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Strengthening Relations

Upcoming Garden Route DM Skills Summit – 7 February 2019

The Garden Route District Municipality, in collaboration with the B-municipalities in the district and the Western Cape Provincial Government, will be hosting the annual District Skills Summit on Thursday, 7 February 2019 in Stillbaai, a coastal town within the Hessequa Local Municipal region. 

This year’s summit follows a resolution taken at the 2018 Garden Route District Skills Summit held on 1 February 2018 in George, during which it was resolved to take the concept of a Garden Route Skills Mecca forward and review progress on an annual basis.   

The idea of a Skills Mecca originates from the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative (GRRI), which followed the devastating fires that hit the district (Knysna/Plettenberg Bay) in June 2017.  Since last year’s summit, municipalities in the district, in collaboration with various stakeholders, among others, the Provincial Government,  progressively worked together in order to bring about and implement the Garden Route Skills Mecca concept.

The 2019 Skills Summit will focus mainly on the achievements of the previous year’s implementation of the summit resolutions. The “show and tell” (presentation/competition) will give municipalities an opportunity to showcase a project that was implemented within their respective municipal areas.

Another objective of the 2019 Skills Summit will be to discuss the progress of establishing the district-wide Skills Mecca made thus far,  and also to evaluate the resolutions  determined in 2018 towards  making the Garden Route a preferred pristine destination for learning in the country and continent.   

Other role-players involved are:

– MECs

– District Mayors

– District Municipal Managers

– Corporate Services Managers

– LED Managers

– Tourism Managers

– Skills Development Facilitator

– Youth Coordinators

– Various government departments

– Western Cape Government

– Local Businesses

– Garden Route Business Chambers

– Hessequa Business Chambers

– Local NGOs

The following resolutions were taken during the 2018 Skills Summit:

  • Continue and accelerate collaboration and cooperation among all district skills development role- players born out of the GRRI;
  • Become involved and add value to the Garden Route Skills Development Strategy for a Skills Mecca across the district;
  • Ensure that the Skills Mecca concept leverages digital infrastructure as far as possible, to ensure learning and processes methods are and remain cutting edge;
  • As far as possible, link Skills Development to Investment and Economic Development opportunities to the  advancement for all;
  • Ensure that all Skills Development processes in the Garden Route ALWAYS consider and proactively
  • considers Water – a Shared Resource.
  • Ensure that all current and emerging skills development intervention in each municipality is supported and built into the Skills Mecca concept;
  • Consider and where possible; efficiently and effectively include the skills needs of Municipality in the Garden Route District, in the development and roll out of the Skills Mecca;
  • Engage with all willing partners, in particular the SETAs and the National Skills Fund, in order to explore the development and implementation of projects across the District as an integral part of the Skills Mecca.
  • Consider and leverage local skilled people, including retired people, within the District, to accelerate the growth of the Skills Mecca; and
  • Within the next six months a new skills project is started within each of the six focus areas within at least one local municipality

Municipalities are expected to prepare and present a case study of an actual skills development project implemented within their municipality at this year’s Summit. A ten minute presentation will form part of a competition to determine the annual Garden Route Skills Mecca Champion for 2018.  Presentations will be evaluated by the delegates on the day of the event through a simple ballot system.  Each case study will be judged against three criteria:

  • Did the partnerships in the project add value? – Yes or No?
  • Did the project support transformation in a creative way? – Yes or No?
  • Did the project make learners more employable? – Yes or No?

The envisaged outcome of the Summit is to ‘’fine-tune” the resolutions from 2018 and develop ideas on how to accelerate implementation of the Skills Mecca in the Garden Route. The Skills Summit will be an annual event on a rotational basis; municipalities therefore also need to budget and plan towards this purpose. The 2018 Skills Summit attracted approximately 350 people and for this year, arrangements are being made to accommodate 250 – 300 people.

For more information contact the GRDM’s Training and Development Section, Mr Reginald Salmons at 044 803 1363. 

Building Smart Cities in a Smart Region

The concept of Smart Cities is gaining momentum in the Garden Route region and to unfold this theory, the Planning and Economic Department of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in collaboration with the South Cape Economic Partnership (SCEP), hosted a Smart City – Smart Region Summit on Wednesday, 3 October 2018 in Bitou (Plettenberg Bay).  Representatives from all the municipalities in the Garden Route, in particularly, Local Economic Development, Tourism;  Infrastructure;  Waste Management;  Planning and ICT Specialists, as well as Private Sector Smart City experts; Town Planners; Technology experts and Tertiary Institutions Subject Specialists, attended the one-day event.

Councillor Peter Lobese, Executive Mayor of the Bitou Municipality welcomed all summit attendees and expressed his appreciation towards the GRDM for organising the Summit for the region.

During the workshop, very exciting and informative presentations were done by Subject Specialists, i.e. Dr Warren Burns from Brilliance;  Dr Nancy Odendaal from the University of Cape Town;  Ms Emiley Vollmer from ISC Bank and Mr Josiah Lodi from the Western Cape Department of Cooperative Governance.

Guided by the experts in attendance, municipalities of the region worked on defining what the concept Smart Cities means for them, and how best to maximise the benefits of smart thinking, to build a Smart Region.

One of the breakaway sessions during the summit with the facilitators, Mr Paul Hoffman (far left) from the SCEP and Ms Rushka Ely (right) from the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership, Cape Town.

The afternoon’s programme was divided into two (2) sets of three (3) breakaway sessions, under the following topics:

First Session:  Smart living, Smart Waste Management and Smart Technology; and

Second Session: Smart Green, Smart Design and Smart Tourism

Some outcomes of the sessions include:

 Smart Living:

  • A pilot project in one community in the region to demonstrate all the 7 principles of “Smart Living”;
  • Increase density, accessible public transport and making the region cycle-friendly;
  • Develop a network of small-scale organic agriculture to supply local restaurants and retailers;
  • Integrated efforts for safety and security by the police, neighbourhood watches and private security companies;
  • Invite businesses to provide innovative solutions through existing forums to current smart living challenges; and
  • Spatial development for poor communities which will allow activities like gardening, etc.

Smart Waste

  • Regional programme for sensitizing residents and incentives for recycling;
  • Continue with the integrated approach between municipalities for alternative technologies; and
  • Waste-to-energy initiatives.

Smart Technology

  • An audit needs to be done on what exists that could be expanded or developed further;
  • Wayleave and trenching policies to be put in place; and
  • Coordination in terms of free Wi-Fi to be coordinated by die district- and local municipalities.

Smart Green

  • Lack of skills within municipalities to interrogate green solutions. Will be addressed through Green Cape Municipal Capacity Building Initiatives;
  • Interrogate current policy to create a more conducive/enabling environment; and
  • Inter-governmental approach to green solutions.

 Smart Design

  • Ensuring values, visions and policies that underpin smart city design, are in place;
  • Increase the focus on GIS skills and resources for smart cities;
  • Integration of data collection and maintenance processes and systems; and
  • Data access protocols that enable access across municipalities.

Smart Tourism

  • Wi-fi hotspots;
  • Regional public transport e.g. Uber;
  • Data collection and analytics for smart tourism; and
  • Smart training for the hospitality and tourism industry.

The organising team behind the successful and well-attend Smart Cities – Smart Region Summit. Fltr, Mr Denver Johnson, Tourism Officer, Mr Paul Hoffman, Project Manager of SCEP, Ms Melanie Wilson, Manager: Economic Development and Tourism, Ms Natalie Raubenheimer, Senior Economic Development Officer, Ms Amagene Koeberg, Co-ordinator: Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism, Ms Raylene Meyer, Administrative Officer: Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism, Ms Nadia Boumeester, Administrative Assistant: Economic Development and Mr Lusanda Menze, GRDM Executive Manager: Planning and Economic Development.

In his concluding remarks, the Municipal Manager of the GRDM, Mr Monde Stratu, expressed his appreciation to everyone who participated and who are willing to take the process forward in partnership with the Garden Route District Municipality.  “Let us adopt a vision to do things differently, collaborate and try to work together as a family of municipalities in building a smart region,” said Mr Stratu.

Eden DM Firefighting Team ready to participate in the 2018 Toughest Firefighter Alive Competition

The Firefighting team of Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) is currently participating in the “South Africa’s Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA-SA)” competition held at the Roeland Street Fire Station in Cape Town from 10 to 12 August 2018.

The team is registered to participate in all “Individual” categories as well as the “Relay Team Category”. Team members Messrs Emile Conrad, Deon Stoffels, Edwin Lottering, Branville Abrahams and Martino-Mariano Jacobs, as well as team leader Ms Khutula Maki, are representing the Eden district at the event.

The Eden DM Firefighting team is well known for their outstanding performances in the competition since 2011. Especially Senior Firefighter Emile Conrad, who has won gold in the open division at the first participating competition. In this competition the Eden team walked away with four medals.  Over the last seven years, the team excelled and brought back more accolades, as well as more commitment and endurance. Ever since, Emile Conrad continued to make the Eden district proud by maintaining his title as “Toughest Firefighter Alive” and the team members continued to excel in the Individual and Relay challenges over these years.

The event officially kicked-off with the Meet-and-Greet Session and Team Orientation today and will follow with the challenges on Saturday, 11 August 2018 from 9h00 until 18h00.

Good luck to Eden DM Firefighting team. Continue to make the Eden district proud!

67 Minutes of Charitable Work

“100 Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018” celebrations

In honour of Madiba and in celebration of the “100 Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018”, approximately 50 (fifty) officials of the Eden DM Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) visited the Rosemoor Rotary Old Age Home, to assist caretakers with their daily activities.  Some of the tasks performed were the pruning of trees, spading of the garden soil and cutting of grass.  Female officials washed the walls, windows and bed linen. The team also restored the fireplace of the Centre.

Roads Services Madiba Day

“100 Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018” celebrations

For their 67 minutes, Roads Department officials handed out food to job seekers who gather at the pickup point in Industrial Road. Items such as beans, meat, samp and soup mix were donated by Roads officials who joined forces to make a hearty, warm meal that was handed out with bread.  Roads Officials who can be seen in the photographs: Ms Jeanine Saaiman, Ms Angela Buys, Ms Teresa Norjie-Singh and Mr Rigardt Pyler.

Role and interventions by the Eden Municipal Health Department during the Knysna Oyster Festival

29 June – 8 July 2018

Annually, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) of the Eden District Municipality’s (Eden DM) Municipal Health Service act proactively in planning and implementing mitigation measures and monitoring work schedules before, during and after the Oyster Festival.  This is done to minimize and address public health issue that might arise during the festival.

This year, Knysna will be hosting the 37th Oyster Festival and it is anticipated that more than 50 000 visitors will visit the town during the 10-day event.

The EHPs from the Knysna office will be responsible for delivering the following services before and during the festival:

Environmental Health Practitioners must make sure that Oysters sold to the public is fit for human consumption.

FOOD CONTROL
Inspections of informal food premises will includes the following:

  • Daily inspections at the Oyster Festival “Hot Spots”;
  • Central Festival grounds inspections;
  • Inspections at various locations in town, where thousands of oysters will be kept under health prescribed conditions, impose by EHP’s;
  • Several batches of oyster samples have been dispatched to the Merieux Nutriscience Laboratory in Cape Town for bacteriological analysis, prior to the start of the festival in order to establish the status of the holding tank water, as well as the bacteriological oyster quality.
  • EHPs across the district have been requested to assist with the sampling and surveillance of oysters procured in other areas within the Southern Cape.
  • Drinking water (Sachets) to be provided to the athletes participating in the Forest Marathon, will be analyzed to ensure compliance as stipulated under the Bottled Water Regulations: “Regulation 692 of 1997, promulgated under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act (Act 54 of 1972)”.

WATER QUALITY MONITORING

  • Bacteriological water monitoring of the Knysna Estuary will be undertaken by sampling water at 14 identified sites in and around the estuary.
  • Bacteriological Water Monitoring at sites where recreational water – sport events will take place, will be monitored.

HEALTH SURVEILANCE OF PREMISES
Regular inspections and health surveillance of premises of all related public amenities will be undertaken during the Festival, including:
•    Public toilet facilities;
•    Accommodation establishments;
•    Festival grounds;
•    Food markets; and
•    Tobacco control at premises.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OUTBREAK
A strict communication protocol regarding the reporting of any communicable disease outbreak to the local District Municipal Health authority has been established with all relevant medical health care providers, which included both the Private and Provincial Hospitals, General Practitioners and Pharmacies.

UPDATE: Eden DM delegation’s visit to China and Hong Kong: 21-29 JUNE 2018

Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) was invited by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to attend the Belt and Road Summit on the 28th of June 2018. The Belt and Road Summit is an initiative that drives the global economy by fostering the development of regional infrastructure and connectivity, as well as, investment and economic co-operation.

This summit was attended by the following Eden DM delegates:
Executive Mayor: Cllr Memory Booysen;
Municipal Manager: Mr Monde Stratu;
Executive Manager Planning and Economic Development: Mr Lusanda Menze;
Manager in the Office of the Executive Mayor: Mr Siphiwe Dladla; and
Manager District Economic Development and Tourism: Ms Melanie Wilson.

During the summit, Eden DM Representatives interacted with various businesses with regards to investment opportunities in the region and in collaboration with WESGRO, promoted the region as an investment destination. The aim of this was to sell the potential the district has, as it was tabled by various B-Municipalities during the Garden Route Investment Summit, held at Oubaai in March 2018. The region as a tourism destination was vigouriously promoted, not only to the Chinese and Hongkong representatives at the summit, but also to other internationals who attended the summit.

Eden DM Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen and Ms Rehana Boolay, WESGRO Investment Specialist facilitation for China Trade.

An Africa Investment Round Table discussion was also hosted and facilitated by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.   During this session,  African representatives were given the opportunity to present their investment potentials to various companies in China and Hong Kong.  The purpose of these discussions were to promote possible collaboration and partnerships, especially relating to Infrastructure and Tourism opportunities.

The Eden Team, led by the Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booyson also met with the South Africa’s Consul-General to Hong Kong, Mr Madoda Ntshinga, who linked up the District with possible investment opportunities, in Hong Kong and China mainland. The Consul-General further committed to invite the District, together with businesses to various marketing platforms in Hong Kong.

Furthermore, a range of meetings and site visits took place from the 22nd  to 26th of June 2018 in Shanghai.  This included a visit to an indigenous and traditional medicine laboratory, owned by a Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holdings Co.  The Eden DM representatives was hosted by Dr Hongbin Cheng from the China-South Africa Bridge (CSA), who facilitated business meetings with the Shanghai Business Chamber representatives. The Eden Team was joined by the Trade Commissioner from South Africa’s Consulate-General’s Office in Shanghai, Mr Thulani Mpetsheni who provided support in the several meetings held. The businesses included in these meetings were:
•    CSA Business Platform;
•    Shanghai Golden Up Technology Company;
•    Realmax;
•    Huiyne;
•    China Travel Service co. Ltd; and
•    Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd.

The meetings with the above-mentioned companies were also attended by Ms Rehana Boolay, Investment Specialist for China Trade and Investment Facilitator between China and the Western Cape.

It is envisaged that an extended business delegation from China will visit the Garden Route in September 2018 in follow-up discussions, and to also concertize the various bilateral agreements.  The purpose of the visit is also for Chinese to familiarise themselves with the region, investment opportunities and to meet the local municipalities and relevant private sector stakeholders.  More information will be made available as progress takes place.

 

Eden DM delegates in China to further discuss investment prospects

Eden District Municipality recently received an invitation from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDS) to attend the Belt and Road Summit which will take on the 28 June 2018 in Hong Kong, China. During the visit, delegates from Eden DM will also go on a fact-finding mission to Shanghai, to engage with Dr Hongbin Cheng, Executive Director of New China Time Technology (NCTT). Dr Cheng forms part of the Chinese delegation who visited the Garden Route on two previous occasions with a keen interest in the region as an investment partner. During the Eden DM’s visit to China, the Co-Founder of the China-South Africa Bridge (CSA), will also be visited.

 

The Eden DM “Team” representing the District in China.

The objectives of the visit to China include:

  • Present the region as a suitable destination for trade and investment by meeting with Chinese business and government representatives;
  • Hold strategic engagements and form possible partnerships;
  • Discuss the establishment of a possible Communication Centre to enable efficient communication between the two countries (Communication Centre’s have already been established in Korea, Thailand and Germany, with one underway in the Netherlands, as per feedback from Dr Cheng in October 2016);
  • Investigate trade and investment opportunities regarding Agriculture and Agri-processing, renewable energy technologies, as well as Tourism;
  • Do site visits to familiarize the Eden team with practical solutions to various economic initiatives specifically in the fields as already alluded to.

The following District representatives will be travelling to China:

  • Cllr Memory Booysen, Eden DM Executive Mayor
  • Mr Monde Stratu, Eden DM Municipal Manager
  • Mr Lusanda Menze, Executive Manager, Planning and Economic Development
  • Ms Melanie Wilson, Manager: Tourism and Local Economic Development
  • Mr Siphiwe Dladla, Manager in the Office of the Executive Mayor

The District is fully committed to positioning itself as a destination of choice for tourism and as a viable investment hub for national and international investors.

The following initiatives have been key to where the district is positioned at the moment:

  • The investment readiness initiative to address various internal decision-making processes regarding turnaround times (gaps and shortcomings to eliminate to become investment friendly);
  • February 2018: A Skills summit was hosted with the purpose of establishing the District as a Skills Mecca;
  • March 2018: An International Investment conference to attract investment;
  •  The availing of Council properties for investment opportunities.

The Hong Kong Belt and Road Summit: 28 June 2018 

The Belt and Road Initiative is a visionary blueprint that seeks to enhance global economic development. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the HKTDC will jointly organise the third edition of the Belt and Road Summit on 28 June 2018 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The theme of the Summit is to “Collaborate for Success”.

A full-day One-on-one Business Matching activities will take place. The three concurrent Project Presentation & Networking Sessions will feature notable projects from sectors of:

  • Transport & Logistics Infrastructure
  • Energy, Natural Resources & Public Utilities
  • Rural & Urban Development (Rural – including agricultural projects; Urban, including industrial park development, SEZs).

The Investment and Business-matching Session serves the purpose of creating a platform for integrated matchmaking and networking. Business and government will also be able to connect with project owners and operators, investors and service providers from a myriad of business sectors.

Meetings and site visits with Dr Cheng and team

Eden DM has been invited to engage with relevant Chinese business and government stakeholders based on previous discussions with Dr Cheng, leader of the Chinese Business delegation who visited Eden District in October 2016 and during the Garden Route Investment Conference which was held in March 2018.

During the discussions, Dr Cheng indicated that they intend to establish trade relations with the Garden Route regarding Agriculture and Agri-processing, Renewable Energy Technologies, as well as Cultural Tourism.

During Dr Cheng’s second visit to the Garden Route, he and his delegation met with various Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises to discuss possible trade opportunities which would further be facilitated through the assistance of Wesgro.

The Eden DM delegation will be supported by Ms Rehana Boolay from Wesgro, who will accompany the team to all meetings and site visits. Ms Rehana Boolay is Wesgro’s investment specialist for China trade and investment facilitation between China and the Western Cape.

It is also suggested to approach the Western Cape Department of Agriculture to avail an agriculture specialist familiar with the Eden District/stationed in the Eden District to form part of the delegation to China, for the cost of the Department of Agriculture.

No business representatives will be included in this visit, as it will be a fact-finding visit and business will be invited once a relationship between Eden DM and relevant China stakeholders have been established.

Fencing subsidies provided by Eden DM

Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) has made funds available to assist landowners neighbouring rural roads with fencing of their properties.

The funding will only be applicable on a subsidy basis.  It effectively means that a 60% subsidy will be contributed towards the material on completion of the fencing.  The subsidy has been determined by an average price for material to the Fencing Subsidy Policy of the Eden DM.

New fences must adhere to the specifications of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape: Roads Infrastructure Department. Minimum specifications will be made available to successful applicants.

Application process

  1. Application forms can be obtained from Ms Bernadene Prinsloo from the Roads Services Department.  Contact numbers:  Office 044  803 1506;  Cell: 082 800 1263;  E-mail address:  bernadene@edendm.gov.za.
  2. Closing date for submission of applications is 31 May 2018.
  3. All applications will be verified and successful applicants will be notified by 30 June 2018.
  4. All fences must be fully completed by 31 January 2019 for payment before 28 February 2019.
  5. Payments will be made after inspection have been completed.

Eden DM Firefighters wins another challenge

International Firefighters Day was internationally celebrated on 4 May 2018 and celebrations continued in George on 5 May. Countless brave firefighting men and women have been committing their lives and will continue to commit their lives to protect humans, infrastructure, pets and wildlife etc.

After Team Eden DM Won the challenge, from left to right, are: Mr Clive Africa (Eden DM Executive Manager, Community Services), Mr Freddy Thaver (Eden DM Chief Firefighter), Cllr Memory Booysen (Eden DM Executive Mayor), Mr Emile Conrad (Eden DM Senior Firefighter), Mr David van Niekerk (Senior Firefighter) and Mr Deon Stoffels (Eden DM Senior Firefighter).

Eden District Municipality(Eden DM) formed part of the International Firefighter Day celebrations in George, which was arranged by George Municipality and sponsored by Oakhurst Insurance.

On 5 May 2018, Eden DM Firefighters participated in a Potjiekos competition and a Firefighter Team Challenge at Garden Route Mall. Two teams from Eden DM excelled during the Team Challenge where 11 teams competed.

Our Eden DM Firefighters won 1st place, while the other Eden DM team achieved the 5th position. WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE all our brave Firefighters for their excellence and perseverance.

Eden DM is notorious for being the best at firefighting in South Africa because the municipality’s firefighters have won the Toughest Firefighter Alive Competition and Relay Team divisions for a few years in a row.

Watch a video produced by the George Herald about the challenge here: https://youtu.be/gQ950Y-DGhU

Pictures were captured by George Municipality and one by the George Herald.