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Author: Marillia Veldkornet

09 May 2024 Public Notice: Procurement of Provision of Banking Services for the Garden Route District Municipality for a period of 5 years through a Formal Tender process

Public Notice: Procurement of Provision of Banking Services for the Garden Route District Municipality for a period of 5 years through a Formal Tender process

Notice 42 of 2024

Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 33 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, No.56 of 2003 that the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) intends to enter into a provision for banking services agreement with Nedbank Limited as the recommended preferred bidder for the tender GRDM/06/23-24. The tender is awarded to Nedbank Limited for the period 1 May 2024 – 30 April 2029.

In terms of the Supply Chain Regulations issued in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Financial Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003), the Municipality must procure banking services through a competitive bidding process. During August 2023 the Municipality advertised Tender No. GRDM/06/23-24 – Procurement of Provision of banking services for the Garden Route District Municipality for a 5-year period.

Following an extensive evaluation and due diligence process, the GRDM Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) accepted the tender of Nedbank Limited for the provision of banking services for the period 1 May 2024 – 30 April 2029. A section 33 process as prescribed in terms of the MFMA must be followed for contracts beyond three (3) years.

The estimated value for the expenses on this 5-year contract amounts to R500 000. Future interest revenue will be linked to the prime interest rate less 4% as tendered. Provision for the expenditure has been made in the Operational Budget and will be made in future budgets for the duration of the agreement.

Notice is further given in accordance with section 21 and 21A of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, No. 32 of 2000, that the local community and other interested persons are invited to submit comments or representations to the Municipality in respect of the proposed draft contract. Such comments or representations must reach the Municipality within 21 calendar days, via electronic mail on the email address or delivered by mail to the address details provided hereunder. If no submissions and/or correspondence is received within the given time, GRDM will presume that there are no recommendations or views to this matter.

The detailed specifications and the proposed contract as contained in the Tender GRDM/06/23-24: Procurement of Provision of Banking Services for the Garden Route District Municipality for a period of 5 years through a formal tender process is available at the municipal offices and GRDM website at  https://www.gardenroute.gov.za.

Submission must be marked as:

PROVISION OF BANKING SERVICES AGREEMENT GRDM/06/23-24: SECTION 33 PROCESS

MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel:   044 803 1300

Email submissions to: Mr T Mpuru
Email address: tebello@gardenroute.gov.za
Notice number: 42/2024

07 May 2024 Media Release: Calling all tourism organisations – R4 million ‘Tourism Growth Fund’ now open for applications


Media Release: Calling all tourism organisations – R4 million ‘Tourism Growth Fund’ now open for applications

For immediate release
07 May 2024

The Western Cape Government’s (WCG) Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) has officially opened the 2024/25 ‘Tourism Growth Fund’  and is inviting organisations to apply for project funding for tourism development, tourism infrastructure, and tourism product development.

Speaking about the launch of the latest iteration of the fund, Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said “tourism in the Western Cape is on the up. We have moved from post-COVID recovery and into impressive growth, showing that the province is a tourism destination of choice and very much in demand.”

“This is why I am very excited to launch the latest R4 million Tourism Growth Fund so we can work with more organisations across the sector to further improve our world-class attractions and offerings. This fund will allow us to add to and boost the already impressive array of offerings we have across the province, attracting even more visitors, and creating many more jobs in the Western Cape,” continued Minister Wenger.

The Fund challenges those involved in the tourism ecosystem – both public and private – to co-invest in high-impact attractions and experiences in order to offer a more compelling reason to visit the Western Cape and its districts.

The Fund will provide co-funding to:

  1. collaborative initiatives that enhance high-volume tourism attractions through tourism infrastructure development/upgrading and/ or place-making/ beautification interventions; and/ or
  2. collaborative initiatives of tourism organisations working with tourism enterprises to enable businesses to enhance and expand their tourism offerings in areas with high growth potential.

There are two categories for which funding can be applied for:

Category 1: Tourism Infrastructure Support initiatives with a focus on upgrading high-volume attractions 

The Fund will support regional and local tourism organisations, industry associations, district and local authorities, and tourism enterprises with initiatives to enhance high-volume tourism attractions through tourism infrastructure development or upgrades and/ or place making/ beautification activities.

Tourism infrastructure upgrade means the enhancement or development of any existing or new infrastructure required to ensure that tourists can visit attractions and experiences in a safe, clean, comfortable, and accessible manner. Examples of tourism infrastructure include trails, walkways, signage, street furniture, public lighting, public toilets, shelters, hides, and more.

Category 2: Tourism Product Development Support initiatives with a focus on assisting tourism enterprises (specifically small, medium and micro enterprises) with tourism product development

The Fund will provide financial support to enhance and/or expand collaborative programmes and projects aimed at assisting SMMEs with tourism product development. Regional and local tourism organisations, industry associations, and district and local authorities can apply for support through the programme; in exceptional circumstances, individual enterprises will be considered.

Tourism product development support includes, but is not limited to:

  • product and/ or experience development;
  • capacity development; and/or
  • provision of bespoke support (machinery, equipment, licenses, accreditation, memberships, health and safety compliance, standards etc).

This year, the Tourism Growth Fund will prioritise private sector-led initiatives aimed at stimulating high-growth, high-yield forms of tourism including in Halal, adventure, food, wine, culture and heritage, and township-based tourism offerings.

Minister Wenger emphasised that “As part of our ambitious economic action plan, ‘Growth For Jobs’, we are determined to double the number of visitors to the province by 2035 to aid in our overarching goal of enabling a R1 trillion, jobs-rich, inclusive, diverse, and resilient provincial economy that is growing at between 4% and 6% in real terms.”

“I would like to encourage those organisations who may benefit from the fund to apply without delay, and I look forward to working with the sector to attract more and more tourists to this wonderful province – because more tourists mean more jobs in the Western Cape,” concluded Minister Wenger.

For more information on the fund and on how to apply, interested applicants can visit this website: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/site-page/economic-sector-support-tourism-growth-fund

Enquiries can be directed to Mrs Lindy Cambouris at:
G4Jtourismfund@westerncape.gov.za  or at 021-483-6527.

ENDS       

By Mireille Wenger, Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities

Media Queries:
Georgina Maree
Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities
(Responsible for the Provincial Treasury and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism)
Cell: 076 423 7541
Email: georgina.maree@westerncape.gov.za

Issued by Corporate Communication, Department of the Premier

03 May 2024 Media Release: Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities visits beneficiaries of the Tourism Development Fund

Media Release: Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities visits beneficiaries of the Tourism Development Fund

For immediate release
03 May 2024

On Monday, 29 April 2024, the Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Ms Mireille Wenger, paid a visit to some of the beneficiaries of the Tourism Development Fund in the Garden Route, Mossel Bay, namely; Nova Hot Air Balloons  and The Skipper Foundation.

Whilst in Mossel Bay MEC Wenger also paid a visit to The Mossel Bay cruise port to discuss some of the future expansion plans of the Mossel Bay port for cruise tourism with the port management and Mossel Bay Trading Hub. With the Western Cape Governments’ assistance to small businesses at the trading hub in relation to alternative energy solutions to ensure business continuity during loadshedding, the MEC was joined by the Executive Mayor of GRDM, Alderman Memory Booysen, and Mossel Bay Councillor, Cllr Anton Dellemijn.

What is  The Tourism Product Development Fund?

The Tourism Product Development Fund supports the development of new tourism products and experiences and/or major upgrading of existing tourism products and experiences to increase the Western Cape’s destination attractiveness to visitors.

The Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) requested organisations and businesses from both private and public organisations to apply for project funding via the Tourism Product Development Fund.

The Tourism Product Development initiative seeks to develop new or existing tourism products and experiences within the Western Cape. The Fund supported new or existing tourism products and experiences that address gaps and opportunities identified by the draft Tourism Blueprint 2030. A total of R 5 million was made available for disbursement during the 2022/2023 government fiscal year by the Western Cape Government.

Additional: The Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s Tourism Growth Fund is open to receive fund applications.

Click here to visit the dedicated web page for DEDAT’s Tourism Growth Fund for more information and to apply online.

The Tourism Growth Fund – APPLY TODAY! 

The Department of Economic Development and Tourism is requesting organisations implementing tourism development projects or programmes in the categories of Tourism Infrastructure Support and Tourism Product Development Support to apply for project funding via the Tourism Growth Fund. The Fund will provide financial support to development programmes and projects that benefit Western Cape-based tourism attractions and businesses. A total of R4 million is available in 2024 for disbursement to successful applicants.

Applications and criteria:

  1. Applicants must complete the online application form and will be required to upload all of the requested supporting documents. The submitted proposals must be structured toward one of the following categories:
  • Category 1: Tourism Infrastructure Support Initiatives with a focus on upgrading high visitor volume attractions.
  • Category 2: Tourism Product Development Support Initiatives with a focus on assisting tourism enterprises (specifically small, medium, and micro enterprises) with tourism product development.
  1. Only applications submitted via the online process will be considered. No emailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered.
  2. Thoroughly read the application guidelines before completing the online application. All sections in the application form are mandatory.
  3. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the online form so that you have the necessary information at hand when completing your application. You can refer to the attached document for an electronic copy of the form, as well as the call for proposals.

There is no closing date, however funds are subject to availability. Don’t delay, apply today!

For more information, contact Lindy Cambouris on  021 483 6527 or G4JTourismFund@westerncape.gov.za

ENDS

03 May 2024 Update: Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George

Update: Gwaiing Road Construction Project

03 May 2024

The Gwaing project is still in its construction phase with . The progress of the project currently stands at 78% works completed.

The Road Construction team is currently busy with the cement stabilisation of the subbase layer on the RHS lane, which is the second to last layer that will be placed on the newly constructed road, after which, the construction of the final Basecourse layer will begin.

The main focus areas at this stage remain the processing of the layer works. Material is still being carted in from the approved source. The drainage network on the entire section of road has been improved, with minor concrete structures currently being constructed for erosion control.

The intended final completion date is set for 18 September 2024.

-ENDS-

30 April 2024 Media Release:  Regional Tourism Office unpacks their recent WTM Africa attendance

Media Release:  Regional Tourism Office unpacks their recent WTM Africa attendance

For immediate release
30 April 2024

This year, with the Garden Route & Klein Karoo Tourism (GR&KK), once again used the opportunity at the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2024 to successfully exhibit in a 90m2 space with local tourism offices and small business.

The GR&KK’s presence at the platform allowed the region to engage with tour operators, travel agents and travel media to direct more visitors to the region. These platforms contribute significantly to the increasing of numbers of international and domestic tourists as per the Wesgro survey report applicable from November to January 2023/24.

With approximately twenty (20) products exhibited under the GR&KK umbrella, three (3) of the products were beneficiaries of the GRDM Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME)  Support & Development programme. The collective initiative is just one of the development aspects to support SMMEs.

Numerous engagements and meetings took place, and these engagements included the following topics of interest:

  • General interests in GR&KK marketing and general, but broad interest and possible linkages with the brand.
  • High-end luxury packages, tourists tour packages, private safaris in the region and Avi-tourism initiatives
  • General interests in products, i.e. hotel and resort products
  • Route 62 and Klein Karoo referrals and interest.
  • United Kingdom (UK) market expansion and information.
  • Garden Route Chapter feedback and updates.
  • Member reach and expansion of products.
  • Bookings platforms.
  • General enquiries and information

With the interaction at the GR&KK stall over the three-day period, connections through meetings with these contacts (international, domestic buyers and media) were built and it delivered fruitful discussions and possible future relations. Some products furthermore indicated their interest to form part of the GR&KK representation at next year’s WTM. The Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic and Tourism also visited the GR&KK stand where discussions were mainly focused on the current performance of the GR&KK as the destination.

This regional initiative sent out a strong message of unity/collaboration to ensure that the GR&KK is undoubtedly recognised as the preferred tourism destination.

ENDS

17 April 2024 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality’s Workplace Skills Plan approved

Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality’s Workplace Skills Plan approved

For immediate release
17 April 2024

On Friday, 12 April 2024, the Education and Training Development Committee from Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) approved the Municipality’s Workplace Skills Plan (WSP). To conclude the final stage of the process, the Municipal Manager, Monde Stratu, on 16 April 2024 endorsed the Plan for submission to the Local Government Sector Education and Training Association (LGSETA) before 30 April 2024.

Municipal Manager of GRDM, Monde Stratu (front, middle), endorsing the WSP, in the presence of officials (FLTR back) Ilse Saaiman, Nolwando Sambokwe, Reginald Salmons, Michelle Smit, Salman Damons, Khanyisa Madolo, Jacqueline Thomson, Proy Koopman (front, left) and Trix Holtzhausen (right).

The process included rounds of internal consultations by the Municipality’s Human Resources’ Training Section with specific focus on the WSP and it included management and employees from the various departments of the Municipality, as well as trade union representatives.

With the GRDM being registered with the LGSETA, the Skills Development Act, requires all registered employers with an annual payroll exceeding R500 000, to pay skills development levies. These levies encourage learning and development across the country and are used to develop and improve the skills of employees.

Subsequently, a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP), together with an Annual Training Report (ATR) must be submitted to the LGSETA no later than 30 April, annually. By submitting the municipality’s Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) annually, allows the Municipality access to Mandatory and Discretionary Funding from the LGSETA for skills development.

ENDS

17 April 2024 Public Notice: Special Council Meeting on 25 April 2024 at 10h00

Notice of a Special Council Meeting on 25 April 2024 at 10h00

Notice number: 43/2024

Notice is hereby given that a SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING of the Garden Route District Municipality will be held at the CA Robertson Council Chambers, and via Zoom, 54 York Street, George, on 25 April 2024 at 10:00.

MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
P O Box 12
GEORGE
6530
Tel: 044 803 1300

Click here to download the official notice

05 April 2024 Update: Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George

Update: Gwaiing Road Construction Project

05 April 2024

The Gwaing project is still in its construction phase.  The progress of the project currently stands at 70% works completed, after a few rain delays were experienced in the last two weeks.

The main focus areas at this stage remains the processing of the layer works. Material is still being carted in from the approved source, with the cement stabilisation process scheduled to start as early as next week. The drainage network on the entire section of the road has been improved, with minor concrete structures currently being constructed for erosion control.

The intended final completion date is set for 18 September 2024.

-ENDS-

04 April 2024 Media Release: Future prospects of Garden Route Fynbos uncertain

Media Release: Future prospects of Garden Route Fynbos uncertain

For immediate release
04 April 2024

Conservationists and environmental management entities in the Garden Route share concern on the dual effect of climate change, expanding agricultural practices and rapid development on what remains of the region’s Fynbos species which are on the Red List of Terrestrial Ecosystems (Government Notice 2747).  “These species are critically endangered and unlikely to survive, given their limited prospects in isolation and all present threats,” says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).

The 2017 Knysna wild-fire disaster was a wake-up call for conservationists and land-owners alike with fears that complete critically endangered eco-systems potentially could have been obliterated by the inferno, combined with the ever-present threat posed by fast-growing invasive alien plants.  Substantial seed bases are sprouting rapidly and completely taking over areas previously covered by Fynbos after the fire.

Despite the odds, there is still hope for the survival of Fynbos species in the Garden Route with the cooperation of state and private landowners, and dedicated conservationists and botanists from state and non-state entities e.g. SANParks, Cape Nature, Botanical Societies, private conservancies and entities such as CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers) and George-based Outramps who regularly undertake efforts to find and document the presence of Fynbos LTRE systems in the Garden Route.

The natural wonders of the Garden Route is exactly what makes the region so special in global terms of its beauty and biodiversity. It is imperative that all those living in the region do their utmost in efforts to create more space for natural assets and all life it sustains to be able to survive and prosper well into the future.

Landowners are encouraged to make an effort to take note of and appreciate what kind of Red List and all other Fynbos species are present on their land and, where at all possible, protect them and possibly enlarge their footprint by removing invasive alien plant growth. Landowners are also encouraged to take proactive measures to prevent a repeat of the 2017 and 2018 regional wildfire disasters, because failure to do so can only accelerate the demise of one of the world’s most precious natural assets.

GREF and SCLI are public platforms for conservation and environmental management entities in Garden Route

Feature Image: Christine Ridge- Schnaufer (Outramps)