Overstrand Law Enforcement and Task Team recently conducted various operations in and around the Overstrand to clear away bedding and other possessions belonging to homeless people from parks, cliffs along the coastline and in the mountain.

They also remove homeless people almost on a daily basis from parks, but the homeless people sleeping in parks or on streets find their way back to the same areas as they do not have anywhere to go.

Law Enforcement officers also patrol the cliff paths on regular intervals to maintain visibility.

Assistant chief: law enforcement and task team, Johan du Toit, advised residents to report vagrants sleeping in open areas on 028 313 8980.

Alternatively phone Overstrand’s control room on 028 313 8000/8111.

A group of 43 municipal officials received certificates for attending a 5-day peace officer training course during February.

This course is an outreach program of the Municipality’s Protection Services Directorate, in conjunction with the Western Cape Department of Community Safety, to improve the knowledge and understanding of the role and functions of a Peace Officer. The invitation was also extended to colleagues from Infrastructure and Planning and Community Services Directorates.

Pictured with the successful candidates who completed the peace officer training course at their certification ceremony at the Thusong Centre were Zingani Tshefu (OM Regional Inspector), Ghaironesa Abdol (WC Department of Community Safety), Joan Bailey (WC Department of Community Safety),

The much anticipated 2019 EWASA Championship Endurance Walk was hosted for the first time in Gansbaai  over the weekend on 7 and 8 March 2019.

More than 30 teams from police departments across the country took part in this two-day 75km endurance walk. On the first day, participants walked 40km and the second day they walk 35km. Participating SAPS teams were joined by school teams such as Laerskool Okkie Smuts from Stanford and Towerkop Primêr from Ladysmith.

Various activities included static displays by Special Forces and sporting events such as soccer and netball. Visitors were entertained by die police band and salls from the area provided mouth-watering snacks and meals.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony at Gansbaai Academia.

Overstrand Executive Mayor Dudley Coetzee said it was an honour that the Overstrand, and Gansbaai specifically, was chosen to host this event.  “Even more so since I believe it is the first time another venue was considered, other than Mossel Bay where it’s been held for the past 20 years.”

A capacity building workshop was held in Gordon’s Bay on 22 February 2019 to improve municipal understanding and benefits of the Blue Flag beach programme.

The workshop was well attended with much interest shown by municipal representatives from Overstrand, Mossel Bay, Cape Town, Malmesbury (Yzerfontein) and Agulhas.

Blue Flag status is a well-respected international award, ensuring that each Blue Flag beach is not only beautiful and safe but also environmentally friendly, socially responsible and have accessible facilities for the disabled.

The workshop included an overview of Blue Flag Structure and Policy, Blue Flag Criteria and Application, Annual inspections: compliances and non-compliances, Blue Flag pilot programmes and Tourism Blue Flag projects.

In South Africa, the Blue Flag programme is managed by WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) since 2001 and the programme offers many benefits: Improved tourism facilities, enhanced management of coastal ecosystems, educational awareness programmes and excellent water-quality standards and facilities.