Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Author: Marlene Nqumse

7 November 2023 Media Release: Mental Wellness in the spotlight in Kannaland

Media Release: Mental Wellness in the spotlight in Kannaland

For Immediate Release
7 November 2023

Life can be really tough at times, and we need to know how we can improve our own mental wellness. In light of Mental Health Awareness Month, mental wellness outreaches were done in Kannaland aimed to start the conversation around mental wellness.

Several outreaches took place in October in Zoar, Calitzdorp and Ladismith.

Dennis Jacobs from Zoar is outspoken when it comes to especially men and mental wellness. ‘It doesn’t make you less of a man to talk about your problems,’ he said.

Younger men also joined the conversation.

Bboy Da Vinci, a local entertainer from Oudtshoorn, said that dancing gives him purpose. ‘Dancing gives me purpose to life every day; it is my way of expressing myself. When I dance, nothing else matters,’ he said.

Speaking on the importance of these mental wellness outreaches, psychologist Estelle Crause said: ‘It’s important for people to be made aware of how they can take care of their mental wellness and where they can go if they feel they might need help. This is why we do these outreaches, it’s to bring awareness to our communities.’ A psychiatrists, registered councillor and mental health nurse do rotational visits to clinics in the subdistrict.

Mental wellness is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood. Estelle spoke on what you can do to help improve your mental wellness. ‘Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining mental wellness and preventing the onset of mental health disorders. I always tell my patients to eat foods that are high in L-tyrosine such as chicken, fish, cheese, bananas and milk.

‘It’s really important to spend some time outdoors too. Going for walks in nature or doing some exercises or just soaking up some sunrays for a few minutes a day is beneficial to our bodies. A sense of mental well-being also supports our immune system, thus our physical health and vice versa,’ Estelle said.

For those who struggle with getting enough sleep, she said: ‘It’s important to be mindful of your evening routine if you want to get a good night’s rest. Limit coffee, alcohol and sugar at night as well as screen time. Have an evening routine that calms your nervous system gradually and try to avoid strenuous exercise before bed because this boosts your body temperature and all those feel-good chemicals which might keep you awake a little longer.’

We also need to make time for ourselves and do things that we enjoy. Jadon Moses from Ladismith knows that we need to do things that makes us happy. ‘Making music helps me,’ said the young musician.

Every individual can take meaningful steps toward better mental wellness. If you feel you might be suffering from a mental health condition, you can go to your local clinic or make contact with the organizations below.

Where to get support:

  • If you are a learner experiencing abuse, and/or need advice or counselling support, you can call the Western Cape Education Department’s Safe Schools toll free hotline on 0800 45 46 47.
  • Need help or advice about relationships, sex, pregnancy, or your body? Send a ‘please call me’ to 083 323 1023 to speak to a trained health expert, call 0800 121 900 or visit bwisehealth.com
  • Feel alone, overwhelmed, or anxious? Get free help from the Cipla Mental Health Helpline. Speak to a trained counsellor. Send a SMS to 31393 (24/7), call 0800 456 789 (24/7) or WhatsApp 076 882 2775 (8AM – 5PM)
  • Did you know you can call the free 24/7 emergency suicide helpline for help? Speak to a trained counsellor that you can trust. Call 0800 567 567 any time of the day or night.

Featured image caption: From left: Claudel-Draai – Health Promotion, Misida – Registered Councillor and Estelle Krause – Psychiatrist

END

Nadia Ferreira

Principal Communications Officer

Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts

Western Cape Government Health

Tel: 044 813 1831

Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za

Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

30 October 2023 Media Release: GRDM Executive Mayor wishes the Class of 2023 all the best!

GRDM Executive Mayor wishes the Class of 2023 all the best!

For Immediate Release
30 October 2023

“Hard work and planning put together ensures success. Make sure you are well-prepared, believe in yourself, and stay focused. You can achieve remarkable results if you remember all the hard work you’ve put in. Having faith in yourself will help you ace the exam because you are the one who studied, the one who knows how tough it is. Stay calm and balanced, you’ve got this!”

As you prepare for your exams, remember to check your pen, take your ID card, and don’t forget your watch. It’s time to pen down all your thoughts on that paper. But keep in mind, this is not only a final exam, but the beginning of a journey filled with numerous tests.

I want to thank all parents, teachers, and communities for the love, care, and understanding shown to our learners. Also for being pillars of strength to our learners and for creating a healthy and productive environment for them. The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is as true today as it was in the past.

Over the past 12 years, you’ve been equipped with values and principles that will make you responsible members of society. Don’t step back if hurdles come in your life; instead defeat it with your confidence and talent Rise above your circumstances, become a leader, and be the change you want to see.

Good luck, and may success be yours.

-End-

27 October 2023 Media Release: GRDM Social Housing Pilot Project Approved by the GRDM Council

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: 𝗚𝗥𝗗𝗠 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗥𝗗𝗠 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹

For Immediate Release
27 October 2023

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has approved an affordable housing Strategic Plan during the 2021/2022 financial year that guided the appointment of a social housing delivery partner accredited by the SHRA (Social Housing Regulatory Authority). Therefore, the GRDM also appointed the appropriate partner for the provision of social housing opportunities in well-located areas in order to facilitate long term social-economic integration.

A District Council Meeting was held on Wednesday , 25 Ooctober 2023, during which the new social housing pilot project was approved.  Thus, the first social housing opportunities of approximately 166 units, will soon be realised on a municipality-owned site located in Omega Street.

As soon as possible, the GRDM Council will inform local communities about the status of the matter, with the company directly responsible for the development and beneficiation processes.

 

Maatskaplike Behuising Loodsprojek deur die TDM-Raad Goedgekeur

Die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (TDM) het ‘n Strategiese Plan vir bekostigbare behuising gedurende die 2021/2022 finansiële jaar goedgekeur wat daartoe gelei het tot die aanstelling van ‘n behuisingsvennoot wat deur SHRA (Social Housing Regulatory Authority) geakkrediteer is. As gevolg hiervan het die TDM ‘n toepaslike vennoot vir die verskaffing van maatskaplike behuisingsgeleenthede in goed geleë gebiede aangestel om sodoende sosiaal-ekonomiese langtermyn integrasie te fasiliteer.

Die nuwe maatskaplike-behuisingsprojek was Woensdag, 25 Oktober 2023, tydens ‘n Distriksraadsvergadering, goedgekeur. Die eerste maatskaplike behuisingsgeleenthede van ongeveer 166 eenhede sal dus binnekort op ‘n perseel in besit van die munisipaliteit in Omegastraat realiseer.

Die TDM sal egter so spoedig moontlik die plaaslike gemeenskappe inlig rakende die nuutste verwikkelinge, en die aangestelde maatskappy sal direk verantwoordelik wees vir die ontwikkelings- en toekenningsprosesse.

 

Inkqubo kaMasipala weSithili saseGarden Route yokuLingwa kweZindlu zeNtlalo iVunyiwe

UMasipala weSithili saseGarden Route (i-GRDM) uphumeze iSicwangciso soBuchule bezindlu ezifikelelekayo kunyaka-mali ka-2021/2022 esikhokele ukuchongwa kweqabane lonikezelo lwezindlu zoluntu oluvunywe yi-SHRA (i-Social Housing Regulatory Authority). Ngoko ke, i-GRDM iphinde yatyumba umnikezeli nkonzo ofanelekileyo wokubonelela ngamathuba ezindlu zoluntu kwiindawo ezimi kakuhle ukuze kuququzelelwe indibaniselwano yexesha elide yezentlalo noqoqosho.

INtlanganiso yeBhunga leSithili ibibanjwe namhlanje, umhla wama-25 kweyeDwarha 2023, apho inkqubo yokulinga yezindlu zoluntu entsha ithe yamkelwa. Ngoko ke, amathuba okuqala ezindlu zokuhlala amalunga neeyunithi ezili 166, aza kuphunyezwa ngokukhawuleza kwisiza sikamasipala esiseOmega Street.

Ngokukhawuleza, iBhunga loMasipala weSithili seGarden Route liya kwazisa uluntu lwasekuhlaleni malunga nobume balomcimbi, kunye nenkampani ejongene nkqo neenkqubo zophuhliso kunye nezibonelelo.

-End-

20 October 2023 Media Release: Clean-up & Education and Awareness – a cleaner, greener future

Media Release:  Clean-up & Education and Awareness – a cleaner, greener future

For Immediate Release
20 October 2023

A National Marine Week celebration was held yesterday by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Waste Management Section in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Cape Nature, Mossel Bay Municipality, Compass Medical Waste, and TM Ndanda Primary School.  The campaign was rolled out to raise awareness about the importance of marine environments and the need to protect them.

Pollution, especially plastic waste, is one of the most pressing issues facing our oceans. To prevent further damage to marine ecosystems, the campaign encourages students to take part in clean-up activities and reduce single-use plastic consumption.

During the day it was also stressed to the learners that they should keep their communities clean and recycle as much as possible. They were taught that every person can make a difference by picking up litter and getting into the habit of recycling every day. Small, consistent efforts make a huge difference if everyone makes them. Students learned about the different waste streams that can pollute our oceans, including medical waste and how it is handled.

The clean-up campaign was conducted following the formal educational and awareness session.

“A total of 56 bags of recyclables and 14 bags of mixed-general waste were collected. The number of volunteers, including learners and officials, was approximately 90,” said Innocentia Sikweyiya, GRDM Waste Management Officer.

The GRDM Waste Management Section expresses its heartfelt gratitude to its partners in success – Plastic SA, AQUELLE, and POLYCO, as well as all the dedicated volunteers and participants who contributed to and participated in the recent clean-up events.

“Your unwavering support and active involvement have been instrumental in ensuring the cleanliness of our environment. Together, we are making a significant impact on preserving and beautifying our surroundings, and your efforts was truly appreciated, “ said Sikweyiya.

Mossel Bay’s clean-up activities during National Marine Week included many interactive and informative sessions where learners learned about pollution and recycling.

 

Featured Image Caption: Stakeholders who participated in National Marine Week clean-up activities in Mossel Bay.

-End-

19 October 2023 Media Release: Celebrating conservation and bio- diversity in the Garden Route vital to its future

Media Release: Celebrating conservation and bio- diversity in the Garden Route vital to its future

For Immediate Release
19 October 2023 

The Garden Route district is blessed with numerous conservation organisations such as SANParks and Cape Nature as well as privately managed conservancies and nature reserves. Also, government and non-government agencies and citizens, have a collective responsibility to preserve the biodiversity that remains along the coastal and inland areas, says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).

“Celebrating Conservation in the Garden Route” is the theme of the GREF annual key stakeholder report- back event planned for 13 December 2023 in Wilderness, and vital recognition is given to the sustained collective effort of the resourceful, positive and conservation minded communities and authorities of the Garden Route.

Following a century of farming and development of the Southern Cape, with exponential growth recorded during the past thirty years and with much more projected as a fast- growing population demands ever more infrastructure and resources, the Garden Route has lost a staggering amount of bio- diversity and natural beauty with many jokingly referring to the area as the “Concrete Route” as the developed coastal belt and N2 highway now presents an almost solid barrier between the mountains and the ocean with only islands of bio- diversity remaining where fynbos and the eco- systems it represents and sustained once flourished.

In addition, increased demand for fresh water necessitating damming, water transfers and extraction of ground water all have an impact on the health of Garden Route river systems and estuaries, which in turn impacts negatively on the ability to survive of marine and aquatic life.

Despite these challenges, conservation is not taking a back seat in the Garden Route as there is general consensus that the region will lose much of its allure as world class tourist destination and a region renowned for offering a high quality of life for its communities if natural ecosystems and bio- diversity disappears into oblivion in the face of development.

GREF is a public platform for conservation and environmental management entities in the Garden Route

Enquiries: louisamare@gmail.com

16 October 2023 Media Release: Skills training history made in the Garden Route

Media Release:  Skills training history made in the Garden Route

For Immediate Release
16 October 2023

The first ever Renewable Energy Workshop Assistant programme in South Africa has been completed with learners at the Africa Skills Private College in George. This historic skills training program for 40 learners was financially supported by Energy and Water SETA through the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Skills Mecca programme.

After two months of dedicated theory and workshop training the recipients are now ready to start their workplace learning at host company workplaces in George where they will gain workplace experience and the application of what they’ve learnt in the identification, selection and care for hand and power tools in the Renewable Energy industry, as well as health, safety and environmental requirements.

At the Achievement Ceremony Elsie Harmse, CEO of UXi Artisan Development said that local expansion in this field is opening job opportunities for recipients with “the right attitude and a willingness to be diligent and dedicated to hard work.”

“As skills training institutes, we can change many lives, but it fully depends on the needs of the economy for specific skills. Africa Skills, within our group has been the first institution ever receiving accreditation to offer this highly demanded skills qualification,” Harmse said.

Keynote speaker, Dr Florus Prinsloo, Coordinator of the Garden Route Skills Mecca said learning must take place in an environment where there is economic growth.  ” We are fortunate in the Garden Route that all our municipalities and many stakeholders support learning and the economy is still showing growth. “

He reiterated that learning and training must always be linked to economic development, “and for you as Renewable Energy workers it is important to note that new solar businesses are being considered all over the Garden Route including a proposal to build a solar farm next to the François Ferreira Academy on Airport Road, George.”

Dr Prinsloo encouraged the successful learners to consider starting their small businesses as entrepreneurs. He welcomed the initiatives taken to support training and the possibility of becoming business owners through dedication and focus.

Vanessa Taylor a National Business Institute (NBI) advisor encouraged them to keep entrepreneurial opportunities in mind. “We are looking for people within your group who are excited about the development of their own small businesses and have the potential to start small and grow a sustainable shop or business in this area.”

Dr Prinsloo added: “We have already started targeting 30 existing small businesses in the Garden Route and will help them to grow and become successful. Remember, as they grow bigger, they can again provide jobs and grow the economy of George, the Garden Route and nationally.”

To ease their entry into the world of work, Hardu Els from Outeniqua Solar told the recipients that “the way in which you present yourself to a potential employer holds the key to employment in the industry. Your dedication and commitment will be recognized as this is very important. Make yourself an asset to the company.”

Dr Prinsloo acknowledged every recipient as a winner and encouraged them to never stop learning in their industry of choice. He shared Albert Einstein’s wisdom: “The day you stop learning is the day you start dying. So, it is important that you continue learning, be it in classrooms, browsing the internet, reading books or around a ‘braai’ where you learn things which you learn nowhere else.

Featured image caption: Learners off to workplaces to gain work-integrated experience.

END

16 October 2023 Media Release: Discussions on creating hope with urgency

Media Release:  Discussions on creating hope with urgency

For Immediate Release
16 October 2023

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Integrated Development Planning, Intergovernmental Relations and Public Participation Unit reactivated the Citizen Interface Programme on 11 October 2023 in partnership with the Department of Local Government.   This was a full-day interactive session at the GRDM offices in George.

The programme aims to give hope to neglected communities with urgency, through bridging the gap between government and citizens in deep rural areas where communities feel forgotten.  The Citizen Interface Programme will focus on the lack of opportunities in some of the former District Management Areas (DMAs), Old church settlements, and other spaces. This programme follows a whole of society approach which is also aligned with the Joint District and Metro Approach. 

During the engagement, the current Citizen Interface Programme was reviewed, and the different programmes and activities that could be used to restart and assist the Citizen Interface program was identified.

Among the stakeholders who attended the engagement were officials from the Western Cape Department of Health, Social Development, Government Communication and Information System, and local municipalities in the district.

Participants from different sectors engaged in interactive discussion to find ways to restart the Citizen Interface Programme.

-End-