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Strengthening Relations

Eden DM engaging with B-Municipalities to prepare for the Garden Route Investment Conference

Engagements with Municipalities in the Eden district is currently underway. The purpose of these sessions is to ensure that all Municipalities are ready for the upcoming Investment Conference and at the same time, to strengthen relations with the B-municipalities in the Eden district.

The first session took place in Hessequa on Wednesday, 23 January 2018 and soon after the Kannaland session followed.

The Eden DM and Hessequa delegations during the 1st session held in Riversdale.

During these sessions the Executive Mayor of Eden District Municipality (Eden DM), Cllr Memory Booysen, emphasised his willingness to strengthen relations with the B-Municipalities. “Not only formal structures such as forums should be used to discuss matters of mutual interest. We should be open for assistance at any given time as the need arises,” Mayor Booysen said at the engagement in Hessequa. Mayor Booysen also gave an update of the name change process of Eden DM and also explained how the name change will be of benefit to the identity of the district.

At the session in Kannaland, Executive Mayor of Kannaland Municipality, Cllr Magdalene Barry, welcomed the willingness of the Eden delegation to meet with Kannaland and commended the team for their efforts to enhance the economy of the district, with reference to the Skills Summit and Investment Conference. The Kannaland delegation made sure that they fully inform the Eden DM delegation of the lack of capacity and resources that the municipality is currently confronted with, but at the same time Mayor Barry praised the Kannaland officials for what they have achieved in such a short period of time, especially with reference to their Eskom bill that was recently fully settled.

Eden DM Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen (left) and Executive Mayor of Kannaland, Cllr Magdalene Barry during the session held in Ladismith.

Furthermore Mayor Booysen requests municipalities to ensure that when they attend the Conference, they be fully prepared with their product offerings. “We will require all municipalities to provide information on what their area can offer to investors by showcasing specific offerings.”

The sessions will be finalised during the second week of February.

Eden District Municipality ready for the Skills Summit

Theme – “Bridging the Skills Gap for Investment and Economic Growth”

Eden District Municipality, in collaboration with Western Cape Government (the Office of the Premier), South Cape Economic Partnership (SCEP) and B-Municipalities in the district, will be hosting an Eden District Skills Summit.  The Summit will take place as follows:

Date: 1 February 2018
Time: 08:00 for 9:00
Venue:  George City Hall, (York Street, George)

Background and purpose of the Skills Summit

South Africa is currently challenged with a slow growing economy, which has had a direct effect on job creation, especially for the youth. The disastrous fires that raged through the Knysna and Bitou Municipal areas during 2017, further complicated this challenge.

Consequently the Eden District Skills Summit has been scheduled to identify and address the shortage of skills.  The Premier of the Western Cape, Ms Helen Zille, will deliver the keynote address with much emphasis on the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative (GRII) which has to date, played a major role in reversing the effects that the June 2017 fires had on the region. Delegates from Municipalities in the Eden district will attend the event, they include: Executive Mayors, Councillors and Senior Management, academic institutions and various other key partners.

The Garden Route Investment Conference (GRIC) will follow soon after the Skills Summit and is scheduled to take place on 8 and 9 March.  The aim of the GRIC is to attract national and international investors by showcasing the investment potential and opportunities that the region offers.  Skills development plays a key role with regards to Investment and the information gathered at the Skills Summit will form part of the discussions at the GRIC.

Eden DM Firefighters attending the 2017 SAESI Conference

Six (6) Firefighters and one EMS officer, have been given the opportunity to travel to Johannesburg to attend South African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) training and competition from 30 October – 3 November 2017.

Representatives currently at SAESI include Mr Lushiano James, Mr Hein Leslie, Mr Branwille Abrahams, Mr Kirwin Gericke, Mr Emile Conrad, Deon Madekane and Mr Jetro Jacobs.

The focus of the past two days of training was on vehicle extrication. Today Firefighters will compete in a vehicle extrication and Firefighter Combat Challenge until 3 November 2017.

Mr Clive Africa, Executive Manager: Community Services, explains: “The training is essential for firefighters because of the intricacy and technical aspects related to vehicle extrication. Firefighters have to be careful in their approach to similar emergency situations. I also think that with the holiday season coming up, we will be more than ready for any possible emergency.”

Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen extended a word of encouragement to representatives by saying: “Eden DM Council wishes the representatives all the best for the challenge tomorrow – they will make us proud – as always”.

OR Tambo District Municipality visits Eden DM to share best practices

Delegates from the OR Tambo District Municipality (OR Tambo), which is situated in the Eastern Cape, with its head-office based in Umtata, visited Eden District Municipality (EDM), on a study tour to experience the EDM Induction programme. This came after OR Tambo delegates who were also present at the Institution of Municipal People Practitioners of Southern Africa (IMPSA) conference, where Ms Trix Holtzhausen, Eden DM Executive Manager: Corporate-/Strategic Services, presented a best practices presentation about inductions at Eden DM.

Delegates, Ms Zuzile Beje: Human Resources Manager (Left), Mr Thembile Vacu: Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) (right) and Ms Tandeka Bangani: Learning and Skills Development Officer (middle), from OR Tambo DM, during a robust debate at the induction session.

The monthly induction programme at Eden DM took place on 7 and 8 September 2017 and was facilitated by Ms Angeline Naidoo, Eden DM Human Resources Practitioner. During this induction, Ms Holtzhausen extended a warm welcome to the delegates, and wished them well in the implementation of their induction programme. “Eden DM Council, management and employees, are very pleased and delighted to host you in our district. It is good to share best practices with colleagues, which will be of benefit to the communities at large.”

The group of District Municipal employees from Eden and OR Tambo who attended the two-day Induction session hosted by Eden DM.

Ms Holtzhausen concluded that, “we would like to extend a word of gratitude towards OR Tambo DM for visiting Eden DM – employees will be empowered with knowledge and be given a chance to better understand the municipal environment”.

The group of District Municipal employees from Eden and OR Tambo who attended the two-day Induction session hosted by Eden DM.