Public Notice: IDP/Budget/ PMS Time Schedule & 2025/2026 Draft Unaudited Annual Report – Open for Comment
Notice Number: 82/2026
Notice is hereby given that the 2027/2028 IDP Budget & PMS Time Schedule has been adopted in terms of 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 31 August 2026.
Furthermore, the 2025/2026 Draft Unaudited Annual Report has been noted by Council in terms of Circular 63 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003. The Unaudited Draft Annual Report for the 2025/2026 financial year is open for comments. Comments 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 30 September 2026.
The document will be available for public inspection during office hours at the IDP unit, Garden Route District Municipality, 54 York Street, George as well as at all the satellite offices of the Garden Route District Municipality: Riversdale, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Knysna and Bitou. Copies will also be accessible at all main local libraries and on the municipal website www.gardenroute.gov.za.
Those 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 objections. For any further enquiries, please contact: Ms M James (IDP Unit: Garden Route District Municipality) on telephone number: 044 803 1431.
Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu Acting Municipal Manager 54 York Street PO Box 12 GEORGE 6530 Tel: 044 803 1300
Click here to download the Official Notice Click here to download the 2027/2028 IDP Budget & PMS Time Schedule Click here to download the 2025/2026 Draft Unaudited Annual Report
Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality invites public comment on new Municipal Health By-law
For immediate release 02 September 2026
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) will publish its updated Municipal Health By-law for public comment, following approval by Council on 31 August 2026 to advertise the draft document for a 30-day period.
The By-law, which regulates municipal health services across the district, is being updated for the first time since 2018 to bring it in line with changes to the National Norms and Standards for Environmental Health.
It covers key health functions including water quality monitoring, food control, waste management, health surveillance of premises, communicable disease control, vector control, environmental pollution control, disposal of the dead, and chemical safety.
The draft by-law will be published in the Provincial Government Gazette and local media for a 30-day comment period.
The clear objective of this by-law, as adopted by Council, is to regulate matters within the municipality’s powers. “Activities that can create a risk to people’s health or create a public-health nuisance may be regulated. The By-law sets the rules for protecting public health in our communities,’ said Johan Compion, Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control at GRDM.
Residents across the district’s seven local municipalities namely George, Oudtshoorn, Kannaland, Hessequa, Mossel Bay, Knysna and Bitou, will also have the opportunity to form part of the public participation sessions held in towns throughout the district from 8 to 30 September 2026.
“Public participation is a vital part of this process. This by-law exists to protect the health and wellbeing of every resident in the Garden Route district, and we want communities to make their contributions before it is finalised,” said Compion.
The By-Law is still a draft and comments from the public will contribute to a final document that aim to:
Protect public health;
Promote safe business practices;
Prevent environmental health risks;
Ensure compliance with national standards;
Improve quality of life; and
Clarify responsibilities of owners and occupiers.
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to review the draft by-law and submit comments during the consultation period.
The due date for comments is 2 November 2026, as public participation helps ensure that the final by-law reflects the needs and realities of our communities. All consultation sessions above will start at 09h00 at the respective venues and dates.
Caption:GRDM IDP Manager, Mercy James, and Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control at GRDM, Johan Compion, during the council meeting.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON DRAFT MUNICIPAL HEALTH BY-LAW (2026)
Notice Number: 81/2026
Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 156(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, that the draft Municipal Health by-law was approved on 31 August 2026, and will be published for public participation in the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) area of jurisdiction.
The above-mentioned document, together with the specified dates and venues for public participation, is available on the GRDM’s website at www.gardenroute.gov.za
The due date for comments is 2 November 2026. Comments to Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management and Air Quality Control, Mr. Johan Compion at JCompion@gardenroute.gov.za
N Raisa-Mlandu Acting Municipal Manager 54 York Street P O Box 12 GEORGE 6530
Progress Update 5 on the GRDM Regional Waste Management Facility Construction
1 September 2026
“The construction of Phase 1 of the Garden Route District Municipality’s Regional Waste Management Facility, located approximately 15 km outside Mossel Bay next to PetroSA, is now approximately 70% complete, with several key components nearing completion,” said Johan Gie, Manager: District Waste Management.
Current activities include:
The final stone drainage layer is being installed over the lining materials of Cell 1A.
The lining of the leachate and contaminated water dams is nearing completion.
Construction of the concrete access road is nearing completion.
Buildings and other associated infrastructure works are progressing in accordance with the approved construction programme.
Overall, the project is progressing well, with major construction elements steadily moving towards completion.
Featured image: Lining of the contaminated water dam currently underway at the Regional Waste Management Facility.
Garden Route District Health Council relaunched to strengthen community voice in healthcare planning
For immediate release 27 August 2026
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and the Western Cape Provincial (WCG) Department of Health and Wellness convened the first sitting of the reconstituted Garden Route District Health Council today. This platform affirms the GRDM Council’s mandate to give municipalities and communities a direct voice in shaping health service delivery across the district.
The sitting was chaired by GRDM Executive Mayor Marais Kruger, as the newly elected District Health Council chairperson, along with the Mayoral Committee Members for Health from George and Bitou Municipalities, Hessequa Municipality’s Deputy Executive Mayor, Cllr Gerald Boezak, and other local municipality councillors and officials from across the district.
Opening the discussion, Mayor Kruger reminded members of the council’s role in providing leadership and direction on health matters, and of the collective responsibility shared by municipalities and the Department in serving communities.
“This platform exists so that the voices of our communities are heard when decisions are made. It is our collective responsibility to provide leadership and direction, and to ensure no community is left behind,” said Mayor Kruger.
Director of the Garden Route and Central Karoo Health Districts, Helize Le Roux, delivered an insightful presentation on behalf of the Department, highlighting significant infrastructure gains across the district.
Completed projects include the Hornlee, Ladismith, and maintenance work at Groot Brak River Clinics, along with upgrades to the Acute Psychiatric Unit at Oudtshoorn.
“Work is currently underway on maintenance at Mossel Bay, New Horizon and Pacaltsdorp Clinics, as well as upgrades at George and Knysna Hospitals”, said Le Roux.
The council also discussed the district’s preparedness for disaster and disease outbreaks, with remedial and contingency plans in place to support rapid response, and the ongoing containment of communicable diseases to ensure communities accessing the district’s healthcare services continue to receive proper care.
Members agreed that rural communities must remain a priority and not be left behind as services are expanded.
Representing Bitou Municipality’s health portfolio, Cllr Annelise Olivier, raised the positive impact of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) station in KwaNokuthula township, in Plettenberg Bay, and the extension of weekend clinic operating hours, both of which are easing pressure on emergency services and greatly assisting the community.
“The EMS station in KwaNokuthula and our extended weekend hours have made a real difference for our residents. This is what it looks like when the district and local government work together for our people,” said Councillor Olivier.
George Municipality’s MMC for Health, Cllr Melvin Roelfse, highlighted the growing population pressure in Pacaltsdorp, noting that a rising number of retirees settling in the area without medical aid are placing additional reliance on public healthcare services.
The council has resolved to advocate collectively for continued investment in healthcare infrastructure and services, and committed to engaging the National Department of Health, the WCG Premier’s Office, and the WCG Department of Infrastructure on addressing outstanding priorities in the district.
The Garden Route District Health Council, established in terms of the Western Cape Health Facility Boards and Health Councils Act, is required to meet quarterly. The next sitting is expected before mid-December, pending the outcome of the local government elections.
Caption: GRDM political leadership, delegates from the Garden Route and Central Karoo Health Districts, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, and local municipalities pictured after the first sitting of the reconstituted Garden Route District Health Council.
This document was approved by the Garden Route District Municipality at a District Council meeting held on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.
This document will be available for public inspection and comments on the GRDM municipal website www.gardenroute.gov.za from 25 August 2026.
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments or representations to the municipality in respect of this document. All comments and inputs must be directed to “The Acting Municipal Manager, Garden Route District Municipality, 54 York Street, George, 6530”.
Please contact the Budget Manager (Ms Louise Hoek) at 044 803 1300 with any enquiries.
Click here to download the Official Notice. Click here to download the Second Adjustment Budget.
Media Release: R9 million to date for a Stronger, Faster, Better Prepared Hazmat and Flood Responses
For Immediate Release 24 August 2026
The Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Fire and Rescue Services reached another milestone today when the last of its Fire Service Capacity Grant for Hazardous Materials equipment worth R1.5 million was handed over to the GRDM by the Western Cape Government (WCG) Department of Local Government (DLG) earlier today. It was also shared by Disaster Management that the construction a R7,5 million flood response base, phase one, remains on track. The grant, which is geared to help Local Government protect communities, is administered WCG DLG.
The stakeholders present during the handover ceremony earlier today, 24 August 2026.
Learner Firefighters Ebenezer Shikapa (left) and Rodwin Quiton Van Wyk wearing Class A suits – fully encapsulated suits with breathing apparatuses.
Deon Stoffels, GRDM Fire Chief said that “through this funding, mobile response trailers have already been strategically positioned in Knysna, Riversdale, and the Kannaland/Oudtshoorn area to facilitate rapid deployment and effective initial incident management”.
“Our teams are now more than ever before, equipped with the necessary specialised resources, remain in a constant state of preparedness along key transportation corridors within the Western Cape”.
Firefighters often face dangerous incidents, and this grant helps us to work safely and effectively,” he said.
Hazmat-related incidents often take place along Garden Route transportation corridors include the likes of the N2, N9, R62 and associated road networks, as well as challenging areas such as the Swartberg Pass.
Commenting on the flood-response base, Gerhard Otto, GRDM Manager: Disaster Management, said the facility would provide secure storage for flood-response equipment, water tankers, mobile backup generators and firefighting vehicles. It will also provide a dedicated space for training, including practical rope-rescue techniques.
Phase one, funded out of the same grant as the hazmat materials, includes the construction of the foundation and roof structure. Phases two and three, for which funding would need to be sourced, will involve enclosing the facility, installing electricity and completing the flooring.
During the ceremony today, Mayor Marais Kruger pointed to the handover as being more than an investment in equipment. “It is an investment in the people who protect our communities every day.”
“The true value of this investment will be measured in lives saved, communities protected, and disasters mitigated,” said Kruger.
Mayor Marais Kruger says the true value of this investment will be measured in lives saved, communities protected, and disasters mitigated.
Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu, Acting Municipal Manager says the scale and complexity of modern disasters require specialised equipment, advanced tech and highly trained personnel, to name a few.
Speaking on the strategic nature of Firefighting and Disaster Management, the GRDM Acting Municipal Manager, Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu (also the HOD for Community Services), correctly said that emergency services cannot be sustained through local resources alone.
“The scale and complexity of modern disasters require specialised equipment, advanced tech and highly trained personnel, to name a few. Strategic support is therefore, for this reason, required from Provincial Government to broaden our skills, occupational health, safety and ensure modern equipment and organisational support is a given”, she said.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS GRANT HANDOVER?
Trailer, Class A, B, C Suits, Nitrile Rubber Hazmat Gloves, Portable Decon Showers, Decon Pools, Hazmat Spill kits, Hazmat absorbents, Repair Putty 12/Box, 210L Large Mouth Over drum, Hazmat Kit – Drum & Pinhole Plugging Kit, Hazmat Kit – Wooden Cone & Wedge Kit, Hazmat Kit – External Pipe Sealing Kit, Hazmat I.D. Kit, 4 stage Gas detector and a mini compressor.
Various hazardous response unit materials now available to firefighters.
In the foreground are two portable Decon showers to be used after firefighters performed their duties at an incident.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE FLOOD RESPONSE BASE
Size of 700 m², 14 parking bays (bays could accommodate 22m long trailers), 0.50mm thick aluminium-zinc or Chroma deck roof sheeting/ clip lock to prevent rust, steel roof sheeting in continuous lengths, chain operated, horizontal slatted roller shutter doors on northern and southern sides of the building.
A visual representation of the flood response base which will also be situated on the same property as the Garden Route Regional Fire Station in George.
INVESTMENTS SHAPE EACH FUTURE INCIDENT RESPONSE
Together, these investments reinforce our, and the provinces’ commitment to safeguarding lives, protecting infrastructure, and enhancing the readiness of emergency services throughout the Garden Route district. The event was attended by Assistant Director, Marthinus Rust assistent Director Fire and Rescue services Western Cape Disaster Management who made it clear that the Garden Route’s response is the Western Cape Provincial Government’s response – “I am not here for me, I am here for we”, synonymous with the Western Cape Government Slogan of “For you”. The “For You” communicates that we are citizen-centric and embrace doing everything we can for the people we serve.
Editor’s notes: Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning previously said the following during a similar handover: “We are investing in preparedness, resilience and the ability of our emergency services to respond when communities need them most”.
The WCG DLG Fire Service Capacity Grant is an enabler of rapid response to chemical spills and hazardous material incidents; real-time safety monitoring of emergency response personnel; compliant on-site decontamination capabilities; mitigation of chemical Incidents; and operational readiness for incidents of any scale.
Feature image caption: Learner Firefighters Ebenezer Shikapa (left) and Rodwin Quoton Van Wyk wearing Class A suits – fully encapsulated suits with breathing apparatuses.
Media Release: Resilient Landscapes: Collaboration in a Changing Climate
For immediate release 24 August 2026
The message emerging from recent environmental gatherings is clear: “climate change is no longer a distant threat but a reality demanding action, cooperation and a far greater sense of shared responsibility,” says Cobus Meiring from the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
The recent Resilient Landscapes Forum, hosted at the Gourikwa Coastal Nature Reserve, followed closely on the Extreme Weather Reflection event hosted at Nelson Mandela University – both gatherings brought together people who understand that environmental resilience cannot be left to government alone.
Gourikwa Coastal Nature Reserve showing the Southern Cape coastline and natural landscape with fynbos.
The urgency of these discussions is reinforced by growing global concern about increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and the potential influence of phenomena such as El Niño. Predictions for the Southern Cape do not inspire complacency. Changing weather patterns could bring prolonged drought, destructive floods, wild fire, severe winds and increasingly difficult conditions for both people and the environment.
“Civil society has a vital role to play in environmental management,” says Meiring who attended the event. Forum (GREF), who attended the event. “Forums, conservancies and similar structures provide essential platforms where land managers, academics, communities and government can meet, share knowledge and collectively respond to environmental challenges.”
Government simply does not have the capacity to manage every environmental issue. The protection of natural systems therefore depends increasingly on responsible landowners and land managers taking ownership of the landscapes under their care.
The implications extend well beyond conservation. Agriculture remains a primary driver of the regional economy, and farmers understand the potentially devastating consequences of prolonged drought. Cape Town’s near Day Zero experience demonstrated just how quickly a water crisis can become an economic and social crisis.
The Southern Cape’s coastline, Klein Karoo, forests, rivers, lakes and extraordinary biodiversity are irreplaceable natural assets. Their sustainable future cannot be taken for granted.
The resilience of the Southern Cape will ultimately depend not only on how well we respond to the next extreme weather event, but on how effectively we work together before it arrives. A better cared-for environment remains the foundation of a safer economy and a higher quality of life for all.
Feature Image:Recent Floods further damaged the eastern Gourits River bank near the estuary and washed away substantial volumes of valuable agricultural land.
The Garden Route Environmnetal Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental managers and a climate change think- tank (ww.grefecsf.co.za).
Media Release: GRDM Fire and Rescue Services Takes Fire Safety Awareness and Education to Communities Across the Garden Route
24 August 2026
Last summer’s fire season was described as one of the most challenging in recent years. The Garden Route and the broader Western Cape experienced a significant increase in fire incidents, extreme weather conditions, and extensive areas of land affected by fires. This included fires in Knysna that affected informal structures, fires across the Hessequa area that caused various infrastructure damages, and the loss of formal houses in Mossel Bay. These events were followed by a mini drought period across the Garden Route District.
With severe weather conditions forecasted for the upcoming summer months, including a Super El Nino event, which is already taking shape around the globe, the following factors were highlighted by research experts of both the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch):
Increase in temperatures – potentially leading to more heatwaves;
An increase in fire risk (the impact also of a drier winter so far);More variable wind, however less windy;
Almost certain that an extremely strong EL Nino will occur this summer (2026/2027) – it would rank among the largest EL Nino events since the 1950’s; and
The warmer temperatures forecasted for this summer, along with the very poor winter rainfall of 2026 (July was one of the driest on record), could lead to more favourable conditions for veld fires across the Western Cape, but ameliorated by weaker winds (except Berg Winds). Berg Winds has historically caused problems in the Garden Route especially.
According to GRDM Fire Chief Deon Stoffels, the importance of fire prevention, preparedness and community awareness cannot be overstated. “It is for this reason that the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in collaboration with the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) Safe Schools Programme, has conducted numerous fire safety awareness and prevention sessions for learners, teachers, school staff and residents across the district,” Stoffels said.
These interventions aim to reach communities far and wide, including remote communities and schools in isolated areas, ensuring that everyone has access to fundamental fire safety information. The sessions focus on helping communities understand their environment, how to prevent fires, how to make their living areas fire safe, respond appropriately during such events, and assist first responders in emergencies and thus helping protect lives, property and the environment.
On Wednesday, 19 August 2026, GRDM firefighters visited three schools in the Knysna municipal area as part of their ongoing fire safety awareness programme. The schools visited were Karatara Primary School, Redlands Primary School and Ruigtevlei Primary School. During the visits, learners and teachers received important information on fire safety, fire prevention and what to do in the event of a fire. They were equipped with practical knowledge and skills to help them stay safe and respond appropriately during fire emergencies. The firefighters also provided flood safety awareness, teaching learners what to do and how to stay safe during flooding and other emergencies.
On Thursday, 20 August 2026, the firefighters continued the initiative at Britsvlakte Primary School, on the outskirts of Uniondale. The session was attended by 30 learners of different ages, four teachers and a representative from the Western Cape Education Department.
The learners were taught important fire prevention measures, including how to prevent fires and safely handle hazardous substances commonly found in households. The interactive sessions provided an opportunity for learners to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the dangers associated with fires and hazardous substances. The recent flood events have raised attention as well and flood safety tips were share equally.
These ongoing awareness initiatives play an important role in ensuring that learners, teachers, and communities are better prepared to prevent and respond to veld fires and fire related activities around their homes, ultimately helping to keep schools, homes, and communities across the Garden Route safer.
“We plea to the greater community owning land on small holdings and rural areas to fire scaping their properties and larger landowners to ensure they contribute to risk reduction by making fire breaks around their properties and constantly decreasing fuel loads, especially alien invasive plants, which are standard fire drivers,” said Chief Stoffels.
Captions for all photographs: A look back at fires, flooding and extreme weather experienced across the Garden Route, alongside ongoing fire safety training to prepare children for the upcoming fire season.
NOTICE OF A COMBINED MPAC / APAC MEETING ON 26 AUGUST 2026 AT 10:00
NOTICE NUMBER 76/2026
Notice is hereby given that a COMBINED MPAC/ APAC MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers, 54 York Street, George, and via Zoom on 26 August 2026 at 10:00.
