Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Municipal Manager

9 February 2026 Media Release: GRDM’s 5th Clean Audit and its Impact on Residents and Visitors

Media Release: GRDM’s 5th Clean Audit and its Impact on Residents and Visitors

9 February 2026

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has proudly received its 5th consecutive, Clean Audit, an achievement that reflects strong financial management, good governance, and accountability. While many may see the term “clean audit” and scroll past it in the news, it is important to understand how it impacts the entire region.

What exactly is a clean audit?

A clean audit, also known as an unqualified audit opinion with no findings, is the best possible audit outcome a municipality can receive from the Auditor-General of South Africa. It is globally recognised as a stamp of “trust” for an institution.

Clean Audits indicate that a municipality’s activities are done responsibly, honestly and that the municipality reports accurately on its performance, and that it does this within the relevant laws and regulations of the country.

A clean audit outcome is the best possible audit result, where financial statements are free from material misstatements and there are no material findings on, or non-compliance with, key legislation and performance reporting. It indicates that an organization’s financial records are transparent, credible, and compliant with relevant standards.

Why do we want to achieve a clean audit every year?

A Clean Audit is about trust. The public expects a municipality to be honest and transparent about its management of public funds.  It also means the municipality has systems and practices that work well and can be replicated by other institutions.

Having a clean audit doesn’t always mean the municipality is delivering all services perfectly, no municipality is perfect. According to the Auditor-General, ‘clean municipalities’ plan effectively for service delivery, with performance indicators aligned to their mandate and core functions. They consider the needs of approved informal settlements, have accessible complaints management systems, and address service issues promptly.

What does a clean audit mean for communities?

A clean audit is not merely an achievement for a municipality; it is a strong testament to effective governance and accountability to the community it serves. It builds confidence among stakeholders and creates an environment that encourages investment, as businesses and investors are more likely to support a town or city that consistently meets its commitments and demonstrates sound financial and management practices.

  • Proper use of public funds: Money allocated for services such as roads, fire services, disaster management, and infrastructure are spent as planned and accounted for.
  • Improved service delivery: Proper financial management helps a municipality to plan better and deliver services more effectively. If planning is not in place, a municipality risks running out of funds, leading to little or no delivery of services.
  • Trust and accountability: Communities can have confidence that the Municipality is acting in their best interest and using taxpayer money responsibly. If people do not trust government, then why should they govern the people they are supposed to serve and help?
  • Attracting investment and support: Clean audits make areas more attractive to investors and improve their chances of securing grants, funding and long-term relationships. No company would like to start a business in a town where the roads are full of potholes because it would drive up insurance claims; a town where water is not delivered to homes and businesses, some businesses operate with thousands of litres of water a day.
  • Long-term sustainability: Good governance ensures that services can be maintained not only now, but also in the future.
  • Foundation for service delivery: While not guaranteeing perfect service delivery, it ensures that financial mismanagement is unlikely to be the cause of service delays.

How the community can support a clean audit

Communities can play an important role in ensuring municipalities manage their finances and services responsibly. Here’s how residents can help:

  1. Pay for services on time: Paying your rates, water, and other municipal services on time helps the municipality provide services properly. Without rates and taxes, a municipality will not be able to roll out projects or employ people to do the work.
  2. Report issues and complaints: Residents should report faults, service disruptions, or misuse of resources so they can fix them quickly.
  3. Participate in public meetings: Participate in ward meetings, budget consultations, and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) discussions to advocate for community needs and priorities. Municipalities strive to address the needs of their communities while ensuring the necessary maintenance and operations to keep services running effectively.
  4. Hold officials accountable: Engage actively by asking questions, staying informed, and providing feedback on municipal projects and expenditures to promote transparency. ​ Freedom of expression in the media also plays a vital role in highlighting questionable actions and holding municipalities accountable.

Four municipalities within the Garden Route District achieved clean audit outcomes for the 2024/25 financial year, namely the Garden Route District Municipality, George, Hessequa, and Mossel Bay Local Municipalities.

Achieving a clean audit once again is commendable but receiving it for the fifth consecutive time shows consistency, strong leadership, and a culture of accountability within the Municipality.

The Garden Route District Municipality acknowledges the dedication of its officials, management, and Council in achieving this milestone. Most importantly, this achievement belongs to the communities in the district, as it reflects the Municipality’s commitment to serving residents with integrity and responsibility.

“We remain focused on building on this success to ensure continued service excellence and positive outcomes for all communities in the Garden Route District.”

-END-

07 August 2025 Media Release: GRDM Disaster Management and EHPs teams assist Bitou Municipality in Bossiesgif fire

GRDM Disaster Management and EHPs teams assist Bitou Municipality in Bossiesgif fire

For immediate release
07 August 2025

The last few days have been traumatic for the Bossiesgif residents of the Bitou Municipal area.

A fire broke out in the informal settlement, with flames that raged through structures leaving approximately 500 people, including children, affected by the flames.

The fire destroyed 162 informal structures with 3 structures that burned partially in Bossiesgif, Bitou

Reports from Bitou Municipality confirmed that the fire broke out in the early hours of 4 August 2025.  In a report that was published on 5 August, it was confirmed that 162 informal structures were destroyed and 3 were partially burned, affecting approximately 500 people with a count of 4-6 people per household.

In collaboration with Bitou Municipality, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) acted swiftly to provide the needed assistance to lessen the impact of the fire on affected individuals. GRDM’s Disaster Management team assisted with the activation of key role players in coordinating a rapid and effective response. The GRDM Disaster Management Centre (DMC) also fulfilled their role as an important link between the district and local coordinators when the centre facilitated communication and provided regular situational reports to district and provincial coordinators. These efforts demonstrated the solid working relations between GRDM and Bitou Municipality.

In ensuring that humanitarian relief was provided to all affected residents, the GRDM DMC supplied 59 mattresses and 71 blankets to the families. This was part of a larger relief effort that included donations received from the Gift of the Givers, meals from Dignity Fund and the Shoprite Act For Change soup kitchen, and ongoing municipal efforts.

GRDM, Bitou Municipality and stakeholders assessing the damages and providing humanitarian aid to residents affected by the fire.

GRDM’s EHPs also played a critical role at the identified sites when they conducted an assessment of all health processes related to food handling and waste disposal thereof at the hall. These processes were well coordinated and the assessment confirmed that all the necessary protocols were followed.

Executive Mayor of GRDM, Andrew Stroebel, commended GRDM, Bitou teams, as well as other stakeholders involved, for their swift response to rescue the residential structures in Bossiesgif, but most importantly the lives of the residents of the settlement. Mayor Stroebel said: “As a district, we applaud the swift reaction of both Bitou and GRDM Emergency and Disaster Management teams and we are thankful that no lives were lost in this devastating fire”.

ENDS

19 July 2023 Media Release: Garden Route DM rolls out various activities before and on Mandela Day

Media Release: Garden Route DM rolls out various activities before and on Mandela Day

For Immediate Release
19 July 2023

While the world celebrates the life of an icon, the late President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, employees of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) also followed his example to reach out to vulnerable community members throughout the region.

GRDM kicked off their activities on 17 July by hosting a pre-Madiba Day blood donation drive at its head office in George in collaboration with the Western Cape Blood Service. The GRDM also invited the public to donate blood, which resulted in just over 50 blood donations being made.

The Oudtshoorn Municipal Health Office donated nutritious and delicious ‘food socks’ to two families in the Buffelsdrift rural area of Oudtshoorn. Food socks contain pasta, rice, flavourings, stock powders, herbs, spices, dehydrated vegetables, pulses, beans, and soy products. GRDM officials bought the socks. The donation will provide food for eight beneficiaries for a week. The two families extended their appreciation to the GRDM officials for providing them with food.

The Oudtshoorn Municipal Health Office donated ‘food socks’ to families in Buffelsdrift.

Planning and Economic Development Department officials, comprised of the EPWP, Tourism and Local Economic Development, and Human Settlements sections, took Madiba Day activities to a new level when they rolled out the following activities at Kusile Baby Care in Thembalethu. In the morning, they divided themselves into different groups. The first group painted the outside walls of the school building with a primer. After that, others begin painting the building with a beautiful topcoat colour. Other officials, who are much more handy with a hammer and nails, installed PVC ceilings. Some of the female colleagues spent time reading and feeding toddlers and newborns. While others prepared a ‘braai’ lunch for the children and their educators. The daycare center also received a coat from officials.
GRDM Planning and Economic Development officials installing PVC ceilings and feeding toddlers at Kusile Baby Care in Thembalethu.
Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) of Garden Route District Municipality’s Wilderness region celebrated Mandela Day with 60 children from Klipdrift Primary School. The EHPs painted a classroom and supplied colourful tires to improve the playground area. EHPs also shared slices of cake and snack parcels with each child, while they also played games and shared the importance of giving back to others.
EHP officials of GRDM shared cake with children from Klipdrift Primary School and improved their playground.
Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Firefighters proved that they can do more than fight wildfires and protect communities. They made sandwiches and distributed them with cool drinks to homeless people in George’s Shoprite parking lot.

GRDM Firefighters sharing sandwiches and cool drinks with homeless people in George.

Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Office of the Municipal Manager, donated 51 pairs of shoes and funds to Mzoxolo Primary School. The shoe donations sprout from the Walk a Child to School campaign and included more staff donations too. The school is already collecting small donations from learners on Fridays to buy shoes for those who are in need. Principal Raymond Eagan thanked the GRDM for the shoe donations and funding. He said: “Our school is home to 1554 bright minds and 42 dedicated teachers.” Learners are mainly from Borchards, Thembalethu, Maraiskamp, Parkdene, and Lawaaikamp. The Principal also said the school’s name, Mzoxola, means “a beacon for peace,” and it was established in 1994 by Naledi Pandor.

Officials of the Office of the Municipal Manager GRDM donated 51 pair of shoes and funds to Mzoxolo Primary School in Lawaaikamp.

ENDS

14 March 2023 Media Statement: GRDM Council takes action to protect the institution’s reputation and that of MM Monde Stratu

Media Statement: GRDM Council takes action to protect the institution’s reputation and that of MM Monde Stratu

For Immediate Release
14 March 2023

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Council unanimously expresses its support for the GRDM Municipal Manager (MM), Monde Stratu, who has been maliciously prosecuted for fraud, forgery, and uttering. The Council has granted approval for the MM to be legally represented.

The Council also granted the administration permission to take legal action to protect the reputation of the institution and that of the MM.

The Council believes that there are no reasonable grounds or evidence available to date to conclude that the MM has committed an act of misconduct. The Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell, will be notified about the recent Council developments.

Pictured: Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen (left), with Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu (right)

ENDS

Previously related article: https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/2023/03/09/9-march-2023-statement-legal-action-against-garden-route-dm-municipal-manager-a-distraction-from-ongoing-discussions-between-municipalities/