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24 November 2021 Impact Based Warning: Level 8 Damaging Winds & Level 2 Damaging Waves

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued impact based warnings for (1) Level 8 Damaging Winds and (2) Level 2 Damaging Waves for the Western Cape and Namaqua Region of Northern Cape as follows:

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance. It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Report any weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044-805 5071.

ENDS

03 November 2021 Media Release: Firefighters from Garden Route DM educate the youth and elderly about fires

Media Release: Firefighters from Garden Route DM educate the youth and elderly about fires

For Immediate Release
03 November 2021

As part of their daily mandatory functions, firefighters of the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Fire Services eagerly share information about preventative measures to inform, educate and make their fellow Garden Routers aware of fire safety and the prevention of wildfires.

Since the start of the municipality’s financial year (July annually), the GRDM Fire Services rolled out educational awareness interventions primarily focused on schools and communities within traditional high risk rural and on urban interfaces. An urban interface is an area bordering residential areas and wildlife vegetation.

Additionally, the GRDM Fire Services performs an inclusive firefighting function within the Kannaland Municipal area and continuously conducts home fire safety, building fire safety interventions, and compliance inspections.

During the sessions, communities are informed, educated and equipped with the basic knowledge and skills needed in the event of a fire, as well as how to prevent a fire Topics and details being taught to community members, include (click on "+" to expand the tabs below):

  • Warn people inside the house to get out safely.
  • Help people to get out and stay out of harm’s way.
  • If there’s a lot of smoke, crawl out below the smoke to escape the fire.
  • Where possible, have more than one exit from your house, with clear routes to a door.
  • Veld fires spread fast, so these need to be extinguished immediately when discovered, and if safe to do so, the Fire Brigade must be called immediately.
  • Follow the emergency exit signs that are mounted on walls and nearby doors.
  • Move to a safe space of shelter away from the fire or emergency.
  • Move to the point where of gathering.
  • Never use water to kill an electrical fire. It’s also handy to keep a bucket of clean sand ready outside your kitchen door, or if possible, a small fire extinguisher.
  • Do not stand or evacuate uphill from a veld, bush or mountain fire because fires spread faster in an upwards direction.
  • Do not attempt to outrun a fast-spreading veld and bush fire, rather move back to where it has already burned.
  • Veld, bush and mountain fires spread faster uphill and through valleys.
  • A fire needs heat, oxygen and fuel to survive. Without one of these elements, the fire will die.
  • If you don’t have access to water or a fire extinguisher to put out a fire, you can use other methods such as sand or a wet blanket. If the fire occurs on your kitchen stove, try to smother the fire by placing a lid on top of the pot or pan.
  • not leave open fires unattended and should use sand to kill the fire;
  • make sure that your home has no illegal electrical connections and that multi-plugs are not overloaded, as these can overheat, causing sparks and fires;
  • keep the area around your home clear of materials (leaves, rubbish, plastic and old timber) that can start a fire;
  • tell someone who’s playing carelessly with fires, matches or lighters to stop;
  • know your emergency numbers to report veld fires in your area immediately; and
  • Veld fires spread fast, so it needs to be extinguished immediately, or the Fire Brigade must be called immediately.
  • Children and the elderly should be assisted and evacuated to a place of safety first.
  • Fire extinguishers are usually mounted in an area that is freely accessible should be about 1.0 to 1.2 meters from the floor and be unobstructed.
  • Pull the pin.
  • Aim at the base of the fire.
  • Squeeze the lever.
  • Sweep side to side.
  • Go to the nearest door or opening, away from the fire;
  • If exit signs are present, follow the exit signs;
  • Go to a safe area away from the fire or to a known assembly point; and
  • Do not use elevators.
  • Never leave an open fire – for example, around a braai – unattended.
  • Don’t let open fires, such as a braai – get too big and out of control.
  • Monitor weather conditions. If the wind is strong, instead put the fire out till the wind dies down.
  • Open fires are a common cause of uncontrolled fires in the Garden Route District. It’s a good idea not to start a fire when it’s hot, dry and especially not when it’s windy.
  • Keep a braai well away from any surrounding vegetation or flammable materials, structures, as well as children and pets.

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LIST OF SESSIONS THAT TOOK PLACE FROM JULY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2021

Date Intervention Audience Coordinator
06 July 2021 Fire Safety Compliance

Inspection

Ladismith Cheese Factory Platoon Commander

B Afrikander

23 August 2021 Flammable Substance Inspection Klein Karoo Agri Calitzdorp Platoon Commander

B Afrikander

11 September 2021 Public Fire Safety Education Voorbaat Farming Community Snr. FF Devonia Cupido
11 September 2021 Public Fire Safety Education Glentana Informal Community Platoon Commander

E Basson-Coetzer

14 September 2021

 

Fire Safety Compliance

Inspection

WJ Le Roux Primary School Platoon Commander

B Afrikander

16 September 2021 Fire Safety Compliance

Inspection

Sterreland Kleuterskool, Voorbaat Platoon Commander

B Afrikander

16 September 2021 Public Fire Safety Education Alabama Pre-School, Zoar Snr. FF Morne Stuurman
18 September 2021 Disseminating Fire Prevention Material Vleesbay Platoon Commander

H Leslie

22 September 2021 Public Fire Safety Education Hoekwil Primary School Platoon Commander Nelani
29 September 2021 Public Fire Safety Education Die Heuwel Speelskool, Calitzdorp Snr FF W Petzer
 

06 October 2021

Public Fire Safety Education Herold Primary School Snr FF L James
 

09 October 2021

 

Public Fire Safety Education Smutsville, Sedgefield Snr FF J Wolmarans

Educating the public helps prevent fires, save lives and reduce the risk of lives being lost, damage to property and animals dying.  Therefore, it is essential for everyone to be mindful of the hidden fire dangers in and around a home and yard.

30 August 2021 Media Release: Newly appointed MEC of Transport and Public Works visits the Garden Route District

30 August 2021

For immediate release

Newly appointed MEC of Transport and Public Works visits the Garden Route District

This morning, the newly appointed Western Cape Government Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works, MEC Daylin Michell, visited the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and region, to conduct an introductory meeting with all the Executive Mayors and Municipal Managers in the district.

During his opening remarks, a confident MEC Michell assured local municipal representatives that service delivery to citizens is not new, although he might be new to the position. He also said that the concerns raised during the meeting might not be unique.  His department will try and find solutions in the system to best address emerging and old challenges.  He further mentioned that his visit to the Garden Route District would not be from something new but that today’s process aimed to kick off his predecessors and continue in that fashion.

The GRDM Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen, introduced the discussions by explaining that the GRDM has the biggest road network compared to other district municipalities in the Western Cape.  Alderman Booysen further explained how roads in other districts, especially the West Coast, are used as economic networks for farmers getting their harvest to airports and harbours in Cape Town and that those critical roads are tar.  He stated that he believes that there should be no difference in the Garden Route District. Alderman Booysen concluded by requesting that the upcoming Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the Western Cape Government Transport and Public Works and the GRDM address the previous years’ learning curves.

Afterwards, the different local municipal representatives raised their areas’ concerns and welcomed the visit of the Minister of Transport and Public Works.

As part of his visit, MEC Michell and his delegation, joined by Alderman Booysen and some of the other Executive Mayors, visited several sites in the George Municipal area.

 

28 August 2021 Media Alert: Minister Simmers to conduct Sod-turning for Qolweni Housing Project

Media Alert: Minister Simmers to conduct Sod-turning for Qolweni Housing Project

On Monday, 30 August 2021, Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Tertuis Simmers will conduct a sod turning for the Qolweni Phase 3A 169 Housing project in Plettenberg Bay.

Minister Simmers said: “I’ve been looking forward to this day, since this project was handed over to my Department on 18 June this year. It’s been unfortunate that we were delayed by litigation, but I’m glad that we finally have this opportunity. This project will ensure that the lives of the most vulnerable in the area, particularly the elderly and those living with medically certified disabilities are afforded improved and safer living conditions.

This is a joyous occasion, which the entire Plettenberg Bay community should celebrate with us. It also once again shows how the Western Cape Government remains resolute in ensuring that our people’s lives are improved.”

There will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

ALL MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

DETAILS:

Date: Monday, 30 August 2021
Time: 09:00 – 10:00
Venue/Meeting Point:  Qolweni Project Site

Media Enquiries:

Marcellino Martin
Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers
Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za |
021 483 3397 (o)
082 721 3362 (m)

or

Nathan Adriaanse
Director Communication & Stakeholder Relations
Tell: 021 483 2868
Mobile: 083 263 1720
Email: Nathan.Adriaanse@westerncape.gov.za

11 July 2021 Impact Based Weather Warnings for Western Cape and Namaqua: Yellow level 2: Damaging Winds

Impact Based Weather Warnings for Western Cape and Namaqua: Yellow level 2: Damaging Winds

Please find included the Impact Based Warning for the Western Cape and Namaqua Region of Northern Cape

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.

It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and 
no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Hazard Alert Level Affected Municipalities Valid from (SAST) Valid to (SAST)