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Author: Marlene Nqumse

25 July 2025 Media Release: Disaster Awareness Campaign Shapes Young Minds in a Fun and Memorable Way

Media Release: Disaster Awareness Campaign Shapes Young Minds in a Fun and Memorable Way

25 July 2025

During the past week, the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre (WCPDMC) conducted its annual Disaster Awareness Campaign in the Garden Route district, using a theatre-setup to engage primary school learners. The interactive performances featured Gerry the Giraffe, who educated children on disaster preparedness in a fun and memorable way. This initiative is funded through Santam’s Partnership for Risk and Resilience and was rolled out in collaboration with the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre.

The Western Cape Education Department’s District School Safety Officer nominated schools to participate in this year’s campaign, focusing on eight schools. It kicked off in Bitou, followed by sessions in George and Mossel Bay, and concluding in Oudtshoorn. Similar awareness sessions have previously been rolled out at schools in the region, during which it was established that learners engage more effectively when addressed in their mother tongue. As a result, during this round, the campaign targeted eight isiXhosa first-language schools.

The programme features an engaging 40-minute musical theatrical play designed to educate learners on critical safety and security measures within schools, as well as essential flood and fire awareness. The play also highlights the dangers of contributing factors to disaster risks, such as electrical outages and illegal dumping, and their role in exacerbating fire and flood incidents.

The goals of the campaign are to:

  • Instil a culture of disaster risk resilience within communities;
  • Create awareness and equip learners with basic emergency preparedness and hazard avoidance knowledge by demonstrating practical safety tips; and
  • Educate learners about the emergency numbers (044 805 5071, 10177 and 112).

The ongoing partnership between the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre, and Santam’s Partnership for Risk and Resilience enables the district to reach  young minds with crucial disaster preparedness information. As GRDM is committed to build resilient communities, this programme serves as a cornerstone of its preventative efforts. Educating youth on these vital topics is an investment in their safety and in the overall well-being of the Garden Route District.

Activities during the Disaster Awareness Campaign in the Garden Route District, where industrial theatre was used to engage and educate primary school learners.

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04 July 2025 Media Release: Final GRDM Community Safety Forum Meeting for 2024/2025 Financial Year Focuses on Funding, Accountability, and Community Impact

Media Release: Final GRDM Community Safety Forum Meeting for 2024/2025 Financial Year Focuses on Funding, Accountability, and Community Impact

4 July 2025

Yesterday, 3 July 2025, the final quarterly Garden Route District Community Safety Forum (CSF) Meeting for the 2024/2025 financial year took place at Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Joint Operation Centre.  Stakeholders in attendance, some online, included GRDM Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel; Portfolio Chairperson for Community Services, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard; the Acting Municipal Manager and Executive Manager of Community Services, Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu; and political and administrative representatives from the seven B-municipalities, South African Police Services (SAPS), the Western Cape Provincial  (WCG) Department Social Services, and the WCG Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety (POCS).

Acting Municipal Manager officially welcome all present at the quarterly meeting and thanked them for prioritising community safety in the district.  This was followed by the main discussion of the meeting, led by Vuyani Mbaqa from WCG POCS, which focused on the approval process for the 2025/2025 annual funding business plan. Feedback was provided on the six criteria that will be used as a tool to monitor and measure the effectiveness of Community Safety Forums (CSF) in local municipalities.  Mbaqa during his discussion emphasized the importance of ringfencing and streamlining funding, noting that grant allocations be made based on the six criteria outcomes, making sure that local municipalities used the fund strictly for the purposes identified in their respective business plans.

Local municipalities present were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the status of their Local Safety Forums, the scheduled dates of their next CSF meetings, and the progress made on projects and objectives identified in their previous business plans.

In conclusion, GRDM Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel delivered a word of support.  “Safety is not just about statistics or patrols; it’s about people feeling secure in their homes, children walking to school without fear, and families building their futures with peace of mind. It’s about love – love for our communities, our neighbours, and the places we call home,” Stroebel said.   He went on to thank all stakeholders, “From the SAPS officers to municipal officials, forum members, and community representatives. Your commitment, even when the work is tough, is truly inspiring”.

Following the formal programme, the GRDM Executive Mayor, the MMC for Community Services, and the Acting Municipal Manager handed over safety equipment and PPE to local municipal officials for use by their CSF members. The forum meeting was chaired by Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, with Gail Bekeer serving as secretariat.

Featured image and above: GRDM team with representatives from Hessequa Municipality.

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24 June 2025 PUBLIC NOTICE: APPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY AND BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (SDBIP) 2025/2026

APPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY AND BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (SDBIP) 2025/2026

NOTICE NR 64/2025

Notice is hereby given in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (56 of 2003), Section 69(3) and 53(1)(c)(ii), (iii) and MFMA Circular  No.13 that the Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) for 2025/26 was approved by the Garden Route District Municipality’s Executive Mayor on 22 June 2025.

Full details regarding the approved SDBIP is available on the municipal website www.gardenroute.gov.za under the heading: Documents/Performance Management.

For more information, please contact the GRDM Manager: Performance Management, Ms Ilse Saaiman, at: Tel: 044-803 1300 / E-mail: pms@gardenroute.gov.za.

Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu
Acting Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530

Tel: 044 803 1300
Notice number: 64/2025

24 June 2025 PUBLIC NOTICE: DRAFT PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS FOR 2025/2026 FINANCIAL YEAR ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

DRAFT PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS FOR 2025/2026 FINANCIAL YEAR ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

NOTICE NR 63/2025

The Draft Performance Agreements for the GRDM Municipal Manager and Executive Managers are made public in terms of Section 57 (1) (b) of the Municipal Systems Act for the 2025/2026 final year.

The following Draft Performance Agreements are available for public perusal and due for signature by 31 July 2025.

Municipal Manager

Chief Financial Officer

Executive Manager: Community Services

Executive Manager: Planning and Economic Development

Executive manager: Roads and Transport Planning Services

The documents are available for viewing on the municipal website www.gardenroute.gov.za under the heading: Documents / Performance Management.

For more information, please contact the GRDM Manager: Performance Management, Ms Ilse Saaiman, at: Tel: 044-803 1300 / E-mail: pms@gardenroute.gov.za.

Click here to access and download the agreements.

Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu
Acting Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530

Tel: 044 803 1300
Notice number: 63/2025

18 June 2025 Media Release: Garden Route’s Smoke Alarm Initiative Shields Vulnerable Communities from Fires

Media Release: Garden Route’s Smoke Alarm Initiative Shields Vulnerable Communities from Fires

18 June 2025

With winter currently here and many Garden Routers  using indoor fires to keep warm, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) in partnership with the Knysna Local Municipality, extended the Smoke Alarm Installation Project further in Knysna, reaching Smutsville in Sedgefield from 09 – 17 June 2025.

This initiative, spearheaded by the GRDM Disaster Management Section, has already been rolled out in other municipal areas across the district. According to Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel, “This initiative, funded by the Western Cape Provincial Government, and primarily aims to proactively identify high fire-risk areas within vulnerable communities in our district, and then install smoke alarm devices in these informal settlements”.

“Vulnerable communities remain a top priority for the GRDM and its partners,” said Stroebel

According to Lee-Ann Joubert, GRDM Disaster Management Coordinator, “Knysna Municipality’s Fire Services identified hotspot areas within their local municipality, after which GRDM firefighters installed the detectors and educate homeowners about the benefits and proper use of the device”.

GRDM Fire Services Station Commander Hein Leslie acted as co-project leader, explained: “I must say that the community is very glad and supportive of this initiative.  We did experience some challenges in the beginning when a few community members were under the impression that we installed cameras, but after engaging with them,  the community became more supportive of the initiative.”

Activities underway during the Smoke Alarm Installation Project in Smutsville, Sedgefield

During a brief gathering between officials from GRDM, Cllr Levael Davis, ward Councillor as well as member of the Asivikelane Development Action Group, which partnered with Knysna Municipality to monitor the status of ‘basic services’, GRDM Cllr Hoogbaard, Portfolio Chairperson for Community Services addressed the group.

”We know that fires can strike at any moment – often with little to no warning, and these impacts can be deadly. In communities, where many homes are constructed from highly flammable materials and are densely placed, a single spark can become a disaster within minutes. Imagine losing crucial documents like ID documents, birth certificates, and other important records in a fire? This is why early detection is not just important, but lifesaving as well,” Hoogbaard said.

To date, installations have been completed in the following communities within Smutsville: Skoolgaatjie, Lankgewag and Beverly Hills.

All partners involved in the Smoke Alarm Installation Project.

Firefighters are currently working in the Makhaphela area and will continue to roll out installations in additional high-risk zones in the area, including Slange Park, Sakhumzamo and surrounding areas

Part of this proactive project includes community education and awareness, empowering residents with knowledge to prevent fires, respond effectively, and improve early detection, which ultimately aimed at saving lives and protecting property.

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