8 February 2024
on 8 February 2024, Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape hosted a group of senior executives from the Bavarian Government, Germany. The delegation explored various aspects of governance, sustainability, engineering, and environmental conservation. This visit formed part of the group’s management development programme, headed up by Dr Peer Frieß.
The day kicked off in the Council Chambers at the Civic Centre in Paarl with a welcome message by Dr Johan Leibbrandt, City Manager at Drakenstein Municipality, and an introduction to the day’s proceedings by Cheryl Phillips, Senior Manager: Economic Development and Tourism.
Insights into good governance and financial sustainability were shared by Bradley Brown, Chief Financial Officer, while Cindy Winter, Manager: Environmental Management, gave an overview of Drakenstein Municipality's decade-long Climate Change Partnership with the City of Neumarkt, Germany. Louis Pienaar, Executive Director: Engineering Services, shared details of the Municipality’s sustainability successes in the energy and engineering space.
The day’s programme continued with a series of informative visits:
The Bavarian group visited the Paarl Arboretum Climate Smart Park, featuring a green classroom (made from recycled material) that serves as an environmental education centre. This project is one of numerous stemming from the Municipality and the City of Neumarkt’s Climate Change Partnership, which focuses on climate change, fair trade, and environmental education.
Next up was an introduction to Drakenstein Municipality’s award-winning Leliefontein Pump-As-Turbine (PAT) Station, deemed the first of its kind in South Africa, and named the CESA (Consulting Engineers South Africa) National Winner 2019. Leliefontein uniquely uses the same set of pumps to pump water and generate electricity by reversing flow through the pumps. The Leliefontein project is a perfect example of how municipalities can use low-cost, off-the-shelf equipment – such as centrifugal pumps and induction motors – to generate clean power using potential energy in their existing infrastructure.
The delegation also spent time at the Mbekweni Eco Club, a non-profit, public benefit organisation that fosters sustainable development and environmental stewardship in Mbekweni. Here, they met the club’s founders, Vincent Nteta and Phiwe Mtwebana (watch a previous interview here). The Club raises awareness about environmental issues and empowers local learners to become stewards of their surroundings.
The delegation then savoured the different flavours and tastes of South Africa's unique fynbos at the South African Fynbos® Farm outside Wellington. Motivated by a passion for the history, values and applications of these indigenous herbs, owner Giselle Courtney founded the South African Fynbos brand and aims to put these unique flavours on the world's culinary map. The group enjoyed an elegant and entertaining fynbos-tasting experience, promoting its use in the kitchen and the medicine cabinet.
Reflecting on the visit, Dr Dirk Brand, former Director: International Relations at the Western Cape Government and former representative of the Bavarian State Chancellery, expressed his appreciation for the enriching experience.
“This study tour has strengthened the ties between Drakenstein and Bavaria, fostering a deeper understanding of shared goals and sustainable practices,” he said.
For more information on Drakenstein Municipality, view this video.
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Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
