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Author: Marlene Nqumse

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!

Good-Bye to a Colleague, Alvin Botha

After the sudden passing of Alvin Botha, HR Coordinator at Eden District Municipality on Tuesday, 24 July 2018, a heavy-hearted atmosphere reigned at the George Banquet Hall on Friday, 27 July 2018 when colleagues and Council celebrated his life with his immediate family members at a special memorial service.

Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen, during his tribute to Alvin, at the Memorial Service.

On Tuesday morning, the tragic news of the passing of Alvin reached the Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen, soon after the Mayor had to come to terms with the shocking news of Eden DM and Knysna Cllr Victor Molosi’s passing.
The Memorial Service event was formally directed by Trix Holtzhausen and opened by Councillor Isaya Stemela, Portfolio Chairperson of Corporate Services.

In his tribute to Alvin’s life, Mayor Booysen described Alvin as a very nice, yet firm person and said that if he would have had the power he would have asked God to bring Alvin back“…and then you realise, it is times like these when your earthly powers are exposed, we are all equal in God’s view… ” Mayor Booysen said.

The Eden DM Choir performed the song “Our Father” at the service.

As the slideshow of photographs was displayed by Megan Cunningham, every single person in the room saw how Alvin touched people’s lives in different ways.  In her tribute to Alvin, former HR official and friend of Alvin, Chrystal Spies, said that it became evident over the years that Alvin loved his family dearly and that he was very fond of his friends. “He also had a very special place in his heart for the Roads colleagues,” Chrystal added. This was confirmed by Nontobeko Klaas, HR Manager, when she shared a story of their recent visit to Roads and said, “The Roads Services personnel did not want to listen to me, they wanted Alvin to address them, because all of them worked with him for years and grew visibly fond of him,” she said.

Alvin will especially be remembered for being a specialist in HR Policies and how he advised Management and Committees during various formal engagements – “we will always remember him for being a nice and cheerful person”.

He will be laid to rest on Saturday, 4 August 2018 in his hometown Oudtshoorn.

May your soul rest in peace our colleague and friend, Alvin Botha.

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.

Eden District Municipal Health Office in Mossel Bay donated dog food to the Mossel Bay SPCA

“100 Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018” Celebrations

Officials from the Eden District Municipal Health Office in Mossel Bay donated dog food to the Mossel Bay SPCA and also used the opportunity to play with the dogs at the facility. Executive Deputy Mayor of Eden District Municipality, Cllr Rosina Ruiters, Cllr Erica Meyer, Mr Wayne Odendaal, Ms Marlene Losper, Dr Johann Schoeman, Ms Jenay van Niekerk and Mr Angus Andries, participated in the initiative.

Kennel Manager of the facility, Ms Jolandi Esterhuizen, thanked the team and received the items on behalf of the facility.

Rampbestuur en Brandweer afdelings besoek Van Der Hoven Laerskool

“100 Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018” vieringe

Eden Distriksmunisipaliteit (Eden DM) se Rampbestuur en Brandweer afdelings het die Van Der Hoven Laerskool besoek. Die skool bestaan uit 4 onderwysers, ‘n sekretaresse en 75 leerders tot en met Graad 5.

Mnr Gerhard Otto van Eden DM het die verskillende afdelings aan die personeel en leerders voorgestel. Tydens die aktiwiteite het me Gail Bekeer noodhulpwenke aan die kinders verduidelik en me Tippie Bouwer het noodnommers aan die leerders verskaf. Brandweerpersoneel het ‘n skuim demonstrasie gedoen en die kinders hul ‘bunker’ pakke laat aantrek. Ter afsluiting, is kerrie en rys aan die leerders bedien, waarna ‘goodie bags’ en sakke vol klere aan almal oorhandig is.

Die skoolhoof, me Anita Oosthuizen, het die Eden span hartlik bedank vir die gebaar.

Municipal Health in George celebrated Mandela Day with clean-up operation

“100 Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018” celebrations

Officials from the Eden District Municipal Health office in George celebrated “Mandela Day” by means of a clean-up operation at the Molen River in Thembalethu, George.

This operation was carried out in collaboration with the following stakeholders: Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency, DWS, Cape Nature, George Municipality (Waste Management & Expanded Public Works Programme) and a few community members of Thembalethu. Instead of 67 minutes, 100 minutes were devoted to the initiative as part of the “Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018” celebrations.

Eden DM Municipal Health in Hessequa visited Kruisrivier and Goedgegund Primary schools

“100 Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018” celebrations

The Eden District Municipal Health Office in Hessequa visited the Kruisrivier and Goedgegund Primary schools (rural schools) where the team donated pencil bags, water bottles and school clothes to the learners.

It is always heart-warming to see the smile on the face of a child. However, the team feels it is disappointing that they “can not reach out to communities in this way, on a regular basis”.