Local Government News
28/06/20 Severe Weather Alert
The Cape Town Weather Services has issued the following severe weather alert:
Hazard: Damaging Winds
Alert Level: Watch
Valid From (SAST): 25/06/20 09h00
Valid To (SAST): 28/06/20 00h00
Watch: Strong to Gale force (60-80km/h) northwesterly to westerly winds are expected along the coastal regions between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas, spreading to Plettenberg Bay during Saturday (27/06/2020). Advisory: Strong (50-60km/h) north-westerly winds are expected over the Central and Garden Route (W.Cape) today (25/06/2020), as well as on Saturday (27/06/2020) and including the Cape Metropole.
Hazard: High Seas
Alert Level: Watch
Valid From (SAST): 27/06/20 00h00
Valid To (SAST): 28/06/20 00h00
High seas with wave heights from 6 to 9m are expected between Lamberts Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Saturday, subsiding by Sunday afternoon (27-28/06/2020).
25 June 2020 Media Release: George midwife shares her COVID-19 experience
Media Release: George midwife shares her COVID-19 experience
For Immediate Release
25 June 2020
Bleach stains on all her furniture is a stern reminder of Alida Portland’s COVID-19 journey.
Alida (58), a midwife at George Hospital, has survived, with her comorbidities of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. She also had a stroke a year ago. ‘I made it,’ she said.
Delighted to be back at work, Alida shares her COVID-19 journey. “My first symptoms were a sore throat, pressure on my chest and a cough. I immediately had myself tested and went into isolation. The results came two days later. I was positive.”
Her initial reaction was of shock and anxiety. “I was very scared,” says Alida. She lives with her son, 23, who took care of her while he isolated with her as he was one of her close contacts.
“He made sure I had a bucket of clean water, a bucket of water and bleach to clean my hands, and a separate bucket for my eating utensils. He also prepared my food when I did not feel up to the task and brought it on a tray. I felt really ill on day three with immense chest pressure. I was, however, in constant contact with the contact tracing team in George, my manager. and hospital management. Everyone made sure I was being monitored and I really felt that I could press on their button any time of the day.”
Alida says that being in isolation can become lonely. “Loneliness is a big factor during your COVID-19 journey. Two weeks might not seem long, but confined to your bedroom or only certain parts of your home, this can be become a very long and lonely journey. I made sure to be in constant contact with family and friends on WhatsApp. Sadly, we also lost two extended family members due to COVID-19 during my isolation, which was especially difficult for me. Mourning without other family was extremely difficult to go through, but our online counselling support network through government meant I could tap into professional help to assist me during this time,” explains Alida.
When asked what she did to assist her body in healing, she lists eating healthy, drinking enough fluids, getting lots of sunlight, and a positive mindset.
Alida expresses her concern with the behaviour of some members of the public. “People need to realise that COVID-19 can cause serious illness in some, and to protect those people, we need to take all the necessary precautions. We need to change our behaviour.” As someone with comorbidities who had a high risk of severe COVID-19, she urges residents in the Western Cape to protect the vulnerable by practicing social distancing and wearing a mask when they leave their homes.
She laughs when she explains the white bleach stains on all her furniture. “My son was determined to keep all our common areas clean, including parts of furniture I might have touched. This led to white bleach stains on some of our furniture pieces. I had such a laugh – he was the best nurse a nurse could ask for.”
-END-
Photo caption: Alida shares her story.
Contact:
Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Tel: 044 5333846
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
23 June 2020 Media Release: Fencing subsidies available – call for applications
Media Release: Fencing subsidies available – call for applications
For Immediate Release
23 June 2020
On an annual basis, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) provides fencing subsidies for a selected number of landowners on neighbouring provincial rural roads with fencing of their properties.
This is subject to a budget as received from the Western Cape Government.
The funding is only applicable on a subsidy basis, meaning that a 60% subsidy will be contributed towards a landowner’s material costs for fencing. The subsidy will therefore be determined by an average cost for material. The material is deemed as 60% of total cost. Labour cost is deemed as 40% of the total cost and must be carried by the applicant. All initial costs must be carried by the applicant and a subsidy will be paid out to successful applicant after the completion of the fence. For more information refer to the Fencing Subsidy Policy of GRDM.
The new fences must adhere to the specifications of the Western Cape Government Roads Infrastructure Department. Minimum specifications will be made available to successful applicants.
Application process
- Application forms can be obtained from Mr Qamani Nkebana at the Roads Transport & Planning Department. Contact numbers at the office is 044 803 1500 or 1506 or email qamani@gardenroute.gov.za.
- Application period: 24 June 2020 to 10 July 2020.
- Applications will be audited and evaluated according to risk analysis by a panel. Risk factors include the following: status of road, traffic count, operating speed of vehicles, type of farming, condition of current fence, etc.
- The panel outcome will be decided by 14 August 2020. All applicants will be informed. A fencing subsidy contract will be signed with successful applicants. Unsuccessful applicants can apply again in the next financial year.
- All fences must be fully completed by 11 December 2021 for payment before 28 February 2021.
- Payment will be done after an inspection and an approval for the fence has been made.
Relevant Documents
27/06/2020 Severe Weather Alert
The Cape Town Weather Services has issued the following severe weather alert:
Hazard: High Seas
Alert Level: Advisory
Valid From (SAST): 27/06/20 00h00
Valid To (SAST): 27/06/20 00h00
High seas with wave heights between 6 and 9m are expected between Lamberts Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Saturday (27/05/2020).
Description: Storm surges / High Seas
Generally heavy seas or damaging waves are a result of strong winds blowing over a large area called a fetch combined with low-pressure systems. Long period swells are often very dangerous to tankers as they may literally snap them in half. Dangerous waves or surges may also be caused by storm surges and tsunami’s resulting in widespread coastal damage and loss of life.
In oceanography, a sea state is the general condition of the free surface on a large body of water—with respect to wind waves and swell—at a certain location and moment. A sea state is characterized by statistics, including the wave height, period, and power spectrum. The sea state varies with time, as the wind conditions or swell conditions change.
Precautions: Storm surges / High Seas
Ships should “idle” into the swell and wind so that the bow of the ship always faces the oncoming swell. If in a small sailing vessel reduce the sail area and steer into the oncoming swell. If along the shore-line stay well back from the highest high water mark as Secure all hatches, doors, windows and ports. Secure all loose items in the interior.
Pump the bilge’s dry and keep pumping them dry at regular intervals. Stow away all loose gear and lash down any large items that cannot be stowed. Break out your life preservers and inform your crew that everyone will be putting them on well in advance of their necessity.
Break out emergency gear like flares and first aid kit, sea anchor, safety harnesses, etc.
Check your position and update your course as plotted on your chart. Prepare alternative routes to more protected areas. If you think you will be in for relatively long haul prepare some hot soup, coffee or stew freak waves may run up beyond the normal high water mark.
If the sea recedes exposing rock and sea bed normally not exposed immediately seek higher ground at least 50m above your current position. Do not try swimming or fishing or other marine recreation during these events. Only extremely experienced surfers will temp their fate under these conditions.
Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.
22 June 2020 Invitation to participate in the Household Composting Pilot Project: Bitou and Oudtshoorn Municipalities
Garden Route District Municipality, in collaboration with Bitou and Oudtshoorn Municipalities, will roll out a Household Composting Pilot Project in the Bitou and Oudtshoorn municipal areas. 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 the 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 Bitou and Oudtshoorn municipal areas. Permanent residents in the Bitou and Oudtshoorn areas are invited to apply for participation in the pilot project.
It must be noted that provision was made to accommodate only thirty (30) households per municipality 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 per municipality received will be selected to participate in the project.
All applicants must conform to the following criteria:
- Must reside permanently in the Bitou or Oudtshoorn municipal areas 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 Bitou and in Oudtshoorn respectively. (This may be an online / virtual session due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
- 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 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.
Application forms to participate in the pilot project can be obtained from the following link: https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/document-category/application-forms/.
Completed application forms must be sent to wayne@gardenroute.gov.za by no later than Friday 10 July 2020.
For any enquiries please contact Mr Wayne Odendaal on 044 693 0006.
16 June 2020 PRESS STATEMENT: First Positive Covid-19 case at Garden Route District Municipality and Temporary Closure of Head-Office
For Immediate Release
16 June 2020
From Wednesday, 17 June 2020, the Head-Office of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) in George will be temporary closed, due to an employee who tested positive for Covid-19.
Executive Mayor of GRDM, Cllr Memory Booysen, when confirming the first Covid-19 positive case of the municipality, said: “Although the person was working from home and had less interaction with colleagues, the employee occasionally came to our offices and it is our duty as a municipality to follow all related protocols. We immediately took the necessary precautions and are implementing all measures such as closing the building, disinfecting, fogging, etc. to ensure the safety of the rest of the GRDM employees”.
Officials disinfecting the Head-Office of Garden Route District Municipality.
All GRDM satellite offices in the district will continue with normal working operations; however the Head-Office will be closed despite the District Command Centre that is stationed at the Head-Office being the centre point to coordinate Covid-19 related activities in the district. The temporary closure of the building will therefore allow the municipality to take the necessary precautions related to the Covid-19 protocols.
The person is already in isolation and the process to trace all persons who were in contact with the employee, is underway. All processes will be conducted in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Health. Mayor Booysen concluded by extending a word of appreciation on behalf of Council and Management to the employee, who immediately informed management of the test results. He wished the employee a speedy recovery and also wished all those who might have been in contact with the employee well, during this time.
The Strategic Manager in the Office of the Municipal Manager, Mr Thembani Loliwe, confirmed that the office will reopen on Monday, 22 June 2020 and he further stated that no person will be allowed into the office, including officials and members of the public until the reopening of the building. “We therefore encourage all staff and members of the public to be patient with us while we put these measures in place and ensuring a safe working environment for our employees”.
As we enter the peak period of the pandemic, every person will be at risk of contracting the virus, therefore it is important that we adhere to all principles to prevent the spread of the virus. Stay at home, if you can work from home. Make sure that you keep a 1.5 meter distance between yourself and the next person, wear a clean cloth mask when you have to go out, wash your hands often and avoid touching your face. If you feel sick also stay at home and seek urgent medical care when experiencing difficulty breathing.
For more information, contact:
Mr Thembani Loliwe,
Strategic Manager in the Office of the Municipal Manager
Tel: 067 038 7668 / E-mail: thembani@gardenroute.gov.za
-ENDS-
15 June 2020 Media Release: Alert Level 3 Regulations – Business who are allowed to operate
Media Release: Alert Level 3 Regulations – Business who are allowed to operate
For immediate release
15 June 2020
Monday, 01 June 2020 marked the date when South African entered lockdown alert level 3 which introduced a host of new regulations on what citizens can and cannot do. According to the regulations of alert level 3, certain adjustments were made to the previous lockdown rules, however the state of national lockdown still continues until the curve has been flattened and the infection rate has been minimised for a sustained period.
More than eight million people have returned to their respective workplaces and in terms of the Alert Level 3 Lockdown Regulations set out in section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002, gazetted Thursday, 28 May 2020.
Operation of economic and public sector
All economic sectors are permitted to operate, except for high-risk activities that remain restricted.
According to section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002, gazetted Thursday, 28 May 2020, number 46 operations are subject to certain social distancing measures that may limit the number of employees in the workplace at any given time.
- Businesses and other institutions may operate except those set out in Table 2 (listed below).
- Businesses and other institutions with more than 100 employees must, where possible, make provision for minimising the number of employees at the workplace at any given time, through rotation, staggered working hours, shift systems, remote working arrangements or similar measures, in order to achieve social distancing and to limit congestion in public transport and at the workplace.
- Relevant health protocols and social distancing measures for persons employed in private residences must be adhered to.
- Relevant health protocols and social distancing measures set out in directions must be adhered to, in addition to the occupational health and safety directions issued by the Cabinet member responsible for employment and labour and applicable labour legislation.
- Employers must implement measures for employees who are over 60 or those with co- morbidities to facilitate their safe return to work, which may include special measures at the work place to limit employees’ exposure to COVID -19 infection and where possible that the employees work from home.
- Construction, manufacturing, business and financial services firms with more than 500 employees must finalise appropriate sector or workplace arrangements or compacts to address the following:
- provide, or arrange transport to their employees coming to site, or, where this is not possible. consider staggered working time arrangements to reduce congestion in public transport;
- stagger the return to work of employees to ensure workplace readiness and avoid traffic congestion during peak travel times as a result of the return to work;
- screen employees daily for symptoms of COVID -19 and refer the employees who display symptoms for medical examination and testing where necessary; and
- submit data collected during the screening and testing process to the Director -General: Health.
- (a) The relevant sector or industry body, if such a body exists, must, in the event of high health risks, develop sector -specific health protocols which must include provisions to limit the spread of COVID -19 in the sector concerned and provide for those circumstances where a firm cannot operate staggered working hours or provide transport to its employees.
(b) The sector -specific health protocols referred to in paragraph (a) must be developed in consultation with the Department of Health.
Specific Economic Exclusions:
- Consumption of food and beverages at or in a place of sale, including restaurants retail outlets, convenience stores or informal traders.
- On -site consumption of liquor.
- Short term home -sharing /letting /leasing /rental for leisure purposes.
- Domestic passenger air travel for leisure purposes until directions with health protocols and social distancing measures are issued by the relevant Cabinet member responsible for transport.
- Passenger ships for leisure purposes.
- Conferences and events, including sporting events, except as provided for in Chapter 4 of the Regulations.
- Personal care services, including hairdressing, beauty treatments, make -up and nails salons and piercing and tattoo parlours, except those categories of services identified in directions by the relevant Cabinet member, in consultation with the Cabinet member responsible for health, as safe to resume, under specified conditions.
- Exclusions relating to public transport services as set out in the directions issued by the Cabinet member responsible for transport.
- Exclusions relating to education services as set out in the directions issued by the Cabinet members responsible for education.
- Tourist attractions, casinos and entertainment activities, except those categories of activities which the relevant Cabinet members, in consultation with the Cabinet member responsible for health, identified in directions as safe to resume under specified conditions.
15 June 2020 DSD donates essential food items to homeless shelters in the Garden Route district
For Immediate Release
15 June 2020
On Wednesday, 10 June 2020, the Disaster Management Centre of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) collected food items from the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) in Cape Town to assist shelters situated in all municipal areas with food relief.
Mr Gerhard Otto, Manager of Disaster Management at GRDM, applied for food relief with a list of specified items on 4 June 2020, after sending a request for assistance to the DSD. The request was approved on 8 June 2020. This assistance came at a crucial time after Oudtshoorn and Bitou municipalities shortly before Otto’s request, indicated the need for essential food items at their respective shelters for homeless people. Itemba in Oudtshoorn accommodates 18 homeless, while Native Roots, situated in Plettenberg Bay, accommodates 40 persons. Homeless persons are not only accommodated at these shelters, but are also cared for during the COVID-19 pandemic and kept safe and healthy during this unprecedented time.
Preparation of the food will be done at kitchens approved by the GRDM Municipal Health Services section. The kitchens will be well-managed by non-governmental and faith based organisations in the respective municipal areas. Soup kitchens supported by the respective municipalities will also benefit from this donation. The items approved and donated by DSD, include: porridge, beef and chicken soup, juice, pasta, mince, chicken casserole, maize meal and pilchards.
Executive Mayor of GRDM, Cllr Memory Booysen, welcomed the donation and extended a word of gratitude to DSD for assisting the Garden Route district with essential food items. Mayor Booysen said: “This donation from the DSD is confirmation of our good working relations with provincial departments. It is important that we continue with our efforts to explore any possibility to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of our residents, most importantly the most vulnerable – this donation is a result thereof”.
ENDS
14 June 2020 Weekly update on the Coronavirus by the Garden Route District Municipality Command Centre
Weekly update on the Coronavirus by the Garden Route District Municipality Command Centre
For Immediate Release
14 June 2020
The Garden Route has recorded nine (9) COVID-19 deaths to date – five in George, one in Mossel Bay, two in Knysna and one in Hessequa. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all family members and friends of the deceased and we continue to keep them in our prayers. Since 7 June 2020, the Garden Route has recorded 102 new COVID-19 positive cases – a total of 209 Garden Routers have now recovered from the virus.
Executive Mayor of GRDM, Councillor Memory Booysen on Saturday thanked the public for donating 459 cloth face masks that will be distributed to community members who cannot afford to buy their own. Cllr Booysen thanked those who donated masks by name (in no particular order): Lee Neto, Gerty Bezuidenhoudt, Jenny Streiger, Lorrain Gerberg, Khutala Maki Gewegwe, Penny Tyson, Elize Loots, Bev Pollocks, Lisa Murray and Rohan Compion.
View the video of Cllr Booysen sharing a thank you message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEgbNihMCpc
On Saturday, Mayor Booysen also visited the Shofar Christian Church in George where a lot of good work happens. Shofar provides space for the Love George NGO to create and distribute food parcels from to the most vulnerable. The storehouse has played a pivotal role in feeding the most vulnerable communities in the region. Another highlight of Cllr Booysen’s visit to the site was to meet the George Junior City Council members. Under the leadership of Inilé du Toit (Mayor), Haydin Wentzel (Municipal Manager) and Jalaser Basman (Speaker), the Junior City Council members managed to source various donations for the needy. Items collected include non-perishable food, clothing, toys and other items.
Listen to Councillor Memory Booysen’s address to the George Junior City Council, FBOs and Love George NGO here:
GRDM HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
In an effort to break the rate and cycle of COVID-19 infections, Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) will conduct home visits to those who tested positive for COVID-19. This will be done to ensure that they are adhering to the rules relating to self-isolation. The GRDM is also investigating the possibility of providing individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 with hand sanitisers.
COVID-19 STATISTICS
| Cases (7/06) |
Recoveries (7/06) |
Cases (14/06) |
Recoveries (14/06) |
|
| Bitou | 15 | 14 | 16 (+1) | 15 (+1) |
| George | 105 | 50 | 148 | 83 (+2) |
| Hessequa | 13 | 10 | 19 (+6) | 12 |
| Kannaland | 1 | All recovered | 3 (+2) | 2 (+2) |
| Knysna | 69 | 44 | 88 (+19) | 59 +15) |
| Mossel Bay | 34 | 28 | 63 (+29) | 29 (+1) |
| Oudtshoorn | 17 | 8 | 19 (+2) | 9 (+1) |
| Totals | 254 | 155 | 356 (+102) | 209 (+54) |
Visit https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard for live updates.
The Western Cape Department of Health found that the following risk factors are most prevalent for people who succumbed to the COVID-19 coronavirus in the region. A shift in testing strategy to prioritise persons most at risk for severe disease, therefore include:
- Diabetes, hypertension or heart disease on treatment
- Cancer on treatment
- TB on treatment
- HIV with poor adherence to ARVs
- Chronic lung disease on treatment (e.g. asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis)
Many people who contract Covid-19 will have mild symptoms and most will recover without any need for hospitalisation. But this does not mean that we should be any less careful- as you could experience mild symptoms, but you could also pass on the virus to your parents or grandparents, or someone in one of the high risk groups.
People with existing comorbidities are more at risk of becoming severely ill if they contract Covid-19.
Those most at risk include those who are:
- Individuals with comorbidities, at any age
- 55 years an older, with or without co-morbidities
CLOSE CONTACTS
One must clearly distinguish between direct (close) contact, and casual contact. Direct contact involves being very close to someone physically, or giving a hug or a handshake. It is important that we keep direct contact to a minimum as required by physical distancing protocols. Only the direct contacts of a confirmed case need to isolate for up to 14 days from the date of last contact.
Just being in the same room as a confirmed case, when maintaining the 1.5m physical distancing requirement, is considered casual contact. Casual contacts do not need to isolate, but they should be monitored for any symptoms of COVID-19.
Circumstances of each positive case will determine whether a person needs to self-isolate.
HUMANITARIAN AID
Agrimark in Stellenbosch promised to donate fruit and vegetables to the region, which will delivered to the Garden Route within the next two weeks and distributed to local municipalities to use at soup kitchens.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development also donated various foodstuffs to the Garden Route homeless shelters, including porridge, beef and chicken soup, juice, pasta and mince, chicken casserole, maize meal and pilchards. There are 296 homeless people housed at the shelters all over the Garden Route at the moment.
Red Cross International has indicated that they will provide assistance to the quarantine and isolation facility at PetroSA in terms after a request for vanity packs were received. Other items that could make the stay of Covid-19 infected people at this facility more bearable will also be considered.
AWARENESS VIDEO
The GRDM Communications section completed a COVID-19 awareness and training video – view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU5xOTZnnNc&t=8s