On 20 and 21 November 2019, Overstrand Municipality will host a Thusong Mobile outreach programme at the Moffat Hall in Mount Pleasant from 08:00 - 15:00.

The programme aims to bring services closer to the people and Overstrand residents can get access to various government departments and services, including information on housing.

Here is your opportunity to do health tests and get some career guidance etc.

Community members can also ask about SASSA grants.

Looking ahead to a joyful December and smashing summer

As a holiday destination, Overstrand has no equal when it comes to enjoying nature at its best with loads of outdoor activities to suit anyone's fancy.

The Overstrand Municipality is exceptionally proud that four of its beaches - Grotto, Hawston, Kleinmond and Castle Beach (Pearly Beach) are among the 45 South African beaches that have been accredited this year to display the BLUE FLAG.

These beaches have earned Blue Flag status for the upcoming 2019/20 holiday season which opens officially on 1 December 2019.

The Municipality was further granted Pilot Blue Flag status for another one of its beaches, namely Onrus Beach.

Pilot beaches are not required to comply with all Blue Flag criteria yet, but must work towards meeting fundamental elements like water quality standards within a two year period to stand a chance to ultimately acquire full Blue Flag status.

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are a serious problem and they have spread rapidly in the Overstrand, impacting resident species diversity and ecosystem processes.

Without natural enemies, these plants reproduce and spread quickly, taking valuable water and space from our indigenous plants.

Many alien plants consume more water than local plants, depleting our valuable water resources.

Thick alien vegetation can also provide fuel for veldfires.

There are 559 alien species listed as weeds and invaders and another 560 species are listed as prohibited and may not be introduced into South Africa.

Below is a brief explanation of the four categories of Invasive Alien Plants as per the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983 (Act No.43 of 1983).

New designated areas or better known as ‘dog zones’ are set to be introduced early next year in the Overstrand for a trial period of six months.

Dog owners and those who do not like dogs so much, will welcome this initiative from the Executive Mayor Dudley Coetzee, who asked Nature’s Valley Conservation Trust to assist us with a pilot study on the impact of dogs on our various beaches.

Overstrand Municipality is to introduce three zones: red, yellow and green starting at beaches in Gansbaai (Pearly Beach), Grotto and Kleinmond (Main Beach).