A total of 75 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) beneficiaries received certificates of recognition for the successful completion of work on various EPWP projects at the Overstrand Municipality for the past year.

The certificate ceremony took place at the Municipal Auditorium in Hermanus on Friday, 2 August 2019.

The participants range from 18 and older in age and come from all over the Overstrand.

The EPWP is intended to alleviate poverty by providing temporary workers with a step-up through access to opportunities to earn money. During this time, beneficiaries also receive skills training and on-the-job experience to put them into a better position to become employed full-time.

The beneficiaries are aware that being part of the EPWP does not mean they are entitled to jobs.

They had to apply when vacancies arose, and those who were shortlisted, had to go for interviews.

As part of the 12-month programme, EPWP participants working in the Community Fire Protection Project are given training in Fire Fighter 1, Hazmat Awareness and First Aid level 3. This is the minimum requirement to qualify to become a fire fighter.

Additional skills development includes Rope Rescue, Fire and Life Safety Educator to educate the public and Major Incident Medical Management System.

Overstrand’s Executive Mayor, Dudley Coetzee was joined by conservation managers, volunteers, academics and landowners to celebrate the opening of the 41st Fynbos Forum conference in Baardskeerdersbos from 5 – 8 August 2019.

During this annual event, experts in the Fynbos sector come together to share and exchange ideas, knowledge and progress in all the latest Fynbos connected fields.

The programme offered panel discussions, fieldtrips and a series of talks reflecting the conference theme (Eliminate barriers to conservation) – including topics on Insect Conservation in the Fynbos, Re-imagining conservation in the African Anthropocene and Renosterveld under siege: securing and managing one of the World’s most threatened ecosystem.

At the official opening of the revamped Good Hope Early Learning Centre in Masakhane in mid-July, Overstrand's Executive Mayor Dudley Coetzee was treated to a hearty welcome by around 94 pre-schoolers and 12 enthused staff members who were overjoyed at being afforded a special place where the foundation for development during a child’s early development years can be laid.

The centre is based at the old primary school in Masakhane, a neighbourhood of Gansbaai, and has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2013.

Back then, local resident Lingiswa Nyandeni started the centre - which she called ‘Good Hope’ - in the back streets of Masakhane. At the time, Lingiswa cared for 15 young children in her own informal dwelling.

Not too long thereafter, the community, Overstrand Municipality, Flower Valley Conservation Trust’s early childhood development (ECD) programme and the Western Cape Department of Social Development joined hands with Lingiswa.

01 August 2019 - 31 July 2020

Chapters 4 and 5 of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998)

Overstrand Municipality hereby notifies Interested and Affected Parties of the intention to burn ageing and overgrown vegetation in Overstrand area as indicated in table 1.

In an effort to reduce the impact of veld fires, Overstrand Fire and Disaster Management in cooperation with Overstrand Environmental Services, embark on a program to reduce fuels loads (aged /overgrown vegetation) with the aim of better managing out of control veld fires and stimulating natural growth succession.