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Intergovernmental Relations

3 December 2020 Media Release: GRDM holds its 4th IDP, Budget and Performance Management System Representative Forum

Media Release: GRDM holds its 4th IDP, Budget and Performance Management System Representative Forum

Immediate release
3 December 2020

Last week on 24 November 2020, the fourth Garden Route District Integrated Development Planning, Budget and Performance Management Systems Representative Forum took place, since Council took office in 2015. The event took the form of a webinar as a result of the rapid increase in Covid-19 active cases in the region.

The purpose of this event was for all municipalities in the Garden Route District to provide an overview, scope, services delivered and challenges relating to planned capital projects and services to be rendered by the respective municipalities to their communities. The municipalities also provided status quo assessments and reflected on their 2019/2020 Annual Performance. They furthermore had to indicate what support they require to ensure that service delivery in their respective municipal areas can indeed take place.

The event was opened by Councillor Rowan Spies, Portfolio Chairperson for Roads and Transport Services at Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) who welcomed all participants to the webinar including: Mayors, Deputy Mayors from B-municipalities and Councillors, as well as Sector Department representatives. He also reminded participants that they remain part of this winning plan during these times.

Mr Monde Stratu, the GRDM Municipal Manager, during his address cautioned participants and the public to take extra care during this time as the Garden Route experience a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic. With reference to the event and its purpose, he emphasised the concept of public participation and said that the forum forms a structural link between municipalities and the public by informing the interest groups of relevant planning activities and outcomes. “It is also a platform for analysing integrated issues affecting various sectors to determine priorities, strategies, projects and programmes and to identify budgets,” Stratu said.

Executive Mayor, Alderman Booysen, together with Speaker Barnie Groenewald (left) and  Deputy Executive Deputy Mayor, Alderlady Rosina Ruiters (2nd left) on 14 October 2020, hand over products and essentials to SMMEs of the Garden Route, as part of the SMME Development Programme of the GRDM.

Executive Mayor of GRDM, Alderman Memory Booysen, during his address, spoke about the district’s 2019/2020 plans and projects. He also gave an overview and shared the highlights of the 2019/2020 Annual Performance Report, as well as the current status of projects that are already underway. He referred to the vision of the municipality and said that the municipality uses its vision to directly take the lead  and support and/or enable B-municipalities in terms of their needs in the form of partnerships. He concluded by saying that it also provides the projection for the municipality while ensuring that residents of the district have a high quality of life and that there are equal opportunities for all. He further stated that by achieving this, the municipality proves that it works hand-in-hand with B-municipalities of the district. The current focus is on the following programmes including: community safety programmes, food security, potential district food bank that are under currently discussions, as well as programme that focuses on the priority of the health of the residents. By ensuring inclusiveness in the roll-out of projects, he stated that the GRDM has good working relations with the Western Cape Government and National Government Departments.

Mayor Booysen, during his address, said that GRDM is training the youth of the GRDM, through Apprenticeship, Learnerships and Bursary programmes, so that the District has the relevant skills in the area.

Mayor Booysen also mentioned the influx of residents of the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape, hence the increase in the population of the Garden Route, according to the projections,” he said. With job losses being a big concern, when referring to the 15,6 % unemployment rate of the region’s citizens, he said that the youth are being the hardest hit by unemployment.

In further highlighting the achievements of the GRDM, which include the Garden Route being one of best film destinations, Alderman Booysen said:  “The GRDM have contributed R200 000 to make sure that we deal with the basics of the film industry”. He further highlighted that the district has one of the biggest Roads Services Departments of the Western Cape; therefore construction plays a major role in terms of the vastness of the Garden Route district.

While sharing possible solutions for job losses and unemployment, he said: “To be able to create jobs, we need to deal with infrastructure projects that have the potential to create jobs and put food on the table. “District projects include the roofing of the municipality’s resort (Calitzdorp Spa Resort), the Regional Landfill Facility project, although discussions are still ongoing, etc” he said. Mayor Booysen further confirmed that more than R10 million have been spent on projects such as Law Enforcement; assistance with Early Childhood Development to help get children to get off the street; and Expanded Public Works Programmes, e.g. disinfecting of public areas in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Drivers Licence Programme was also mentioned; however he raised his concern relating to some learners who dropped out of the programme, even though the municipality carries all the costs relating to the programme.  He therefore encouraged the youth that are enrolled to these programmes to make a success of the opportunities and put all their energy into it.

Programmes such as the Cater Care Programme to train the youth to fill up spaces in the Hospitality Industry, the Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) Programme which the municipality invested R500 000 towards identifying and assisting struggling SMMEs in the area, were also highlighted.  In conclusion he said, that communication with all stakeholders during the pandemic is open and the municipality encourages members of the public, businesses and stakeholders to use these platforms to communicate their experiences, “advise us, so that we can tap into other resources to ensure that the Garden Route is open for business”. Mayor Booysen further acknowledged that none of the projects can be implemented without the support of stakeholders. ”If we all do what is expected from us, then we will definitely change the livelihoods of the people of the Garden Route.

Mayor Booysen further referred to the Illegal Dumping Project which is currently rolled out in George with the rest to all the areas to follow. “With this, we are extending the hand of the local municipalities to change people’s lives.” Mayor Booysen further admitted that approximately R32 million would be needed to assist all towns, but the GRDM is starting on a small scale by reaching out to George. One of the most ground-breaking projects that are currently under discussions, according to Mayor Booysen, is a level-1 housing accreditation which the municipality applied for. He admits that there is a shortage of middle income housing “and with our available land we want local municipalities to work hand-in-hand with us to provide middle income housing to residence of the area”. Student accommodation is also under discussion,” he said. Learnerships, internships and apprenticeships are rolled out to which Alderman Booysen added that with these programmes the GRDM is training the youth of thr district to be ready for when opportunity knocks on our doors and so that we have the relevant skills in our area. “We can only achieve all of this, if we work together, share information, we assist each other, partner with Non-Governmental and Faith Based Organisations, as well as partners at provincial and national level to make sure that whatever we do, we put the lives of our people first,”. Mayor Booysen concluded.

Most presentations made by local municipalities, revolved around concerns relating to businesses that closed down in their respective municipal areas and as a result thereof, many people were retrenched or lost their jobs or earn reduced wages. Municipal revenue collection was also negatively impacted by the national lockdown and drought still poses a threat to water security in the Klein Karoo and Kannaland municipal areas, to name a few.

Hospitals or 24/7 health facilities, high schools and primary schools, old age homes and rehabilitation centres, were amongst the critical support needed by municipalities as presented by municipal officials. Assistance with land for agriculture purposes and assistance to small farmers, as well as vegetable gardens were also made mentioned of.  With the ongoing crime in the district, some municipalities also indicated their need for satellite police stations to increase police visibility and improved services. With the new normal as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the less fortunate are still the most vulnerable because it demands fibre connectivity and mostly the vulnerable can’t afford data and are unable to work from home.

Municipalities now rely on and anticipate that large infrastructure projects will turn the district economy around. Various projects have already commenced with others in the pipeline and in progress. More information regarding these identified projects can be viewed on the GRDM website.

Support by Sector Departments has also been presented by representatives at the Forum. These departments include: the Western Cape Government Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Government Department of Community Safety, Western Cape Government Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Western Cape Government Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning, Western Cape Government Department of Health and the Western Cape Government Department of Human Settlements. National Departments Water and Sanitation and ESKOM also presented their projects and plans for the Garden Route. Detailed information about these projects is also available on the municipality’s website.

The event was successfully directed by the Executive Manager for Planning and Economic Development, Mr Lusanda Menze, and organised by the IDP and Public Participation team of GRDM.

END

2 September 2020 Public Notice: 2021/2022 IDP/Budget and PMS Process Plan & Time Schedule

Notice 48/2020

2021/2022 IDP/Budget and PMS Process Plan including Time Schedule

Notice is hereby given that the 2021/2022 Integrated Development Plan IDP/Budget/ Performance Management System (PMS) Process Plan including the Time Schedule to review the 2017/2018-2021/2022 IDP and Budget has been adopted in terms of Section 28 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000) and Section 21 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003) by the Garden Route District Municipal Council, at a Council meeting held on 25 August 2020.

These documents will be available on the municipal website www.gardenroute.gov.za.

Click to download the full advert.

For any further enquiries, please contact:

Ms M James (IDP Unit: Garden Route District Municipality) at telephone number:

044 803 1431

M G Stratu

Municipal Manager

Garden Route District Municipality

7 August 2020 Media Advisory: Minister Madikizela to visit Garden Route district (07 August to 11 August)

Media Advisory: Minister Madikizela to visit Garden Route district (07 August to 11 August)

For Immediate Release
7 August 2020

This weekend, the Western Cape MEC for Transport and Public Works, Minister Bongikosi Madikizela, will be visiting the Garden Route district to assess compliance to Covid-19 regulations at various sites in the area.

The programme will commence in Bitou on Friday (this afternoon) at 16h00, with Knysna that will follow from 8h00 to 12h30 on Saturday.  The George area will be next on the programme starting on Sunday from 9h00 to Monday 12h30. MEC Madizikela will conclude with his visits on Tuesday from 9h00 to 11h30 when he visits Mossel Bay.

Madikizela will focus on compliance adherence regionally, in particularly long distance transport and taxi ranks, including road blocks. Taxi ranks need to adhere to 70% loading capacity.

As part of this initiative, Minister Madikizela also plans to meet with transport stakeholders and officially open a government vehicle pool facility during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in George.

Media Queries – Cell: 082 953 002

ENDS

25 May 2020 GRDM holds 2-day Institutional Strategic Planning Session to discuss its strategic direction

Press Release

25 May 2020

For Immediate Release

Councillors and management from Garden Route District Municipality, together with representatives from labour unions and various government stakeholders, on 7 and 11 May 2020, convened through a virtual platform, a Strategic Planning Session, to review all operations of the municipality since July to March 2020 and also to discuss the strategic direction that the municipality aims to undertake over the short- and long term.

This annual engagement, as described by the facilitator, Dr Florus Prinsloo, allowed all participants to share their inputs with regards to the damage that the COVID-19 pandemic has done to the economy of the district and also the district’s readiness and the interventions of the municipality to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

When describing the objective of the session, Executive Mayor of GRDM, Councillor Memory Booysen, emphasised the importance of all stakeholders, especially representatives from the various political parties, around one table to discuss strategic issues of the municipality.

With reference to the COVID-19 pandemic that also affects the rest of the work, including Garden Route,, Executive  Mayor Booysen said: “Nobody foresaw that by this time, we would all be affected by this pandemic”. He said: “We all have had to change our lifestyles; we now have to change our management styles as well as our political approach to provide direction to the management in our collective fight of this pandemic. We must use this time as an opportunity to prepare ourselves for change. All the initiatives we are busy with are all enforced by COVID-19. Some would not be sustainable and affordable, but we know that some initiatives have to be adjusted. We now have to realign how we use to do business and how we are going to adapt to the new norm,” Mayor Booysen added.

Municipal Manager of GRDM, Mr Monde Stratu, acknowledged that the pandemic has revealed the levels of poverty in South Africa, e.g. hunger, inhumane settlements etc., but also at the same time how the pandemic brought to the fore that government indeed works. He said: “As we plan for the new financial year, it will not be the same going forward. We have to re-look and review our strategies”.

Mr Stratu also provided feedback about the compliance of all committees from July to date and reported that all Council meetings that were scheduled to take place have been executed, all reports that were prepared to serve at oversight committees were processed and the annual report was approved in time. He furthermore provided an update on the application for GRDM to be registered as a Water Service Authority as well as an update regarding the catalytic projects such as the fresh produce market ,Renewable Energy Projects, Development Agency etc. which are still in its planning phases.

In respect of intergovernmental relations and public participation all forums took place including IDP forums. Mr Stratu furthermore reported that the Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan and all planning processes to review the IDP and Budget have been undertaken and that all required financial reports have been submitted to the relevant structures. He therefore extended a word of appreciation to the political leadership for their role to ensure that the municipality complied with these legislative requirements. Mr Stratu also remembered and acknowledged the late Cllr Nomhiki Jacobs who participated in all these initiatives to ensure that Council adhered to all legislative requirements, however she sadly passed away on 18 March 2020.

In going forward, Mr Stratu highlighted the municipality is in a financially stable position, however, he said: “We now have to make serious changes in terms of the long term sustainability of the municipality”. He also acknowledged that the Cost Containment Regulations contributed to various strategies that had to be reviewed as many tourism and other projects came to a halt due to the lockdown.  He concluded with the following words:  “As a Council we do have the political will and we are confident to do everything possible to reignite the economy of the Garden Route in order to take our rightful place as a district municipality and lead as our vision reads”.

Dr Michael Sutcliffe, former City Manager of eThekwini Municipality made a presentation on the Municipal functions as outlined in section 84 of the Structures Act. He shared some findings on the research he has done on this functions and the recommendations that will be made with regards to possible review of Section 84 and 85 of the Structures Act. He acknowledged that the Garden Route District Municipality is capable of performing the functions of the district as outlined in Section 84. Dr Sutcliffe made an example that a district fresh model idea would address the needs of both the most impoverished communities to the richest of the rich.

Mr Walton Carelse from the Western Cape Government presented the Joint District Approach that started in July 2018. The model was developed in conjunction with Local Municipalities and was introduced at the Garden Route Municipal Managers Forum on 4 December 2018. The model included the identification and assessment of Municipal priorities throughout the district and developing a consolidated approach in achieving those priorities. Through these platforms the following themes were created to group the challenges of the municipalities, namely: climate change and water security, local economic development, immigration and urbanisation, infrastructure management, institutional governance, data management, intergovernmental planning alignment, partnering, partnerships and shared services, financial sustainability, citizen interface, political, administrative and social instability and waste management. Each district municipality had to identify their two/three top priorities from  the five top priorities identified across the Western Cape namely: community participation, infrastructure management, urbanisation, climate change and water security, as well as waste management. All these were identified prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now the municipality may have to review the priorities, in light of  Covid-19 pandemic. Currently the District has identified the following priorities from the broad themes:

  • Growing the Regional Economy
  • Developing Resilience as a Region
  • Integrated Management for Good Governance
  • Liveable Cities/Towns Social Cohesion
  • Sustainable Human Settlements

When presenting the COVID-19 Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) support programme, Mr Rashid Teofy, Head of the Western Cape Government COVID-19 Economic Cluster, together with members of the Cluster, explained the role of the Cluster since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. These include the access to incentives, the collating of information on all support measures to ensure that these are available to SMMEs etc. Furthermore, together with Provincial Treasury, a database has also been developed to deal with personal protective equipment, which municipalities and government departments can access for procurement of personal protective equipment such as cloth masks. Together with this, WESGRO created a platform for the private sector where suppliers and buyers can interact with one another regarding Covid 19 PPE. The unit also engages with businesses and banks on a bi-weekly basis to discuss the challenges of SMMEs. Another initiative that is also in its planning phase is to transform spaza shops into mini supermarkets which will allow a more sophisticated shopping experience for the community.

The concept of a digital economy was furthermore presented, whereby various components and services have been brought into one platform that can be accessed by SMMEs as a guideline or a digital support tool. The platform, known as Jump for Entrepreneurs, furthermore seeks to assist small businesses to become more competitive and have access to more markets. This tool can be accessed via www.bizjump.co.za. The platform is updated on a regular basis and businesses are therefore encouraged to upload their profiles to interact with other businesses and remain competitive in this digital age.

The second day’s activities were in the form of presentations presented by the different Head of departments within the municipality.  Executive Managers used the opportunity to reflect on the past financial year’s achievements as well as the challenges experienced.  Councillors were enlightened with departments’ objective and strategies for the next financial year.  The impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on service delivery was also discussed. These presentations outlined various exciting projects that the Municipality will be engaged in to ensure self-sustainability and improve the regional economy.

ENDS

GRDM Mayor welcomes WC MEC of Transport and Public Works during Road Safety roadshow

On Friday, 17 January 2020 , the Executive Mayor of the Garden Route, Cllr Memory Booysen, welcomed the Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Bonginkosi Madikizela to the district, as part of his visit the district to discuss road safety initiatives and law enforcement integration plans.

 

MEC Bongikosi Madikizela, Executive Mayors, Municipal Managers, as well as Municipal officials during the visit and the welcoming of the MEC to the Garden Route district.

The roadshow is an initiative of the MEC to address his concerns about the high number of fatalities happening on municipal roads. Preliminary statistics for the period 1 to 31 December 2019 indicate that the Western Cape has recorded a decrease in the number of fatalities, with a total of 111 deaths, compared to 167 in December 2018. Of these, 71 deaths happened on municipal roads.

The Roadshow was attended by Executive Mayors, Municipal Managers and officials from municipalities in the Garden Route district, including traffic officials from George Municipality.

GRDM to host IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum meeting

The Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality, Cllr Memory Booysen, invites all stakeholders to an IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum meeting.

At the event, all Mayors within the District will be outlining their projects and programmes for their respective areas. Furthermore, all sector departments in the Western Cape will have an opportunity to also present their projects and programmes for implementation in the Garden Route district.

The Forum is scheduled to take place as follows:

Date: 23 January 2020
Time: 10:00am
Venue: George Municipality Civic Hall

For further information, please contact the District IDP Manager Mzukisi Cekiso at mzukisi@gardenroute.gov.za.

Western Cape Government Logo

Matric First Work Experience PAY Internship Opportunities 2020/2021 – open 6 to 17 January 2020

Application for our Matric First Work Experience PAY Internship Opportunities 2020/2021 opens 6 January and closes 17 January 2020. The programme will provide matriculants between the ages of 17 – 24 with work experience and training within one of the 13 Western Cape Government Departments beginning 1 April 2020 until 31 March 2021.

Click here to apply

Qualifying criteria:

  • 24 years old or younger.
  • wrote and passed the National Senior Certificate (NSC) in the Western Cape.
  • not going to study further in 2020.
  • South African citizen, residing in the Western Cape.
  • no support network to help you make informed career choices.
  • not sure of your next step after school.
  • financially constrained.

What will you achieve?

  • Work experience in the public sector.
  • Contactable references for your brand new CV.
  • A set of skills and experiences that will make you more marketable and employable.
  • A year in which to make informed career choices together with a network to back it up.

Make it happen

  • Application open 6 January and closes 17 January 2020

Application tips

  • If you don’t have an email address, create one at a free email site like Gmail or Yahoo. You will need it to apply.
  • You have to register first before you can apply.
  • Once you have registered successfully, you’ll receive a username (your email address) and password (one-time pin number).
  • Use the username and password to login and complete the application.
  • After completion of the application, you will receive a message: ‘You have successfully applied for the PAY Project internship.
  • Please save your username and password in a secure place so that you are able to access it should you need to.
  • Find out more by reading our Recruitment Guide.

We’ll be verifying each applicant’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) results with the Western Cape Education Department as well as any other relevant documentation.

Applicants will only be appointed once they’ve passed a security check, which includes having their fingerprints taken.

Applicants must ensure that they open bank accounts before undergoing a personal security check.

Applicants must also ensure that they register with SARS to obtain a tax number before the personnel security check.

For more information on the recruitment process, read the full 2020 PAY recruitment guide.

Issued by: Western Cape Government

Annual Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) hosted in George

The annual Garden Route Environmental Forum’s (GREF) key stakeholder event took place in George on 11 December 2019 under the theme: “Reflecting on regional environmental initiatives and planning ahead for 2020”. Mandated by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), the GREF is the premier environmental platform in the Garden Route during which stakeholders collaborate about topics for conservation, environmental adaption and community interaction.

GRDM Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen, during the welcoming address during which he urged attendees to take hands, ‘speak one language’ and determine the way forward

At the Forum, GRDM Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen officially welcomed  stakeholders and guest from around the Western Cape and reminded them of the four major challenges the district faced, namely, “Invasive alien plants, water scarcity, electrical shortages, and unemployment’’.  Cllr Booysen highlighted the importance to link ‘Invasive Alien Plants Eradication to Renewable Energy and Water Security, in an essence to address unemployment in the Garden Route District.

Western Cape Government (WCG) Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Mr Anton Bredell, presented the keynote address and stated that the Garden Route is the crown jewel of the Western Cape, and that stakeholders need to understand the science of planning for the future.  Mr Bredell announced that the Western Cape faced 17 000 wildfires during 2017, including the devastating Knysna and Plettenberg Bay fires the same year. He continued by saying that the current drought situation causes havoc and a major concern for our future sustainability, as it is predicted that by the year 2030, the demand for fresh water will exceed 40% of supply.

Mr Bredell acknowledged and brought it to the attention of Councillors that the correct decisions may not always be the popular ones or the ones communities or councillors would prefer. In conclusion he emphasised that Government cannot address the environmental challenges on its own, “It is our responsibility to take action for our future generations – we have to take hands and be more proactive. As a collective we would have to work with landowners so that they can be held accountable for their legally mandated responsibilities.”

During his speech, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, captivated attendees with an insightful speech.

Speakers from various specialised fields of environmental management, for example, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), Biodiversity and Coastal Management, SANParks and Agriculture, to name just a few, followed.

Delegates eagerly participated in discussions to find lasting solutions for prevailing regional problems, and a myriad of new challenges were identified and discussed. Discussions also took place on what the agricultural production scenario will reflect in two decades from now, what are the vulnerabilities of our coastline given the slight rise in ocean levels, stronger storm surges and floods, as well as to look at the fire risk to ever-expanding communities and the rural/urban interface.

For decades authorities and private landowners have dealt with the same problems, including non-sustainable land-use and land management best practice, increased fire risks and water security issues, a rapid decrease in natural habitat and biodiversity conservation, and compliance with environmental and agricultural legislation.

FLTR: Mr Cobus Meiring – GREF Secretariat, Cllr Memory Booysen – GRDM Executive Mayor, Mr Gerhard Otto – GRDM Manager: Disaster Manager, Ms Nina Viljoen – GRDM Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation Practitioner, Mr Clive Africa – GRDM Executive Manager: Community Services, Cllr Rosina Ruiters – GRDM Deputy Executive Mayor and Mr Anton Bredell – Western Cape Government Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

An all-out effort to ensure a climate-ready future, and a mind shift in the way we adapt and manage our environment, is urgent and should dominate the social and political narrative if the region aims to develop sustainably. An environment free of invasive alien plants and cleared waterways and catchments, will take the region a leap forward in risk reduction, and all authorities, landowners and land managers must heed the call.

With climate change, the spread of invasive alien plants and the intricate and long-term effects these environmental threats bring to the region, regional and local authorities, land managers and conservationists will have little choice but to plan around what nature will impose upon the region in years to come.

Editor’s Note:

GRDM and partners established the overarching Garden Route Environmental Forum, with the aim to coordinate regional conservation efforts, to serve as a catalyst to drive climate adaption practices in the Southern Cape, and to establish a better-coordinated approach to environmental management in the district. The Garden Route Environmental Forum aims to play a leading role in taking on environmental challenges, and to develop partnerships, in order to ensure and encourage a cohesive approach to find sustainable solutions.

Garden Route men attend 1st Men’s Parliament in George

The Men’s Parliament was launched and presented by the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Honorable Hendrietta Ipeleng Bogopane-Zulu, in collaboration with the South African National AIDS Council, Takuwani Riime and Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM). The purpose of the assembly was to discuss approaches to behavioural change programmes of the Department of Social Development (DSD) that seek to promote positive outcomes critical to change the course of gender-based violence faced by all South Africans.

Executive Mayor of GRDM, Cllr Memory Booysen (2nd right), together with Speaker of GRDM, Cllr Barend Groenewald and Municipal Manager of GRDM, Mr Monde Stratu, welcomed the Deputy-Minister of DSD, Honorable Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu (middle) and Professor Archbishop Mbulelo Dyasi, Secretary of the Men’s Sector, SANAC (right) to the Garden Route district, before the commencement of the 1st Men’s Parliament assembly.

After Honorable Ipeleng Bogopane-Zulu was warmly welcomed by the Executive Mayor of GRDM, Cllr Memory Booysen, she later joined the men in Conville to officially launch the assembly, which will now be a quarterly sitting.

Deputy-Minister of DSD, Honorable Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, during her keynote address at the assembly.

Attendees used the opportunity provided to them, to speak about the issues men are faced with on a daily basis and used the question “What is a man?” as a basis and kick-off point for all related discussions that followed.

These discussions included:

  • the nature of the problem;
  • validation of positive masculinity and the need  for healing;
  • promoting a healthy society;
  • the call from women; and
  • the responses of men – what must be done, economic development – how we are going to build the economy and personal commitment, mobilisation and accountability (from decision, to action, to results, demonstrating the results of our actions, as well as mentorship in raising responsive responsible boys.

During her keynote address, Ms Bogopane-Zulu praised the GRDM Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen, and Speaker, Cllr Barend Groenewald, as well as the local municipalities in the district for their eagerness to implement the programme. She said: “I know that more men will be included in future male-focused engagements.  This is a long road, but if we continue to work together, the road will get shorter.  We cannot achieve anything if we do not have your support”. Ms Bogopane-Zulu further referred to the recent tragic deaths of women in the district as a result of gender-based violence, specifically in the Mossel Bay area and said:  “It is time that men take full responsibility and accountability, not only for their individual actions, but also for their collective actions”. She added: “Whenever these perpetrators go to court, only the faces of women are visible outside the courts“. She furthermore said: “I want to see men with posters in front of these courts, not only women. She encouraged men to stand firm and say ‘no, this one must not be allowed bail”. She further encouraged all attendees to use their voices with the hope to help Government to implement programmes that will assist men to improve their circumstances and behaviour, to make this country a better country for all.

Portfolio Councillor for Roads and Transport Planning Services at GRDM, Cllr Rowan Spies, spoke about how men must find a way to manage their egos and anger. He emphasised:  “We as men have to find a way to deal with our egos and anger, in order to gain self-respect. Change only happens in the practice of discipline and forgiveness”. He concluded with the following words:  “We are servants at various levels of society and we must all translate it into what we do on a daily basis. We have to deal with our egos and forgiveness,” he added.

The assembly was successfully chaired by the GRDM Speaker Barend Groenewald, who concluded the event with the following words:  “Let us act, to correct, educate and let the perpetrators face the consequences of their own shameful and deliberate actions”.

It is envisaged that the programme will be implemented and extended to the local municipalities in the Garden Route from next year onwards, whereby men structures will be established by the DSD and GRDM, to ensure the progress of the Takuwani Riime project. ‘Takuwani Riime’ is a Venda expression meaning “let Us Stand Up Together”.

Resolutions taken at the event:

 Motions with Notice

 1. Motions on Definition of a man

A man is not simply defined by his physical make-up, A man is a man through his action(s) that reflect good morals, accountability and the affection he brings to his house and community. A man is provider and a protector, nurtured by his character.

 2. Motions on health wellness and socio-economic hardships

We move for the adoption that men need to avail themselves to seek health advice timeously in order to detect and help prevent illnesses. Men need undergo introspection and seek psychosocial services in order to effect social behavioural change practices. Men need to undergo HIV, TB, Prostate Cancer and heart-related health check-ups and take a greater responsibility in looking after their health. Men need to work in conjunction with the government to examine the nature and structural drivers of unemployment for middle-aged men and develop a framework that will remedy unemployment.

 3. Motions on gender-based Violence

We move for the adoption to work towards eradicating and preventing new cases of GBV, femicide, rape and abuse. We as Men of Garden Route bind and commit ourselves to say “No women and Child” should suffer or experience any form of violence in our district, we say “Not in Our Name”.

 4. Motions on District Men’s Parliament 

We move for the adoption to work towards strengthening the implementation of Takuwani Riime and looking at avenues to strengthen the relationship between the Garden Route District Men’s sector, District Municipality, local municipalities and the Department of Social Development. As men of the Garden Route District, we need to mobilize more men in communities, mobilize the business and capacitate existing men’s sector structure. We need to move towards institutionalizing our movement to be absorbed by our district and local municipality through finding synergies and other methods of cooperation. District Men’s Parliaments are to have quarterly sitting to monitor and evaluate implementation efforts, and to aid implementations of Boys Assemblies.

Media Release: Local Content and Production (LC&P) Workshop hosted in George

Media Release: Local Content and Production (LC&P) Workshop hosted in George

For Immediate Release
4 November 2019

The Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) in partnership with Provincial Treasury, the Department of Trade and Industry, as well as the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), recently, held a Local Content and Production (LC&P) workshop at the Outeniqua Research Farm in George.

Municipal Manager from Garden Route District Municipality, welcomed all stakeholders present and contextualised the municipal environment in relation to local content and the local economy, during the event.

The workshop formed a part of road show that was conducted in various districts within the Western Cape.  Discussions focused on the issues that impact on the progression of LC&P, specifically in the Garden Route district.  For this reason, local business representatives from various sectors and municipal officials from the local economic development and supply chain managements units attended the engagement to share their experiences and address issues in terms of local content and production.

During his welcoming speech and overview of the district, Municipal Manager of the GRDM, Mr Monde Stratu, spoke about the challenges of local content in a broader context and said: “When we talk about local content and production, it means we have some form of competition”.

He also referred to the economic instabilities internationally and narrowed it down to local challenges, including issues relating to the national electricity provider, unemployment, corruption within a municipal context. These challenges have become sophisticated because of globalisation etc. and we need to look at protecting our local industries.  Mr Stratu also mentioned that when South Africa’s economy opened its markets to international businesses, “it had to have some mechanism in place to protect our own economy, hence we talk about protection of the local industry and growing our own economy, creating sustainable jobs…”.  With these issues in mind and more specifically the issue of unemployment, he asked: “How successful were we in creating sustainable jobs in our district?” To which he further added: “Our sheer unemployment statistics are telling us that something is extremely wrong”. Mr Stratu advised that perhaps the Government should not explore new regulations, instead we should perfect what we already have and analyse it to determine what we are doing wrong”.

GRDM SCM officials who also attended the workshop, were (fltr): Manager of Finance, Mr Tebello Mpuru, Senior Accountant: SCM, Ms Deidre Raubenheimer, as well SCM Officer, Ms Sandisa Gologolo, SCM Administrator, Ms Melantha Botha and SCM Officer, Ms Bukelwa Ndzinde.

Various other vital issues were raised at the event, such as the issue of support and the development of SMMEs to be able to respond to tenders, as many of the tenders received from SMMEs are non-responsive. Manager in Finance at GRDM, Mr Tebello Mpuru, responded with his concerns about practical issues experienced by a supply chain management practitioners, as well as bidders and suggested that DTI, should make guidelines available to accompany regulations in order to reduce these administrative issues.

Ms Patricia September, from the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) advised SMMEs to make use of the services offered by SEDA and all other resources available to develop themselves. Ms September also emphasised: “When the need for training arises SMMEs must approach Government to fill those skills gaps within industries”. She furthermore acknowledged that government institutions and industry do have best practices and advised that those best practices be shared with one another.

All inputs gathered at the workshop will be discussed at a LC&P Summit and Exhibition for Government that is scheduled to take place this year. The purpose of the Summit and Exhibition will be to formulate a policy for the acceleration of local content and production of local commodities.

National and Provincial Government officials, as well as municipal officials from the district including Local Economic Development and Supply Chain Management (SCM) officials, representatives from SMMEs, local corporates, including the SABS, business associations and industry representatives from the LC&P sectors attended the workshop.

What is Local Content and Production?

 “Local Content” means that in terms of the manufacturing process the materials and labour in the manufacturing of the designated sector goods, are produced within the borders of South Africa. Therefore “locally” refers to “proudly made in South Africa” and does not begin to ring fence procurement from only people within the town or region, but for all South Africans irrespective of location.