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Garden Route Skills Mecca

20 October 2026 Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca Bags Top Honours for Service Excellence

Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca bags top honours for service excellence

20 October 2026

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has achieved top honours at the 2026 Western Cape Provincial Government’s Service Excellence Awards, where its flagship Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) programme was awarded Gold for the Best Municipal Project category.

Presented at Paarl on 16 October 2027, the award acknowledges the outstanding achievements of the GRSM. Since 2017, the initiative has attracted more than R157 million in external funding, delivered more than 31 projects and provided skills development and employment opportunities to more than 3 891 unemployed people, with a strong focus on youth Garden Routers, particularly the youth, across all seven Garden Route local municipalities.

GRDM Strategic Manager, Thembani Loliwe, who leads the programme, said the award is a tribute to the learners, host employers, training partners, and funders who have driven this success. “When the devastating fires swept through Knysna and Bitou, communities lost more than homes and businesses; many people lost hope for their future. The Skills Mecca was created as a response to that challenge.

“We moved away from fragmented interventions and built an integrated system where training providers, funding partners, employers, and communities work towards a shared goal,” said Loliwe.

“Our success is not measured by the number of certificates issued, but by the lives transformed, households supported, and people who have been given a pathway back into employment and opportunity.”

Executive Mayor, Ald. Marais Kruger congratulated the team and dedicated the award to the people of the Garden Route. “For thousands of families, a monthly stipend and a workplace placement have meant food on the table, school fees paid and a young person with real experience on their CV. That is service excellence in its truest sense. I am proud that a district municipality in the Western Cape has built a model that others in South Africa and beyond would like to duplicate.”

Acting Municipal Manager, Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu said this recognition confirms the value of working together across government. “This award shows what is possible when the GRDM, the seven local municipalities in the Garden Route, the Western Cape Government, SETAs, TVET colleges and business commit to one plan. The GRSM is no longer a programme; we are moving to institutionalising it as a permanent part of how this district delivers skills aligned to industry needs. Our task now is to grow it and ensure that more residents can walk through its doors.”

ORIGINS OF THE GRSM

The GRSM emerged from a time of a crisis. In 2017, devastating wildfires swept through Knysna and Bitou, destroying homes, businesses, and livelihoods, while leaving tthousands of residents without work in key sectors such as tourism, forestry, agriculture and construction.

Prior to the disaster, skills development in the district was characterised by fragmented efforts, with municipalities, training providers and employers working in isolation, and available funding streams not being fully utilised.

Recognising the need for a more coordinated approach, GRDM developed South Africa’s first municipality-led, fully integrated regional skills ecosystem bringing together communities, employers, government, training providers and funding partners under one integrated system designed to connect people with meaningful economic opportunities.

KEY MILESTONES OF THE GRSM

  • active projects grew from zero in 2017 to 31 today, demonstrating the rapid expansion of the initiative.
  • more than R175 million in external investment has been mobilised to support skills development and employment opportunities across the district.
  • more than 3 891 beneficiaries: unemployed residents have participated in accredited training, learnerships, workplace learning, artisan recognition, and driver training
  • with most learners receiving monthly stipend, an estimated 15 564 household members have benefited directly from the programme
  • learners have been placed with host employers across the district, and number of those placements resulting in permanent  employment opportunities
  • programmes span a wide range of sectors, incduding driver’s licence training, firefighting, plumbing, electrical trades and artisan recognition, cooks, In-service training, construction etc.

The programme has attracted growing interest from municipalities and other stakeholders across South Africa and beyond, who are exploring opportunities to replicate the model.

The Western Cape Service Excellence Awards honour public sector projects that deliver measurable, resident-centred results. The GRSM’s win reflects its alignment with the Provincial Strategic Plan 2025 – 2030 priority pf helping businesses grow and create jobs, and equipping residents to get those jobs.

FUTURE OF THE GRSM

Going forward, the GRDM has proposed a Shared Services Model that seeks to establish a sustainable, collaborative funding and governance arrangement between GRDM and its seven local municipalities to secure the long-term future of the GRSM. Through pooled resources, shared financial responsibility and coordinated planning, municipalities can collectively invest in this regional initiative, ensuring that it remains responsive to industry needs and accessible to communities throughout the district. By investing in the Skills Mecca, municipalities are investing in the long-term development of the region’s human capital, strengthening local economies and improving the livelihoods of residents across the Garden Route.

Residents interested in upcoming Skills Mecca opportunities can follow the Garden Route District Municipality on Facebook or visit www.skillsmecca.gardenroute.gov.za.

Feature image: Acting Municipal Manager, Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu with Thembani Loliwe, the GRDM Strategic Manager and Skills Mecca Programme lead showcasing the Service Excellence Awards

END

 

 

15 October 2026 Media Release: Garden Route’s Skills Coordinator named HR Practitioner of the Year

Media Release: Garden Route’s Skills Coordinator named HR Practitioner of the Year

For immediate release
15 October 2026

When 200 unemployed people from across the Garden Route enrolled to train as cooks, few would have guessed that some of them would end up on an international cruise ship. For Reginald Salmons, that is what skills development initiatives aim to achieve.

Salmons, Coordinator: Skills Development at the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), has added a feather to his cap when he was awarded the 2026 Human Resource Practitioner of the Year by the Institute of Municipal People Practitioners of Southern Africa (IMPSA) on 9 October 2026.

The award recognises more than two decades of work developing young people. Most importantly, the award acknowledges his contribution to the development of the Garden Route Skills Mecca, a pioneering district-wide model he helped establish with former GRDM Executive Manager for Corporate Services, Trix Holtzhausen, and former GRSM Project Manager, Dr Florus Prinsloo. Today, the initiative continues to flourish under the leadership of Mr Thembani Loliwe, Strategic Manager in the Office of the Municipal Manager.

Today, municipalities, SETAs, TVET colleges, government departments, employers, and training providers work together under a shared vision for skills development, replacing fragmented efforts with coordinated action. Through this collaborative model, the Garden Route Skills Mecca has successfully secured and coordinated more than R157 million in skills development funding and investment across the district.

A notable example of the Garden Route Skills Mecca’s impact is the Occupational Certificate: Cook Programme. The initiative provided training and assessment opportunities to 200 unemployed learners, many of whom completed the programme successfully. The programme has since opened doors to meaningful employment, with several graduates securing permanent jobs and others embarking on international careers with MSC Cruises.

This is one of several large projects that Salmons has coordinated with funding from the National Skills Fund. Together they have opened doors for unemployed youth and municipal employees through internships, apprenticeships, occupational qualifications, and workplace-based learning.

Behind the scenes, he has also helped shape the policies that keep municipalities running well. These include training and succession planning, Recognition of Prior Learning, bursaries, and councillor development.

“I’m deeply honoured and humbled,” said Salmons. “This recognition reflects my own journey, but it belongs just as much to the Garden Route District Municipality, my former and current leaders, our municipal partners, the SETAs, government departments, educational institutions, and employers who share the vision of transforming lives through skills.

“I dedicate this award to every learner, intern, apprentice, and employee whose commitment to growing themselves inspires us to keep building a skilled, capable and prosperous Graden Route.”

Salmons also chairs IMPSA’s Cape Branch, which represents the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and the Free State.

GRDM Strategic Manager, Thembani Loliwe, who currently champions the Garden Route Skills Mecca, congratulated Reginald Salmons on this significant achievement, noting that the award reflects years of dedicated service to empowering individuals and building stronger municipalities. He also extended sincere gratitude to the SETAs, the National Skills Fund and other strategic partners whose sustained commitment has helped drive skills development and employment creation across the Garden Route, despite increasingly constrained financial resources.

Feature image: Reginald Salmons, Skills Development at the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), has added a feather to his cap when he was awarded the 2026 Human Resource Practitioner of the Year by the Institute of Municipal People Practitioners of Southern Africa (IMPSA) on 9 October 2026.

ENDS.

24 August 2026 Media Release: Resilient Landscapes: Collaboration in a Changing Climate

Media Release: Resilient Landscapes: Collaboration in a Changing Climate

For immediate release
24 August 2026

The message emerging from recent environmental gatherings is clear: “climate change is no longer a distant threat but a reality demanding action, cooperation and a far greater sense of shared responsibility,” says Cobus Meiring from the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).

The recent Resilient Landscapes Forum, hosted at the Gourikwa Coastal Nature Reserve, followed closely on the Extreme Weather Reflection event hosted at Nelson Mandela University – both gatherings brought together people who understand that environmental resilience cannot be left to government alone.

Gourikwa Coastal Nature Reserve showing the Southern Cape coastline and natural landscape with fynbos.

The urgency of these discussions is reinforced by growing global concern about increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and the potential influence of phenomena such as El Niño. Predictions for the Southern Cape do not inspire complacency. Changing weather patterns could bring prolonged drought, destructive floods, wild fire, severe winds and increasingly difficult conditions for both people and the environment.

“Civil society has a vital role to play in environmental management,” says Meiring who attended the event. Forum (GREF), who attended the event. “Forums, conservancies and similar structures provide essential platforms where land managers, academics, communities and government can meet, share knowledge and collectively respond to environmental challenges.”

Government simply does not have the capacity to manage every environmental issue. The protection of natural systems therefore depends increasingly on responsible landowners and land managers taking ownership of the landscapes under their care.

The implications extend well beyond conservation. Agriculture remains a primary driver of the regional economy, and farmers understand the potentially devastating consequences of prolonged drought. Cape Town’s near Day Zero experience demonstrated just how quickly a water crisis can become an economic and social crisis.

The Southern Cape’s coastline, Klein Karoo, forests, rivers, lakes and extraordinary biodiversity are irreplaceable natural assets. Their sustainable future cannot be taken for granted.

The resilience of the Southern Cape will ultimately depend not only on how well we respond to the next extreme weather event, but on how effectively we work together before it arrives. A better cared-for environment remains the foundation of a safer economy and a higher quality of life for all.

Feature Image: Recent Floods further damaged the eastern Gourits River bank near the estuary and washed away substantial volumes of valuable agricultural land.

The Garden Route Environmnetal Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental managers and a climate change think- tank (ww.grefecsf.co.za).

ENDS

18 August 2026 Media Release: Skills Mecca Indabas turn talk into action across the Garden Route

Media Release: Skills Mecca Indabas turn talk into action across the Garden Route

18 August 2026

The Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM), a skills development programme by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), is enhancing economic inclusion through a series of Skills Development Indabas held across the region.

With this initiative, the GRSM is connecting all the seven local municipalities in the district, business, training providers, and residents to explore skills development, training opportunities and create pathways to employment, especially for the youth.

On 11 August 2026, in collaboration with the Bitou Local Municipality, the GRSM held another successful session in KwaNokuthula Community Hall in Plettenberg Bay, bringing together government departments, Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), and various stakeholders. This was done to connect the community with opportunities that promote skills development, employment and economic participation.

Held biannually in all seven local municipal areas (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland), this year’s programme has been expanded to include unemployed youth, creating access to valuable information and opportunities that can help transform their futures.

GRDM Training Coordinator, Reginald Salmons said, “The Indabas form an important part of the GRSM’s commitment to ensuring that skills development responds directly to the needs of local communities and the regional economy”.

  • George kicked off the current round on 16 June with LevelUp, a partnership with SUFF Academy that helped Grade 12 learners from more than 10 schools navigate university applications, funding and career pathways.
  • Knysna’s Indaba on 24 July brought together stakeholders including the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, the Knysna Business Chamber and Africa Skills Village. The area is now moving toward a Mini Skills Summit to tackle rural outreach and broader skills needs.
  • Mossel Bay’s engagement on 28 July led to plans for a local task team to organise a Job and Career Expo within two months, linking job-seekers directly to employers, SETAs and training providers.
  • Hessequa’s Indaba on 4 August surfaced a clear need for a School of Skills in the Hessequa/Kannaland area, backed by the Western Cape Provincial Department of Education.
  • Kannaland took its Indaba directly to Zoar on 5 August, reaching unemployed youth and agreeing to extend outreach to Van Wyksdorp, Calitzdorp and surrounding farming communities.

The Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) Provincial Manager, Anneka Jacobs, commended the GRSM for its work by saying: “This approach will ensure that skills development information and opportunities reach communities that may otherwise experience barriers in accessing information and support”.

Salmons said that these indabas are not talk shops, but rather exists to produce tangible solutions to local challenges. “The communities are sharing their needs with us, and we’re connecting with partners to deliver it.”

The GRSM is taking the next leg of these indabas straight to Oudtshoorn at the Thusong Service Centre on 18 August 2026, and unemployed youth, businesses, training providers and community organisations are encouraged to attend and help shape the region’s skills agenda.

The GRSM encourages community members to use these engagements to obtain information about available opportunities, communicate their skills development needs and contribute to identifying practical solutions for their communities.

To learn more, visit skillsmecca.gardenroute.gov.za

Caption: Skills Mecca Indaba sessions in Kannaland, Hessequa and Bitou Local Municipalities.

END

23 July 2026 Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca Explores Partnership with David Tlale Academy

Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca Explores Partnership with David Tlale Academy

 23 July 2026

The Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM), which forms part of Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) flagship programmes, is set to expand skills development opportunities for unemployed youth following a strategic engagement with the David Tlale Academy to explore a collaborative partnership focused on the textile and fashion industry.

On Wednesday, 22 July 2026, a meeting, led by the Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu, brought together renowned South African fashion designer David Tlale, representatives from the David Tlale Academy, ABSA, and Member of the National Assembly, Major Sokopo, who coordinated the engagement.

The discussions focused on establishing a partnership that will provide unemployed young people in the Garden Route District with access to specialised training, industry exposure, entrepreneurship opportunities, and career pathways within the textile and fashion value chain, including fashion design, garment manufacturing, and artisan-related occupations.  The objectives of the partnership are aligned to the GRDM Growth and Development Strategy and anchored through the implementation clusters. The programme will lead to innovation, enterprise development and employment opportunities within the textile industry.

ABSA, an existing partner of the David Tlale Academy, currently supports approximately 120 beneficiaries through its skills development initiatives. “The proposed partnership with the Garden Route Skills Mecca will build on this success by uniting government, the private sector, and industry leaders to address youth unemployment through skills development and economic empowerment,” said Thembani Loliwe, GRDM Strategic Manager.

During the meeting, David Tlale presented the Academy’s vision and outlined opportunities for collaboration with the Garden Route Skills Mecca, Economic Development and Tourism Section. Tlale highlighted the important link between agriculture and the textile industry, explaining how agricultural products such as natural fibres provide the foundation for textile manufacturing and fashion production. He encouraged the partners to explore opportunities across the entire value chain, enabling young people to build careers in fashion, manufacturing, design, production, and entrepreneurship. The proposal was welcomed in principle by GRDM, as it aligns with the goals of the Garden Route Growth and Development Strategy and the Garden Route Skills Mecca to develop skills, promote entrepreneurship, and create sustainable employment opportunities across the district.

Caption fltr:  Major Sokopo – Member of the National Assembly, Phumla Hobe-Yabo – Absa Citizenship Project Specialist and David Tlale – South African fashion designer.

The GRDM Tourism Section also took part in the discussions, recognising the close connection between tourism and the fashion and textile industry. A vibrant local fashion sector enhances the visitor experience through cultural events, fashion shows, locally produced apparel, and authentic craft products, while creating opportunities for designers, manufacturers, artisans, and entrepreneurs. The proposed partnership therefore has the potential to support both skills development and tourism-led economic growth by promoting locally designed and manufactured products as part of the Garden Route’s unique visitor offering.

The parties agreed to work towards the conclusion of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which will formalise the partnership and provide a framework for its implementation. “This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to harness the expertise of the David Tlale Academy, the financial and developmental support of ABSA, and the coordinating role of the Garden Route Skills Mecca and Economic Development and Tourism to equip unemployed youth with industry-relevant skills. It also reinforces the Garden Route District Municipality’s commitment to building strategic partnerships that drive inclusive economic growth, support local industries, and create sustainable livelihoods for the people of the Garden Route,” Loliwe conclude.

-END-

28 May 2026 Media Release: Tourism in the Garden Route & Klein Karoo remains resilient and continues efforts to achieve sustainable growth

Media Release: Tourism in the Garden Route & Klein Karoo remains resilient and continues efforts to achieve sustainable growth

For immediate release
28 May 2026

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) through its regional tourism office hosted a two-day Garden Route and Klein Karoo Regional Tourism Industry Workshop in the towns of George and Oudtshoorn, on 26-27 May 2026. During these workshops, various stakeholders engaged in an information-sharing session about the status quo of the tourism sector.

This engagement was in partnerships with the National Department of Tourism, South African Tourism, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, and attended by various tourism businesses and industry stakeholder across the region such as SANPARKS, CapeNature, Wesgro, Local Tourism Offices, established and emerging business enterprises, and the hospitality industry.

The Executive Mayor, Alderman Marais Kruger welcomed everyone present under the theme “Unlocking Opportunities, Support & Benefits Across Key Tourism Institutions” reflecting our collective commitment to strengthening tourism growth, collaboration, and sustainable development across the Garden Route and Klein Karoo region.

These industry leading voices dissected a myriad of areas that requires improvement and highlighted opportunities across the entire tourism value chain. If this is realised, it could potentially open pathways for increased collaboration – a shared commitment to grow the region’s tourism industry.

South African Tourism representative responsible for stakeholder relations, Tony Nkadimeng, acknowledged that although the Garden Route had experienced natural disasters such as fires and the recent floods, the tourism industry remained resilient despite these challenges. “Regardless of these challenges, we are encouraged to see that the industry is still thriving,” he said.

Capitalising on its recognition as the best scenic route, the Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism Regional Office, together with the stakeholders at workshops, explored existing opportunities for the region to entrench its brand equity among both domestic and international travellers.

Dealing with matters pertinent to the Sector, the discussions centred around strengthening tourism marketing initiatives, promoting sports tourism such as golfing, supporting small businesses, especially women-led enterprises and positioning the Garden Route and Klein Karoo as the preferred tourism destination.

Chief Director-Enterprise Development & Transformation from the National Department of Tourism, Sbonelo Nzimande, said: “We have made a concerted effort in supporting women-led businesses, digitising services offered by small businesses and enabling transactions for operators in the rural areas as well”. Nzimande added that Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises needed to embrace research, technology, innovation and creativity to move the needle in the trajectory of their entrepreneurship endeavours.

Smalls businesses were also encouraged to apply for grading through the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

Hospitality businesses called for strategic coordination from the GRDM to ensure the sector becomes more attractive to investment. Funding and compliance were cited as the biggest stumbling blocks for entrepreneurs who emphasised the need to bridge the gap in the dissemination of information and mentorship.

Tourism, LED and EPWP Manager at the GRDM, Richard Dyantyi, recognised small businesses and various stakeholders for their contributions in the region and how these efforts made a tangible difference to the tourism landscape.

“This engagement will not be another talk-shop. I will ensure that the GRDM management and political leadership reflect on the issues raised at this platform so that when we meet again, I will be able to report back on what we have done from our side,” he said.

Caption: Presenters of the day representing the GRDM and various key stakeholders after an insightful engagement at the George leg of the Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism Industry Workshop held at the George Civic Centre.

ENDS

55 Commis II Chef Positions Available onboard MSC Cruises

SHOSHOLOZA OCEAN ACADEMY – EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: 55 COMMIS II CHEF POSITIONS AVAILABLE ONBOARD MSC CRUISES

Garden Route District Municipality invites unemployed persons male or female residing within the Garden Route District Municipal area, to apply for Commi II Chef opportunities as part of a Garden Route Skills Mecca Initiative. Opportunities are currently available within the following municipal areas within the Garden Route District.

The total number of opportunities for a municipal area (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland), range between 7 and 8 each Municipality.

Applicants must register and apply using the manual application form found on the Garden Route District Municipality website https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/manual-job-applications/ and submit applications to the GRDM office in respective municipal areas/ towns.

Or register and Apply here with a PC/Laptop: https://tinyurl.com/34unespk

Application Document Requirements

  • Training certification qualification if required -With CV application.
  • Police Clearance.
  • Passport or Passport application.
  • Body Mass Index review must be below 35.

The GRDM will only consider applications in full and if the following documents have been attached: 

  • A copy of South African ID Document certified within last three months.
  • A copy of highest educational qualifications certified within last three months.
  • An updated copy of your CV that confirms previous work experience.

Program and Entry Requirements

  • Minimum 1 – 2 years’ work experience is required.
  • Relevant experience in a hotel or restaurant establishment.
  • Industry training from a reputable college/institution certification.
  • Exceptional personality and attitude.
  • Excellent grooming standards.
  • Passionate and career driven individual.
  • Company knowledge.
  • CV with photo-On Application.

For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact MS Nolwando Sambokwe at 044-803 1363 1345, or Ms. Dineo Ramasesane at 044 803 1447 during office hours only.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Should candidates not be contacted within two months of the closing date, they must consider their application as unsuccessful.

Closing date: 22 May 2026
Notice number: 42/2026

30 April 2026 Media Release: GRDM Advances Skills Development Agenda

GRDM Advances Skills Development Agenda

30 April 2026

On 29 April 2026, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), together with organised labour represented by IMATU and SAMWU, signed the GRDM Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) for the 2026/27 financial year. This annual process reflects GRDM’s ongoing commitment to addressing institutional skills gaps.

The municipality also implements a similar approach externally through the Garden Route Skills Mecca Initiative in collaboration with several Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) entities, amongst others.

Management and unions will implement the new financial year’s WSP from 1 July 2026. The consultation and final consensus followed a series of engagements with various GRDM departments, during which training requirements were consolidated into a single, workable plan.

Caption: GRDM, IMATU, and SAMWU come together to sign the 2026/27 Workplace Skills Plan.

Looking ahead, the Garden Route District Training Committee resolved to enhance WSP planning cycles and strengthen transparency and accountability. Representing the unions, IMATU’s Bonisile Desha said, “Continuous monitoring and evaluation are vital in this process.

“Receiving progress reports on a bi-monthly basis will enable us, as unions, to take stock of these developments.”

He added, “We want to be transparent about the number of employees and ensure that the allocated budget is spent accordingly.” The unions further stressed the importance of ensuring that all employees requiring skills development interventions benefit, enabling them to contribute positively to the workplace.

Caption: A collaborative step forward as GRDM and labour partners align on skills development priorities for 2026/27.

 GRDM Skills and Training Manager, Regional Salmons, emphasised that while skills development is mandatory for the GRDM, employee engagement is vital for the WSP to drive growth rather than just meet compliance.

Salmons noted that the annual submission of the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) to LGSETA by April 30th is essential, as it unlocks mandatory and discretionary funding for the municipality.

Feature image caption: GRDM strengthens its commitment to workforce development with the signing of the 2026/27 Workplace Skills Plan.

ENDS

Code B and C Driver’s License Training Opportunities for employed and unemployed persons from rural parts of Kannaland (Zoar, Ladismith, Calitzdorp and Van Wyksdorp).

Code B and C Driver’s License Training Opportunities for employed and unemployed persons from Kannaland rural areas (Zoar, Ladismith, Calitzdorp and Van Wyksdorp).

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) invites employed and unemployed persons between ages of 18 to 40, male or female residing within the Garden Route District Municipal area, to apply for an opportunity to be trained for a Drivers License Code B and C as part of a Garden Route Skills Mecca initiative.

Closing Date: 22 April 2026

Opportunities are currently available within the above mentioned Kannaland rural areas:

  • Zoar
  • Ladismith
  • Calitzdorp
  • Van Wyksdorp

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants must register and apply using the online RED BUTTON (Unemployment Solutions) on the Garden Route Skills Mecca Web site at https://skillsmecca.gardenroute.gov.za/ or browse to this shortlink: https://tinyurl.com/34unespk. 

Those unable to access the website, can apply by printing this application form https://tinyurl.com/28m8vxnt and submitting it to the address listed.

For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact Nolwando Sambokwe at 044 803 1345 or e-mail nolwando@gardenroute.gov.za, or Sisanda Sajini at 044 803 1450 or e-mail sisandas@gardenroute.gov.za during office hours only.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Should candidates not be contacted within two months of the closing date, they must consider their application as unsuccessful.

 

Code B and C Driver’s License Training Opportunities for employed and unemployed persons from rural parts of George (Uniondale, Haarlem, Avontuur, Waboomskraal, Touwsranten, Hoekwil, Kleinkrants and Noll)

Code B and C Driver’s License Training Opportunities for employed and unemployed persons from rural parts of George (Uniondale, Haarlem, Avontuur, Waboomskraal, Touwsranten, Hoekwil, Kleinkrants and Noll)

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) invites employed and unemployed persons between ages of 18 to 40, male or female residing within the Garden Route District Municipal area, to apply for an opportunity to be trained for a Drivers License Code B and C as part of a Garden Route Skills Mecca initiative.

Closing Date: 22 April 2026

Opportunities are currently available within the above mentioned George rural areas:

  • Uniondale;
  • Haarlem;
  • Avontuur;
  • Waboomskraal;
  • Touwsranten;
  • Hoekwil;
  • Kleinkrants; and
  • Noll.

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants must register and apply using the online RED BUTTON (Unemployment Solutions) on the Garden Route Skills Mecca Web site at https://skillsmecca.gardenroute.gov.za/ or browse to this shortlink: https://tinyurl.com/34unespk

Those unable to access the website, can apply by printing this application form https://tinyurl.com/28m8vxnt and submitting it to the address listed.

For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact Nolwando Sambokwe at 044 803 1345 or e-mail nolwando@gardenroute.gov.za, or Sisanda Sajini at 044 803 1450 or e-mail sisandas@gardenroute.gov.za during office hours only.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Should candidates not be contacted within two months of the closing date, they must consider their application as unsuccessful.