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25 August 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 that is causing havoc in our region and South Africa as a whole. We are all doing our best to fight this pandemic. Alderman Groenewald, we were also privileged as this District in our fight and awareness campaigns on COVID-19 over the past two weeks. We recently hosted the Western Cape Government (WCG) MEC for Public Works and Transport, Mr Bonginkosi Madikizela, a few days later we hosted the WCG MEC, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo. Alderman Groenewald, tomorrow we will have the privilege when we will host the WCG Premier’s Office, and on Thursday we will be host the WCG MEC for Human Settlements, Mr Tertuis Simmers. This is all part of our region and that of WCG of dealing with COVID-19. Over the next few days we will be visiting various areas, including hotspots in the Garden Route. These are some of our efforts and our response to the increase of COVID-19 figures in the Garden Route. We are still very concerned about figures in the Garden Route.

In addition, we will never forget our friends we have lost due to COVID-19.  Some are staff members; some are family members of staff members.  I want to praise God for the survivors among us. We pray that we are not going to lose any more lives.

Lastly, something, which is still a grappling matter we face on a daily basis, is Gender-Based Violence (GBV). It is with shock that I heard this morning that another lady in the Garden Route was murdered by her husband or boyfriend – I do not have the exact particulars.

I urge everyone not to keep quiet about GBV but to confront it, speak up and make your voices heard. There are still some bad…bad…rotten men out there – we need to identify these violent men, isolate them.  We need to stand by our sisters and mothers.

Lastly, I want to share my condolences to Alderlady Rosina Ruiters, our Deputy Executive Mayor who lost her sister recently.

Thank you Alderman Speaker.

25 August 2020 Media Release: Alderlady status conferred upon another Councillor of the Garden Route District Municipality

Media Release: Alderlady status conferred upon another Councillor of the Garden Route District Municipality

For Immediate Release
25 August 2020

Municipal Honours was bestowed on Thobeka Teyisi today, 25 August 2020. She is the tenth Councillor to receive such a honour.  Cllr Teyisi will now be recognised as an Alderlady after she met the minimum 10-point criteria as set out in section 5(10)(a) of a GRDM Alderman and Alderlady policy .

Mayor Booysen congratulated Alderlady Teyisi by saying: “This conferment is proof that your experience and history in politics are being recognised – it is indeed priceless”.  Alderlady Wolmarans also congratulated Alderlady Teyisi and said that they have come a long way (since 2006), and got to know one another better when they attended a course in executive leadership during 2009/2010. Alderman Van der Hoven echoed the sentiments of other Councillors and also added: “I do not know of another Councillor who deserves this more than you”. Alderman Gericke shared the last congratulatory remark by saying – “mooi geloop”.

The item recommendations were proposed by Cllr Virgill Gericke and seconded by Cllr Pieter van der Hoven.

Photo caption: Alderman Memory Booysen (Executive Mayor for Garden Route District Municipality) and Alderlady Thobeka Teyisi.

24 August 2020 Media Release: Youth from the Garden Route share awareness videos about COVID-19

Media Release: Youth from the Garden Route share awareness videos about COVID-19

For Immediate Release
24 August 2020

A few members of the youth in the Garden Route District municipal area are sharing TikTok videos about COVID-19 precautions, including hygiene measures, creative ways to greet and keeping safe in general. We expect more of these videos to be shared over the following weeks.

Videos come at a time when the Garden Route District’s rate of infections are increasing at a higher rate than the rest of the Western Cape. Everyone is urged to keep their guard up while the entire country is now on COVID-19 Alert Level 2. If we don’t, we run the risk of a second surge.

Remember to follow the five (5) golden rules of good hygiene:

  1. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
  2. Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
  3. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Safely throw away the tissue.
  4. Keep 1,5 metres apart from others.
  5. Stay home if unwell. Contact a hotline or your health worker.

Parents/Legal guardians completed and submitted consent forms for the release of all the videos.

21 August 2020 Media Release: Update on the Coronavirus

Media Release: Update on the Coronavirus

For Immediate Release
21 August 2020

As of 1pm on 21 August, the Western Cape has 5331 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 102 422 confirmed cases and 93 383 recoveries.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases 102 422
Total recoveries 93 383
Total deaths 3708
Total active cases (currently infected patients) 5331
Tests conducted 463977
Hospitalisations 1090 with 218 in ICU or high care

Cape Metro Sub-districts:
Western 8913 cases; 8197 recoveries
Southern 9229 cases; 8317 recoveries
Northern 6321 cases; 5863 recoveries
Tygerberg 12784 cases; 11830 recoveries
Eastern 9662 cases; 8862 recoveries
Klipfontein 8865 cases; 8057 recoveries
Mitchells Plain 8176 cases; 7537 recoveries
Khayelitsha 8068 cases; 7538 recoveries
Total 72018 cases; 66201 recoveries

Sub-districts:
Garden Route Bitou 547 cases; 471 recoveries
Garden Route Knysna 1304 cases; 1141 recoveries
Garden Route George 3188 cases; 2813 recoveries
Garden Route Hessequa 264 cases; 204 recoveries
Garden Route Kannaland 99 cases; 70 recoveries
Garden Route Mossel Bay 2018 cases; 1692 recoveries
Garden Route Oudsthoorn 996 cases; 693 recoveries
Cape Winelands Stellenbosch 1955 cases; 1807 recoveries
Cape Winelands Drakenstein 4140 cases; 3803 recoveries
Cape Winelands Breede Valley 3159 cases; 2881 recoveries
Cape Winelands Langeberg 1083 cases; 991 recoveries
Cape Winelands Witzenberg 1463 cases; 1307 recoveries
Overberg Overstrand 1482 cases; 1419 recoveries
Overberg Cape Agulhas 253 cases; 223 recoveries
Overberg Swellendam 261 cases; 242 recoveries
Overberg Theewaterskloof 1120 cases; 1034 recoveries
West Coast Bergrivier 395 cases; 357 recoveries
West Coast Cederberg 151 cases; 133 recoveries
West Coast Matzikama 303 cases; 240 recoveries
West Coast Saldanha Bay Municipality 1302 cases; 1196 recoveries
West Coast Swartland 1419 cases; 1273 recoveries
Central Karoo Beaufort West 435 cases; 325 recoveries
Central Karoo Laingsburg 120 cases; 59 recoveries
Central Karoo Prince Albert 13 cases; 10 recoveries

Unallocated: 2934 (2798 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 26 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3708 . We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

âś…A note on today’s new cases:

Today’s new case statistics appear to have shown a bigger increase than usual. These are not all new or active cases. The Western Cape Department of Health has implemented changes to its data system which has resulted in some older cases, which had not originally been detected, now being accounted for. This is all part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that the data that we share is as accurate as possible.

âś…Closure of the Hospital of Hope:

This afternoon, we officially closed the Hospital of Hope at the CTICC. This 862 bed hospital has provided care to over 1500 people since it opened in June-allowing us to provide dignified care to all who needed it at the peak of the pandemic in the Western Cape.

The Hospital of Hope has certainly lived up to its name- with many inspirational stories of healing. Among its patients who were discharged were a 104 year old, a 93 year old and an 88 year old. More than 1400 families have had their loved ones recover and go home.

When we were planning our provincial response to the pandemic, I was clear that I did not want to run out of beds. Providing dignified healthcare to everyone who needed it was our number one aim.

What the Hospital of Hope provided went far beyond that. The hospital was staffed by dedicated, phenomenal people who have touched the lives of every single person they helped. They worked long hours, endured difficult circumstances, made personal sacrifices and they did it while putting themselves at risk of becoming sick themselves. And yet, through it all, every patient was treated with care and respect.

Sadly, 82 people died at the facility and we send our condolences to their families and loved ones. Losing a loved one is never easy, but under COVID-19 circumstances, it is even harder. Today, we heard stories of how patients were treated with the utmost love and care by our healthcare workers, who supported them even in their final moments.

The CTICC has always played a special role in Cape Town- hosting Presidents, international delegates and captains of industry. It has been a site of celebration, bringing people together for weddings and festivals. And now, its history will also include a hospital that was built in four weeks. It may only have operated for a matter of weeks, but it has saved hundreds of lives.

Today, I want to thank every single person who has been involved in the making of history: the healthcare workers at the front line, the Western Cape Department of Health management team and the team from the Department of Transport and Public Works. I would also like to convey a special thank you to the CTICC, who responded to the call and allowed us the use of the space.

At today’s closing ceremony, Head of the Department of Health, Dr Keith Cloete spoke of how the hospital had shown us the best of humanity, and what healthcare in the future could be.

Around the world, this pandemic has created extreme suffering and deep pain for many but at the same time, it has provided us with moments of hope, kindness and love. It has prompted a global outpouring of generosity and support. The Hospital of Hope will always be a symbol of all the goodness we have seen during this time.

The Brackengate temporary hospital will now be the primary Hospital of Hope- providing the same level of care to those who still need it while we continue to work to slow the spread of COVID-19. It will be supported by a number of smaller facilities and dedicated wards in both the metro and in the rural areas.

Caption: Premier Alan Winde, Keith Cloete (HOD Health), Theodore Abrahams (CTICC facility manager) and Harry Malila (Western Cape Government DG) wheel bed number 862, the final bed number in the Hospital of Hope, out of the ward.

iStock.com/ra2studio

21 August 2020 Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update

Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update

For Immediate Release
21 August 2020

As of 21 August 2020, the Garden Route District has 8200 confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Cases 

Garden Route cases and recoveries per subdistrict.

  • Bitou 533 cases; 460 recoveries
  • Knysna 1288 cases; 1113 recoveries
  • George 3139 cases; 2774 recoveries
  • Hessequa 258 cases; 204 recoveries
  • Kannaland 99 cases; 70 recoveries
  • Mossel Bay 1936 cases; 1608 recoveries
  • Oudsthoorn 947 cases; 658 recoveries

The Garden Route has recorded 258 Covid-19 deaths.

Hessequa 13
Mossel Bay 56
George 87
Knysna 36
Bitou 20
Oudtshoorn 45
Kannaland 1

Hospitalisation

From our latest available information, there are currently 136 patients admitted in public and private hospitals of which 21 are in High Care/ICU.

 George Hospital happy to discharge more COVID-19 patients

George Hospital has treated 256 COVID-19 patients since the start of the pandemic. Two of these patients are Madelain Ntenetyana and Annestien Botha who both spent a few nights in Ward A1 due to complications of COVID-19.

Thirty-three-year old Madelain Ntenetyana from George started feeling ill at work and thought it was a cold.

Madelain Ntenetyana is now fully recovered.

She called in sick for work for a few days and her symptoms got worse so she decided to visit her local clinic where she was tested for COVID-19 and sent to hospital. She had difficulty breathing and had no appetite. Madelain says she felt better after three days in hospital and was transferred to PetroSA West Camp for 9 days to complete her isolation period.

“I am grateful for all the staff in the ward and would like to thank them for everything they did for me. I also want to thank especially Nurse Gary Michaels at PetroSA West Camp for his caring attitude while I was there”, she said. Madelain is now fully recovered and would like to call on the public to take COVID seriously as this is an experience she doesn’t want to repeat.

Annestien Botha(33) a nurse from a private hospital in George felt extremely tired and had a temperature. She went to the testing unit at George Hospital where she was tested and admitted to hospital. She was on oxygen for the first night and started feeling better. Being a health professional herself she was impressed with the service received at George Hospital. “ Staff were great, especially the doctors. I could see they have a plan here. I was treated with care and not someone who has an infectious disease where some staff might feel scared to be near you”, she said.

Annestien Botha on the day she was discharged.

Annestien contracted the virus from her daughter and after being discharged after two days they both isolated together at home.

“It is easy to contract the virus so people should take care of themselves and follow the guidelines such as wearing a mask and social distancing”, she said.

Community Testing and Screening

The approach to active Covid-19 case finding within the rural areas remain that of community testing and screening with a focus on people > 55 years and those with high risk (people with co-morbidities). To date 149 051 people have been screened of whom 1305 have been referred for testing.

 Catching up on the most urgent essential health services without risking patient and staff safety

While the health service platform must remain geared to deal with COVID-19 pandemic (including a possible second wave of infections), the Department of Health wants to scale up essential health services in a balanced manner.   The Department’s risk and impact based approach is guiding the services to be reintroduced identifying those services which have low risk yet high impact (such as immunisation services). These services which had reduced significantly during the COVID pandemic, will have a significant long term impact for those clients who had missed immunisations, follow-up appointments and scheduled non-emergency treatment.    A phased approach will be adopted to return the comprehensive health service platform back to a new normal and will be considered in short, medium and long terms.

PLEASE NOTE THAT CURRENTLY ALL PREVENTATIVE SERVICES ARE OFFERED:

  • Women’s health (family planning, antenatal and post-natal care)
  • Men’s health
  • Child health(immunisations)
  • Chronic disease management (TB, HIV, Diabetes, etc.)

Isolation and quarantine

People who cannot isolate or quarantine safely at home (risk to themselves or exposure risk to others), can be referred to an isolation or quarantine facility.

Isolation facilities are for patients who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus (with mild to moderate symptoms) where they can recover. Quarantine facilities are for those have been exposed and are awaiting test results. These facilities are safe, have been made as comfortable as possible and you will receive free transport, meals, and a laundry service. PetroSA (West Camp) is currently the only activated isolation and quarantine facility in the Garden Route. More facilities have been identified and will be activated, if and when the need arises or capacity is exceeded at PetroSA. We currently have 71 people at the West Camp facility.

5 ways to stay safe

We urge all citizens to remain careful in observing these precautions of hygiene and safety.

  1. Wear your mask as all times when you leave your home
  2. Keep you social distance from other (1.5m)
  3. Do not touch your face
  4. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer(70% alcohol base)
  5. If sick, stay home

Make sure you wear your mask when going out to protect yourself and others. Also remember that spitting is another means of transporting the virus. Do not spit on the ground. The protection and wellbeing of all our people remains in our collective hands.

-END-

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Town Clinic, Plettenberg Bay
Tel: 076 379 5423
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za 
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

Feature image: iStock.com/ra2studio

19 August 2020 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality acknowledges local humanitarians on World Humanitarian Day

Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality acknowledges local humanitarians on World Humanitarian Day

For Immediate Release
19 August 2020

World Humanitarian Day is held every year on 19 August to acknowledge aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to come together and provide support to people affected by crises around the world.

This year, World Humanitarian Day comes as the world continues to recover from COVID-19 pandemic. According to the United Nations (South Africa) aid workers are overcoming unprecedented access obstacles to assist people in humanitarian crises around the world.

Providing the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic affects the livelihoods of people throughout the globe, the Garden Route District Municipality acknowledges that fighting the spread of the virus is not possible without the help of heroes. These heroes either provide healthcare to infected patients, provide meals and/or essentials to the vulnerable. These role players include:

  • medical staff;
  • non-governmental organisations;
  • faith-based organisations;
  • private sector;
  • environmental health practitioners;
  • government organisations; and
  • the media who creates awareness of the dangers and risks of the COVID-19 virus within our communities, to name a few.

Food security heroes in the Garden Route

One such hero is Ms Magdalene Moos from Concordia (part of the Knysna Municipal area), who operates as one of 64 soup kitchens that, with the help of donors, reach out to the vulnerable members of society in her area of service. Ms Moos went as far as to create her own vegetable garden to ensure the sustainability of the initiative.  She said: “We reached a point where we now feed a total of 1500 persons per week and the highest number of persons reached so far were 401 per day. Meals are also directly delivered to the elderly in the area to spare them the inconvenience of waiting in queues”. She also emphasised: “We cannot only feed kids and the elderly; we feed any person that reach our doorstep who needs a meal. “None of this is possible without donations that we continuously receive from donators such as Ms Sharon Dreyer, Ms Sam Loerie, Mr Johan Gerber and the Knysna Rotary Club, as well as Maxwell 20, an organisation who donates nutritious porridge that we serve to the kids on a daily basis.”

Ms Magdalene Moos admits that a garden is a long-term solution for an effective and sustainable food security project. Photo: Supplied

In the Klein-Karoo is Mr Jaco Matthee, a community volunteer who runs his own soup kitchen and delivers food hampers to vulnerable residents of the Oudtshoorn area.  With this initiative he reaches residents of Bridgton and also donates food hampers to the Family and Marriage Society of South Africa (FAMSA) organisation in the area with donations received from Cape Karoo International.  Mr Matthee said:  “With this initiative we are able to provide soup to 400 persons per week and donate food hampers to 10 households per week”. Adding to this, he said:  “Not all of us are in a position to provide for our families during this difficult time. There are many people struggling to make ends meet, but we must start within our immediate surroundings; starting with our neighbours. “If we all contribute to others, we can make our society a better place,” he said. Working in the hospitality industry, Mr Matthee said, “it is important that we help our communities, as it is these communities that keep our businesses open with their support, therefore it is important that business plough back to them”.

Mr Jaco Matthee (left) and Mr Johnny Baartman (community leader – right) while preparing to distribute hampers in Bridgton, Oudtshoorn.

In the area of Bitou, the Sinethemba Soup Kitchen is also an unsung hero for the residents of Kwanokuthula, where they feed 150 residents from phases 3, 4 and 5 of Ward 6 per day.  Ms Phumeza Ndukwana, said: “We are a team of five who work full-time to ensure that vulnerable members of our community are fed for 4 days per week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays)”.  She added: “People arrive at our facility in numbers which is an indication that our communities are struggling”.  The soup kitchen provides meals to children and adults, including elderly and those with disabilities. They ensure that all safety protocols are adhered to when serving their community. “One must have the passion for the community to be in this position and not expect something in return; however we need people that are reliable to make sure that the service is running effectively,” she concluded. Ms Ndukwana also gave recognition to Ms Shirley Redman from Bitou who continuously donates various food products, vegetables and other essentials to ensure that they continue to help the needy of Kwanokuthula.

Ms Phumeza Ndukwana from Kwanokuthula and her team prepare food to feed more than 150 persons a day, 4 times per week. Photo: Supplied

All these efforts and initiatives, despite the odds, make a difference in the lives of many. It is due to this that the country has lost less lives than predicted.  While honouring these heroes, the GRDM also pays tribute to the lives of all health workers and other essentials workers who have lost their lives while rendering an essential service during these pressing times. May each soul rest in peace.

ENDS

17 August 2020 Severe Weather Alerts: Damaging wind, storm surges, heavy rain, high seas, snow and flooding

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

Hazard 1: Damaging Winds

Alert Level: Warning

Valid From (SAST): 17/08/20 11h00

Valid To (SAST): 18/08/20 19h00

Warning: A gale force westerly to north-westerly wind (62-80km/h) is expected between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas from early afternoon, becoming south-westerly and spreading to Plettenberg Bay from late afternoon including the coastal towns along the south-west and south coasts, easing from the west tomorrow (17-18/08/2020). Advisory: Strong winds (50-62km/h) are expected over the Central Karoo and Cape Winelands (W-Cape) today (17/08/2020).

Hazard 2: Storm surges

Alert Level: Watch

Valid From (SAST): 18/08/20 01h00

Valid To (SAST): 18/08/20 23h00

Storm surges expected between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Tuesday (18/08/2020).

Hazard 3: Heavy rain

Alert Level: Warning

Valid From (SAST): 17/08/20 15h00

Valid To (SAST): 18/08/20 07h00

Heavy rain expected over the Garden Route district, southern parts of Cape Winelands and Overberg areas (W-Cape) from this afternoon into early tomorrow morning (17-18/08/2020).

Hazard 4: Flooding

Alert Level: Warning

Valid From (SAST): 17/08/20 15h00

Valid To (SAST): 18/08/20 08h00

Flooding is expected over Cape Metropole, Overberg and Garden Route districts (W-Cape) tonight into tomorrow morning (17-18/08/2020).

Hazard 5: Snow

Alert Level: Warning

Valid From (SAST): 17/08/20 10h00

Valid To (SAST): 18/08/20 11h00

Disruptive snowfalls are expected over the high lying areas of Cape Winelands, Central Karoo and Garden Route Districts (W-Cape) overnight into tomorrow morning (17-18/08/2020).

Hazard 6: High Seas

Alert Level: Warning

Valid From (SAST): 18/08/20 01h00

Valid To (SAST): 18/08/20 16h00

High seas of 6-9m are expected between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas tomorrow (17/08/2020) evening, spreading to Plettenberg Bay and Cape Columbine from early Tuesday morning, subsiding west of Cape Agulhas from Tuesday afternoon.

Hazard 7: High Seas

Alert Level: Warning

Valid From (SAST): 18/08/20 01h00

Valid To (SAST): 18/08/20 16h00

High seas with wave heights of 6-7m are expected between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas this evening, spreading to Plettenberg Bay from early tomorrow morning (17-18/08/2020), subsiding west of Cape Agulhas from tomorrow afternoon.

PRECAUTIONS: SNOW

If driving decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop, you should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.  Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges. Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

Contact the Garden Route District Disaster Management Centre  at 044-805 5071 to report any severe weather related incidents.

17 August 2020 Weather Alert: Western Cape Weather Alert – Snow, High Seas, Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain – 17 August 2020

Weather Alert: Western Cape Weather Alert – Snow, High Seas, Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain – 17 August 2020

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following weather alert.

Hazard: Snow
Alert level: Watch
Valid from (SAST): 17/08/20 – 23h00
Valid to (SAST): 18/08/20 – 00h00

Disruptive snowfalls are expected over the high lying areas of Cape Winelands, Central Karoo and Garden Route Districts overnight tomorrow (17/08/2020) into Tuesday morning.

Hazard: High Seas
Alert level: Watch
Valid from (SAST): 17/08/20 – 20h00
Valid to (SAST): 18/08/20 – 00h00

High seas with wave heights between 6-9m are expected between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas tomorrow (17/08/2020) evening, spreading to Plettenberg Bay and Cape Columbine from early Tuesday morning, subsiding west of Cape Agulhas from Tuesday afternoon.

Hazard: Heavy rain
Alert level: Watch
Valid from (SAST): 18/08/20 – 00h00
Valid to (SAST): 18/08/20 – 00h00

Expected in places along the Garden Route coastal areas early Tuesday (18/08/2020) morning.

Hazard: Damaging Winds
Alert level: Warning
Valid from (SAST): 17/08/20 – 11h00
Valid to (SAST): 18/08/20 – 00h00

Warning: A gale force (62-80km/h) W/NW wind is expected between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas from late tomorrow (17/08/2020) morning, becoming SW and spreading to Plettenberg Bay by the evening, easing from Tuesday morning. Advisory: Strong winds (50-62km/h are expected over Cape Metropole and Overberg areas tomorrow afternoon into Tuesday morning.