Weather Alert: Impact Based Weather Warnings for Western Cape and Namaqua: Damaging Winds & Waves and Disruptive Rain & Snow
The Cape Town Weather Office has issued Impact Based Warnings for Damaging Winds, Damaging Waves, Disruptive Rain and Disruptive Snow 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 District Disaster Manager Centre at 044-805 5071.
20 July 2021 Save the Date: Notice of Council Meeting – 28 July 2021 at 11:00The Council meeting will be live streamed on the municipality’s official Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC66RBZT0_U2_L4-zSn7yXJQ
Impact Based Warnings: Disruptive Waves, Winds, Snow & Rain
The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following Impact Based Warnings for Disruptive Wind, Waves, Snow and Rain:
Report any weather related incidents to the Garden Route District 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.”
Media Release: GRDM Council, Management and Staff bid their final farewell to Fire Chief Freddy Thaver
08 July 2021 For immediate release
This morning, Council, Management and Staff of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) bid their colleague, the late Fire Chief, Mr Freddy Thaver, farewell during a touching memorial services held by the Municipality at its Council Chambers in George. Mr Thaver passed away in George on Thursday, 1 July 2021 at the age of 53 after experiencing Covid-related complications.
Ms Louise Hoek, with her daughter (back), receiving the helmet of the departed Fire Chief, Mr Thaver, as token of appreciation for his selfless service rendered to the Garden Route district. With them in the back are: Municipal Manager, Mr Monde Stratu (left) and Mayor Memory Booysen (right).
Mr Thaver joined the GRDM on 1 April 2016, to lead the Fire Services Unit as Chief Fire Officer. He owned diverse characteristics, from being a firm, decisive and strict leader and person, to being a father figure for many and always joyous and full of laughter.
During his eulogy at the event, Executive Mayor of GRDM, Alderman Memory Booysen, referred to Mr Thaver as an expert in his field. He recalled an incident at one of the wildfires in Hessequa. He explained that the wildfire was of such a nature that it almost burned down the Joint Operating Centre (JOC). “In a state of panic, farmers arrived at the JOC with ideas to contain the wildfires. However, Freddy was determined and took a stance that the idea would not work”. He said that it was due to these firm attributes that Freddy was a unique and admirable Fire Chief.
Municipal Manager, Mr Monde Stratu, said that Thaver was no push-over. “He had principles and stood for what he believed in”. He also recalled many experiences with him and fellow firefighters, but up to this far he was not aware of anything that Mr Thaver said behind his back which he did not tell in his face. Adding to this Mr Stratu said: “It was always a marvel to watch him fight his battles. Through this, Mr Stratu highlighted: “He was passionate about his work, very strong-willed and very decisive about his positions”.
Ms Louise Hoek, fiancée of the late Mr Thaver, mentioned that he was a proud family man and that he was passionate about firefighting and saving lives. She also remembered how he fought for those who he dearly loved. “I will never forget the example he set. When I met him the first time, he was clearly presented as a proud man in uniform”. Adding to this, she said: “I never thought that today I would be paying tribute to his life at a memorial service, instead I thought we would have done our wedding vows around now”. She concluded: “Despite of the heartbreak I am grateful for the opportunity to have met him and that we could be part of the life of this special human being”.
Mr Deon Stoffels, GRDM Station Commander, on behalf of the team members at the various GRDM fire stations, described Mr Thaver not only as a fire chief, but a father to the firefighters, a mentor and motivator. “He was also a man with great respect for his career and others, disciplined and a person of integrity. He furthermore had a high level of intellect relating to his profession. He had good interpersonal skills and was a hard-working fire chief, determined, but also funny with a unique sense of humour”. The GRDM Riversdale team remembered Mr Thaver as a highly valued and respected member of the Fire Services Department, as well as GRDM. “The effects of his passing are already felt”. Further to this, they said, “Mr Freddy Thaver was a wonderful Chief who understood the meaning of the word ‘leader’. He was always focused on the good of this Fire Services Unit, rather than of his own benefit”.
Apart from only focusing on managing the firefighting team, Mr Thaver made many contributions to this department. The female firefighters recalled the efforts of Mr Thaver in relation to their needs in the service. “We could do anything that we put our minds to, because we had our Chief’s full support – we will miss him for all his efforts in ensuring that we live our full potential in our profession”.
The service was directed by Mr Clive Africa, Executive Manager for Community Services, responsible for fire services at GRDM.
Mr Thaver was laid to rest in at his home town in Durban, on Sunday, 4 July 2021.
“Rest in Peace Freddy Thaver.
We as Council and Staff, most of all the Firefighters, will sorely miss you”.
Weather Alert: Impact Based Warning: Veld fire Conditions
The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following Impact Based Warning.
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 the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044-805 5071.
Public Awareness: The roles and responsibilities of Environmental Health Practitioners in Vector Control
07 July 2021 For immediate release
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in terms of the powers vested in Section 156 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act No. 108 of 1996 read with Section 13(a) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, 2000, stipulates that the Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) within the is responsible for the health and hygiene surveillance of food premises. In terms of the Scope of Practice for EHPs, one (1) of the nine functions of Municipal Health Services is Vector Control.
What are vectors, the control thereof and its impact on public health?
According to research, vector-borne diseases account for approximately 17% of the estimated global burden of infectious diseases. Vectors are insects or animals that spread an infectious disease through a bite, or contact with their urine, faeces, blood, etc. Vectors include mosquitoes, flies, ticks, rodents, cockroaches and fleas. Diseases spread by vectors include malaria, dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, Rift Valley fever and plague.
The role of Environmental Health Practitioners in vector controlling is to understand the vector and how it transmits infectious pathogens. The team also has to monitor the possible existence of environmental factors that can create a conducive environment for the breeding of vectors; and lastly, they also have to conduct case investigations of vector-borne diseases, as well as public health education on preventative measures.
The National Health Act of 2003, National Environmental Norms and Standards and the Garden Route District Municipal By-Laws of 10 December 2018, obligates food premises to comply with the following requirements for pest control purposes:
Effective measures to prevent and control infestation from pests.
Pest control programmes which sets out procedures necessary to prevent and control pests within the premises. This includes identification of pests, the level of infestation and measures implemented to prevent and control pest infestation in the internal and exterior perimeters of the food premises.
The pest control program should include procedures on the correct storage of food, management of waste and housekeeping to ensure proper management of conditions that may promote pest infestation.
Suitably trained and competent personnel for the implementation and maintenance of documented pest control programs.
What are the hygiene requirements at various settings?
Waste management
Waste generated on the food premises should be properly removed and stored at all times.
Remove waste regularly to eliminate potential food sources and harbourage for pests and keep the area where waste is stored clean.
Containers for the discarding or storage of waste should be fitted with tight-fitting lids, rodent-proof and constructed of material that may not be penetrated by rodents.
Waste storage containers to cleaned and disinfected regularly to avoid attracting pests. Storage containers kept closed at all times.
Housekeeping
Good housekeeping practices to ensure premises are free of conditions that may attract pests.
A cleaning program to promote the immediate cleaning of minor spills and filth, for example, clean-as-you-go-principle.
Water and Food
Avoid stagnating water in and around the premises. This can be possible breeding for mosquitoes and attraction for rodents and other pests.
Bait stations
Locked, labelled, tamper-resistant bait station.
Securely placed to ensure no removal and maintained in good condition.
Regular inspections on the bait stations to check for any activity/ presence of rodents.
Rodent Proofing
The food premises must be rodent-proof and must be in accordance with the SANS Code 080 of 1972.
Challenges relating Vector Control
An increasing amount of food premises are found not to be compliant with their pest control programmes.
Food premises managers or owners cannot provide the EHP with receipts for pest control servicing on request.
Food premises managers or owners are not reporting immediately or not at all when they have pest infestations. These include spaza shops.
The effective execution of a pest control program must be regularly monitored. Therefore, Environmental Health Practitioners appeal to the public to report any nuisances caused by vectors to the Municipal Health Services Section of GRDM. An Environmental Health Practitioner will attend swiftly to all the complaints brought to their attention.
For more information relating to Vector Control, contact the GRDM Municipal Health Services Section at 044-803 1300/1525.
Weather Alert: Impact Based Warning: Damaging Winds – 08 July 2021
The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following Impact Based Warning for the Western Cape and Namaqua Region of Northern Cape.
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.
Media Release: Covid-19 Vaccines for over 50-year age group
For Immediate Release 2 July 2021
As of 1 July 2021, the registration for COVID vaccination has opened on the EVDS for people over the age of 50 years. This is a positive step in our efforts to provide vaccine coverage to our population in the Western Cape.
The EVDS system is accepting registrations and is allocating appointments for the people over 50 years to be vaccinated. The SMS appointment notifications to people over the age of 50 years who have successfully registered, will commence on Friday, 2nd July to allow for scheduled appointments as from Monday, 5th July. Thus over 50-year-olds with valid appointments will be accepted at our vaccination sites.
As from Monday, 5th July, the EVDS system will allocate available appointment slots in the following order of priority:
Priority 1 – people 60 years and older requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine;
Priority 2 – people 60 years and older who are eligible for their 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccine (approximately 42 days after their 1st dose);
Priority 3 – people aged 50 -59 years requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine.
As usual, a limited numbers of walk-ins will be accommodated at the vaccination sites. The number of walk-ins depend on the available capacity and vaccine doses available at each individual site.
Although the over-50 age band is open, the Department remains committed to ensure we prioritise our most vulnerable. Thus people 60 years and older will be prioritised in the walk-in queues over people who are aged 50 -59 years.
Call for 60-years and older:
We urge any citizen 60 years and older who has not registered, or have not received an appointment, to please present to their closest public sector vaccination site for assisted registration and vaccination. The first dose for 60-year and older remains the highest priority at the moment.
Safety first:
The country is currently in an established 3rd wave of COVID infections, and it is crucial that over-crowding be avoided at vaccination sites and that social distancing and mask wearing be strictly adhered to. Please adhere to local site protocols and staff directions for safety.
We thank the public for the co-operation and patience. Let’s work together to roll out the vaccines safely, efficiently and in a fair and dignified manner for all our citizens. Please watch your local media for more details or visit https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/vaccine/
It was a heavy and sad atmosphere at the offices of Garden Route District Municipality this morning during a pray session, after councillors and staff were informed about the sudden passing of their dear colleague, Fire Chief, Mr Freddy Thaver.
Mr Thaver passed away on Thursday, 1 July 2021 in George after a short illness.
During the prayer session the Municipal Manager, Mr Monde Stratu, conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and all his colleagues. During the session he also urged staff to continue to be extra cautious during this 3rd wave of the pandemic and to take extra care of themselves and their families in the fight against the pandemic.
A virtual memorial service will be hosted by the municipality during next week – date yet to be confirmed. The late Mr Thaver will be laid to rest at his home town in Durban on Sunday, 4 July 2021.
A full statement will be shared with the public in due course.
Media Release: GRDM Home Composting Project participants commence with capturing of organic material
For immediate release 02 July 2021
Yesterday, 01 July 2021, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) staff that participate in the Home Composting Pilot Project, commenced with the capturing of their organic waste data. These thirteen (13) participants from various Sections within the organisation received their worm farms and composting bins from the GRDM Waste Management Unit on 11 June 2021 at the Municipality’s head-office in George.
Participant, Monnique Anthony, said: “I support the idea of reducing waste at our landfill site. I am excited to see the results but the process requires time and patience which will be quite exciting, yet challenging at the same time”.
Thirteen (13) staff members from various Sections within the organisation forms part of the project. Before taking the items in acceptance, the participants attended an information workshop that was presented by Johan Gie, the GRDM District Waste Management Officer. The following topics were discussed during the session: the profile of domestic waste in the Garden Route; the benefits of home composting; types of composting such as cold, warm and vermi-composting; what to compost and what not to compost etc.
The project has already been implemented in all seven (7) local municipal areas of the Garden Route.
The information workshop was presented by Johan Gie, District Waste Management Officer at Garden Route District Municipality.
According to Gie, from January 2018 – December 2020, a total of sixty (60) tons of recyclable materials was weighed, recorded and diverted from landfill by means of the GRDM Office Recycling Programme”. He added: “This initiative aims to divert waste even further by extending the programme to include organic waste composting generated in the offices, e.g. tea bags, coffee grounds, banana peels, apple cores, etc.”. With these projects, internally and in the various communities, the municipality aims to reach the targets set by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) to divert 50% of organic waste from landfill within the entire district by 2022. Gie further emphasised that the targets set by DEA&DP include a total ban on organic waste to landfill by 2027. “Therefore, as a district municipality, we are striving towards reaching these targets for the Garden Route,” he highlighted.
In ensuring that the participants are fully equipped to start with the capturing of information, they each received an electronic scale, datasheets, and a composting guideline. These resources will enable each participant to accurately record essential information relating to their recycling activities. All information will then be reported to the GRDM Waste Management Unit on a monthly basis for a one year period.
The composting bin and worm farm that were handed over to each participants of the project.
A guide and scale provided to each participant to capture the information throughout the year.
The data collected from the Home Composting Pilot Projects will be used to demonstrate the feasibility and motivate the various local municipalities within the district to further roll out home composting programmes within their respective municipalities.
Did you know?
The benefits of compost include:
With Compost, you are creating rich humus for your garden. This adds nutrients to your plants and helps retain moisture in the soil;
Composting can divert as much as 30% of household waste away from the garbage bin;
Diverting organic waste from landfill – extend lifespan of landfills and reduce transport & management costs;
Microscopic organisms help aerate the soil, break down organic material for plant use and ward off plant diseases;
Composting offers a natural or “green” alternative to chemical fertilizers (emissions transport & machinery, packaging) – it is good for the environment;
No need to purchase compost or fertilizers.
What waste to compost?
Kitchen waste
Fruit & vegetable scraps
Eggshells (crushed)*
Green leaves
Grass clippings
Garden plants
Lawn & Garden weeds*
Coffee grounds
Tea leaves / bags
Manure*
Shrub prunings
Wood ash
Dry leaves
Cardboard
Newspaper & shredded paper*
Sawdust & wood chips*
What not to compost
Anything containing meat, oil, fat or grease
Diseased plant material
Sawdust or woodchips from treated wood*
Dog or cat faeces
Weeds that have seeds*
Dairy products
Coal ash
Cooked foods
Nappies and used tissues
Glossy or coloured paper*
For more information regarding recycling or home composting, contact the GRDM Waste Management Unit at 044 693 0006 or via e-mail at: johang@gardenroute.gov.za.
Legal notice:
Report any weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.
