Media Release: Revival of commercial forestry in the Southern Cape a huge relief
25 September 2025
“The Southern Cape’s economy was built on forestry for close to two centuries. Unfortunately, this vital industry, supporting thousands of jobs and a wide downstream value chain, which included saw mills and timber sales, has fallen into sharp decline as major plantations on state land have not been replanted and only small pockets remain on private land,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
One of the unfortunate environmental impacts were that vast areas formerly managed as commercial plantations were no longer managed and thousands of hectares of land succumbed to dense infestations of invasive alien plants. This in turn held considerable risks for the region including potential wildfire disasters, water security and loss of biodiversity.
Over and above the environmental risks posed the demise of commercial forestry coincided with substantial job losses, loss of skilled labour, experience and a generational forestry management culture developed over a century.
The recent reversal of government policy allowing Cold Stream Timber Company (CTC) to replant a number of dormant plantations is a welcome relief to the Garden Route. Commercial forestry can create huge amount of jobs to skilled and unskilled labour at a time when unemployment in the region carries enormous socio- economic risks.
The newly formed Garden Route Risk Reduction Task Team (RRTT) welcomes the additional capacity of the forestry industry in protecting the region against overwhelming fire risks as a result of more available manpower and resources. This will include controlled burns, large scale management of invasive plants, the development of essential fire breaks and critical biodiversity corridors free of invasive plants.
As the Southern Cape again enters a period of low rainfall in the medium term fire risk increases exponentially, as the recent wild fires in Ruitersbos are testimony to. Combatting wild fires are extremely costly, and since its re- occurrence is guaranteed it requires an integrated approach, constant planning, vigilance and a high state of preparedness.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental managers and a climate change think tank. www.grefscli.co.za
Photo: The return of commercial forestry brings hope to the Southern Cape socio- economic and biodiversity sustainability
Media Release: GRDM assists Knysna Municipality with water for the Buffalo Bay residents
For immediate release 05 September 2025
Last week, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Disaster Management Centre received a request from Knysna Municipality to assist with the tankering of water to residents of the Buffalo Bay area.
“The need for water developed due to the high salinity levels in the Goukamma River at the point of abstraction, about 10 kilometres up-stream from the sea,” said Gerhard Otto, Manager for Disaster Management at GRDM. Otto explained: “These high salinity levels were a result of the combination of the following:
The river mouth being closed.
There has been very little rain for an extended period of time, therefore very little run-off reached the river from the river catchment area; and
Due to evaporation, the salinity of the water in the river increases day-by-day”.
The GRDM Disaster Management and Firefighting teams immediately dispatched the 10 000-litre water tanker to Sedgefield where the tanker was filled and then used to transport water to the main reservoir in Buffalo Bay. The operation was supported by a fleet of three additional tankers; two rented by Knysna Municipality from private service providers, and one made available by the Central Karoo District Municipality.
Due to the lengthy process to fill-up the tankers in Sedgefield, the GRDM reinforced the fleet with an additional 6,000-litre tanker to improve turnaround times.
While assisting in Knysna, a fire broke out in Albertinia, requiring the temporary diversion of the GRDM firefighters who had been driving the tankers. From Monday, 1 September 2025, however, the GRDM team resumed daily water deliveries to Buffalo Bay.
The GRDM is aware that the tankering of water is only a temporary solution and that the only short-term solution would be to do an emergency breaching of the Goukamma River Mouth. This process, however, does not reflect in the current Management Plan of this system,” said Otto. He added: “GRDM is in ongoing discussions with CapeNature – we received confirmation from Cape Nature that a special emergency breaching committee meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday next week, where all the latest data will be assessed to decide on a way forward”
Media Release: GRDM rolls out First Aid Level 3 Training in Oudtshoorn
3 September 2025
Last week, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) course facilitators Gail Bekeer and Wouter Jacobs trained 30 unemployed young people in Oudtshoorn area. They were joined by GRDM Firefighters.
The GRDM Disaster Management Section throughout the year conducts several First Aid Level 3 training sessions at the GRDM Head Office in George, however, a need for expanding the training to areas outside George was identified as word of the success of the programme spread. The GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, was subsequently requested by Oudtshoorn’s Mayor Johannes Allers, to also accommodate residents from Oudtshoorn in the training, but in their home town for logistical purposes. According to Andrew Stroebel, “This training is of vital importance because it equips people with advanced life-saving skills and prepares them to respond effectively to medical and other emergencies during various incidents”.
In Oudtshoorn, 125 people showed up for the training, but unfortunately only 30 unemployed young people could be accommodated. Samuel Misemengo from the Oudtshoorn Tourism Office, together with the Office of the Oudtshoorn Executive Mayor, shared a call-to-action to WhatsApp Channels, used word-of-mouth, shared messages at the Oudtshoorn Thusong Service Centre, and social media, to inform youth about the training opportunity.
The next training sessions will be on:
06 – 10 October 2025
10 – 14 November 2025
There is no cost involved if you do the training and sign up to become a Disaster Management Volunteer. However, if you are not planning to become a volunteer, the fee payable is R682.00 (rate valid till 30 June 2026).
Media Release: Garden Route Risk Reduction Task Team to Be Established
For immediate release 05 August 2025
“Growing concerns about an increase of fire risk exposure levels in the Garden Route have led to the establishment of a Risk Reduction Task Team (RRTT),” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
The mission of the RRTT is to help prevent a recurrence of catastrophic events such as the 2017 Knysna and Plettenberg Bay wildfires, which were worsened by uncontrolled growth of invasive alien plants (IAP).
The RRTT aims to be a collaborative platform focused on strategic risk reduction and sustainable landscape management, working closely with landowners, conservation bodies, and enforcement agencies across the Garden Route.
Key stakeholders who form part of the task team will assist and encourage private landowners to reduce IAPs on their properties. Where necessary, action will be taken through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Biosecurity resources.
Awareness creation will be a central pillar of the RRTT strategy. This will include direct engagement with landowners and sustained information-sharing campaigns through traditional media and social media platforms over the long term.
The RRTT will include experts and representatives from the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA), Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Disaster Management, local municipalities, DFFE, Nelson Mandela University, and GREF stakeholders.
Individuals or entities involved in invasive alien plant management, are invited to register as interested and affected parties by writing to louisamare@gmail.com.
The GREF is a climate change and environmental management think-tank. (www.grefscli.co.za).
Feature Image: Without collective action by all landowners in the Garden Route the region remains highly vulnerable to wildfire disasters.
Media Release: Garden Route plays host to Fynbos Forum
For immediate release 14 August 2025
“The Garden Route played host to the Fynbos Forum from 12 to 14 August at the iconic Wilderness Hotel”, says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF)
Established in 1997 the Fynbos Forum is South Africa’s premier conservation and research group dedicated to the preservation of the South African Fynbos Biome.
Vital to indigenous bio- diversity the Southern Cape is home to a magnificent treasure chest of Fynbos species. Unfortunately much of what remains of our once abundant Fynbos is critically endangered due to intensive agriculture, over development, encroachment of invasive alien plants and animals as well as frequent wild- fire disasters.
The Fynbos Forum is a scientific group of natural scientists, researchers, planners, managers, landowners and key stakeholders. It meets annually to discuss the collaborative production of knowledge that underpins regional conservation efforts in the Fynbos Biome in South Africa.
The good news is that as more land and conservation corridors in the Garden Route are becoming available for conservation and rewilding purposes as well as awareness grows on the incalculable value of Fynbos, there is a real chance that it may prevail despite many challenges.
As a transdisciplinary regional learning network, the Fynbos Forum supports discussions on management issues and research results, prioritizing future research and conservation management actions required to ensure the conservation and sustainability of fynbos ecosystems.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF)- a climate change and environmental management think- tank.(www.grefscli.co.za)
GRDM Disaster Management and EHPs teams assist Bitou Municipality in Bossiesgif fire
For immediate release 07 August 2025
The last few days have been traumatic for the Bossiesgif residents of the Bitou Municipal area.
A fire broke out in the informal settlement, with flames that raged through structures leaving approximately 500 people, including children, affected by the flames.
The fire destroyed 162 informal structures with 3 structures that burned partially in Bossiesgif, Bitou
Reports from Bitou Municipality confirmed that the fire broke out in the early hours of 4 August 2025. In a report that was published on 5 August, it was confirmed that 162 informal structures were destroyed and 3 were partially burned, affecting approximately 500 people with a count of 4-6 people per household.
In collaboration with Bitou Municipality, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) acted swiftly to provide the needed assistance to lessen the impact of the fire on affected individuals. GRDM’s Disaster Management team assisted with the activation of key role players in coordinating a rapid and effective response. The GRDM Disaster Management Centre (DMC) also fulfilled their role as an important link between the district and local coordinators when the centre facilitated communication and provided regular situational reports to district and provincial coordinators. These efforts demonstrated the solid working relations between GRDM and Bitou Municipality.
In ensuring that humanitarian relief was provided to all affected residents, the GRDM DMC supplied 59 mattresses and 71 blankets to the families. This was part of a larger relief effort that included donations received from the Gift of the Givers, meals from Dignity Fund and the Shoprite Act For Change soup kitchen, and ongoing municipal efforts.
GRDM, Bitou Municipality and stakeholders assessing the damages and providing humanitarian aid to residents affected by the fire.
GRDM’s EHPs also played a critical role at the identified sites when they conducted an assessment of all health processes related to food handling and waste disposal thereof at the hall. These processes were well coordinated and the assessment confirmed that all the necessary protocols were followed.
Executive Mayor of GRDM, Andrew Stroebel, commended GRDM, Bitou teams, as well as other stakeholders involved, for their swift response to rescue the residential structures in Bossiesgif, but most importantly the lives of the residents of the settlement. Mayor Stroebel said: “As a district, we applaud the swift reaction of both Bitou and GRDM Emergency and Disaster Management teams and we are thankful that no lives were lost in this devastating fire”.
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.
Media Release: 900 Additional Smoke Alarms Now Installed by Garden Route District Municipality and Stakeholders
8 July 2025
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) continues with its 10-year battery-life smoke alarm system installations within high fire risk informal settlements. This project was launched in the Garden Route during 2021. It has been a collaborative effort between the GRDM and local municipalities’ Fire Services, who identified areas based on historical call-out data, population density, access, and distances to fire stations.
Mayor Stroebel (front) with representatives from GRDM, Knysna Municipality and Asivikelani Development Action Group, shortly before their walk-about started.
Elroy Dirk (Knysna Municipality Snr. Firefighter), Mayor Andrew Stroebel and Heinrich Leslie (GRDM Station Officer).
According to Deon Stoffels, GRDM Fire Chief, “900 devices were recently installed in Smutsville within the Knysna municipal area (Lank Gewag, Skool Gaatjie, Beverly Hills, Makhaphela, Slangepark, Sukhumzamo, Onderste Gaatjie and Corona Valley). In 2024, 480 alarms were installed in Rheenendal and before that, in Kannaland too”.
Tydens ‘n besoek aan die Smutsville gemeenskap het Uitvoerende Burgemeester Andrew Stroebel met verskeie inwoners van Smutsville gesels. Magdalena Twick is een van die inwoners van Smutsville wat al drie keer haar huis verloor het. “Die laaste keer wat my woning afgebrand het is in 2023 en ek woon tans in ‘n tydelike woning wat deur Knysna Munisipaliteit opgerig is. Ek is dankbaar vir die brandalarmstelsel wat nou in my plekkie geïnstalleer is, want dit kan my enige tyd van die dag of nag waarsku teen ‘n moontlike brand”.
Burgemeester Stroebel ontmoet Magdalena Twick, wat al meer as 20 jaar in Smutsville woon.
Inside Magdalena’s temporary home is Heinrich Leslie (Station Officer), manually activates the fire alarm and explains the positioning of it to Mayor Stroebel.
Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel, expressed his appreciation by saying: “We are deeply grateful to the Western Cape Provincial Government (WCG) Department of Local Government, under the leadership of Minister Anton Bredell, for funding this initiative with half a million Rand. It proves to the public that the WCG lends a helping hand when communities call for support. WCG also co-funded the Region’s Fire Station in 2024, supplementing the project with a R3 million shortfall, showing their further commitment to regional fire safety”.
“I’d also like to thank my MMC for Community Services, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, our Fire Chief Deon Stoffels and his team, Gerhard Otto, Manager for Disaster Management and his team, for making this project a reality on the ground with external stakeholders,” said Stroebel.
MMC Hoogbaard also visited Smutsville when the devices were installed in June. ”We know that fires can strike at any moment. This happens 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.”
Informal houses were marked with red spraypaint, indicating which ones received a smoke detector.
Smoke detectors emit a noise ≥85dB/3m.
Knysna Municipality’s Chief Fire Officer, Ian Bezuidenhout confirmed that all areas covered, historically receive a high number of fire-related callouts. The alarms are always installed in a central area of a structure, ideally located to detect smoke from all areas within a home. As soon as it detects smoke, it emits a loud sound to alert occupants of a potential fire and provides residents time to act for a quick and safe escape. It prevents the loss of life, assets and critical belongings. Residents are also educated to then contact their Firefighters for immediate assistance.
According to project leaders Heinrich Leslie, GRDM Station Commander and Lee-Ann Joubert, GRDM Disaster Management Coordinator, residents become instantly more alert, engaging, and receptive in terms of fire prevention, which contribute greatly to a culture of safety. “Fire alarms are not only installed at homes, but homeowners are also given valuable tips on how to prevent fires.”
In order for the implementation of the project to be successful, various role-players and individual efforts are necessary and are acknowledged. They are as follows.
GRDM Fire & Rescue Services and Reserve (Volunteer) Firefighters;
GRDM Disaster Management Unit;
Working of Fire Personnel;
Asivikelani Development Action Group (Vermisha Galant, Fregan Galant, and Keanan Lamienie);
Knysna Municipality Integrated Human Settlements representative Eunis Vena; and
The Western Cape Local Government Directorate Fire & Rescue Services and Disaster Management.
Editors’ note:
In 2016 a Smoke Alarm Project was launched by Mr Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, developed by the Western Cape Fire and Rescue Services Directorate.
We urge the business community to support and fund similar initiatives as Local Government unfortunately cannot fill all the gaps simultaneously, and naturally, due to the economic climate, communities resort to lower cost housing, and most often, informal housing expand, which naturally are susceptible to these fire related risks. For this purpose, please reach out to GRDM Chief Fire Officer, Deon Stoffels at deon@gardenroute.gov.za.
The smoke alarms work with a DC3V lithium manganese battery. It is also recommended for the smoke detectors to be installed in corridors and starways, or in a unit outside a cluster of bedrooms.
Feature image: Junice Vene (Ward Committee Member), Mayor Andrew Stroebel, Vermisha Galant (Asivikelani Development Action Group) and Lee-Ann Joubert (GRDM Disaster Management Officer), during the walk-about.
Media Release: Another intense cold front is expected to hit the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape and the Western Cape from Wednesday to Friday, 25 to 27 June 2025
For immediate release 23 June 2025
An intense cold front is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, over the south-western parts of South Africa, bringing a significant shift in weather conditions across the region. The system is expected to result in the following impacts:
For the public:
Heavy rainfall with a risk of localised flooding over the western parts of the Western Cape, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas on Wednesday into Thursday (25-26 June 2025).
Wet and slippery roads may result in dangerous driving conditions. Motorists should exercise caution and adhere to safety measures.
Strong and gusty winds over the interior may cause localised damage to structures and uproot trees.
Cold to very cold conditions can be expected, along with possible snowfall over the western mountain ranges of the Western Cape, spreading into the south-western interior of the Northern Cape.
For Maritime:
Gale force winds and very rough seas, with wave heights between 5,5 to 7,5 metres, along the coastlines of the Northern Cape and Western Cape, will lead to disruptions to fishing and port operations, an increased risk of vessels capsizing, accidents at sea, and hazardous shoreline conditions. Coastal residents and beachgoers are urged to exercise caution.
As the system progresses eastwards, it will affect the Eastern Cape, a region already vulnerable to weather-related impacts. The key concern is the strong damaging winds expected across most parts of the province on Thursday, 26 June 2025.
Interior winds are expected to pick up and spread over the remainder of eastern provinces on Thursday and Friday, 26 and 27 June 2025, with daytime temperatures dropping to the cold category.
The South African Weather Service will continue to monitor any further developments relating to the weather systems and will issue subsequent updates as required. Furthermore, intermediate updates may be followed on X (@SAWeatherServic), Facebook (South African Weather Service) or other SAWS-supported social media platforms.
Compiled by: Tokelo Chiloane, Henning Grobler and Wayne Venter Edited by: Jacqueline Modika Approved by: Mr Rudzani Malala For technical and weather enquiries: National Forecasting Centre: Tel: 012 367 6041
“From Witsand to Nature’s Valley, the Garden Route is custodian to some of the most unique estuarine and marine eco-systems on the African continent, and their well-being is closely monitored”, says Chairperson of the Garden Route Marine and Coastal Committee, Cobus Meiring.
Estuaries are known for the vital ecological functions they perform in terms of nurturing marine and riverine ecology. Serving as barometers to measure overarching environmental matters, the waters estuaries contain and release into the ocean closely reflect what is happening in upper catchments. Negative factors would typically include reduced fresh water flow as a result of upper catchments and rivers infested by invasive alien plants as well as urban and agricultural extraction .
The water quality of sensitive estuarine systems is further affected by pesticides and fertilizer flowing from commercial agriculture, as well as bad quality water emanating from surrounding human settlements.
Algae blooms which recently detrimentally affected Island Lake near Wilderness led to the poisoning of water fowl and fish, and the event was a direct result of an overload of chemicals used in agricultural practices in the upper catchments of the rivers and streams all feeding into Island Lake. Similarly, water quality in the Knysna Lagoon, flood plains and estuary are markedly deteriorating as a direct result of untreated sewage and run- off from illegal dumping sites and countless informal settlements.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Forestry (DFFE), Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), regional local municipalities, SANParks, CapeNature and numerous conservancies all play a vital role in monitoring the state of all regional estuaries. All these entities provide quarterly feed- back the Garden Route Estuaries Forum and the Marine and Coastal Committee.
Coastal communities are encouraged to report sewage spills and illegal dumping in estuarine areas to their local authorities, SANParks or CapeNature.
ENDS
Photo: Knysna sea horse: The critically endangered Knysna sea horse is endemic to the Knysna and Sedgefield estuaries
