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Author: Marlene Nqumse

04 June 2025 Media Release:  Bakery Employees Receive Essential Food Safety Training

Media Release:  Bakery Employees Receive Essential Food Safety Training

4 June 2025

On 27 May 2025, staff from Goue Aar Bakery in the George Industrial area received food safety training from Environmental Health Practitioners from the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) George Municipal Health Office.

Proper food control plays a critical role in ensuring food safety and maintaining optimal hygiene across the entire food supply chain, from the production to consumption. This training was conducted as part of the GRDM Municipal Health’s ongoing effort to improve food safety practices at food premises within the Garden Route. EHPs led the session, focusing on the structural requirements and hygiene standards for food premises, as outlined in Regulation 638 of June 22, 2018, promulgated under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972).

The primary goal of the training was to ensure that food handlers and managers are well-informed about the necessary requirements for food premises, with a strong emphasis on maintaining optimal hygiene standards.

The key objectives included:

  • Enhancing the knowledge of managers and food handlers regarding structural requirements; and
  • Reinforcing hygiene standards to ensure safe food handling practices.

The content of the session emphasised the following key aspects:

  • Structural requirements.
  • Hygiene requirements.

During and after the session, the bakers participated in the discussions, and indicated at the end that they found it extremely informative. These types of sessions once again demonstrate that the GRDM’s Municipal Health Section is committed to ensuring that all food stored, handled, and prepared is safe, wholesome, and fit for human consumption, while also meeting the applicable quality and safety requirements prescribed by legislation.

Download: Requirements for Formal Food Premises (English)

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03 June 2025 Media Release: GRDM Registration and Archive Audit Results for 2024/2025

Media Release: GRDM Registration and Archive Audit Results for 2024/2025

3 June 2025

The Western Cape Archives and Service conducted its annual Records Audit at the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) on 27 January 2025.

The inspection delegation was highly impressed with the way the GRDM Records System is managed.  GRDM received a Level 5 compliance rating for their record management, the highest level of compliance in municipal archive auditing.

There are five compliance levels used in archive audit.

1 – Start up level

2 – Developmental Stage

3 – Minimally Compliant

4 – Compliant

5 – Transformational

The Western Cape Archives and Records Service made ten recommendations to the Municipality’s Records System, of which nine have already been fully implemented.

Level 5 compliance, which is marked with blue, is often associated with trust, stability, and intelligence.  According to Spasina Brinkhuys, GRDM Manager:  Records & Archives, “It represents a high level of compliance and a commitment to continuous improvement. Based on the audit findings, the GRDM currently operates at a Level 5: Compliant level of records management.”

The GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel and MMC for Corporate Services, Ald. Nompumelelo Sumeia Ndayi, and Management would like to extend their gratitude to the Records & Archives team and their former Executive Manager for Corporate Services, Trix Holtzhausen (who was the Executive Manager during the audit and who retired at the end of April 2025), for their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

Featured image caption: The Garden Route District Municipality’s Registration and Archives Team plays a vital role in managing official documentation and ensuring proper record-keeping across departments

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30 May 2025 Media Release:  Kannaland Spaza Shop Owners receive refresher training about health, fire and legal compliance

Media Release:  Kannaland Spaza Shop Owners receive refresher training about health, fire and legal compliance

30 May 2025

The Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) responsible for monitoring spaza shops in the Kannaland region recently held information session for all shop owners in the Kannaland municipal area on Regulation 638 promulgated under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act.

The first session was held on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, in Ladismith, followed by another session on 22 May 2025, in Calitzdorp, with a total of 40 spaza shop owners who attended it. The workshops were facilitated by EHPs Maxwelline Fatuse and Ikanya Hendricks, along with Keith Johannes and Hein-lee Oosthuizen from Kannaland Fire Services, and Courtney Ludick and Gershon Claasen from Kannaland Municipality’s Law Enforcement.

Participants engaging in various discussions during the two-day training programme.

The sessions primarily focused on health, fire, and legal compliance requirements necessary for the safe and lawful operation of spaza shops. During both sessions, spaza shop owners actively engaged in the discussions, expressed their appreciation and affirmed their respect for South African Constitution and relevant laws and their dedication to operate their businesses correctly.

Similar engagements are regularly being rolled out across the district by GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners as part of their day-to-day activities.

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