Media Release: Role of various institutions in relation to permits, certificates and other approvals

For Immediate Release
8 April 2020

The COVID-19 response requires a practical multi-agency approach to address a myriad of issues facing South Africa during the lockdown. One solution is the appointment of essential workers from the public and private sectors. These workers risk their lives to keep the economy going and curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus by working in the frontline to assist those infected by the COVID-19 virus. It is also necessary for all essential workers to keep the relevant documentation issued by an authority with them while performing their duties.

“It should be noted and stressed that if anyone forges applications, certificates or permits, they will be liable to criminal prosecution and sanction,” said Gerhard Otto, Manager Municipal Disaster Management for the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM).

The role(s) of institutions who issue permits/certificates, etc.:

1. South African Police Services (SAPS)

SAPS only issue permits to people who plan to attend a funeral in a metropolitan area outside the district they reside in or a funeral in another province. SAPS issues no other permits.  The contact details of SAPS offices in the Garden Route district, include:

• Albertinia: 028 735 8050
• Calitzdorp: 044 213 8803
• Conville: 044 803 3325
• Da Gamaskop: 044 606 2229
• De Rust: 044 241 2050
• Dysselsdorp: 044 251 8403
• George: 044 803 4705
• Groot Brakrivier: 044 620 8300
• Heidelberg: 028 722 1910
• Knysna: 044 302 6600
• KwaNokuthula: 044 501 4217
• Kwanonqaba: 044 606 5600
• Ladismith: 028 551 8106
• Mossel Bay: 044 606 2800
• Oudtshoorn: 044 203 9002
• Pacaltsdorp: 044 803 9110
• Plettenberg Bay: 044 501 1913
• Riversdale: 028 713 8500
• Stilbaai: 027 754 6100
• Thembalethu: 044 802 8906
• Uniondale: 044 752 6610

2. Local Municipalities (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Greater Oudtshoorn and Kannaland)

• • Issue permits to their own municipal staff who perform essential work.
  • Issue permits to companies that provide services to them.
  • Local municipalities issue business licences (except for George, Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn Municipalities), including licences to informal food traders (spaza shops, food vendors and hawkers). Business owners must contact local municipalities for details pertaining to licensing procedures and various health and safety regulations. Categories that require strict compliance in this instance include zoning, health (the district municipality issues a Certificate of Acceptability) and safety (particularly fire). Spaza shop owners and informal food traders must hold permits issued by their respective local municipalities allowing them to trade. Spaza shop owners and informal food traders currently trading without permits may apply for temporary permits. In case of non-South African citizens, the business owner must have lawfully admitted into the Republic and must hold a valid passport with a visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs or must alternatively hold an asylum seeker’s permit issued in terms of section 22 of the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act No. 130 of 1998).

2.1 Issuing of permits for companies providing essential services to municipality

• Hessequa Municipality: Chris Onrust / chris@hessequa.gov.za / 071 028 2053
• Kannaland: Municipality Wayne Robertson / wayne.roberston@kannaland.gov.za / 060 691 3029
• Knysna Municipality: Richard Meyer / rmeyer@knysna.gov.za / 082 922 8605
• Bitou Municipality: Venus Cunningham / vcunningham@plett.gov.za / 044 501 3441
• Greater Oudtshoorn, George and Mossel Bay Municipalities: No permits issued by these municipalities, browse to www.bizportal.gov.za for assistance

2.2 Issuing of licences to informal food traders

• George Municipality: Desmond Carolus / vdcarolus@george.gov.za / 044 801 9173
• George Municipality: Janine Fernold / ajfernold@george.gov.za / 044 801 9173
• George Municipality: Amy Kearns / kearns@george.gov.za / 044 802 2900
• Knysna Municipality: Natalie Salmons / nsalmons@knysna.gov.za / 081 556 9374
• Kannaland Municipality: Wayne Robertson / Wayne.roberston@kannaland.gov.za / 060 691 3029
• Bitou, Greater Oudtshoorn, Hessequa and Mossel Bay Municipalities: No new licences/permits issued by municipalities

 3. Garden Route District Municipality

Garden Route District municipality issues a Certificate of Acceptability (COA) to those who are planning to approach a local municipality for a business licence. Permits are also issued by GRDM to companies who provide services to it, as well as to all essential workers at a district level.

3.1 Certificate of Acceptability

• Hessequa area: Haemish Herwels / haemish@gardenroute.gov.za / 083 678 6545
• Mossel Bay area: Sam Bendle / sam@gardenroute.gov.za / 083 630 6108
• George area: Wilderness: Pieter Raath / praath@gardenroute.gov.za / 083 644 8858
• Outeniqua area: Emmy Douglas / emmy@gardenroute.gov.za / 078 457 2824
• Lakes area (Knysna): James McCarthy / james@gardenroute.gov.za / 082 805 9417
• Bitou area: Gawie Vos / gjvos@gardenroute.gov.za / 083 557 1522
• Oudtshoorn & Kannaland areas: Desmond Paulse / desmond@gardenroute.gov.za / 083 678 6530
• Oudtshoorn & Kannaland areas: Georg Hendricksz / george@gardenroute.gov.za / 082 907 3492

3.2 Essential Services to Garden Route District Municipality

Tippie Bouwer / tippie@gardenroute.gov.za / 083 941 0885

4. National Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC)

Businesses providing essential services to the general public are required to seek approval via the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s online portal (www.bizportal.gov.za) to trade during the lockdown period. Approval is granted by the DTIC, who emails a certificate to each applicant stating that they can continue trading. This certificate is proof to authorities that the applicant has been given permission by Government to trade and that its employees are able to have unrestricted movement ONLY for work purposes during the lockdown.

Contact 086 184 3384 for more information.

5. Private sector companies providing transport

Permits for public transport services are issued by the Chief Executive Officers of the public transport service providers. It must include the operating shifts or work schedules of employees. This means that the permits issued by employers to their employees may have to be amended either by adding the timetable as an addendum, or by issuing a new permit.

6. Sector Departments

Various sector departments also issue permits to their workers. These include, but are not limited to national and provincial sector departments.

Those not required to apply for new permits

Healthcare professionals registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, sole proprietors who provide essential goods and services (including those who were registered before the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e. spaza shops, food vendors and hawkers), and all farmers. The above mentioned healthcare professionals, business owners and small-scale farmers must carry a copy of their original permit by them.

Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za

Media Statement

For Immediate Release

6 April 2020

Up to six months imprisonment, a fine, or both for those spreading fake news

The National Department of Communication and Digital Technologies has published regulations to address the spread of fake news. These regulations have significant implications for the exercise of information rights. However, during the national lockdown all legislation remain subject to the Constitution and the rights entrenched in it.

It is a criminal offence for any person to publish any statement with the intention to deceive others about Covid-19, the infection status of any person or any measure taken by the government to address Covid-19. Spreading fake news about coronavirus is an offence punishable by a fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.

Report fake news

If you receive information you suspect to be fake news, report it to fakenewsalert@dtps.gov.za or WhatsApp 067 966 4015.

Be sure to include a link or screenshot of the social media post, article or document.

Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za

Media Release: Community screening and testing for COVID-19 starts today, 6 April 2020

For Immediate Release
6 April 2020

Western Cape Government Health will commence community screening and testing for COVID-19 from today, 6 April 2020. This is in line with the President and Minister Mkhize’s announcement that fieldworkers will commence with an active community screening and testing programme. With the number of positive COVID-19 cases spreading in communities, the risk to vulnerable communities is increasing. Government health services are actively trying to find people who might need help through talking to people (screening) and thus to determine whether they need to go for testing so we can refer them for treatment.

“We must ensure that our vulnerable communities are screened and tested in greater numbers to ensure our people are protected against the spread of the COVID-19 disease,” says Dr. Nomafrench Mbombo, MEC for Health in Western Cape. “I myself will be visiting Mbekweni in Paarl tomorrow to give support to our community teams.”

Fake news alert

Western Cape Government Health is aware of the video circulating on social media relating to community based testing of COVID-19

COVID-19 tests are performed with a nose and mouth swab, which is clinically safe and not contaminated

The video is not true. No blood or DNA tests will be done

Various initiatives will be rolled out this week, but we will start with the following areas:

Community screening and testing will start in the following areas:

Cape Town Metro sub-districts

• Khayelitsha: Town2 and Ilitha Park (Monday)
• Eastern: Happy Valley (Monday)
• Western: Bo-Kaap (Tuesday)
• Tygerberg: Bishop Lavis (Monday)
• Klipfontein: Philippi (Tuesday)

Rural districts

• Kwanonqaba, Mossel Bay (Monday)
• Mbekweni, Cape Winelands (Monday)

Screening and testing will be expanded to other vulnerable communities at high risk of Coronavirus spreading from person to person. Screening will be conducted door-to-door by trained field workers in these areas using simple verbal questions to identify people who may require testing. Health workers will ask health questions aimed at screening for symptom (a sore throat, a cough or fever screening will either be done via community health workers visiting your home, or mobile units in your area (e.g. gazebos). Our fieldworkers will have ID tags and identifiable clothing. We ask the public to please allow our workers to screen them.

Testing will be done if the questions indicate that you require a further test. The health worker will refer you to the closest testing centre. The test will be done by taking a swab from your nose and throat. This will either be done in a clinic, or in a mobile parked in your area. Test results will not be immediately available but patients will be followed up and advised of their status.

What individuals must do

• Please welcome health workers when screening
• Answer the questions honestly.
• Remember the 5 Golden rules: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, keep surfaces clean, do not touch your face, cough and sneeze in your elbow fold, keep 1,5m away from people, and stay at home
• Please co-operate fully and support family for testing

What communities should do

• Please encourage people to be screened and tested
• Look out for health workers who have official identification and branded clothing
• Please support our health workers and keep them safe
• Please help to keep communities clean and encourage good behaviour
• Don’t be afraid of testing or potential sick people.
• Please support the elderly and children

Where can I get help

• Your local NGO or health worker
• Call numbers: National Hotline: 0800 029 999
  Provincial hotline: 021 928 4102
  WhatsApp “hi” to 0600 123 456
• All lines are operational 24/7
• Your closest clinic (City and Province)Together, let’s stop the spread of Coronavirus

ENDS

Media Queries

Nadia Ferreira | Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts, Western Cape Government
E-mail: nadia.ferreira@westerncape.gov.za

Garden Route District Multi-Agency Command Centre

Media Release: District Municipality rolls out district-wide disinfection plan

For Immediate Release
4 April 2020

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in conjunction with local municipalities, started sanitising/disinfection of various areas on 1 April 2020 and will continue to do this at public spaces and informal settlements. Due to the risk of the coronavirus remaining on frequently used surfaces, it is important to disinfect areas where a large number of feet pass through. Some of these include communal toilets, taps and door handles.

Executive Manager Community Services Mr Clive Africa said: “We have started implementing a practical sanitation plan for high risk areas and certain items and will ensure that it is repeated when and if necessary. The disinfection action will be directed to private and public places, including communal and public toilets, taxi ranks and marketplaces, sidewalks, municipal properties, state owned properties, private properties, and camping sites.”

Disinfection sites are categorized into high-, medium- and low risk categories. High risk sites must be disinfection daily, or every 2nd day. These include taxi ranks, informal settlements, communal facilities, etc. Medium risk sites that must be disinfection every 3rd day include shops, banks and public benches, to name a few. Low risk sites that must be disinfection every 5th day include public spaces at beach areas (not the beach area), animal welfare vehicles, and public facilities closed during lockdown.

TRAINING

Training of personnel regarding disinfection of private and public places took place in George, Hessequa, Kannaland, and Knysna today. Further training sessions will take place in Mossel Bay, Bitou and Oudtshoorn tomorrow.

“Local municipalities welcomed the disinfection training we provided over the past few days,” said Africa.

ENDS

Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za

Garden Route District Multi-Agency Command Centre

Media Statement

For Immediate Release

3 April 2020

Media Statement: Food vendors and hawkers allowed to trade food during lockdown

Only street vendors that have an existing trading permit that was issued by local municipalities before the Covid-19 lockdown, are allowed to operate. They may only sell basic food products. Hot meals and food preparation not be permitted. Spaza shops selling essential groceries are allowed to trade from 08:00 – 18:00.

FALSE INFORMATION

Information is going the rounds that hawkers and street vendors can request permits to trade during lockdown from municipal councillors. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma communicated this statement via various news channels yesterday and this morning. It has however been retracted during a video conference session between the Department and Executive Mayors at 14:00 today.

Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za

Garden Route District Multi-Agency Command Centre

Media Release: Funeral undertakers trained to safely handle COVID-19 deceased

For Immediate Release
2 April 2020

Disease outbreaks often claim lives, and the number of lives lost since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on a global scale, stands at 49,240. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak that hit South Africa, all 9 its provinces and subsequently, the Garden Route district, Environmental Health Practitioners from Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in conjunction with Forensic Pathology Services (FPS) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), provided training to all funeral undertakers in the district. This was done to ensure that they are trained on aspects such as the safe handling and transportation of the deceased, including the donning and doffing of personal protective equipment and the disinfection of contaminated sites.

Training sessions took place yesterday in all municipal areas and accommodated 40 funeral undertakers in the Garden Route District.

Training sessions were conducted by officials from FPS, EMS, and Environmental Health Practitioners, who explained their different roles with regard to the handling and disposal of human remains and the disinfection of sites.

ENDS

Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za

Garden Route District Multi-Agency Command Centre

GRDM MULTI-AGENCY COMMAND CENTRE POSITION

Please note that this statement replaces the previous statement issued by Garden Route District Municipality as new regulations have been promulgated.

A link to the District’s previous statement is available here: https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/2020/03/28/restrictions-to-funeral-services-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

MEDIA STATEMENT

2 April 2020

THE MINISTER OF COGTA ANOUNCES AMENDMENTS TO THE COVID-19 REGULATIONS

In a quest to reinforce the national response and following extensive consultations with the Ministers responsible for the COVID-19 interventions and the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the Minister of COGTA, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has gazetted further amendments to the Regulations on the COVID-19 lockdown.

These amendments will enhance national integrated response measures while also clarifying the application of the regulations relating to government’s measures to reduce the risk of infection and curtail the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus while maintain the integrity of the lockdown.

Movement in so far as funerals are concerned is being clarified in the amendment regulations.

The amendments allow certain individuals to move between provinces and, metropolitan and district areas for purposes of transporting a body for burial purposes.

The amendment also limits the individuals who are permitted to travel to funerals. The regulation now outlines a process for persons who wish to travel between provinces, or between metropolitan and district areas to attend a burial or cremation to obtain a permit.

It further determines that only the following persons, who live outside a province or metropolitan and district areas, may attend a funeral:
(i) spouse or partner of the deceased;
(ii) children of the deceased, whether biological, adopted or stepchildren.
(iii) children-in-law of the deceased;
(iv) parents of the deceased whether biological, adopted or stepparents;
(v) siblings, whether biological, adopted or stepbrother or sister of the deceased;
(vi) grandparents of the deceased; and
(vii) persons closely affiliated to the deceased.

The current prohibition of 50 persons attending a funeral is still in operation. The holding of night vigils is still prohibited.

The permit may be obtained from:
– A Magistrate who is the head of office or
– a station commander of a police station or a person designated by him or her

In order to obtain a permit:
A Magistrate who is the head of office or a station commander of a police station or a person designated by him or her must be provided with a death certificate or a certified copy of a death certificate;

It is important to note that:
A permit holder may stay at a hotel, lodge or guest house for the duration of the funeral or cremation. The permit must be presented to the owner or manager of the hotel, lodge or guest house.

The COVID-19 regulations and ammendment may be accessed for download at: http://www.cogta.gov.za/?p=7871 or https://bit.ly/2X46YJl

The members of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) on COVID-19 will brief the media today on the amendments. The details of the media briefing will be announced shortly.

Enquiries:
Mlungisi Mtshali
Cell: 0820885060

Issued by Ministry for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Media Statement

For Immediate Release

02 April 2020

The Municipal Health and Waste Management Units of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and the Local Municipalities would like inform the public about important guidelines regarding the proper handling and storage of domestic waste generated by all positively identified COVID-19 residents.

“Residents tested positive for COVID-19 must be in self-isolation, and the guidelines we provide must be followed to protect essential workers and anyone else who comes into contact with domestic waste,” said Johan Compion, GRDM Manager: Municipal Health Services.

These guidelines are aligned to national guidelines and exist to curb the spread of the coronavirus to the waste management services personnel and other residents.

The GRDM Multi Agency Command Centre appeals to the public to be responsible and to adhere to the guidelines before placing waste outside for kerbside removal.

GUIDELINES

1. That all waste items that have been in contact with individuals that are confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 (e.g. used tissues, disposable cleaning cloths, gloves, masks, etc.) are disposed of securely within a black refuse plastic bag, separate from the rest of the household’s refuse.
2. When full, the black refuse plastic bag should then be placed in a second black refuse plastic bag (double bag) and tied to prevent any waste from spilling from the bag.  Additional black refuse plastic bags will be made available to those who tested positive for COVID-19. The distribution of these bags will be done by GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners.
3. Double-bagged refuse bags  must be stored separately for five (5) days in direct sun, before being placed outside your home for collection by a local municipality. The safest option would be to store bags for an additional week before domestic waste collection is done. This will ensure that the COVID-19 virus is killed.
4. In the case of wheelie bin removal service, residents are reminded to have all personal hygiene and sanitary products double bagged (placed within two small plastic bags) before placing waste inside a bin. Examples of personal hygiene and sanitary products are tissues, used gloves and masks, etc.)
5. Residents are requested to please sanitize or wash hands with water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling wheelie bins or black refuse plastic bags. This measure is to protect both the public and the essential refuse removal teams.
6. Residents are requested to sanitise wheelie bin handles and wheelie bin covers.
7. Residents are requested to refrain from approaching refuse removal personnel. Please keep a distance of 2m at all times.
8. The black refuse plastic bags or wheelie bins can be placed out for kerbside removal after the above mentioned steps have been followed.
9. Please put your bags and wheelie bins out for collection, as close as possible to the time of arrival of the waste collection services.
10. Please secure the bags in order to ensure that your pets do not have access to the bags to prevent them from tearing the bags or spilling the contents.

Please be aware that this guideline might be updated in the near future and that changes will be communicated.

ENDS

Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za

Garden Route District Multi-Agency Command Centre

Media Release: Various donations welcomed during the COVID-19 pandemic

For Immediate Release
1 April 2020

South Africa is facing an unprecedented challenge with communities and the economy being affected by the growing COVID-19 pandemic. In the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) jurisdiction, with its seven (7) local municipal areas (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland), Garden Routers are coming together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by lending a helping hand to others.

According to the GRDM Head of Disaster Management, Mr Gerhard Otto: “The donation of non-perishable food, toiletries, bedding for single beds will be of particular benefit to the less fortunate. Hand sanitisers are also on the list of critical shortages identified. In response to this need, the GRDM Multi-Agency Command Centre kindly requests the public to make donations of this kind at the specified sites.”

“Each municipality in the District have identified a site for storing donations, from where the distribution of items will be done by Western Cape Government Department of Social Development representatives,” said Otto.

Donations by the public must happen without violating the isolation or quarantine measures in place or putting oneself or others at risk. Please note that it is advised that pre-arranged drop-off times be arranged to avoid overcrowding of sites.

Below find a breakdown of where to drop off spots or contacts details per town:

HESSEQUA

Hessequa Fire Station, Mulder Street, Riversdale. Contact 028 713 7917 or 028 713 8000.

MOSSEL BAY

Mossel Bay Fire Station, Corner of Louis Fourie and Schoeman Streets, Mossel Bay. Charles Street, Great Brak River behind Mossel Bay municipal offices.  Contact the emergency call centre on 044 606 5000 or 044 691 3722.

GEORGE

Community and Social Development Services, Corner of St Johns and Varing Streets, George. Contact 044 802 2000 or visit https://bit.ly/2wJ1OrO

KNYSNA

Contact Pam Booth on 060 998 6967 to make arrangements for collections.

BITOU

Bitou Fire Station, 1 Flying Cloud Drive, Plettenberg Bay. Contact Andile Sakati on 083 273 7057 / 072 272 4242 or Hadley Venter on 083 443 0120.

GREATER OUDTSHOORN

Oudtshoorn Fire Station (Disaster Relief Hub), 26 Church Street, Oudtshoorn. Contact Ms Sarah Olislager at 044 272 8977/ 083 689 2893 and Mr Wayne Peterson at 044 272 89 77.

KANNALAND

Disaster Management Centre, 23 Church Street, Ladismith (next to Standard Bank). Contact Wayne Robertson on 060 691 3029.

Before any donations are made, please contact the following DSD area representatives:

Mr Dennis Nghonyama [Oudtshoorn/ Kannaland] – 082 960 5746

Mr Mzukisi Skosana [George] – 083 628 7074

Mr Kenneth Mazaleni [Knysna/Bitou] –    082  226 9521

Ms Kholiswa Jobela  [Mossel Bay/Hessequa]- 078 210 5972

Donations will be controlled in adherence to lockdown regulations and responsibly distributed.

ENDS

Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za