those 50 years and older to get their vaccines and to avoid putting it off ahead of summer. Prioritising your vaccine can protect your health and your family’s.

Caption: Petronella with Ashley (type 1 diabetic) and Kiamesha.

END

Nadia Ferreira

Principal Communications Officer

Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts

Western Cape Government Health

Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za

Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

18 November 2021 Media Release: Typhoid cases in George

Media Release: Typhoid Fever in George

For Immediate Release
18 November 2021

Isolated Typhoid hotspots have recently been identified in the Garden Route, more specifically the George municipal area.

Of paramount importance in the fight against typhoid fever, is awareness and the management of already notified cases. Therefore, the role and functions of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Municipal Health Services cannot be over emphasised. Prompt interaction with the notified cases will prevent further spread, although difficulties with correct addresses sometimes are a challenge,’ says Johan Compion, Manager for Municipal Health and Environmental Management at GRDM. He added: “During the period of August 2020 until September 2021, fourteen (14) cases including one (1) death were reported from the George region (GRDM),” Compion said.

What is Typhoid

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. It is usually spread through contaminated food or water. Salmonella Typhi lives only in humans.

Typhoid is endemic in South Africa. The normal Typhoid case patient age ranges from 4 years to 27 years. Typhoid risk is higher in populations that lack access to safe water and access to adequate sanitation. Poor communities and vulnerable groups including children are at higher risk. Typhoid fever is also climate related as the germs spread easier during the summer period, making this disease Climate Change related.

How Typhoid fever can be contracted

A walk through survey and investigation was conducted in order to determine possible cause of the typhoid fever in the affected areas and the following were observed:

  • Illegal dumped waste
  • Pools of stagnant water
  • Animals such as pigs roaming around the area
  • Overflowing sewage
  • Man-made urinal stalls

Symptoms of Typhoid fever

  • Prolonged high fever
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation or diarrhoea

Water Sampling and Prevention

Access to safe water and adequate sanitation, hygiene among food handlers and typhoid vaccination are all-effective in preventing typhoid fever.

Recently, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) have taken water samples to be analysed for Salmonella and Vibrio Cholera. Eight sewage water samples were taken to detect the salmonella typhi and vibrio cholera from different areas in Thembalethu and the Outeniqua Water Works in Rosedale. All those samples taken from the sewage, comply with the standard limit.

EHPs from GRDM monitor the pump stations and river water samples will be taken on a monthly basis.

The aim of this Sampling programme is to reduce the health and safety risks resulting from exposure to contaminated river water.

Compion highlighted that the GRDM Municipal Health section interacts with Local Municipalities on a regular basis to ensure the sustainability of river water and drinking water programs. Further to this he concluded: “Our GRDM EHPs are also busy with typhoid awareness in clinics and the community at large to prevent the spread on the fever in our area”.

ENDS