Notice is hereby given that a Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) Meeting of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George, on 22 September 2026 at 10:00.
8 September 2026
On Friday, 4 September 2026, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Waste Management Section in partnership with Unisa third-year Social Work students (W. Odendaal and W. Baartman), strengthened its commitment to waste minimisation through a community-based Recycling and Composting Project at the Outeniqua Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) in George.
The initiative formed part of the students’ Practicum Community Work Project and provided an opportunity to combine social development with practical environmental action. The project focused on creating awareness and building practical skills in waste separation, recycling and composting, while encouraging sustainable waste management practices at the Centre.
As part of the initiative, participants received practical training on waste separation, recycling and composting. Henque Waste representative Andile Mobo covered recycling and waste separation, while GRDM Waste Management Officer Innocentia Sikweyiya demonstrated practical composting methods and the benefits of diverting organic waste from landfill. Participants were introduced to practical composting methods that can be implemented within community and institutional settings.
The Landmark Foundation representative, Monica Vaccaro, provided training on worm composting (vermicomposting), showing participants how worms can be used to turn organic waste into nutrient-rich compost while reducing waste sent to landfill.
A highlight of the day was the handover of recycling and composting equipment to the Outeniqua CYCC, enabling the Centre to continue applying the practices learned.
Photo captions (names listed in no particular order): Outeniqua CYCC Manager Barbara Nicolaas; GRDM Waste Management Officer Innocentia Sikweyiya; and Social Work students Wayne Odendaal and Wilmy Baarman.
The partnership with third-year Social Work students highlighted the importance of combining environmental sustainability with community development and showed that effective waste management is a shared responsibility. Through recycling, composting and better waste practices, communities can reduce landfill waste and create cleaner, healthier environments.
GRDM’s partnership with the Social Work students is a positive example of how education, community development and environmental sustainability can work together to address local challenges. Through partnerships like this, GRDM aims to promote waste minimisation, environmental awareness and sustainable waste management practices.
The Outeniqua CYCC project shows that meaningful change can start with education, partnership and practical action, contributing to a cleaner and greener Garden Route.
The Manager of Outeniqua CYCC, Mrs J. Fredericks, welcomed the project and thanked GRDM and the third-year Social Work students for their support. She said the initiative would improve the Centre’s waste management while giving learners valuable life skills and practical knowledge.
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4 September 2026
Twelve municipal officials representing 12 TASK-participating municipalities in have successfully completed a certified TASK Job Evaluation Training Programme. The training was rolled out to strengthen municipal capacity and promote consistency in the implementation of the TASK Job Evaluation System. The TASK Job evaluation system is used to grade posts in municipalities and the gradings are linked to salary scales.
The training was conducted from 31 August to 2 September 2026 at the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) offices and was attended by one candidate representing each participating municipality in the Garden Route and Central Karoo districts. The programme was facilitated by Dylan Pieterse from Deloitte, who provided participants with expert guidance, practical knowledge and insights into the application of the TASK Job Evaluation System.
According to Busisiwe Klaas, Task Administrator at GRDM, the training programme was designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge, competencies and practical skills to participate effectively in job evaluations. “It also aimed to develop a sound understanding of the TASK Job Evaluation System and its application, while promoting consistency and uniformity in job evaluation practices across municipalities,” Klaas said.
During the training, participants were reminded of the key principles, processes and requirements of the TASK Job Evaluation System. The training incorporated theoretical instruction, practical application, interactive group discussions and opportunities for participants to clarify issues relating to job evaluation.
Throughout the three-day programme, participants actively engaged in the sessions and demonstrated a willingness to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their respective municipalities. The training provides participants with formal recognition for successfully completing the programme. It also strengthens the skills of municipal officials responsible for job evaluation and helps ensure that these processes are managed effectively.
The successful completion of the programme strengthens municipal skills and capacity, while supporting the consistent and effective implementation of the TASK Job Evaluation System.
Ongoing support, refresher sessions and practical guidance was recommended by the services provider to help trained officials apply their knowledge effectively within their municipalities.
Caption: Municipal officials from municipalities across the Garden Route and Central Karoo districts who participated in the TASK Job Evaluation Training Programme held this past week.
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1 September 2026
“The construction of Phase 1 of the Garden Route District Municipality’s Regional Waste Management Facility, located approximately 15 km outside Mossel Bay next to PetroSA, is now approximately 70% complete, with several key components nearing completion,” said Johan Gie, Manager: District Waste Management.
Current activities include:
Overall, the project is progressing well, with major construction elements steadily moving towards completion.
Featured image: Lining of the contaminated water dam currently underway at the Regional Waste Management Facility.
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24 August 2026
Last summer’s fire season was described as one of the most challenging in recent years. The Garden Route and the broader Western Cape experienced a significant increase in fire incidents, extreme weather conditions, and extensive areas of land affected by fires. This included fires in Knysna that affected informal structures, fires across the Hessequa area that caused various infrastructure damages, and the loss of formal houses in Mossel Bay. These events were followed by a mini drought period across the Garden Route District.
With severe weather conditions forecasted for the upcoming summer months, including a Super El Nino event, which is already taking shape around the globe, the following factors were highlighted by research experts of both the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch):
According to GRDM Fire Chief Deon Stoffels, the importance of fire prevention, preparedness and community awareness cannot be overstated. “It is for this reason that the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in collaboration with the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) Safe Schools Programme, has conducted numerous fire safety awareness and prevention sessions for learners, teachers, school staff and residents across the district,” Stoffels said.
These interventions aim to reach communities far and wide, including remote communities and schools in isolated areas, ensuring that everyone has access to fundamental fire safety information. The sessions focus on helping communities understand their environment, how to prevent fires, how to make their living areas fire safe, respond appropriately during such events, and assist first responders in emergencies and thus helping protect lives, property and the environment.
On Wednesday, 19 August 2026, GRDM firefighters visited three schools in the Knysna municipal area as part of their ongoing fire safety awareness programme. The schools visited were Karatara Primary School, Redlands Primary School and Ruigtevlei Primary School. During the visits, learners and teachers received important information on fire safety, fire prevention and what to do in the event of a fire. They were equipped with practical knowledge and skills to help them stay safe and respond appropriately during fire emergencies. The firefighters also provided flood safety awareness, teaching learners what to do and how to stay safe during flooding and other emergencies.
On Thursday, 20 August 2026, the firefighters continued the initiative at Britsvlakte Primary School, on the outskirts of Uniondale. The session was attended by 30 learners of different ages, four teachers and a representative from the Western Cape Education Department.
The learners were taught important fire prevention measures, including how to prevent fires and safely handle hazardous substances commonly found in households. The interactive sessions provided an opportunity for learners to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the dangers associated with fires and hazardous substances. The recent flood events have raised attention as well and flood safety tips were share equally.
These ongoing awareness initiatives play an important role in ensuring that learners, teachers, and communities are better prepared to prevent and respond to veld fires and fire related activities around their homes, ultimately helping to keep schools, homes, and communities across the Garden Route safer.
“We plea to the greater community owning land on small holdings and rural areas to fire scaping their properties and larger landowners to ensure they contribute to risk reduction by making fire breaks around their properties and constantly decreasing fuel loads, especially alien invasive plants, which are standard fire drivers,” said Chief Stoffels.
Captions for all photographs: A look back at fires, flooding and extreme weather experienced across the Garden Route, alongside ongoing fire safety training to prepare children for the upcoming fire season.
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NOTICE NUMBER 76/2026
Notice is hereby given that a COMBINED MPAC/ APAC MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers, 54 York Street, George, and via Zoom on 26 August 2026 at 10:00.
17 Augustus 2026
On Thursday, 13 August 2026, an Education and Awareness Program focusing on recycling and proper waste management was held in Kurland in the Bitou municipal area. The program brought together community members, stakeholders in waste management and local leadership to promote greater awareness of responsible waste disposal, recycling and environmental protection.
The programme aimed to educate the Kurland community about keeping their area clean, safe and environmentally friendly. Residents were encouraged to take responsibility for their surroundings and help address littering, illegal dumping and poor waste management.
The Bitou Executive Mayor, Councillor Jessica Kamkam who is also the Kurland Ward Councillor, was also present during the event and welcomed the stakeholders to the program and expressed her support for the initiative. Mayor Kamkam highlighted the importance of bringing environmental education directly to communities and hoped the programme would help bring positive change to Kurland.
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) District Waste Management Officer, Innocentia Sikweyiya, delivered the keynote address and highlighted the importance of community participation in achieving effective and sustainable waste management.
Sikweyiya stressed that government cannot do it alone and that communities have an important role to play in protecting the environment. She called on residents, businesses and other stakeholders to work together to keep their surroundings clean, safe and sustainable.
“Take responsibility for the waste they generate and to make proper waste separation part of their daily practices,” she said.
Residents were encouraged to separate recyclable waste from general waste and take recyclables to the designated drop-off facility. Ms Sikweyiya explained that recycling helps reduce waste going to landfill, prevent littering and illegal dumping, and protect the environment. She also encouraged residents to see recyclable materials as valuable resources that can be reused and recycled.
As part of the program, a walk-through education and awareness campaign was conducted throughout the Kurland community. The campaign took the waste-management message directly to residents and members of the public in their everyday surroundings. The walk-through campaign focused on spaza shops, pedestrians and motorists, giving officials an opportunity to engage with the community about responsible waste disposal, recycling and keeping public spaces clean.
Spaza shop owners were encouraged to manage their business waste properly and keep the areas around their shops clean. Pedestrians and motorists were reminded of the negative impact of littering and encouraged to dispose of waste responsibly and use available waste facilities.
Residents were encouraged to reduce waste, reuse materials where possible, separate recyclable waste and ensure that waste is disposed of at the appropriate facilities. Community members were also urged to discourage littering and illegal dumping and to encourage others to adopt responsible environmental practices.
All activities that took place during the community walk-through education and awareness campaign.
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17 August 2026
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) continues to promote responsible waste management and environmental protection through education and community awareness. The recent activities in Van Wyksdorp highlighted the importance of teaching learners and educators about responsible waste management and sustainable practices.
On Friday, 24 July 2026, the GRDM Waste Management Section conducted a Green School Recycling Program rollout at Van Wyksdorp Primary School. The initiative focused on increasing environmental awareness among learners and educators while promoting responsible waste management, source separation, recycling and the prevention of littering.
Approximately 123 learners, together with educators and relevant stakeholders, participated in the program. Learners were introduced to the importance of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and were encouraged to incorporate these principles into their daily lives.
The learners also received information on different types of recyclable materials and the importance of placing waste in the correct recycling containers. Attention was given to the consequences of littering and illegal dumping, including their negative impact on communities, water resources, animals and the broader environment.
A practical component of the program was a tree-planting activity, which promoted environmental conservation while commemorating World Nature Conservation Day. The activity gave learners an opportunity to translate the environmental principles discussed during the program into practical action.
“The programme was well received by both learners and educators. Learners participated enthusiastically and showed a good understanding of the importance of keeping their school and community clean. The practical activities encouraged participation and reinforced the message that everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment,” said Innocentia Sikweyiya, GRDM District Waste Management Officer.
Educators welcomed the initiative and supported teaching learners about waste management, recycling and environmental protection.
Learners were also encouraged to share what they learned with their families and communities, helping to promote responsible waste management at home.
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