INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLANNING (IDP)/BUDGET AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (PMS) REPRESENTATIVE FORUM MEETING
In terms of section 16 (1) (a) (i) and 17 (1) (a) – (e) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act No 32 of 2000, a notice is hereby given that Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) will hold its IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum meeting in order to encourage and create conditions for the local community to participate in the affairs of the municipality.
The meeting is scheduled as follows: Date: 23 November 2023 Time: 9:30
The session will be broadcast live on Eden FM and the Garden Route District Municipality’s Facebook page.
The Garden Route Communities, Councillors, Ward Committees, Community Development Workers, Faith Based Organisations, Community Based Organisations, Intergovernmental Forums, Farmers associations, Business Communities and Rate Payers Associations who wish to take part in the IDP/Budget and PMS Representative Forum meeting, are welcome to attend.
RSVP: nontokozo@gardenroute.gov.za.
For further enquiries, please contact Ms Mercy James (IDP Unit) at tel no: 044 803 1431.
STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT SESSION AT SWARTVLEI CARAVAN PARK 01 DECEMBER 2023
Notice is hereby given that the Garden Route District Municipality Year End Strategic Engagement will be held on 1 December 2023 at Swartvlei Strategic Park, Sedgefield, on 01 December 2023.
Program of the event:
During this session the Municipality will be discussing its strategic plan and commitments for the upcoming financial 2024/2025. financial year. The event will also have guest speakers which will be addressing the Municipality on World AIDs Day, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Road Safety for the festive season.
The event will take place from 07h30 until 17h00 on 01 December 2023.
Should the public have any objections or queries regarding the event, they are welcome to contact: Mrs Medron Bussack (Acting Manager at Swartvlei Caravan Park) on/or before 22 November 2023 via e-mail to vicbay@gadernroute.gov.za.
MG Stratu Municipal Manager Garden Route District Municipality 54 York Street PO Box 12 GEORGE 6530 Tel: 044 803 1300
NOTICE OF A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON 22 NOVEMBER 2023 AT 10:00
Notice is hereby given that a SPECIALCOUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George,on 22 November 2023 at 10:00.
GRDM Firefighters present a Basic Wildland Firefighting course to farmers and farmworkers from the Heidelberg region.
A Basic Wildland Firefighting course is a critical training program that equips individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to combat wildfires and veldfires in its incipient stage. This course typically covers topics such as fire behaviour, safety protocols, equipment usage, and teamwork. The training presented to the group will allow them to effectively handle veldfires and to protect lives and infrastructure.
It is essential for rural communities and farmers to be equipped with basic knowledge, and especially in terms of safety around veld- and wildfires. Similar training is scheduled for more areas in the Hessequa and Mossel Bay municipal areas, set to take place in the last week of November 2023.
The basic course was facilitated by Daniel Dippenaar, GRDM Station Officer: Fire Safety and Training, with the assistance of GRDM Riversdale based Firefighter, Chris Gerber.
FIRE SAFETY AROUND YOUR HOME
Create a clear zone and / or defendable space around your house and infrastructure, regularly clean flammable vegetation around house.
Regularly remove leaves and other plant matter from gutters.
Make sure firefighters can access your home and other infrastructure. Cut away trees and branches along your access route which do not allow fire truck access.
Do not make any fires in unpermitted areas.
Do not leave braai fires unattended or discard ash or coals in grass or vegetation.
Please be alert to daily weather warnings, which will be distributed and shared on the local authorities’ communication channels.
Ensure that your house is numbered, or else in case of an emergency, first responders might not be aware of where assistance is required.
Media Release: Toddlers in Hessequa are taught proper hand washing techniques by EHPs
For Immediate Release 13 November 2023
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) in the Hessequa region recently conducted a practical health and hygiene awareness session with toddlers about handwashing techniques and recycling. GRDM Portfolio Councillor Jobieth Hoogbaard, supported by Alderlady Nompumelelo Ndayi, donated mattresses to the Sunbeam Childcare Facility in Melkhoutfontein, Still Bay. The same créche where the EHPs conducted their health and hygiene awareness session.
Councillors of the GRDM with the mattresses donated to the school.
During the morning’s activities, both councillors participated in handwashing activities, and the children enjoyed the demonstrations. This kind gesture by the GRDM councillors was greatly appreciated by the personnel. They indicated that the donation was much needed and reiterated the importance of rest for children during the school day.
In a brief interaction with the facility’s staff, Cllr Hoogbaard expressed his appreciation for the outstanding work they do to develop the children. He said he hoped to extend the program to other facilities in the area as early childhood development is such an important stage in a child’s life. During this time their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical growth is developed.
Featured image caption: Councillors Hoogbaard and Ndayi washed their hands with the toddlers and joined in the fun.
Media Release: Hundreds of Garden Routers welcome 2023 Rugby World Champion Manie Libbok in George
For immediate release 10 November 2023
Manie Libbok, 2023 Rugby World Cup winner, received a hero’s welcome by Garden Routers when he arrived at the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Head-Office in George on Wednesday, 8 November 2023.
Manie Libbok, 2023 World Cup Champion (right), handed over a signed special Bok jersey to Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen (left). Mayor Booysen in return handed a Certificate of Honour to the rugby legend during the welcoming event held in George.
The first citizen of the Garden Route, Ald. Memory Booysen, could not wait to welcome Libbok to the district. Libbok is also a former Kwagga – a learner from Outeniqua High School in George. He was also a member of South Western District (SWD) Eagles Rugby Team before he was selected as a member of the Stormers. Subsequently, the Bok-squad became the next journey of his professional career.
Young and old long awaited to meet the star who is a role-model to especially children, who love rugby. Before Mayor Booysen handed over a Certificate of Honour to the rugby legend, he unexpectedly received a signed jersey from the man of the moment himself. Mayor Booysen also, originally from the Eastern Cape like Libbok, cheered the hero more than he could deliver a normal speech. Libbok was born in Humansdorp and Mayor Booysen in Hankey.
GRDM Senior Firefighter, Emile Conrad, performed an instrumental of the song “Change the World” by Eric Clapton.
It was an ecstatic moment when Mayor Booysen called his biggest fans to the front; a relative of Libbok, Anita Jansen, and Springbok supporter Lee-Ann Eksteen, who wore a shirt with Libbok’s name on the back. Both are employees of GRDM. Tait said: “It is an honour for me to meet Manie and it is also the first time to see a Springbok in person”. Before both rejoined the crowd, Libbok embraced his Aunt Nita and Eksteen and started to brace himself for the huge task ahead – hundreds of shirts waited to be signed. Kids also brought their rugby balls to be signed and now hundreds of Springbok shirts of residents of the Garden Route reflect the signature of Libbok!
Mayor Booysen further said: “We are not just proudly Garden Routers, but we are proudly South Africans, we are not just proudly South Africans, we are proud Springbok supporters”. To Manie Mayor Booysen said: “Manie you are a hero. Not just for one reason, but for two reasons, three reasons; we are the fourth time World Champions!” Mayor Booysen further stated: “On behalf of the Garden Route, the Mayors in the district and more than 700 000 people, you have put us on the map – you have put us on top of the world! Because of Manie, the Springboks and their technical team, we are one of the best-known countries in the world…”.
When taking the crowd through memory lane of highlights regarding Libbok’s performance during the World Cup, especially the test match against Scotland, GRDM Deputy Executive Mayor, Ald. Gert van Niekerk reiterated what his drop-kick to Kurt-Lee Arendse meant for the team and the country. He said: “Manie, you almost gave me a heart-attack. Out of nowhere, this kick-pass came to a flying Kurtley Arendse….Manie you made my day that day – it still gives me goosebumps every time I think about that moment”, Ald. Van Niekerk said. The “no-look” drop-kick resulted in a try for the Boks.
The GRDM hereby would like to extend words of sincere appreciation to all who attended this short-notice memorable welcome of Libbok to the district, the South African Police Service, Provincial Traffic Services, George Municipality’s Traffic Services, Mike Roczynski for transporting Libbok, as well as Eden FM Radio station and various media outlets who distributed supportive messages to members of the public.
While Libbok met his fans and signed t-shirts, Mayor Booysen in his media interview said: “It is indeed a pleasure for us and for me as District Mayor to host Manie Libbok as a son of the soil. This is an opportunity for the youngsters to look up to and meet the heroic person”.
In closing Mayor Booysen said: “Libbok is not just a hero, but a World Champion – today is an an indication that these kids will follow suit!”
IDP/BUDGET and PMS Representative Forum meeting to take place on 23 November 2023
In terms of sections 16(1)(a)(i) and 17(1)(a) – (e) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act No 32 of 2000, a notice is hereby given that the Garden Route District Municipality will hold its IDP/Budget and Performance Representative Forum meeting to encourage and create conditions for the local community to participate in the affairs of the municipality.
The meeting is scheduled as follows:
Date: 23 November 2023 Time: 09:00 Live broadcast by Eden FM: 09h30 – 10h15
Media Release: Natural splendour awaits tourists to the Garden Route
For immediate release 9 November 2023
“Following an extremely wet winter the Southern Cape is showcasing is natural beauty, and tourists planning to visit the region during the festive season, will not be disappointed,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
Following many years of drought and hardship the Klein Karoo environment is also finally recovering and with summer in full swing, the region is flourishing with vegetation, ample grazing and dams filled to the brim. The Outeniqua mountains and the regional coastline still bear the scars of relentless rain and storms during the winter months, but nature is resilient and bound to recover.
The Southern Cape biodiversity is flourishing following favourable rains during the winter months.
The Garden Route is blessed with several custodians of its natural splendour, and with large areas protected and under mandated and private conservation management, the region will always retain much of its marine and terrestrial biodiversity.
Pro-active actions and initiatives by regional conservation entities such as the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve (GRBR), the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR), the Table Mountain Fund (TMF), SANParks, WWF and Cape Nature collectively recognize the importance of conserving the global significance of the Southern Cape biodiversity. In addition to these recognized conservation entities there are numerous conservancies, governmental and environmental management forums and private and public nature reserves present and active in all parts of the region.
A changing climate will bring new challenges to the Southern Cape environment, and with almost unpredictable rainfall patterns new challenges are looming for the environment and the communities dependent on its resilience.
In addition, invasive alien plants dominate large parts of the Southern Cape’s environmentally sensitive mountain catchments, rivers and wetlands, and landowners are fighting an uphill battle in eradication and control of fast- spreading wattles, pine, Rooikrans and a myriad of lesser known invasive species which all pose a significant threat in terms of the destruction of biodiversity, water security and the ever-present danger of wild fire disaster as the summer heat is bound to dry out vegetation in the coming months.
In celebration of regional conservation efforts, GREF is hosting its annual Key-Stakeholder Report-back Event on 13 December in Wilderness, allowing regional environmental and conservation entities to showcase their programmes and initiatives.
The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a public platform for environmental and conservation management entities in the Southern Cape.
Picture/ caption: The Robinson Pass, South Africa, alive with beautiful yellow, orange, red and pink proteas. The mountains seem endless and misty in the distance. -GRDM
Issued: Cobus Meiring, Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF)
