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Disaster Management

16 June 2020 PRESS STATEMENT: First Positive Covid-19 case at Garden Route District Municipality and Temporary Closure of Head-Office

For Immediate Release 

16 June 2020

From Wednesday, 17 June 2020, the Head-Office of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) in George will be temporary closed, due to an employee who tested positive for Covid-19.

Executive Mayor of GRDM, Cllr Memory Booysen, when confirming the first Covid-19 positive case of the municipality, said:  “Although the person was working from home and had less interaction with colleagues, the employee occasionally came to our offices and it is our duty as a municipality to follow all related protocols. We immediately took the necessary precautions and are implementing all measures such as closing the building, disinfecting, fogging, etc. to ensure the safety of the rest of the GRDM employees”.

Officials disinfecting the Head-Office of Garden Route District Municipality.

All GRDM satellite offices in the district will continue with normal working operations; however the Head-Office will be closed despite the District Command Centre that is stationed at the Head-Office being the centre point to coordinate Covid-19 related activities in the district.  The temporary closure of the building will therefore allow the municipality to take the necessary precautions related to the Covid-19 protocols.

The person is already in isolation and the process to trace all persons who were in contact with the employee, is underway.   All processes will be conducted in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Health.  Mayor Booysen concluded by extending a word of appreciation on behalf of Council and Management to the employee, who immediately informed management of the test results. He wished the employee a speedy recovery and also wished all those who might have been in contact with the employee well, during this time.

The Strategic Manager in the Office of the Municipal Manager, Mr Thembani Loliwe, confirmed that the office will reopen on Monday, 22 June 2020 and he further stated that no person will be allowed into the office, including officials and members of the public until the reopening of the building. “We therefore encourage all staff and members of the public to be patient with us while we put these measures in place and ensuring a safe working environment for our employees”.

As we enter the peak period of the pandemic, every person will be at risk of contracting the virus, therefore it is important that we adhere to all principles to prevent the spread of the virus. Stay at home, if you can work from home. Make sure that you keep a 1.5 meter distance between yourself and the next person, wear a clean cloth mask when you have to go out, wash your hands often and avoid touching your face. If you feel sick also stay at home and seek urgent medical care when experiencing difficulty breathing.

For more information, contact:

Mr Thembani Loliwe,

Strategic Manager in the Office of the Municipal Manager

Tel: 067 038 7668 / E-mail: thembani@gardenroute.gov.za

 

-ENDS-

15 June 2020 DSD donates essential food items to homeless shelters in the Garden Route district

For Immediate Release
15 June 2020

On Wednesday, 10 June 2020, the Disaster Management Centre of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) collected food items from the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) in Cape Town to assist shelters situated in all municipal areas with food relief.

Essential food items donated by the Western Cape Department of Social Development on 10 June 2020 to provide food relief to the homeless of the Garden Route district.

Mr Gerhard Otto, Manager of Disaster Management at GRDM, applied for food relief with a list of specified items on 4 June 2020, after sending a request for assistance to the DSD. The request was approved on 8 June 2020. This assistance came at a crucial time after Oudtshoorn and Bitou municipalities shortly before Otto’s request, indicated the need for essential food items at their respective shelters for homeless people. Itemba in Oudtshoorn accommodates 18 homeless, while Native Roots, situated in Plettenberg Bay, accommodates 40 persons.  Homeless persons are not only accommodated at these shelters, but are also cared for during the COVID-19 pandemic and kept safe and healthy during this unprecedented time.

Preparation of the food will be done at kitchens approved by the GRDM Municipal Health Services section. The kitchens will be well-managed by non-governmental and faith based organisations in the respective municipal areas. Soup kitchens supported by the respective municipalities will also benefit from this donation. The items approved and donated by DSD, include: porridge, beef and chicken soup, juice, pasta, mince, chicken casserole, maize meal and pilchards.

Executive Mayor of GRDM, Cllr Memory Booysen, welcomed the donation and extended a word of gratitude to DSD for assisting the Garden Route district with essential food items. Mayor Booysen said: “This donation from the DSD is confirmation of our good working relations with provincial departments.  It is important that we continue with our efforts to explore any possibility to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of our residents, most importantly the most vulnerable – this donation is a result thereof”.

ENDS

8 June 2020 Severe Weather Alerts (Strong Winds & Veld Fire Conditions)

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following severe weather alerts:

HAZARD 1: Veld Fire Conditions
Alert Level: Warning
Valid From (SAST): 08/06/20 08h00
Valid To (SAST): 08/06/20 18h00

Expected over the Central Karoo, Garden Route and the northern part of Cape Winelands (W.Cape) tomorrow (08/06/2020).

HAZARD 2: Damaging Winds
Alert Level: Advisory
Valid From (SAST): 09/06/20 00h00
Valid To (SAST): 11/06/20 00h00

Strong interior winds (50 to 70km/h) are expected over the Cape Winelands, Central Karoo and the Garden Route municipalities (W.Cape) on Tuesday (09/06/2020).

DESCRIPTION: Strong damaging winds
Strong damaging winds often occur along coastal regions, but also often occur during thunderstorm activity. These winds are sudden and can cause much damage.

PRECAUTIONS: Strong damaging winds
Stay indoors where possible away from the windows that open towards the severe winds. Be aware of the following: – sudden cross winds if traveling especially between buildings, fallen trees or power lines and flying debris.
Small boats must stay away from the open sea and seek the shelter of a harbour, river estuary or protected bay.
Parked aircraft should be pointed into the direction of the wind and secured Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

DESCRIPTION: Dangerous veld/bush fire conditions
Whenever there are prolonged periods of little and no rain coupled with warm dry winds, veldt or bush fires can easily be sparked and will spread rapidly in strong winds.

PRECAUTIONS: Dangerous veld/bush fire conditions
Don’t make fires in the open and/or leave fires unattended. Don’t throw cigarette butts out of cars or in the open veldt. Don’t throw bottles in the veldt as they can magnify the sun’s rays and start fires. Prepare and maintain fire breaks in controlled manner. In the case of a large fire report it immediately and move away from the area to let the professionals deal with it. Never throw water onto a fire started by an electrical fault or fires started by oil or paraffin lamps. In this case sand or a blanket should be used to smother the fire. Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

26 May 2020 Media Release: Ecological grief sets in as the lockdown highlights the looming plight of greater humanity – the destruction of our environment

Media Release: Ecological grief sets in as the lockdown highlights the looming plight of greater humanity – the destruction of our environment

For Immediate Release
26 May 2020

“In an ongoing series of debates with experts in various fields, the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) seeks to highlight aspects related to COVID-19 demands on humanity, and that which is unfolding as climate change steadily brings about corresponding and irreversible changes with daunting challenges,” says Cobus Meiring of the GREF Secretariat.

The matter of the fairly new concept of ecological grief and human behaviour, which was instigated by COVID-19, highlights the looming plight of greater humanity: the destruction of our environment.

According to Hanna Kotze, an organisational culture consultant and clinical social worker, climate change brings an unknown threat to normality in terms of how humans will experience the environment, and it will do so in many respects that are more often than not difficult to comprehend or even believe. In as much as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is invisible, but the threat is very real and present, so is climate change, and humanity sense the danger, which in turn brings about a constant anxiety.

Says Kotze, “Ecological grief is a relatively new term for the subconscious but the concept embraces the collective grief humanity experiences when witnessing and experiencing loss of biodiversity and the destruction of the natural environment.”

“Natural disasters with their roots in climate change, such as the recent Knysna wildfire disaster, catastrophic drought in South Africa, Hurricane Katrina in the USA, wildfires in Australia and Europe, and the Idai tropical cyclone in Mozambique are all examples where humanity suffers from ecological grief, which no doubt impacts on the emotional well-being of nations affected,” explains Kotze.

“Many of us may feel paralysed by panic over climate change and overwhelmed by the pace and scale of ecological losses. Mourning nature does a great service by giving a name to this grief, setting us all within a community of others who mourn alongside us, and by guiding us to respond not with despair but with hope and courage”.

“Hopefully, the advent of COVID-19 will have the right kind of response in how we ensure a more sustainable future in South Africa and the world, and planning for what is to come will go a long way in ensuring just that,” concludes Kotze.

Humanity feels overwhelmed by the sheer destruction of our environment brought about by increasingly devastating natural disasters with their roots in a changing climate. (Photo: SCLI)

The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental management entities in the Southern Cape, and a regional think tank on climate change mitigation and adaption.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Cobus Meiring: Chair of the Garden Route Environmental Forum Secretariat

Cell: 083 626 7619

Email: cobus@naturalbridge.co.za

 

Hanna Kotze: Organisational Culture Consultant, Clinical Social Worker and Trauma Counselling

Mobile Number: 084 341 0059

Email Address: hanna@hannakotze.co.za

15 May 2020 Call for donations

Dear Members of the Public,

Don’t throw away old televisions and unused boardgames – donate it instead.

The management of sites housing homeless members from the Garden Route region kindly request members of the public to donate board games, chess sets and/or used televisions to the less fortunate.

To arrange for collection, contact Tippie Bouwer (Garden District Municipality official), Mon – Fri from 07:30 till 16:30.

E-mail: tippie@gardenroute.gov.za
Cell: 083 941 0885

15 May 2020 GRDM Disaster Management officials placed at municipalities to assist with disaster management

Press Release

For Immediate Release

15 May 2020

Disaster Management officials employed at Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) have been, since 2 March 2020, placed at local municipalities in the Garden Route to render a full basket of services related to the Disaster Management function.

Both officers were appointed in November 2019 to predominantly focus on the strategic mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery of all disasters that the district is faced with. They both also hold an Honours Degree BBA in Disaster Management from the satellite campus of the Stenden University based in Port Alfred. For the first three months, they received in-house training from the Head of the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre, Mr Gerhard Otto, before moving to local municipalities.  Ms Lee-Ann Joubert is stationed at the Bitou and Knysna municipalities and Ms Martina MacDonald at Hessequa and Mossel Bay municipalities.  Apart from the broad services they render at these municipalities, the coordination of COVID-19 related activities and the reporting thereof now also form part of their function after the pandemic has been declared a national disaster.

Given their expertise and experience in the field, their daily tasks include the regular updating of Disaster Risk Assessment (DRA) documents and the Disaster Management Plan (DMP).   A DRA is one of the first steps in planning an effective risk reduction programme. It examines the likelihood and possible outcomes of expected disaster events. This assessment contributes directly to effective decision making, planning and control. Stemming from the DRA, is the DMP, which is a planning guideline for all internal, as well as external stakeholders, advising them on their roles and responsibilities throughout the Disaster Management field. It is the basis to establish procedures and ensure maximum and efficient utilisation of resources and minimise the loss of life and/or injury. The documents have to be updated regularly, as the information needs to be integrated into the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) of local municipalities. Also forming part of their function, is to further address any gaps that the DRA and DMP might pose relating to the  effectiveness of the assessment and plan.

Since March 2020, these officials predominantly took part in the COVID-19 District Command Centre (DCC) meetings, the Joint Operation Centres (JOCs) at the respective municipalities, as well as Mayoral District Command Forums.  All these activities relate to the assistance and provision of support to local municipalities. Finer details include: ensuring that essential role-players form part of the JOC operations, administration, the coordination of support where required at the JOCs and to relay essential and disaster related information between various stakeholders through these relevant platforms.

From a broad perspective the roles of the officials are to assist where assistance from the District Disaster Management Centre is required, as well as to ensure that the local municipalities cooperate with regulations and directives from provincial and national government, to relay information throughout all processes and to escalate any enquiries and challenges that might derive from the local JOCs. And, even when the Covid-19 pandemic comes to an end, these municipalities will still be their permanent base of where they will work and report from.

9 April 2020 Media Release: Garden Route DM purchases half a million rand worth of essential goods for the vulnerable

Media Release: Garden Route DM purchases half a million rand worth of essential goods for the vulnerable

For Immediate Release
9 April 2020

On 9 April 2020, Executive Mayor of GRDM Cllr Memory Booysen, informed local municipalities that R500 000.00 worth of essential goods are ready for collection at its Fire Station in George.  These goods were purchased to aid local municipalities in assisting the most vulnerable communities in their areas. The delivery of items is expected to take place by tomorrow. “This R500 000.00 provides up to a week of essentials to 800 households of five members or less,” said Cllr Booysen.

Local Municipalities have been requested to identify the most vulnerable and in need of support that would not be addressed in terms of the Department Social Development (DSD) Social Relief of Distress (SDR) program. Strict measures will be in place to ensure that no duplication of distribution takes place, known as “double-dipping”. For this reason DSD officials and the municipalities will ensure that a centralised database is used. The South African Police Service will ensure that areas, where food parcels will be delivered, are secure and safe for those doing deliveries.

Last week DSD announced that the Department made R18 million available to distribute food parcels in the Western Cape of which 9 000 food parcels will be distributed to households in the Garden Route district from next week Thursday.

Manager of Disaster Manager at GRDM,  Mr Gerhard Otto, highlighted:  “To ensure that food is provided to all vulnerable residents for the period ahead, all municipalities are in the process to pledge their financial support to fill the gaps of the DSD funded programmes”.

Food items, toiletries and other necessities, donated by the public throughout the district will also contribute to the programme to ensure that no one is left unfed.

Also read:

https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/2020/04/06/additional-r53-million-allocated-to-food-relief-programmes-in-the-western-cape/

https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/2020/04/03/your-donation-is-needed-coronavirus-covid19-pandemic/

Media Release: COVID-19 awareness sessions in the Bitou area

Media Release: COVID-19 awareness sessions in the Bitou area

For Immediate Release
25 March 2020

In an effort to prevent the spread of the corona virus, the Plettenberg Bay based Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from Garden Route District Municipality continue to raise awareness about the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

On 20, 23 and 25 March 2020 officials visited KwaNokuthula, Crags and Kranshoek areas in Bitou to distribute flyers to the residents.  During these visits officials educated residents about the pandemic and asked them to also share all essential messages to their respective households, family members and friends to prevent the virus from spreading widely among communities.  Proper hygiene practices, regular hand-washing, keeping a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between oneself and others were shared.  Spaza shops, taxi ranks, informal settlements, petrol stations, police stations and clinics, were among the sites/spots that were visited – some were revisited. Members of these communities welcomed and appreciated the visits from the EHPs.

AFRIKAANS

Op 20, 23 en 25 Maart 2020 het die Omgewingsgesondheidspraktisyns van Plettenbergbaai gemeenskappe van KwaNokuthula, Crags en Kranshoek in Bitou besoek, om pamflette aan die inwoners te versprei. Tydens hierdie besoeke is inwoners oor die korona pandemie opgevoed en versoek om alle noodsaaklike boodskappe met hul onderskeie huishoudings, familielede en vriende te deel, om sodoende te verhoed dat die virus wyd onder gemeenskappe versprei.  Behoorlike higiëne praktyke, gereelde handewas gewoontes, en die handhaaf van ‘n minimum afstand van 1,5 meter tussen jouself en ander is bespreek . Inwoners van hierdie gemeenskappe het die besoeke van die Omgewingsgesondheidspraktisyns verwelkom en waardeer.

ENDS

Written by Marlene Nqumse
Communication Officer

Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za

Media Release: Health System’s response to physical distancing #STOPTHESPREAD OF COVID-19 GEORGE SUB-DISTRICT

Media Release: Health System’s response to physical distancing #STOPTHESPREAD OF COVID-19 GEORGE SUB-DISTRICT

For Immediate Release
22 March 2020

Health system’s response to physical distancing #StopTheSpread of COVID-19

George sub-district

Thousands of people visit public health facilities on a daily basis and, as the Western Cape Health Department, we need to be responsible and #StopTheSpread to especially protect vulnerable people.

To protect our community, we promote avoiding all situations where human bodies are in contact and reducing the times and places when people come together – including going to a public health facility when it is not necessary.

By keeping your distance from crowded places such as clinics and hospitals, you protect the vulnerable, including the sick and elderly, and safeguard our facilities against the spread of the virus.

Western Cape Government Health therefore requests that unless you require emergency treatment that you please stay at home and seek advice first if unsure. If you need emergency medical care, you must urgently go to your closest health facility.

George sub-district

Primary health care clinics will remain open for essential services.

Chronic patients: Patients with 6-monthly Doctor or Sister appointments to renew their scripts will be able to collect their medication at their clinic but they will not have to draw a folder or have observations done if they are well. A fast lane will be set up at all clinics to ensure limited time in the waiting area. Please check with security on arrival at clinic where the fast lane is situated at your specific facility. Patients are requested to please keep to their appointment times as this will help with decongestion of the waiting rooms.

Dental services: Only management of pain and sepsis with medication will be offered, no extractions or any fillings will be done.

Allied services: Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Audiology, social work and Dietician services will be stopped.

Only persons who meet the current NICD screening criteria will be tested for COVID-19 at hospitals and select clinics.

No persons who are well (i.e. those with no symptoms) will be tested.  Members of the public are encouraged to complete an online-self assessment form https://www.westerncape.gov.za/department-of-health/risk-assessment-form or call either the National hotline: 0800 029 999 or Provincial Hotline 021 928 4102. For those who do need testing: do not  just present yourself at a health facility for the test. Contact the facility beforehand to arrange for a date and time to arrive at the facility to be tested.

The main three facilities for testing in your area are:

Conville Clinic: 061 683 4312

Pacaltsdorp Clinic: 0670991719

Thembalethu Clinic: 081 392 4130

Uniondale Hospital: Sr Makok & Sr Du Preez 044 814 1410

Uniondale Provincial Hospital will divert all resources to essential and emergency services:

  • All non-urgent surgery has been cancelled.
  • Specialist clinics will be postponed.
  • Women’s health services and services to pregnant women will continue.
  • Limited ultrasound/sonar services will continue.
  • All non-emergency x-ray appointments will be rebooked.

George Regional Hospital will divert all resources to essential and emergency services:

  • All non-urgent surgery has been cancelled.
  • All Outpatient Department visits will be rescheduled for a later date except high-risk antenatal clinic, dialysis treatment and chemotherapy. The hospital will be in touch with clients who had appointments. If we have not made contact with you, kindly phone the Outpatient Department on 044 802 4408 or 044 802 4455.
  • All day-theatre cases, and planned surgery will be rescheduled.

END

COVID-19 Multi-Agency Command Centre Established for the Garden Route

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), yesterday, 19 March 2020, established a COVID-19 Multi Agency Command Centre (MACC) at its head office in George. This follows Western Cape Government’s call on all districts to do the same to ensure that the various clusters share what is happening closer to grassroots level. Clusters are categorised into the following stakeholder groups: Transport; Social Services and Education; Health; Safety and Security; and Communications.

“We are one of the first Districts to act proactively in ensuring that our clusters are up-and-running,” said Cllr Memory Booysen, Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality.

“I am thankful for our Municipal Manager, Mr Monde Stratu’s leadership and quick response to the pandemic,” said Booysen. “Stratu meets with his Senior Management on a daily basis to discuss the organisation’s readiness and receives feedback from Disaster Management about the status of agencies and communities. Our GRDM Manager: Municipal Disaster Management, Mr Gerhard Otto’s also acted swiftly in getting all stakeholders together. He keeps key stakeholders in the Garden Route up to date on developments from a provincial and national level since the onset of COVID-19 in South Africa. In terms of communication, our organisation’s Communication Unit continuously communicates with communicators at a national, provincial and b-municipal level. A group for staff members have been created where awareness is filtered to all levels of employees, who are then tasked to communicate messages to contacts in their phone books. We also use Facebook and Twitter to share information,” said Booysen.

Otto yesterday confirmed that there are 47 cases of COVID-19 in the Western Cape at the moment, and 150 in South Africa on 19 March 2020.

Dr Terence Marshall (Department of Health) who leads the Health Cluster, during the first MACC said that they are currently starting on phase two of responses for COVID-19. “Additional sites are being identified for testing and we are possibly also getting a mobile testing station.” He explained that they are already also “planning for phase three, which relates to large scale community transitions of the virus, and facilities for isolation”. One of the next important interventions that need immediate attention, is the “decongestion of public services”. Western Cape Government will shortly communicate the plan of action going forward to address this.

Dr Marshall also said: “A decision was taken that no visitors should be allowed at vulnerable sites (e.g. Old age  homes, correctional serviced and hospitals).”

APPEAL TO BUSINESSES

The COVID-19 MACC acknowledges the major challenges businesses are experiencing right now. Many are taking innovative steps to allow for social distancing, like ensuring their employees not to use public transport and digitising more of their operations, but there is always more that can be done.

An appeal is, however made, to all employers to do what they can, to let employees work from home. Every business should develop a social distancing approach that means staff should not be forced to be in close proximity to each other.

A best practice guide together with other FAQs on COVID-19 is being developed to assist businesses to stop the spread and will be published at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

COVID-19 MACC STAKEHOLDERS

There were about 35 stakeholders present at the first meeting, which was raised as a concern due to social distancing. Consequently, it was requested that only one or two people per cluster form part of the COVID-19 MACC which will take place on Monday – Friday mornings.

The list of stakeholders who were present at the first JOC, include: The National Department of Correctional Services, South African Police Services, Western Cape Department of Health, Western Cape Department of Health for Garden Route and Central Karoo, GRDM Economic Development and Tourism, George Pop, George Municipality, Go George, Emergency Medical and Ambulance Services, Provincial Traffic, South African Health Monitoring Survey, Life Bayview Hospital, Western Cape Department of Trade and Tourism, Airports Company of South Africa and George Fire and Rescue Services.

STAY SAFE, HYGIENE IS A PRIORITY

It is advisable for you to stay at home and self-isolate if you display the symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, sore throat) combined with the international travel history or came into contact with a confirmed case. Contact the Hotline on 0800 029 999. They will advise you on the next steps. For Western Cape citizens struggling to get through to the Hotline an alternative number has been set up to assist local citizens with health related information on COVID-19– 021 928 4102.

There are certain basic things the public can do to prevent the spread of the virus:

  • Wash hands regularly, every 30 minutes for at least 20 seconds
  • Cover you cough and sneeze, in the crook of your arm or tissue and throw it away
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Reconsider or avoid non-essential international travel to affected areas
  • Keep a distance of at least one metre from people who are sick
  • Stay at home if you feel unwell

IMPORTANT NUMBERS FOR EVERYONE TO SAVE

If a person develops flu-like symptoms, do not panic. Community members should isolate themselves at home. This means one must limit contact with others.

Please call the National Coronavirus Hotline: 0800 029 999, the Provincial hotline: 021 928 4102 or WhatsApp “Hi” to 060 012 3456. A person can also call your health practitioner for further advice on what to do next. If unwell, stay home, except to get medical care as directed by the hotline or advice of health practitioner – do not go to work, school or public areas.

END