Media Release: Vuyani Kopi, a GRDM employee sadly passed away on 3 February 2024
For immediate release 09 February 2024
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in particular the Roads Services Department, is left devastated of the passing of a dear colleague and friend, Vuyani Kopi (42). His departure leaves a profound void in the organisation that he loyally served for more than 6 years.
Vuyani passed away on 3 February 2024 at Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown.
He became part of the GRDM family when he was appointed as a Handyman/Artisan on 1 October 2017. Vuyani formed part of the GRDM’s Road Services – Oudtshoorn – Concrete Section.
During his tenure as an employee of GRDM, Vuyani shared good times with his colleagues and friends and leave them with many good memories.
While mourning the departure of his co-worker and best friend, Elliot Qhoholo said: “Vuyani was more than just a colleague; he was a pillar of strength and a true friend. His presence lifted us, but now his absence will be felt. As GRDM colleagues, we extend our deepest condolences to Vuyani’s family during this difficult time.
Kopi was originally from Grahamstown in the Joza area and he leaves behind his wife Fikiswa Kamteni, two (2) children, four (4) sisters and a brother.
In celebration of Vuyani’s life, the GRDM will be hosting a special memorial service at 14h00 on 12 February 2024 in the municipality’s Council Chambers in George. He will be laid to rest at 09h00 on Saturday, 17 February 2024 in Grahamstown.
In these dark and difficult times, let us keep Vuyani’s family and friends in our thoughts and prayers, finding solace in the legacy he leaves behind and the memories we shared as colleagues and friend.
Rest in peace our Vuyani Kopi – you will be sorely missed.
Media Release: GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners Conducted Health Education at Kuyasa Clinic, Zone 9, Thembalethu.
For immediate release 09 February 2024
At the end of January 2024, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP), Yonwaba Sifo and Ivy Mamegwa visited Kuyasa Clinic located in Zone 9, Thembalethu. The purpose of the visit was to inform and educate clinic visitors about Typhoid fever.
According to Ivy Mamegwa, “Typhoid fever is one of the notifiable medical conditions in South Africa. It is caused by Salmonella Typhi. The disease is spread through faecal oral contamination and can be transmitted from person to person by direct contact or through ingestion of contaminated food or water. The importance of hand-washing was also emphasized”.
During the presentation, more than 50 patients were reached. To those present, the GRDM EHPs demonstrated effective and correct hand washing techniques. They also taught the public what typhoid fever is, the causative agent, its symptoms, and how to prevent it. Common symptoms of Typhoid fever include: Headache, abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea etc.
The three most effective methods of preventing typhoid are:
Adherence to strict hand washing with soap and water after using the toilet and before handling food;
Provision of safe water; and
Adequate sanitation.
EHP Yonwaba Sifo said: “Typhoid fever patients should practice strict hand hygiene and should not prepare food until they have been proven to be infection-free”.
Caption: EHPs busy demonstrating the proper techniques of hand-washing.
Media Release: GRDM Riversdale Firefighting crew assists Overstrand Firefighters with a raging fire at Pearly Beach
For immediate release 7 February 2024
On Thursday 01 February 2024, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Fire Services received a call for assistance from the Overstrand Municipality regarding the ongoing fires that raged in the Overstrand Municipal area, specifically the Pearly Beach area.
With rapid arrangements made, a GRDM Fire crew from the Riversdale substation left their premises on Friday morning at 03h00 to assist Overstand with the firefighting task. With their check-in at 07h15 the crew was ready at the Incident Command Post to perform their first assignment.
The team arrived back at their station on Monday, 5 February 2024.
Chief Fire Officer at Overstrand, Lester Smith, praised the team for extending a helping hand to their Overstrand colleagues to ensure the safety and a safe environment for the community of Pearly Beach. In his appreciation message, he said: “The GRDM Firefighters did an excellent job in executing their tasks while we battled the blazes at Pearly Beach – we are thankful”.
The crew was led by Firefighters Heinrich Jordaan and Danro Frans.
Well done Team GRDM!
FLTR: GRDM Firefighters Danro Frans, Loraan Saayman, Jose Loff, Aiden Volkwyn and sitting, Heinrich Jordaan, who assisted the Overstrand Municipal Fire Services with the Pearly Beach fire.
Media Release: GRDM Regional Fire Station Unveiled
For Immediate Release 2 February 2024
Today, 2 February 2024, is a significant milestone achieved by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) with the grand opening of its first state-of-the-art fire station. This modern facility is strategically located at the end of Pearl Street in the Tamsui Industrial area of George.
The GRDM regional fire station was made possible with the GRDM Council support, as well as support from George Municipality who donated a property of 5 877m2 in size and waived service fees. On top of this, the Western Cape Government assisted the GRDM with a R3 million shortfall.
According to Deon Stoffels, GRDM Fire Chief: “Building construction costs amount to R 11 800 000, and Consulting Engineering Services amount to just over R 1 300,000”.
An aerial view of the GRDM Regional Fire Station located in the Tamsui Industrial area next to the N2 in George.
As always, Emile Conrad once again mesmerized the audience with his saxophone, this time delivering a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
“The regional fire station is ideally located in the heart of the Garden Route district, extending its protective arms westward to the Hessequa municipal area and eastward to the Bitou and Knysna municipalities, almost equally, areas both prone to high-risk fires,” said Stoffels.
With its central location, quick access to N2, and 24-hour operations, the facility will ensure rapid responses to emergencies, especially given its proximity to the coastal areas that are still overgrown with invasive alien plant species, as well as mountainous terrain. This is the biggest fire station in the district.
The journey to this day has not been without challenges. The GRDM never before owned its own fire station since its establishment in 1987. Over the years, GRDM Fire Services leased various premises while servicing the district as a whole. Today’s grand opening ceremony was not just about the physical structure, but a celebration of homecoming for firefighters, who have occupied their last temporary home for more than 14 years. These firefighters now have a permanent residence they can call ‘home’, an advanced facility aligned to the required National Building Regulations and Standards.
Among the participants attending the grand opening were Minister Anton Bredell, the Western Cape Provincial Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Mayors, Municipal Managers, Chief Fire Officers, Khubeka Construction CC representatives, the Consulting Engineer, Kantey and Templer (Pty) Ltd representatives, and stakeholders involved in integrated fire management across the District. Also in attendance were representatives of the Western Cape Department of Local Government (WCDLG) Disaster Management and Fire & Rescue Services Directorate, GRDM officials as well as the 50 firefighters from the GRDM. Members of the media (SABC, Eden FM and George Herald), also attended the event, as well as the well-known social media influencer, Nikki du Toit (Lekker Nikki).
Cllr Cobus Meiring did the official welcoming at the event.
GRDM Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu, invited his wife Phumla Stratu to witness the grand opening of the fire station.
GRDM Portfolio Councillor Cobus Meiring opened the prestigious event, welcoming dignitaries, guests and firefighters, followed by Pastor Keith Elliot, from George Victory Church, who encouraged firefighters with Proverbs 8 verse 13, inspiring everyone present.
A very proud but humble GRDM Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu delivered a brief, yet thorough background around the journey fire services has come from until where they are today in opening the regional fire station.
Stratu referred to the devastating Knysna wildfires which occurred in 2017 as one of the driving forces behind an inter-governmental push to co-fund a fire station that serves the region as a whole. Throughout his speech, he detailed the processes, reasons, and steps followed in determining the location of the fire facility, as well as the budget provision and support provided by the Western Cape Provincial government.
“It has been a wonderful experience for all of us, the firefighters, officials, councillors and everyone else, to say that we want to work together to deliver this facility for the people of the Garden Route region, for all the municipalities that will benefit from it, and for us to assist our provincial colleagues in need,” said Stratu.
Municipal Manager Stratu acknowledged some colleagues who made a significant contribution to this project, “One of the key pioneers in this facility and leader in the sector, Freddy Thaver, the former Fire Chief, who has passed on, and who was very fond and passionate about this project.” He asked everyone present to rise for a moment of silence to pay respect to the late Thaver. Mr Stratu also recognised Clive Africa who was unable to attend the event. To honour Africa’s contribution, he asked all present to give him a round of applause for his role at the beginning of the project and also for pushing for it to become a reality.
Ettienne Du Toit from the Disaster Management and Fire Rescue Services, provides background about how the Western Cape Fire Services Capacity Grants work.
Nelius Agenbag giving an overview of the success fo the implementation of the project. he is from Kantey and Templer – the Principal Agent for the project.
Ettiene Du Toit, Deputy Director of Disaster Management & Fire & Rescue Services, presented on Capacity Grants and the financial assistance provided to the project by his department. “It was a privilege to be a part of this project. We often see projects that fail to materialize, but this shows what is possible when provincial and local governments work together.”
In his address, Nelius Agenbag, Principal Agent of Engineering Consultants: Kantey & Templer (Pty) Ltd, expressed gratitude to the GRDM for allowing them to be a part of the project, as well as for the by-in and support given to the design and construction teams. He extended a special word of thanks to Fire Chief Deon Stoffels for his involvement in the project, for always representing his firemen, and for ‘transferring the heart of a fireman’ into the project. “The successful implementation of a project like this depends on teamwork. Everyone involved, every party contributed to the project and without teamwork, a project like this would not have been completed.”
On behalf of George Municipality, Deputy Mayor Raybin Figland delivered an address.
GRDM Speaker, Ald. Georlene Wolmarans with the one Firefighter she calls her ‘favourite Firefighter’ – Emile Conrad.
On behalf of George Municipality, Cllr Raybin Figland, Deputy Mayor said, “This is a collective accomplishment for every single municipality in the Garden Route District, and we are proud to be a part of the opening of this facility”.
Figland added:” In allocating this land to GRDM, George Municipality knew there was indeed a need for such a facility; we did this to ensure that our services are effective and that we are responsive to the needs of our community. In doing so, we gained the knowledge we gained from the devastating George and Knysna fires nearly seven years ago. We made a commitment to our residents that we will strive to do all we can in the face of disaster and with facilities such as this one, we will deliver on our commitments to our residence.” He concluded by saying, “When a decision had to be made regarding the donation of the property for the fire station, it was an easy decision for our council since there was no debate”.
Alderman Memory Booysen, GRDM Executive Mayor said: “When you put egos, personalities, the argument of powers and functions, aside – this is what you get. We put everything aside for one purpose and that purpose was for this facility to be erected and here we are today. This is an indication of when different spheres of government come together and when a district and local municipality comes together.”
GRDM Executive Mayor before and after sliding down the Firefighter’s pole to the ground floor of the fire station.
Anton Bredell, the Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, delivered the keynote address.
He continued by saying, “It is not that we wanted to be smart to call it the Garden Route District Municipality’s Regional Fire Station, it was by choice, a deliberate decision. All the speakers refer to the fact that it is not a Garden Route facility, but it belongs to eight municipalities in total. This facility is here to protect the entire Garden Route – Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland. This is an indication that when we work together as a government, we know no boundaries.”
In his keynote address, the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, said, “This is your facility. We are currently facing a major problem with vandalism. Vandalism of infrastructure. If you vandalise infrastructure, you destroy your children’s future.” He encouraged people to take ownership of the facility and to protect it, because more of these facilities are needed.
MEC Bredell delivered a brief overview of the fires currently burning in the Western Cape and thanked the fire service present for sending teams and resources to assist. He continued by congratulating the GRDM Fire Service Team and said, Let’s keep building and working together. Going forward, climate change is going to be a big issue for us all in administration and government. When budget time comes around, we tend to ignore it. We must invest in Disaster Management over time and build a system because we will need the system in the future.”
In conclusion, Bredell said: “The heart and soul of this building is mostly that side of the audience,” when he referred to the firefighters of GRDM. “You bring passion, love and competence to this facility and the communities you serve. On behalf of the Provincial Government, I want to thank you. You have saved lives throughout the year, if we call on you, you are always there. I want to thank you for your dedication and commitment – let us keep on.” Adding to these words, Bredell further said: And from the provincial side, I want to commit that I will keep on fighting for the right budget, so that we can train you and give you the rightful training and rightful equipment, to do your job.”
The Deputy Executive Mayor of GRDM, Ald. Gert van Niekerk (right), delivered the closing remarks and vote of thanks. Next to him is Anton Bredell, the Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Ald. Memory Booysen (GRDM Executive Mayor), and Monde Stratu (GRDM Municipal Manager) and his wife, Phumla.
In the foreground are some of the firefighters from the GRDM and Working-on-Fire who attended the grand opening.
GRDM Deputy Executive Mayor, Ald. Gert van Niekerk, delivered the closing remarks and vote of thanks. During his message he thanked internal, as well as external stakeholders. He wrapped up his thank yous by saying “Every official of the GRDM sitting here, certainly, you had a contribution somewhere along the course of this project – thank you very much – you all can be proud of what stands in front of you”.
Firefighters showed off their strength by pushing one of their firefighting trucks into their new fire station.
Firefighters took a moment to have a picture taken in front of the new fire station with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Municipal Manager of GRDM.
A special thank you needs to be extended to the gracious sponsors who donated various items to the Fire and Rescue Services of GRDM, these include Outeniqua Palms, Grown Green Organics, Fabric World, Curtains Up, Wild Farm Backpackers Wilderness, and Savannah Helicopters.
Featured Image Caption: Alderman Memory Booysen, GRDM-Executive Mayor cuts a ribbon to mark the official opening of the Garden Route District Municipality Regional Fire Station.
Did you know:
The newly constructed double-storey fire station adheres to its design specifications and encompasses various essential components to facilitate efficient firefighting operations:
The following are some of the features:
Administrative Building: This section will accommodate four senior fire officers and an administrative clerk, providing a centralised hub for coordination and management.
Leisure Area: Designed for the well-being of the 24 George-based firefighters on duty, this space recognises the importance of downtime and relaxation for a team working in demanding conditions.
Kitchen Facilities: For both administrative and operational firefighters use.
Ablution Facilities: Separate facilities for administrative and operational firefighters promote hygiene and well-being.
Board Room: A dedicated space for meetings and briefings enhances communication, collaboration and strategic planning among firefighting personnel.
Gym Room: Recognizing the physical demands of firefighting, the gym will provide a space for fitness and wellness activities.
Lecture Room: Equipped for training and educational purposes, this room supports continuous learning and skill development.
Double Apparatus Bays: Four double bays safely accommodate the necessary firefighting vehicles, ensuring quick and efficient response times.
Storage Rooms and Locker Room: Essential for storing equipment and providing secure spaces for personal belongings.
Wash Bay: A separate facility for washing firefighting vehicles and equipment ensures cleanliness, maintenance and readiness for future emergencies.
Industrial Containers: The fire station premises will house 14 industrial containers for storage of equipment and supplies as well as for training purposes, showcasing a commitment to preparedness and ongoing training initiatives.
Specialist Wildland Ground Firefighting Crew Building: This secondary building will host a specialist crew of 22 personnel daily, underscoring the importance of specialized teams for addressing unique challenges, such as those of wildfires.
The location of the station will naturally also reinforce response times too especially in coastal high-risk areas.
Media release by Western Cape Government: Montagu Pass and Seven Passes Road
For Immediate Release
31 January 2024
There were unprecedented levels of flood damage across much of the provincial road network during the 2023 winter. The most severe storm took place over the Heritage Day long weekend, but this was by no means the only damaging winter storm last year. The Montagu Pass and Seven Passes Road are two of the Western Cape roads that had to be closed after sustaining severe flood damage during flooding.
The Department of Infrastructure’s (DOI) first responsibility concerning damaged roads is to re-establish access so that all communities that rely on a particular road are reconnected to the wider road network. Once access has been established, the order of repairs is prioritised. First, by the amount of traffic a particular road carries, and then by the road’s critical economic importance. Once access has been established, road users may have to use long detours or alternative routes until other repairs are possible.
Given the current resource constraints and following the need to prioritise the order in which road repairs can be made, DOI has had to prioritise routes that carry higher traffic volumes and that are associated with greater economic activity than the Montagu Pass and the Seven Passes Road. Despite our efforts, it is not currently possible to provide a timeline for the reopening of the Montagu Pass or the Seven Passes Road.
MONTAGU PASS
Initial repair work on Montagu Pass was stopped following intervention by members of the public and Heritage Western Cape (HWC). Since the pass is a Provincial Heritage Site, DOI first had to receive the necessary HWC permit before work could be restarted. Before permission was received to restart work, there was further adverse weather that caused the road to deteriorate to the point where it was no longer safe for public use and had to be closed.
Various processes then followed before work could be initiated. During this time, the road further deteriorated due to more adverse weather.
Currently, due to a lack of funding and resource availability required, repairs have been delayed. Repairs have further been severely impacted by the flood repair requirements across the province following more flooding. This delay is due to the damage to the road network during the 2022 and 2023 winter floods, most notably the Heritage Day long weekend floods in 2023. Despite the economic value of the Montagu Pass including its value to the tourism sector, this is not a critical route because an alternative is available (the Outeniqua Pass). Priority must be given to roads where there aren’t viable alternatives to ensure that communities remain connected to the broader road network.
HWC has engaged with various stakeholders on the maintenance and repair of Montagu Pass over the past few months with several meetings attended by representatives of HWC, DOI, law enforcement, and conservation bodies. A permit has now been issued to DOI by HWC for the maintenance and repair of the Montagu Pass. The main constraint to restarting work is the current lack of resources. As the Outeniqua Pass provides a viable alternative route, repairs on the Montagu Pass are not considered to be critical, given the prioritisation criteria provided above.
Allegations of problems with a contractor have been made in the public domain, but these are baseless. No contractor was involved in any work on the pass. The Department required heritage approval. The heritage approval processes did not previously prohibit maintenance on Montagu Pass and maintenance continued as normal work. Unfortunately, complaints by concerned groups in the area caused work to stop and meant DOI had to follow a Heritage Western Cape approval process.
The Department has been asked what it is doing to support businesses along closed routes. There are no businesses in the closed section of the pass meaning businesses remain open. However, the DOI does not have a mechanism or the resources to support businesses affected by closed roads, irrespective of the reason for the closure. This road is no different.
The work will be prioritised along with all other roads that were damaged by the floods, and the maintenance will resume as soon as the necessary capacity and resources, including finance, are available. This is likely to be done in a phased approach, based on budget and resource availability, with the priority being to restore some form of access, even if traffic is restricted to a single lane with stop/go controls. There is currently no prospective date for reopening the road soon. The pass will only be reopened when the necessary maintenance has been completed.
SEVEN PASSES ROAD
Seven Passes Road also sustained significant damage during the 2022/2023 winter floods. This road will be reopened once it has been repaired to its pre-flood-damaged state. This will take considerable time and resources during a period when there are severe resource constraints. Unfortunately, other damaged roads that carry more traffic and are more economically important are a higher priority.
During 2022/2023 there were significant slips on the road, most notably between Nelson Mandela University and Wilderness Heights, MR355. The damage was of such a nature that lane closures were implemented where the most notable slips occurred. Traffic was allowed to pass with applicable signage in place. The situation was monitored to see if this could be a safe alternative as an interim measure.
Unfortunately, due to the geometry of the pass and narrow road width, coupled with irresponsible road user behaviour, there was a high risk of crashes. The difficult decision had to be taken to fully close the road in the interest of road safety and to protect the asset from further damage.
The DOI has received information about cyclists using the route and distributing their own subjective reports on its suitability for traffic. When a route is closed, it is closed to all road users and for their safety. There is damage below the surface level that is not immediately visible. The DOI will not keep a route closed unnecessarily as it is in our interest to have every part of the broader road network fulfil its role.
The pass will only be reopened when the necessary maintenance has been completed as soon as the resources are available. Unfortunately, other damaged roads that carry more traffic and are of higher economic importance than the Seven Passes Road remain a greater repair priority.
We remain committed to reopening these passes as soon as possible to do so, given the constrained fiscal environment. We ask residents to please be patient and to work with us, particularly with regards to their safety. Both passes remain closed to all road users, and we ask pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists to all adhere to the closure of the road.
Media Release: Cholera: A disease nobody should die from
For immediate release 29 January 2024
As of 15 January 2024, the Cholera outbreak has affected various countries in Eastern and Southern Africa with more than 200 000 positive cases and 3000 deaths reported. Since the start of the outbreak in Zimbabwe during February 2023, more than eighteen thousand (18 000) cases were reported, with seventy-one (71) confirmed deaths and more than three hundred (300) suspected deaths.
South Africa is on high alert after two cases of cholera were reported in the Limpopo province. Both are suspected to be imported cases.
What is Cholera?
Cholera is a diarrhoeal infection/disease caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. The disease can cause large outbreaks and epidemics. An epidemic is a sudden outbreak of disease that affects a large number of people in a particular region, community, or population in a short period.
Cholera outbreaks are usually associated with unsafe water sources, and poor sanitation and hygiene infrastructures, thus affecting those living in informal settlements or in displacement camps.
Symptoms of Cholera
The infection is usually mild or without symptoms, but it can be severe and life-threatening. In severe cases, an infected person will experience severe symptoms, which include:
profuse watery diarrhoea, sometimes described as “rice-water stools”
vomiting
thirst
leg cramps
restlessness or irritability
An infected person can also develop severe dehydration which, if left untreated can lead to kidney failure, shock, coma, and ultimately death. During this period, the stools contain large amounts of the bacterium which increase the risk of transmission.
How is Cholera transmitted?
The mode of transmission for cholera is usually water contaminated with human faeces from an infected person, which can either have a direct route (drinking contaminated water) or an indirect route (eating contaminated food).
Important to remember:
Water can be contaminated at the source, during storage or use.
Food products can be contaminated when washed or rinsed off in contaminated water or fertilised with human faeces.
The bacteria can also be transmitted by soiled hands to water or food. Person-to-person spread is not common but can happen in rare cases.
Fish, especially shellfish harvested from contaminated water sources and eaten raw or not cooked properly, can also pose a serious risk.
What is the incubation period?
The incubation period refers to the period from when a person ingests water/food contaminated with the cholera bacterium to when they first become ill.
The incubation period for cholera ranges from a few hours to 5 days (usually 2 – 3 days). The incubation period of cholera is short, therefore any delays in implementing relevant control measures, as well as the provision of proper water and sanitation services can result in explosive outbreaks.
How to prevent Cholera
The most important aspects to minimise and prevent the spread of cholera are as follows.
Use safe water for drinking and household purposes.
Wash hands on a regular basis using soap and water.
Clean and disinfect toilets before use. If there is no access to toilet facilities, do not defecate close to or in water sources and bury your faeces.
Wash fruit and vegetables with safe water, but if not possible, peel it.
Do not eat raw seafood sourced from contaminated water sources.
As part of the Cholera Prevention and Control Programme, Garden Route District Municipality is constantly conducting Moore pad sampling of the water sources across the district. Furthermore, health and hygiene education programmes will be conducted in the various regions. Public awareness is also paramount in minimising the spread and the prevention and control of communicable diseases; therefore, it is important that the organisation utilises its local media platforms to educate the public regarding diseases such as cholera.
Did you know?
A Moore pad is multiple layers of surgical gauze connected to a piece of string or wire to allow the pad to be fixed in a flowing stream of sewage or water. The pad is left in the water stream for a period of 24-72 hours to “filter” microorganisms. Thereafter, the pad is immersed in double strength alkaline-peptone broth and submitted to the laboratory for analysis.
The following methods can be used to treat the water that we use on a daily basis for drinking and household purposes, by:
Boiling the water?
Filter the water using a clean cloth or towel if it was collected from a river or stream. This is to remove soil, leaves or any other large particles from the water.
Bring the water to a rolling boil for at least 1 – 3 minutes. Boiling kills the pathogens in the water.
Allow the water to cool down and store in containers with close fitting lids.
Disinfect water using household bleach
Important: When using household bleach make sure that it has a sodium hypochlorite concentration of at least 6% – 8.25% (See the label of the product for details).
Use a clean bottle or container to disinfect the water.
Filter the water, by using a clean cloth or towel to remove any visible dirt or particles.
Use the following measuring instructions for the addition of bleach to water.
[5ml bleach to 20 litres of water] – 5ml of bleach = 100 drops (using a medicine dropper)
Therefore: 20 drops to 4litre water
10 drops to 2litre water
Mix the water well and let it stand for 30 minutes (Water should have a slight chlorine smell, if not add the same amount of bleach to the water and let it stand for 2 hours.
For more information or report any related symptoms, contact the following GRDM offices within the Garden Route:
Region
Person in Charge
Contact Number
Address
Klein Karoo Region & Kannaland Region
Desmond Paulse
Manager: Municipal Health (Klein Karoo)
Tel: 044 272 2241 / Cell: 083 678 6530
Address: 94 St John Street, Oudtshoorn
Mossel Bay
Monique Anthony
Acting Chief Municipal Health
Tell: 044 693 0006 /
Cell: 061 445 1932
C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay.
George Outeniqua
Emmy Douglas
Chief: Municipal Health (Outeniqua)
Tel: 044 803 1501 / Cell: 078 457 2824
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530
George
Wilderness
Khanyisa Shoto
Acting Chief: Municipal Health
Tel: 044 803 1599 / Cell:071 883 6335
Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530
Knysna Region
James McCarthy
Chief: Knysna
Tel: 044 382 7214 /
Cell: 082 805 9417
26A Queen Street, Knysna
Bitou Region
Gawie Vos
Chief: Lakes (Bitou)
Tell: 044 501 1600 / Cell: 083 557 1522
4 Virginia Street, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Hessequa Region
Haemish Herwels Chief: Hessequa
Tel: 028 713 2438 / Cell: 083 678 6545
24 Michell Street, Riversdale, 6670
Johan Compion Manager: Municipal Health & Environmental Services E-mail: info@gardenroute.gov.za Tel: 044 803 1300 / Cell: 082 803 5161
NOTICE OF A SPECIAL IN-CLOSED COUNCIL MEETING ON 30 JANUARY 2024 AT 10:00
Notice is hereby given that an SPECIAL IN-CLOSED COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers, 54 York Street, George, on 30 January 2024 at 10:00.
Media Advisory: Dept. Labour Media Advisory: Employment and Labour taking services closer to Southern Cape Communities
29 January 2024
The Department of Employment and Labour in the Western Cape will be embarking on a series of service delivery activities in the Southern Cape as a build-up towards a Jobs Fair to be held in George on 05-06 February 2024.
The Jobs Fair, an initiative championed by the Department’s Public Employment Services (PES) branch seeks to create opportunities for work seekers and provide a platform to interact with prospective employers.
The services to be provided include processing of Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) applications, claims assessment, resolving UIF inquiries and processing of Occupational Injuries and Diseases claims and inquiries.
Also on offer will be the Public Employment Services where job-seekers will be afforded amongst other services, an opportunity to register their CVs on the Employment System of South Africa (ESSA) database, through which they can be matched with prospective recruiters.
The service delivery initiatives will be held as follows;
Media Release: Climate innovation catches the eye of corporate finance
For Immediate Release 25 January 2024
Changes in rainfall patterns, floods, and droughts brought on by climate change coupled with unreliable energy supply leave citizens with little choice but to independently adjust and look for technology options to ensure sustainability,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
As technology options bring much-needed relief in terms of water and energy supply, they become part of general asset registers and are increasingly attracting the attention of finance institutions like Nedbank, Hortfin and others who are willing to finance green energy, water conservation and circular economy initiatives.
The use of alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, has become a permanent fixture in South Africa in recent years. Not necessarily because of a changing climate and a move away from fossil fuels, but because of the erratic and unreliable power supply caused by mismanagement, a lack of skills and planning and timeous implementation of energy alternatives by central government and SOE’s.
Over time, water resource management in South Africa also had to adapt to compensate for crumbling infrastructure and erratic supply. Consequently, urban water harvesting, covering swimming pools, and a general reduction in water use following the dreaded Day Zero crisis in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, as well as the current challenges in Gauteng, have become common practices.
Through modern technology, South Africa has developed evaporation prevention measures for stored water reservoirs and storage dams. It will soon become more popular as global temperatures rise and evaporation rates take their toll on stored waters, and will follow the same trajectory as energy alternatives in terms of implementation.
As a result of a lack of suitable sites and catchments, timelines to build, and exorbitant construction costs, the construction of new dams for agricultural, mining, and rural and urban water development is complicated. Considering the downstream impacts of free-flowing rivers on ecosystems and river health, all measures aimed at maintaining and conserving existing water sources are critical.
Dams supplying fast-developing towns such as George and Riversdale are rapidly approaching a point where it can no longer provide adequate supply to the increased demand and alternatives must be found. Oudsthoorn on the other side, is already extracting water from an underground aquafer to augment water security.
Agricultural practitioners need to continue taking measures to significantly reduce water use to ensure that groundwater supplies do not become depleted as a result of overexploitation and consider crops that are less dependent on constant watering to maintain sustainability over time.
GREF is a public platform for conservation and environmental management entities in the Southern Cape.
Featured image caption: Pivot irrigation – Water security in South Africa pose a bigger threat to South African communities than the energy crises.
Save the date: Council Meeting on 30 January 2024 at 10:00
Notice is hereby given that an COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George, on 30 January 2024 at 10:00.
What is Cholera?
