PUBLIC NOTICE OF 2023/2024 ANNUAL REPORT AND OVERSIGHT REPORT
Notice 05/2025
Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 129(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003) that the Garden Route District Municipal Council hereby makes the Oversight Report on the Annual Report for the 2023/2024 financial year public.
The 2023/2024 Annual Report was also approved in a Council Meeting on 30 January 2025.
The 2023/2024 Annual Report and OversightReport is available at all main local libraries, satellite offices and the Garden Route District Municipality’s IDP Unit, 54 York Street, George and on the GRDM municipal website www.gardenroute.gov.za.
For further enquiries, please contact: Mrs. M James (IDP Unit) Tel no: 044 803 1431
Media Release: The 2017 Knysna Fires vs. 2025 California Wildfires
6 February 2025
Wildfires have long posed a major threat to communities worldwide. Two (2) of the most deadly fires in recent history occurred in vastly different regions: the Knysna and Bitou Wildfires in South Africa (2017). Now also abroad – the most recent California wildfires (2025). Despite geographical differences, both events share alarming similarities in their causes, impacts, and lessons for the future.
Weather and Climatic Conditions
On 7 January 2025, Santa Ana winds exceeding 161km/h drove wildfires in California, including the Palisades and Eaton Fires. As a result of severe drought conditions, this situation was even worse. As a result of low humidity and strong winds, fire spread across Los Angeles. A gale-force north-westerly Berg Wind reaching 120 km/h fueled the Knysna fires on 7 June 2017.
A prolonged drought had left vegetation dry, exacerbating fire intensity. The fires consumed 19,000 hectares of plantations and indigenous forest and led to widespread destruction in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
Palisades Fire – Los Angelas County 2025
Knysna Fires – 2017 Photo credit: Edward Stander
Warnings and Preparedness
Both regions received early weather warnings. In California, the National Weather Service issued Red Flag Warnings days before the fires, highlighting extreme fire risk. Despite these warnings, the wildfires overwhelmed emergency responses.
In the Western Cape, the South African Weather Service warned of a major storm expected on 6 June, prompting school closures and disaster management activation. The strong winds fuelled the fires instead of bringing anticipated rain.
Emergency Response
California mobilised extensive resources, including 7 500 emergency personnel, 65 fire engines, and military support. Private firefighters were also deployed to protect high-value properties.
In Knysna, firefighting efforts included nearly 1 200 firefighters from various Municipalities, the City of Cape Town, local forestry companies, private firefighters, and Working on Fire (WOF) crews, as well as aerial water bombers Working on Fire, the South African National Defence Force, and Savanah Helicopters. Emergency operations were coordinated through a Joint Operating Centre in Knysna, as well as Multi Agency Coordinating Centre at the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre. Despite efforts, the fire spread uncontrollably, forcing thousands to evacuate, this being the only safe option at the time.
Destruction and Loss
The 2025 California wildfires burned nearly 40,000 acres, destroyed 16,255 structures, and claimed at least 29 lives. The fires forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate, making them some of the most devastating in the state’s history. The economic loss for the USA is about one trillion sixty-nine billion eight hundred fifty-five million Rands.
The Knysna Fires left seven dead, burned 16,000 hectares, and displaced 10,000 people. More than 900 structures were either damaged or destroyed, with economic losses estimated at four and a half billion rands.
Environmental and Urban Planning Factors
Fuel loads played a significant role in both disasters. In Knysna, invasive alien vegetation, such as black wattle and pine plantations, contributed to extreme fire intensity. Studies confirm that fuel loads in plantations and invaded areas were significantly higher than in natural fynbos. Some natural fynbos were encroached with alien invasive species.
Similarly, in California, a build-up of dry vegetation due to prolonged drought and extreme wind, created conditions primed for wildfires. Invasive plants such as Harding grass and yellow star thistle further exacerbated fire spread.
Post-Fire Consequences
Following both disasters, heavy rains triggered mudslides and flash floods, exacerbating further negative impacts. In Knysna, five months after the fires, burned mountain slopes contributed to severe mudslides. In California, post-fire rains led to toxic ash runoff and landslides, further endangering residents.
Lessons Learned
Both wildfires highlight the need for proactive fire management and climate adaptation strategies. Key takeaways include:
Fuel Load Reduction: Managing invasive vegetation and reducing combustible materials through controlled burns and firebreaks, and other innovative measures can mitigate risks.
Urban Planning: Fire-resistant landscaping, strategic buffer zones, and defensible spaces are crucial for minimizing damage.
Preparedness & Early Response: Investing in predictive modelling, community awareness, and emergency planning is essential for minimizing losses.
Climate Change Action: Both disasters underscore the impact of rising temperatures and prolonged droughts on wildfire intensity, emphasizing the urgency for global climate mitigation strategies.
The Knysna/Bitou and California wildfires serve as stark reminders of the evolving wildfire threat. As climate change accelerates, regions must adopt proactive fire management, enforce strict land-use policies, and enhance emergency preparedness to prevent future catastrophes.
Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality Celebrates a Successful Holiday Season at Its Resorts
3 February 2025
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) annually reflects on the holiday season and how its municipal resorts faired. This year, the two coastal resorts—Victoria Bay and Swartvlei Caravan Parks—led the way. This past season was marked by high occupancy rates, excellent guest feedback, and an overwhelming sense of achievement across our facilities.
Both Victoria Bay and Swartvlei Caravan Parks recorded occupancy rates exceeding 80% during the season, with Victoria Bay maintaining a steady flow of visitors well into February. These resorts welcomed a mix of loyal regulars who return year after year, along with an impressive 50% of first-time visitors. Many of these newcomers fell in love with the breathtaking views, the serene atmosphere, and the unique experience of waking up to the sound of waves from their camping plots.
According to Acting Resort Manager, Medron Bussack, the past holiday season stood out as one of the most harmonious in recent memory, with minimal complaints. Any issues raised were promptly addressed and resolved internally, showcasing the staff’s commitment to guest satisfaction.
“Guest feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the exceptional service, cleanliness, and well-maintained facilities, including the communal and private ablutions. I believe the impact of our social media marketing was evident, with numerous new guests discovering our resorts through Facebook posts and other platforms. Unfortunately, due to high demand, we were unable to accommodate all inquiries, underscoring the popularity of these destinations,” Bussack said.
Looking ahead, GRDM remains focused on enhancing all facilities within the constraints of the municipal budget to ensure an even better experience for visitors.
De Hoek Mountain Resort also had a successful season, surpassing the previous year’s booking numbers. While a significant portion of guests were loyal regulars, the resort also welcomed an encouraging number of first-time visitors.
Feedback from De Hoek guests was both positive and constructive. During the arrival and departure of visitors, reception staff actively promoted special off-season packages. Throughout the season, resort staff upheld a high standard of hospitality—cleaning the communal camping site bathrooms three times daily, addressing concerns around the clock, and ensuring every guest felt welcomed and well cared for. A big festival was also held at the resort, spanning over four days.
One of the most significant challenges this past season was the temporary closure of the resort due to flood damage. The resort was shut down on 5 June 2024 and remained closed for over six months. During this time, we received numerous inquiries from clients eagerly awaiting its reopening.
“When we finally reopened on 1 December 2024, we were pleasantly surprised by the high turnout, particularly in the day visitors’ area. Guests were delighted by the affordability of our entrance fees, which contributed to strong attendance figures. However, the chalet and camping sections experienced slower occupancy, as many clients had already made alternative arrangements. Fortunately, we saw a steady increase in bookings, particularly in the last three weeks of December,” said Acting Resort Manager, Daryl Rondganger.
One ongoing challenge has been managing baboon activity around the chalets. Fortunately, staff have identified and successfully implemented several effective measures to mitigate this issue.
With the recent upgrade to the old cement road, accessibility from Oudtshoorn has greatly improved, making travel to the resort easier and more convenient for guests. This positive development is expected to enhance the visitor experience and contribute to the resort’s future success. One of the chalets were also upgraded – chalet four by the swimming pools. More are planned to be upgraded in due course.
Calitzdorp Hot Springs
With plans to upgrade facilities and further leverage social media marketing and word-of-mouth, we aim to build on this momentum and continue positioning our resorts as the preferred holiday destinations.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our guests for their ongoing support and invaluable feedback. GRDM remains committed to providing exceptional experiences for everyone who visits our resorts and looks forward to welcoming both returning and new guests in the seasons ahead.
Garden Route District Municipality Achieves Fourth Consecutive Clean Audit
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) welcomes another Clean Audit outcome issued by the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA). This is the fourth consecutive year for the GRDM to reach such a milestone.
According to GRDM’s Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu: “This achievement once again reflects the dedication and hard work of all our personnel, and the commitment by the GRDM Council to do their oversight”.
“While I acknowledge this milestone and remain thankful to every person who contributed to this outcome, I wouldn’t be celebrating it as the focus will remain on service delivery and fulfilling our mandate to improve the lives of residents in the district,” said Andrew Stroebel, GRDM Executive Mayor.
“Stable and accountable leadership, coupled with a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, not only ensures good governance but also creates a trustworthy environment for investment.Transparent government provides confidence to investors and stakeholders alike,” concluded Stroebel.
NOTICE OF A COUNCIL MEETING ON 30 JANUARY 2025 AT 11:00
Notice is hereby given that a COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George, on 30 January 2025 at 11:00.
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 and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George, on 28 January 2025 at 14:00.
Media Release: GRDM Fire & Rescue Services had a Busy Fire Season So Far
10 January 2025
GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY HOLIDAY FIRE SEASON: 01 December 2024 to 05 January 2025
It has been an exceptionally demanding holiday season for the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Fire & Rescue Service, as the summer sun intensified, and the annual wild-and-veld fire season commenced on 01 December and officially ends on 30 April.
Fires in the Garden Route district, renowned for their picturesque landscapes, often threaten the environment as well as residents and infrastructural safety. The GRDM team responded to a total of 17 fire emergency incidents across the district, with the majority involving vegetation fires in areas such as Melkhoutfontein and Jongensfontein near Still Bay, Korinterivier in Riversdale, the Swartberg Mountains in Oudtshoorn, and Kammanassie and Buffelsdrif Mountains in the northern parts of George.
Through coordinated efforts, including rapid response, public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with local communities, farmer organisations and other fire management agencies, the team continues to mitigate risks and manage the impacts of these fires.
A few pictures captured during the recent wildfire operations in Hessequa and Oudtshoorn.
From 6 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, the GRDM Fire and Rescue Services, were inundated with veld and mountain fire incidents, better known as wildfires.
A total of 17 veld and mountain fire incidents were attended to, with eight (8) of these fires escalating to extended wildfires, with the Jongensfontein, Hessequa wildfire extending to 14 days, the Melkhoutfontein Fire extending to 18 days, including several ‘flare-ups’, the Swartberg Mountain Fires extending to 15 days, and the Kammanassie and Buffelsdrif Mountain wildfires extending over 5 days respectively.
Additionally, the GRDM substation in Ladismith responded to seven (7) veld fires, including a dump site fire.
The wildfires in the Hessequa Municipal area were extremely challenging, due to the type of terrain, access limitations, including the very difficult to manoeuvre coastal dunes, and excessively overgrown and old vegetation type, including Acacia Cyclops (the famous Rooikrans and / or Rooiputjie), as well as Fynbos, including the Metalasia muricata (Blombos) vegetation types.
The Swarberg Mountains presented very challenging terrain, for both vehicles and ground teams, especially due to the rugged and steepness of the terrain, exacerbated by various hills, gorges and valleys. This necessitated trooping in ground crews, a total of 54 trooped in at one stage, to ensure more effective firefighting operations, walking up these mountains were timeous and straining.
A total of 23 Municipal firefighters, including GRDM and Hessequa Municipality, as well as 08 Garden Route Volunteer Fire Members, with 4 bakkie units, and daily, either a three (3) or four (4) team response from the Working on Fire Program, consisting of average 20 members mitigated the Hessequa Fires on peak days. Additionally, local farmers assisted with a bulldozer, and tractors. The Hessequa Municipality assisted with JCBs and a bulldozer, mainly constructing fuel and fire breaks, either in attempts to stop fire spread or preparing counter burn breaks.
WOF firefighters enjoying a well-deserved lunch, generously sponsored by Alison Bryant.
WOF firefighters enjoying a well-deserved lunch, generously sponsored by Alison Bryant.
Mayor Andrew Stroebel visited the Oudtshoorn Municipal area, commending firefighters who have been tirelessly working around the clock to protect lives and infrastructure.
One of GRDM’s dedicated firefighters hard at work during mopping-up operations.
For the Swartberg and Kammanassie mountain fires, CapeNature provided additional ground teams to assist with groundwork, having several ‘stick’ teams, ranging between 08 – 12 members, and ranging between 2 and 4 teams.
Calculated burnscars for some of the largest fires to date include,
Swartberg Mountain (Oudtshoorn): 15 251 hectares
Melkhoutfontein (Hessequa): 1346 hectares
Jongensfontein (Hessequa): 300 hectares
Korinterivier (Hessequa): 562 hectares
Kammanassie (George): 437 hectares
Buffelsdrift (George): 700 hectares
Herbertsdale (Mossel Bay): 30 hectares
A total of 48 aerial firefighting hours were utilised to date, including a combination of resources, i.e. bomber planes, spotter planes and helicopter.
Despite rapid initial attacks through the activation of aerial firefighting resources, early and precise detection of fires remains an area requiring continuous improvement. Several simultaneous lightning strikes, often occurring just before sundown, present significant challenges. These incidents limit the immediate activation of aerial firefighting resources and frequently result in fires intensifying during hot and humid evenings. This necessitates the strategic deployment of aerial resources in the days that follow. Addressing these challenges will require innovative measures and strategies moving forward.
Firebreak compliance and the prevalence of excessive alien invasive plants (essentially accumulative fuel loads that drive wildfires), remain significant challenges. However, efforts are underway to strengthen compliance measures in the future. Counter-burning (fighting fire with fire) emerged as a key and strategic firefighting tactic, particularly for managing coastal fires. Ultimately, this approach proved highly effective and will continue to be a preferred tactic in future firefighting efforts.
The deployment of firefighters on the ground, alongside aerial suppression, is a vital reinforcement given the combination of challenging topography, limited access, and high fuel loads. Heli-tack crews (firefighters who are part of helicopter-based initial attack teams) are a highly desirable solution for rapidly suppressing fires in their incipient stages, particularly in difficult-to-access terrain.
A coordinated and collaborative response approach remain the most ideal manner in combatting wildfires, and major incidents, which include landowners, local authorities, including local (structure protection) and the district municipalities, Working on Fire, the Fire Protection Association and trained disaster management and firefighting volunteer groups.
As mentioned before, the December holiday period proved extremely challenging due to multiple wildfires. However, resources were coordinated effectively, allowing us to address all the reported incidents. Notably, the success achieved during this period includes the preservation of lives—no lives were lost—and the protection of property, with no structures destroyed.
It is highly recommended that landowners, on whose land these fires occurred, innovatively utilise these burned areas for sound environmental rehabilitation and management of especially alien invasive plant species and constructing of fire breaks.
To report wildfires, call 044 805 5071 or WhatsApp 081 709 5193.
Swartberg Mountains wildfire on 30 December 2024.
A picture captured during the Kammanassie Wildfire on 27 December 2024.
Swartberg Mountains wildfire on 30 December 2024.
A picture captured during the Kammanassie Wildfire on 27 December 2024.
Public Notice: Closure of Offices on Friday, 13 December 2024 at 12h00
13 December 2024
Notice is hereby given that the offices of the Garden Route District Municipality will close on today, 13 December 2024 at 12:00 and re-open on Monday, 6 January 2025 at 07:30. All emergency services will continue to be rendered during this period. The number 044 805 5071 can be contacted at all hours for such services.
MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
P.O. Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300
