Clinton Lerm - Councillor - Overstrand Municipality

14/08/2025

Amazing 👏 Well Done to an amazing team showing true dedication to Overstrand residents

*Overstrand Municipality celebrates top spot in Waste Management Awards*

Overstrand Municipality has reaffirmed its place among the Western Cape’s top-performing municipalities by winning the 2024 Municipal Waste Management Recognition Programme.

This recognition highlights the municipality’s commitment to responsible and sustainable waste management - a notable achievement for the entire Waste Management Team and the Overstrand community.

The results were officially announced at the Western Cape Waste Managers Forum earlier today (14 August 2025).
This programme, led by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), assesses municipalities on their implementation of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act 59 of 2008).

The goal?

To encourage and to promote continuous improvement in waste management practices across the Western Cape.
Building on last year’s second-place finish, Overstrand’s win is proof that consistency, care, and commitment do pay off.

"We’re very proud of our Senior Engineer for Waste Management, Craig Mitchell, and the entire refuse collection and waste management teams for their hard work and dedication," said Overstrand Executive Mayor, Archie Klaas. "This recognition motivates us to continue raising the bar in protecting our environment."

The Mayor also extended his gratitude to the residents of Overstrand: "We want to thank our community for their ongoing efforts in recycling and composting - every small action helps reduce what we send to landfill."

Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this remarkable milestone!

Issued by:
Overstrand Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill

14/08/2025

WATER ALERT: Major pipeline burst - Use water sparingly

A burst has occurred on the bulk water pipeline from the treatment works, affecting water supply to Hermanus areas from Sandbaai to Voëlklip.

Reservoir levels are running low, and residents are urgently requested to use water sparingly.

The operational team is on site investigating the cause of the burst. At this stage, no estimated time for repairs is available.

Issued by:
Overstrand Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill

11/08/2025

PLEASE SHARE: The following below Notice has been given last week. Hermanus CBD weather permitting 12Aug or 13Aug as per the below notice. Upgrading of the low voltage network. 9h00 till 16h00. For enquiries contact 028 316 5627

07/08/2025

Ongoing improvements to Overstrand’s Water and Wastewater Works

To the west, the ± R55 million-upgrade of Kleinmond’s waste-water treatment works (situated on the R44) has been completed.

This project involved the refurbishment and upgrading of the existing plant which included the construction of a new aerobic reactor, conversion of the existing reactor to an anoxic basin and the installation of a mechanical screen and a screenings washer compactor. Along with various structural and process improvements, an access slab and new staff facilities were also added.

The plant now has a treatment capacity of two megalitres per day.

To the east, Pearly Beach’s water tower underwent a much-needed “facelift” to restore its structural integrity. Pearly Beach relies on both the Koekemoer and Pearly Beach Dams for its water supply, and the treatment plant was originally designed to handle a blend from both sources.

Other ongoing projects throughout Overstrand include the replacement of ageing water pipes, the development of boreholes and the installation of new disinfection systems, to mention but a few.

Issued by:
Overstrand Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill

06/08/2025

Interesting snippet

Overstrand Municipality has long since been lauded for the exemplary system it has in place to dispose of waste in a responsible, environmentally friendly manner.

The effectiveness of this system, though, is largely dependent on diverting as much waste as possible away from landfill sites by instilling a culture where recycling or reusing becomes second nature to Overstrand’s residents.

By way of illustration, thanks to the exemplarily cooperation of those residing in the Greater Gansbaai area alone, statistics for the period May 2024 to April 2025 show that 1 666 tons of builders’ rubble and soils, 175 tons of organic waste and 25 tons of recyclable materials are on average being diverted from the Gansbaai landfill site per month already.

Consequently, the general waste ending up at the landfill site for the same period could be limited to 1 234 tons on average per month.

If this practice of diverting around 60% of waste per month can be
maintained, the more likely it is that the operational lifetime of this landfill site can be extended to 2036.

In essence, adopting a culture of recycling and reusing hinges on two principles: caring and sharing.

Issued by:
Overstrand Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill

23/07/2025

28th or 29th July 2025. Upgrading of our electrical infrastructure network . Please look below as a few households are affected in the Voelklip suburb.

13/07/2025

Love positive community news such as this..

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A3m5DkkNu/

They call themselves the Hangklip Hardcore Hackers... and they’re proving that hope, purpose and a good coffee break can bring

11/07/2025

Well Done Gansbaai:

These seaside towns don’t just do seafood, they live it. And they serve it exactly how it should be: fresh, honest, and unforgettable.

06/07/2025

*MEDIA STATEMENT
Western Cape Disaster Management Centre: Severe Weather Update
Issued: 6 July 2025 | 16h00*

The Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre (WC: PDMC) continues to actively monitor the severe weather conditions that have affected parts of the province since 4 July 2025.

Weather & Response Update:
Light, scattered rainfall persists today across various regions. Disaster Management teams are continuing with mop-up operations and humanitarian aid in affected areas.

District & Departmental Highlights:
• City of Cape Town: Relief efforts remain ongoing. Collaboration with the Department of Social Development and various NGOs continues to support communities in need. Notably, Mustadafin Foundation is active in several areas, including Vygieskraal, where safety concerns have been reported. Law Enforcement has been alerted to assist where required.
• Overberg District: While no new incidents have been reported, teams remain deployed in Zwelihle. The R43 at Mount Pleasant has seen a significant drop in water levels, with clean-up efforts ongoing.
• Cape Winelands District: The Kannetvlei low water bridge remains closed. In Drakenstein, water levels have subsided and there are no evacuation needs at this time.
• Infrastructure & Roads:
Multiple roads remain closed across the Cape Winelands, West Coast, and Overberg districts due to flooding and high runoff volumes. Key updates include:
• Cape Winelands: DR1341, DR1397, and DR1398 remain closed.
• West Coast: MR215 and MR174 remain closed.
• Overberg: DR1257 and DR1276 are closed.
• In the City of Cape Town, key routes such as the Borchard’s Quarry off-ramp and lanes on the N1 Outbound at Old Oak have reopened.
• Humanitarian Relief: Relief efforts are coordinated by various organisations including the Red Cross, Community Chest, Mustadafin, Gift of the Givers, and RESPOND Coalition. Distribution of food packs, blankets, baby items, and sandbags is ongoing across high-impact areas including Philippi, Wallacedene, Khayelitsha, and Lwandle.
• Water & Sanitation: While no direct flooding from dams or rivers has been observed, rapid runoff and saturated ground continue to pose risks. The Theewaterskloof, Voëlvlei, Clanwilliam, and Berg River dams are all seeing rising levels. Enhanced monitoring is underway.

Closing Remarks:
Although weather conditions are beginning to stabilise, the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre remains on high alert and will continue to monitor all developments. This will be the final situation report for this weather event unless conditions change significantly.

Emergency Contacts:
For local assistance, please contact your district’s emergency services. Key numbers include:
• Cape Winelands: (021) 886 9244 / (021) 887 4446
• Central Karoo: (021) 449 8000
• Overberg: (028) 425 1690
• West Coast: (022) 495 0229 / (022) 495 0231
• City of Cape Town: 107 (Landline) / (021) 480 7700
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact: Wouter Kriel
Spokesperson for Minister Anton Bredell
Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
079 694 3085
[email protected]

06/07/2025

Current update: 6 July 2025 – 09:15am

The Department of Infrastructure urges road users to travel cautiously during rainy weather as visibility is impaired, and roads can become slippery. Please stay clear of any flooded roads and use alternative routes.

Cape Winelands District
⛔DR1341 (Die Plaat), Bonnievale, Km0.99 - 1,10: Road temporarily closed
⛔DR1397 (Merwe Street): Drift over Breede River at km7.9: Road closed
⛔DR1398 (Slanghoek Road): Low water structure over Breede River: Road closed

West Coast District
⛔ OP7623 (Bergrivier Municipality), Uitvlug: Road closed
⛔ MR539 Low water bridge, N7 to Algeria: Road closed
⛔ DR1176 Matjiesrivier: Road closed to traffic
⛔ MR174 between Malmesbury and Klipheuwel: Road closed
⛔ MR215 between Darling and R27 (Yzerfontein): Road closed

Overberg District
⛔DR1257 (Solitaire Road) between Tesselaarsdal and Hemel en Aarde: Road closed to traffic
⛔DR1276 (Dassiesfontein Road) between N2 and Caledon (back road): Road closed to traffic

The Department will continue monitoring the roads and will instate precautionary lane closures if necessary.

Issued by Mr Tertuis Simmers, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure

06/07/2025

6 July 2025: FLOODING STATUS UPDATE - Weather and Road Update - @ 08:30

The Overstrand Joint Operational Centre (JOC) remains operational, and no major incidents have been reported overnight from towns within the Overstrand area.

Early morning rain and hail have caused flooding in low-lying areas. There are ongoing calls for assistance from residents in Zwelihle, where teams are currently on the ground.

No power outages have been reported at this stage.

All major roads remain open, but there are rocks and mud on the road surface. Motorists are advised to avoid driving through moving or deep water.

Note that:

- The traffic lights on the R43 in Sandbaai, near the Engen garage, are not working. Please treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

- The R43 in Mount Pleasant/Alwyn Street, is flooded. Drivers are urged to slow down and proceed with caution.

The Kleinmond Day Camp is flooded, and we are closely monitoring conditions in Betty’s Bay, where mountain streams may lead to further problems.

Please continue to report any issues as they arise.

Updates will only be provided if there are significant changes in the situation.

For emergencies, please contact the Municipality:

028 312 2400 – Fire or flood emergencies
028 313 8111 – Municipal service emergencies (e.g. stormwater issues)
You can also log service requests via the Collab Citizen App. Zoom in to view green location markers for existing service requests. Click ‘Follow’ to receive updates and help avoid duplicate reports.

Stay safe. Stay alert.

Issued by:
Overstrand Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill

05/07/2025

5 July 2025: FLOODING UPDATE - ESKOM DIRECT SUPPLY CUSTOMERS @ 11:00

Eskom direct customers in Papiesvlei and the surrounding farms are currently experiencing a power outage.

The reference number for this outage is 969205140. Eskom has confirmed that the issue will be attended to as soon as a technician becomes available.

Residents are reminded that the municipality cannot log a fault on behalf of Eskom direct customers. If you are affected, please log a call via the Alfred chatbot on the Eskom website or app. The more individual reports Eskom receives, the easier it becomes to identify the source of the fault and determine the extent of the outage.

Please log a report via Eskom's online Alfred Chat Box on https://alfred.eskom.co.za/chatroom/

Issued by:
Overstrand Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill