13 long-serving employees of Overstrand received recognition at the Council meeting held on Wednesday, 31 October 2018.

Topping the list was Louise van Eeden from the Kleinmond Administration. She has provided 30 years’ distinguished service to the municipality.

Eliza Pharo (Hermanus Administration ) was awarded a long service certificate for 25 years of service and Christo Hendricks (Hermanus Administration) as well as Hilton Hull (Kleinmond Administration) was recognised for 20 years.

Handing over the certificates, Overstrand Executive Mayor Dudley Coetzee said the Council appreciates the work done by these dedicated employees and thanked them for long and outstanding service to the municipality.

During a Council meeting held on Wednesday 31 October 2018 in Hermanus’ banqueting hall, Executive Mayor Ald Dudley Coetzee addressed Council on EMERGENCY HOUSING AND LAND-INVASION.

The Mayor’s speech, is published below:

On 31 May 2018, I reported the initiative to provide emergency housing in the Overstrand, to council. Subsequently I also approved the criteria for potential beneficiaries to participate in the emergency housing initiatives.

The progress to date is as follows:

Residents of Zwelihle met the Executive Mayor on Monday, 29 October 2018, as part of his “meet and greet walkabouts” initiatives.

The Executive Mayor accompanied by Cllrs Elnora Gillion, Cllr, Andrew Komani and Cllr Lindile Ntsabo engaged with residents of Zwelihle and listened to different groups within the community. Mayor’s first brief was in front of the old police station recently burned down and thereafter; proceeded to Siyazama elderly home.

Elderly people had an opportunity to talk to the mayor and expressed concerns regarding recent problems in the community we would like to see the municipality visiting our area continuing. As elderly, this is a crucial time for us and we appreciate any visit by the municipality especially the Executive Mayor”, expressed concerned elderly.

Overstrand Municipal officials ‘listened’ in quiet wonder to Leigh McDonald-Dyers’s inspiring address to make all hearing South Africans aware of - or at least sensitive to - the needs of people who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Deaf people normally communicate by lip reading or sign language but “Deaf people love technology” and it became a game-changer as modern day resources assist them to communicate with others.

“Being deaf is not a disability but rather a unique culture and something that adds diversity to our country.  I want you to learn how to communicate with us,” Leigh said via sign language interpreter Dimakatso Motimele.

These two ladies are working for eDEAF (acronym for Employ and Empower Deaf), a company that aims to empower the deaf community to be business ready.

They shared some interesting fundamental facts about deafness and sign-language, and the following tips might be helpful: