Category: General

Western Cape Disaster Management Centre wins Silver at Batho Pele Awards

The Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) was awarded Silver, in the category of Best Responsive Government Institution of the Year 2021/2022, at the 77th Annual Batho Pele Excellence Awards.

Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said the Award and recognition is well deserved. “The Disaster Management team, as part of the Department of Local Government, has proven itself to be invaluable to the Western Cape Province. The work it does every year with wildfires is of an international standard, and it sets the standard in South Africa, with a track record of extinguishing 90% of reported fires within the first hour after it is reported.”

Bredell said the Disaster Management Centre also played a crucial role in the province’s strategy relating to the drought in 2017/18, and now with the COVID-19 Pandemic. “The Disaster Management Centre has the skills and resources to act very quickly, and of equal importance is its ability to coordinate and get positive collaboration between a diverse range of stakeholders,” Bredell said.

The Head for the Department of Local Government, Mr Graham Paulse described the Award as a remarkable win for local government and the communities it serves. Paulse said this recognition is symbolic of the strength of the Disaster Management team and its commitment. “This win recognises the efficiencies of the Disaster Management Centre and the impact it has made on the lives of so many. It acknowledges the impact made through local government and embodies what it means to put people first”.

“This can be seen in the outstanding efforts and state of readiness required to manage the COVID-19 Pandemic. As demonstrated through the Centre’s ability to manage the intricacies involved in the logistical coordination and institutional structures that served as a conduit for an integrated approach, pulling resources and stakeholders together to ultimately coordinate an effective response and recovery to the pandemic,” he said.

Colin Deiner, Head of the PDMC said the Award is a justified recognition for the entire team’s hard work and dedication. “We spend a lot of time planning how to deal with potential situations, so that we can act fast and in coordinated fashion when bad things happen”.

Deiner said the PDMC is known for its wildfire coordination role, but it is involved in a very diverse range of activities. “Right now, we are assisting the Department of Agriculture to coordinate a Provincial Government response to the locust outbreak.” Deiner said the core strength of the PDMC is its ability to create relationships and leverage resources through collaboration from private sector and public sector role players. “We are simply stronger if we all work together,” he said.

Source: Government of South Africa

Four tree species have been added to the list of Protected Trees in South Africa

The updated annual list of all tree species which are protected in terms of the National Forests Act was published by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, in Government Gazette 46094 (Notice No. 1935) on 25 March 2022.

The four species added to the list are the Red and Pink Ivory (Berchemia zeyheri), the Jackal Berry (Diospyros mespiliformis), Manketti (Schinziophyton rautanenii) and the Umtiza (Umtiza listeriana).

The consequence of declaring a tree, species of trees or a particular group of trees, or a particular woodland as protected in terms of the National Forests Act, means that no person may:

Cut, disturb, damage or destroy any protected tree, or

Possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any protected tree, or any forest product derived from a protected tree,

Except –

Under a licence granted by the Minister, or

In terms of an exemption from the provisions if approved by the Minister on the advice of the Council

A person who contravenes the prohibitions is considered to have committed a first category offence, and may be convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment, or imprisonment and a fine to be determined by the court.

Source: Government of South Africa

NGCOBO – Vispol members continue to embark on operations which seeks to fight any form of criminal activities in the District.

Members were conducting their daily routine duties, patrolling along Clarkebury area, when the received information about a suspect who is in possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Members operationalised the information and the suspect was traced. A search led to the recovery of a firearm and eight live rounds of ammunition. The suspect could not to produce a valid license for the firearm.

A case of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition was opened and the suspect will appear before Ngcobo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 28 March 2022.

The Acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Zuziwe Magqashela, commended members for their vigilance.

Source: South African Police Service