Fltr: Bitou Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen, Knysna Executive Mayor, Georlene Wolmarans (sitting), Eden Executive Mayor, Cllr Wessie Van der Westhuizen and Mr Drikus Jacobs, Managing Director of Aurecon (George office) busy signing the service level agreement at the launch.

The local Knysna- and Bitou municipalities within the Eden region recently experienced the worst drought in over hundred years. This resulted in severe water restrictions being implemented in these municipalities.

The drought necessitated the considering of cross-boundary projects as identified in Eden’s Regional Bulk Water Masterplan.  The regional integration of bulk water supplies of the two municipalities was subsequently, in collaboration with the two municipalities, identified as a key project requiring implementation.

As part of 2013 Earth Day celebrations, 2 732 WONDERBAGS have been handed over to the Eden District Municipality to the value of R400 000 for distribution to our vulnerable communities in the district as a joint Provincial and Municipal Climate Change Adaptation Initiative. This initiative kicked off on 21 April 2013 in Touwsranten where 200 Wonderbags were distributed after Vernon Gibbs-Halls of the Eden Municipal Environmental Management Unit demonstrated how this unique cooking bag is to be used.

Excited residents of Touwsranten with the Wonderbags they received.

A Wonderbag is an insulated bag in which people can cook anything from meaty stews or vegetable curries to simple rice and soups. You heat up your pot of food on the stove, kick-starting the cooking process, and then place it in the Wonderbag. 

Eden Environmental Officer, Vernon Gibbs-Halls and residents of Zoar and Van Wyksdorp during the handover ceremony in the greater kannaland area.

The Wonderbag's clever insulating properties allow food that has been brought to the boil to finish cooking while in the bag without the use of additional energy.  Therefore, families can now cook appetising hot meals, while saving energy - and money. It also means less time spending cooking food, time can be better spent looking after children, earning an income or doing essential chores.

Head: Stakeholder Relations and CSI of Santam, Mr John Lomberg (front left) and Eden Municipal Manager, Mr Godfrey Louw, signs the Service Level Agreement with (fltr back) Eden’s Portfolio Councillor, John Maxim, Executive Mayor, Wessie van der Westhuizen, Executive Deputy Mayor, Councillor Lionel Esau, Portfolio Councillors, Sharon May and Henry McCombi, as well as Eden’s Executive Manager: Management Services, Mr Clive Africa, at the back.

The Eden District Municipality, was identified by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) as one of the municipalities to receive a donation of fire equipment through the “business adopt a municipality” (BAAM) initiative.  

Santam donated the fire equipment which Mr John Lomberg, Santam’s Head: Stakeholder Relations and CSI officially handed over to the municipality on Tuesday, 23 April 2013 at the Eden Fire Service Station.

According to Head of National Disaster Management, Mr Ken Terry, the BAAM project was initiated by Department of Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in 2010 and, at the event, said:  “Santam was one of the companies that attended the consultation sessions with the private sector and State Owned Entities (SOE’s) in 2010 to communicate the need for their participation in issues of Local Government.”