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6 November 2020 Media Release: GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners, SAPS and Local Municipalities visit spaza shops

Media Release: GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners, SAPS and Local Municipalities visit spaza shops

For Immediate Release
6 November 2020

During October a number of role players visited 126 Spaza Shops in the Garden Route to ensure that compliance to regulations governing general hygiene requirements, including COVID-19 regulations; food premises standards; and the transport of food and related matters, were adhered to.  The visits were arranged by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) and approached jointly with the help of the South African Police Services (SAPS) and local municipal officials from town planning, law enforcement, building control and local economic development.

“The Garden Route District Municipality command centre collectively decided that unannounced visits to Spaza Shops were needed,” said Johan Compion, GRDM Manager: Municipal Health and Environmental Services. “Spaza Shops are visited by a great number of people and especially nowadays, with the risk of a second wave of COVID-19 emerging, it is more important than ever that businesses are safe and compliant to regulations,” he said.

During the inspections the focus is on the following issues:

  • Checking if all Spaza Shops had Certificates of Acceptability (CoAs);
  • compliance to local municipal bylaws;
  • compliance to hygiene standards;
  • adherence to COVID-19 safety measures (hand sanitizer at designated points available to customers and employees; social distancing for queues);
  • monitoring of employees and customers wore face masks;
  • sanitising of hands before and after servicing customers;
  • sanitising of hands after handling money.;
  • displaying appropriate signage and awareness information;
  • maximum ventilation;
  • daily cleaning and disinfection of high risk surfaces and objects;
  • wearing of utility gloves by those removing refuse;
  • proper sealing of waste bags; and
  • no illegal dumping of waste.

Challenges identified at some of the Spaza Shops, include:

  • Sanitising and wearing of masks in some Spaza Shops were not adhered to.
  • Social distancing of 1.5 m in and outside shops when queuing and inside some Spaza shops were not followed by customers.

Where non-compliance was identified, additional awareness and education was provided and an inspection report issued, which will include a follow-up inspection. This has to happen to ensure that hygienic requirements are met and COVID-19 preventative measures are followed to combat and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Picture: Gcobani Tshozi, EHP for Garden Route DM and Thomas Fosibo (Manager of Shop 2 in Thembalethu)

ENDS

2 November 2020 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality welcomes 30 interns for workplace experience

Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality welcomes 30 interns for workplace experience

For Immediate Release
2 November 2020

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) recently welcomed thirty (30) interns from various sectors for an internship programme at its Head-Office in George. This, after the Department of Western Cape Department of Local Government created an opportunity for interns to be placed at various municipalities for a period of six months from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 in the 2020/2021 financial year.

The Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) required each municipality to do a Skills Audit of all the qualifications of their staff members. The information obtained was then collated onto the GAPSKILSS Programme which is an online national system. In order to reach the desired outcomes, the DPLG approached the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) to fund the interns, as a means to assist the Department with the entire process. DEDAT then granted municipalities the funds to appoint interns. The funds were transferred to all municipalities who participate in the programme, such as the GRDM.

All municipalities who take part in the programme have to adhere to certain requirements. Two of the requirements are that the municipality have to indicate the need or number of interns needed within the municipality and that they must fund four to five of the interns that they accommodate. The rest of the interns will be funded by the DEDAT.
With the GRDM who accommodates 30 interns, these interns will be able to require the necessary skills and gain workplace experience within their specialised fields. This will allow them to be job-ready and will enable them to start building their careers. Also, the initiative further aims to assist households within rural areas financially.

Interns from various sectors welcomed to the Garden Route District Municipality on the 1st of October 2020.

Strict measures are in place and proper monitoring are done to ensure that the desired outcomes are reached. Currently the interns are tasked with meaningful work activities and proof thereof must be provided together with an attendance register that have to be signed by each participant on a daily basis.

ENDS

1 November 2020 NOTICE 61/2020 – 2019/2020 UNAUDITED DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Notice 61/2020

2019/2020 UNAUDITED DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT

Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 21 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000) read with Section 127 (5) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003) that the 2019/2020 Unaudited Draft Annual Report has been tabled to Council on 30 October 2020 and was compiled in terms of Circular 63 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003).

The Unaudited Draft Annual Report for the 2019/2020 financial year is open for comments. Comments regarding the Unaudited Draft Annual Report 2019/2020 financial year must be lodged in writing to The Municipal Manager, PO Box 12, George, 6530 or by e-mail at rekords@gardenroute.gov.za before or on 18 December 2020.

Persons who are unable to read or write are encouraged to contact the Garden Route District Municipality during ordinary office hours, where they will be assisted to formulate their written comments or objection.

The 2019/2020 Unaudited Draft Annual Report is available for inspection on the website at www.gardenroute.gov.za and at the IDP unit of Garden Route District Municipality, 54 York Street, George.

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

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRIKSMUNISIPALITEIT

 Kennisgewing 61/2020

 2019/2020 ONGEOUDITEERDE KONSEP JAARVERSLAG

Kennis geskied hiermee ingevolge Artikels 21 van die Wet op Plaaslike Regering: Munisipale Stelselswet (Wet 32 van 2000) saamgelees met Artikel 127 (5) van die Wet op Plaaslike Regering: Munisipale Finansiële Bestuurswet (Wet 56 van 2003) dat die Ongeouditeerde Konsep Jaarverslag vir die 2019/2020 finansiële jaar  aan die Raad voorgelê is op 30 Oktober 2020 en dat dit saamgestel is in terme van Omsendkrywe 63 van die  Munisipale Finansiële Bestuurswet (Wet 56 van 2003).

Die Ongeouditeerde Konsep Jaarverslag vir die 2019/2020 finansiële jaar lê ter insae vir publieke kommentaar. Kommentaar rakende die 2019/2020 Ongeouditeerde Konsep Jaarverslag kan skriftelik gerig word aan Die Munisipale Bestuurder, Posbus 12, George, 6530  of per epos na rekords@gardenroute.gov.za  voor of op 18 Desember 2020.

Persone wat nie kan lees of skryf nie word uitgenooi om die kantore van die Garden Route  Distriksmunisipaliteit te kontak gedurende normale kantoor-ure waar personeel behulpsaam sal wees met die formulering van die kommentaar of beswaar.

Die 2019/2020 Ongeouditeerde Konsep Jaarverslag  sal beskikbaar wees vir bestudering op die munisipale webtuiste www.gardenroute.gov.za. asook die GOP afdeling, Garden Route Distriksmunisipaliteit, Yorkstraat 54, George.

Vir enige verdere navrae, skakel asseblief: Mev M James (GOP Afdeling: Garden Route Distriksmunisipaliteit) by telefoonnommer: 044 803 1431.

M G Stratu
Munisipale Bestuurder
Garden Route Distriksmunisipaliteit

30 October 2020 Speech by Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen at an Ordinary Council meeting of Garden Route DM

Speaker Alderman Groenewald

Once again I would like to extend my gratitude to all the frontline workers who are fighting COVID-19, which is causing havoc in our region and South Africa as a whole. The figures still don’t look favourable in the Garden Route, seeing that numbers are rising daily.

Alderman Groenewald, earlier this week the Garden Route District Municipality launched the District Safety Forum in Mossel Bay which was attended by all seven B-municipalities and representatives from the Western Cape Department of Community Safety, as well as sector departments within the district. We are privileged to announce that the project is funded by the Western Cape Department of Community Safety and that all sector departments and municipalities that were present pledged their full support towards the project. As a District Municipality, we believe it is not just about the financial safety in our district, but also about the well-being of our communities which in turn will play a big part in changing the community’s morals. We want to commend the Mossel Bay Municipality for already stepping forward in formulating their safety plan and we want to encourage the other municipalities to follow suit.

The funds are here, so if a municipality does not want to make use of it, they will definitely lose out. The current situation of overcrowdedness and newborn babies at correctional facilities within the district are some of the critical priorities that need to be addressed by the District Safety Forum.

As a District Municipality, we also strive towards seeing our people live in a healthy and clean environment. That’s why we are pleased to announce that the Garden Route District Municipality in collaboration with the George Municipality will tomorrow, 31 October 2020, host an illegal dumping awareness session in Thembalethu. As a District Municipality, we do not want to overstep or take over the local municipality’s roles. We are aware that some of the municipalities in the district are struggling and for that reason we want to partner with them and assist them in terms of finance or capacity.

In terms of the upcoming by-elections, we would like to plea to the different political parties in all the local municipal areas to continue conducting their campaigns in good spirit. Up until today, there was no record of violence and that’s the spirit we want to encourage in the Garden Route District.

Thank you Speaker Groenewald.

27 October 2020 Weather Alert: Warning (colour coded red), indicating “take action” – 27 October 2020

Weather Alert: Warning (colour coded red), indicating “take action”

Warning (colour-coded red), indicating “take action”

What to do when veldfire condition is forecast

Prohibitions of fires in the open air during periods of high fire hazard, and the establishment of fire control committees.

To control fires, an alarm system, fire fighting teams, and beaters must be organized in advance and plans prepared.

What to do during Veldfire:

Livestock should be moved out of grazing land to unbarred land/ploughed field for safety.

Water is generally not available in sufficient quantities or at adequate pressure for the control of major fires; however, sand or other loose mineral soil material can be an effective method of control.

Following are a number of concerns and recommendations:

Provinces should always ensure that the firebreaks are in place. An owner of the land who is obliged to prepare and maintain a firebreak must ensure that, with due regard to the weather, climate, terrain and vegetation of the area, the following is taken care of in terms of installing the firebreaks (chapter 4 of National Veld and Forest Fire Act No. 101 of 1998):

  1. A firebreak has to be wide enough and long enough to have a reasonable chance of preventing a veld fire from spreading to or from neighboring land.
  2. A firebreak does not cause soil erosion and
  3. A firebreak is reasonably free of inflammable material capable of carrying a veld fire across it.
  4. Farming communities should establish fire protection associations to prevent and control veld fires as required by the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (Act No. 101 of 1998).

The Fire Brigade Services Act provides for the establishment, co-ordination and standardizations of fire brigade services. Local authorities, that is, municipalities, are empowered to establish and maintain a fire brigade service, intended to be employed for the following purposes:

  1. a)     Preventing the outbreak or spread of a fire
  2. b)     Fighting or extinguishing a fire
  3. c)    The protection of life or property against a fire or other threatening danger.
  4. d)     The rescue of life or property from a fire or other danger

Improved communication among members about, for example, fire hazard conditions. The outcome sought is to achieve better integration of community preparedness, prevention, suppression and recovery strategies as key elements of veld fire management.

Report any severe weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at telephone number 044 805 5071.

27 October Weather Alert: Severe Weather Alert: Impact Based Weather Warning for Western Cape and Namaqua

Weather Alert: Severe Weather Alert: Impact Based Weather Warning for Western Cape and Namaqua

The South African Weather Service has issued the following Impact Based Severe Weather Forecast:

HAZARD: Veld Fire Conditions

Alert Level: Red(L10)

Affected Municipalities: Beaufort West, Hantam, Kannaland, Khâi-Ma, Laingsburg, Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert.

Valid From (SAST): 27/10/20 – 12h00

Valid To (SAST): 28/10/20 – 18h00

Discussion: Weather conditions which include hot temperatures, moderate to fresh winds and low humidity might result in the development of veld/bush fires.

Impact: Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75. Under these conditions, fires may develop and spread rapidly resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.

Instruction: All personnel and equipment should be removed from the field. Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on full standby. At the first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time.

Report any severe weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at telephone number 044 805 5071.

26 October 2020 Media Release: California steaming whilst Knysna and Bitou are reloading for wildfire round number two

Media Release: California steaming whilst Knysna and Bitou are reloading for wildfire round number two

For Immediate Release
26 October 2020

“With world news headlines dominated by COVID-19 and lockdown-related matters, coinciding with heated American politics and current affairs, the largest wildfire disaster in recorded American history keeps raging on in California and Western America, and so despite of its severe impact, it hardly makes the headlines,” says Cobus Meiring of the Southern Cape Landowners Initiative (SCLI).

According to the latest media reports, critical fire weather remains in effect across much of Northern California, with firefighters on high alert for the possibility of new fast-moving wildfires. Some media reports refer to the 2020 wildfire season as the first ‘gigafire’ in modern history.

Says Meiring, “In comparison to the wildfire disasters that affected the Southern and Western Cape over the past three years, the size and scale of the Western American wildfire theatre is simply staggering. To date, well over two million hectares have been reduced to ashes, and well over 9 000 dwellings and structures destroyed, including untold damage to grid infrastructure, the natural environment and productive agricultural land, with no clear end in sight yet.”

“Just like in South Africa, climate change has set the perfect platform for intense wildfires across the American West over past decades.”

“A marked increase in American, and South African, day and night temperatures, changes in rainfall and snow patterns, shifts in plant communities, stronger winds and other climate-change-related factors all contribute to setting the scene for ever more severe wildfires over much larger areas than ever before.”

Knysna burnt landscape with flower

“The only reason Southern and Western Cape communities have not suffered from severe wildfire disasters in recent times is because much of the flammable invasive alien plant material, accredited for providing the fuel for intense and out-of-control wildfires, has been destroyed by recent fires and is only now maturing to sufficient mass.”

“In mitigation of environmental conditions conducive to out-of-control wildfires, the persistent drought experienced during the past decade has largely been broken by the return of favourable rains in most parts, and, as a result, flammable material is currently not as dry as it were during the harsh drought in many parts. The rapid suppression of wildfires also allowed biomass to grow and accumulate over time.”

“Monitoring the present-day aggressive regrowth patterns of invasive alien plants along known fire paths by SCLI in the Southern Cape, following the 2017 and 2018 wildfire disasters, puts justice to the term ‘Knysna reloaded’.”

“In as much SCLI and many landowners have gone to great lengths to draw up and implement Invasive Alien Plant Control Plans to eradicate and control invasive alien plants on private  land, unwanted biomass, potentially providing the fuel for a recurrence of the 2017 and 2018 Garden Route wildfire disasters, is clearly visible and growing rapidly on the landscape,” warns Meiring.

He says funding streams generated to assist landowners in dealing with invasive alien plants in the aftermath of the Knysna fires have since been diverted in order to serve COVID-19 relief efforts. Landowners now have to take full responsibility for controlling what grows on their land. They have little choice but to adhere to strict environmental management guidelines governing invasive plant control and eradication or face stringent penalties issued by environmental management authorities such as the Green Scorpions.

In an all-out effort to create more wild spaces and to enlarge the conservation footprint of the Southern Cape through the rehabilitation of regional river systems, SCLI and private landowners are collaborating to create conservation corridors linking the Outeniqua Mountains with the Indian Ocean. This collaboration is of particular importance in the rural-urban interface where most invasive alien plants are present and the most significant wildfire damage is recorded.

For more information on how to deal with invasive alien plants on their land, landowners can visit the SCLI website at http://www.scli.org.za.

“Many Knysna and Plettenberg Bay landowners are setting the scene for a repeat of the intense 2017 wildfire disaster by allowing the large-scale return of invasive alien plants on the landscape. All that is required for the next fire disaster is the right climate conditions, sufficient fuel loads and a spark,” says Cobus Meiring of SCLI.

** The Southern Cape Landowners Initiative (SCLI) is a public platform and think tank for landowners and land managers with an interest in invasive alien plant management, water stewardship and land management. SCLI is supported by the Table Mountain Fund (TMF), a subsidiary of WWF SA. SCLI also manages the Secretariat of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Cobus Meiring: Chairperson of the Southern Cape Landowners Initiative (SCLI)

Cell: 083 626 7619

Email: cobus@naturalbridge.co.za

22 October 2020 SMME Support & Development Programme – Call for business proposals

SMME Support & Development Programme – Call for business proposals

Garden Route District Municipality is embarking on a programme to help dynamic and committed entrepreneurs to grow their business. A broad scope of non-financial assistance will be provided, which will include required business development interventions (equipment and input material) and trainings. Only serious applicants with a workable business concept or business profile that they believe in and with which they want to expand their business operations with, must apply.

IMPORTANT

Applicants must complete an application form (obtained from the District Economic Development Office, 54 York Street, George, 6530, from Mr. Johannes Jafta via email at johannes@gardenroute.gov.za) and submit with the following supporting documents attached:

  • Company Profile/ Business Proposal or Business Plan;
  • 6 months Profit and Loss Summary or (recent Financial/Bank statements, if available – will be treated confidentially);
  • Tax clearance certificate;
  • Confirmation of employees (Document attached on the application form);
  • Certified ID copy;
  • Certified copy of proof of residence (where business is situated)

CRITERIA

  • Must be a registered and viable business operating for at least 2 years with clear direction/deliverables;
  • Must be available to do a presentation to a selected panel and to attend the compulsory business development interventions and trainings identified by panel.
  • Must be tax compliant. (If not, submit tax matters with the application for assessment);
  • 100% South African owned;
  • Applicant must be in full control of business and operations.
  • Formally registered or incorporated e.g. with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC);
  • Operating in the Garden Route;
  • Classified as a micro or small enterprise in terms of the National Small Enterprises Act;
  • Individuals/Businesses that have previously participated in any skills development/training programmes rolled out by the LED & Tourism unit of GRDM can apply.

All applications must be submitted via email to Mr. Johannes Jafta at johannes@gardenroute.gov.za or placed in an envelope and physically delivered to the Garden Route District Municipality, 54 York Street, George, 6530. All applications must clearly state GARDEN ROUTE SMME SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2020.

  • Shortlisted applicants will be required to present their business concepts to an evaluation panel.
  • The Garden Route District Municipality reserves the right to evaluate and select only the highest ranking business concepts according to the above criteria.

PLEASE NOTE

  • At the end of the programme all participating businesses must be tax compliant.
  • Applications will close at 12h00 on 06 November 2020.

For further information, please contact:
Ms Natalie Raubenheimer
Senior Economic Development Officer
Garden Route District Municipality
natalie@gardenroute.gov.za or 044 803 1458

Download PDF file here: SMME Support and Development programme, Call for Proposals, Garden Route District Municipality

20 October 2020 Invitation to participate in the Household Composting Pilot Project:  Zoar (Kannaland Municipality)

Garden Route District Municipality, in collaboration with Kannaland Municipality, will roll out a Household Composting Pilot Project in Zoar.  Approximately 30% of household waste being disposed of at landfill consists of organic waste that could potentially be diverted from landfill by means of household composting.  Further, household composting could subsequently result in a huge waste management cost saving and put sorely needed nutrients back into our soil.

The pilot project will run for a duration of one year and the data collected will be used to motivate the further roll out of the project to all households in the Kannaland municipal area.  Permanent residents in Zoar are invited to apply for participation in the pilot project.

It must be noted that provision was made to accommodate only thirty (30) households in the pilot project who will be provided with a composting bin, and / or a worm farm, a scale and data sheets.  Due to the limited number, the first thirty applications received will be selected to participate in the project.

All applicants must conform to the following criteria:

  • Must reside permanently in Zoar for the duration of the pilot project (at least one year).
  • Must attend an information session regarding the composting project that will be held in Zoar.
  • Must be willing to participate in the pilot project and report organic waste quantities on a monthly basis for the duration of the pilot project (one year).
  • Composting bins will only be distributed to households with a garden / lawn / vegetable garden(s) generating green waste.
  • Households / apartments that do not have gardens / yards i.e. that generate green waste can be provided with only a worm farm for kitchen scraps etc.

Click here to download the application forms to participate in the pilot project.

Completed application forms must be sent to wayne@gardenroute.gov.za by no later than Friday, 30 October 2020.