Author: Chantel Edwards

Dear fellow citizens,
I can hardly believe that the festive season is upon us already, yes, we have reached the end of yet another year! It
is in this spirit that I want to take a moment to usher in the festive season ahead of us.

As we celebrate the upcoming season, I am reminded of the many accomplishments and milestones we achieved, but
also the tragedy that we experienced earlier this year. The Victoria Street Building collapse was a devastating event that brought our community
to a standstill, our thoughts and prayers are still with the survivors and families who were directly affected. I want to extend my deepest
condolences to those who will be celebrating the festive season with a void left by a loved one who sadly perished in
this tragedy. Please know that we are thinking of you during this time. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude
to our residents for their unwavering support and resilience in the face of adversity. As a community, we came together
to do our part to help wherever we could, and I am forever grateful for the outpouring of kindness and compassion
that defined our response.

As we celebrate the joy and spirit of the season, I would like to extend a warm welcome to each and every visitor who
will be joining us in our beautiful region. I encourage you to take in the ocean, the lush greenery and all that George has
to offer – naturally. To residents and visitors alike, I implore you to adhere to the protocols that we have put in place to
ensure the safety of all. Be safe.

As a municipality, we are committed to maintaining our high standards of service delivery throughout the festive
season. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our services are not disrupted, and I am excited to
announce that we will be hosting Lights Festivals in various parts of the municipal area, including George, Uniondale,
and Haarlem to bring the festive spirit to all our residents.

To our Christian residents and visitors, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas as you observe the birth of
our Lord and Saviour. To each and all, I wish a blessed and safe festive season!

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Geagte medeburgers,
Ek kan skaars glo dat die feestyd reeds op hande is, ja, ons het die einde van nog ‘n jaar bereik!
Dit is in hierdie gees dat ek ‘n oomblik wil neem om die feestyd wat vir ons voorlê in te lui.
Terwyl ons die komende seisoen vier, word ek herinner aan die vele prestasies en mylpale wat
ons behaal het, maar ook die tragedie wat ons vroeër vanjaar beleef het.

Die Victoriastraatgebou ineenstorting was ‘n verwoestende gebeurtenis wat ons gemeenskap tot stilstand gebring het, ons gedagtes en
gebede is steeds by die oorlewendes en families wat direk geraak is. Ek wil my innige meegevoel betuig aan diegene
wat die feestyd gaan vier met ‘n leemte wat gelaat is deur ‘n geliefde wat ongelukkig in hierdie tragedie omgekom het.
Weet asseblief dat ons in hierdie tyd aan julle dink.

Ek wil ook my hartlike dank uitspreek teenoor ons inwoners vir hul onwrikbare ondersteuning en deursettingsvermoë te
midde van teëspoed. As ‘n gemeenskap het ons saamgekom om ons deel te doen om te help waar ons ook al kon, ek is
ewig dankbaar vir die oorweldigende bedagsaamheid en deernis wat ons reaksie bepaal het.

Terwyl ons die vreugde en gees van die seisoen vier, wil ek graag elke besoeker wat by ons in ons pragtige streek gaan
aansluit, hartlik verwelkom. Ek moedig u aan om die see, die welige groenigheid en alles wat George bied, in te neem
– natuurlik. Aan inwoners sowel as besoekers, ek doen ‘n beroep op u om te voldoen aan die protokolle wat ons
ingestel het om die veiligheid van almal te verseker. Wees veilig.

As ‘n munisipaliteit is ons daartoe verbind om ons hoë standaarde van dienslewering regdeur die feesseisoen te
handhaaf. Ons sal voortgaan om onverpoosd te werk om te verseker dat ons dienste nie ontwrig word nie, en ek is
opgewonde om aan te kondig dat ons liggiefeeste in verskeie dele van die munisipale gebied, insluitend George,
Uniondale en Haarlem gaan aanbied om die feesgees na al ons inwoners te bring.

Aan ons Christen-inwoners en besoekers wil ek julle almal ‘n baie Geseënde Kersfees toewens terwyl julle die geboorte
van ons Here en Verlosser waarneem. Aan ieder en elk wens ek ‘n geseënde en veilige feestyd toe!

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Bemi abathandekayo,
Andikholelwa ukuba sele lifikile ixesha leholide zehlobo, ewe, sele sifikelele esiphelweni somnye unyaka. Kungalo
moya ndifuna ukuthabatha umzuzwana ndiningenise kwixesha leholide zehlobo eziphambi kwethu.
Njengoko sibhiyozela ixesha leholide zehlobo ezizayo, ndikhunjuzwa ngezinto ezininzi esizifezileyo kunye neziganeko
ezibalulekileyo esizizuzileyo, noko kunjalo, ndikwakhumbula nentlekele esiye sadibana nayo ekuqaleni
kwalo nyaka. Ukuwa kwesakhiwo sesitalato i-Victoria yaba sisiganeko esixhel’ umphefumlo esiye samisa ngxi uluntu
lwethu, iingcinga nemithandazo yethu isekunye nabasindileyo kunye neentsapho ezichaphazeleke ngokuthe ngqo.
Ndifuna ukudlulisa amazwi ovelwano olukhulu kwabo bazakube bebhiyozela ixesha leziyunguma ngesikhewu esishiywe
ngumntu omthandayo obhubhele ngokulusizi kule ntlekele.

Nceda uyazi ukuba sicinga ngawe ngeli xesha. Ndikwathanda ukuvakalisa umbulelo ongazenzisiyo kubahlali
bethu ngenkxaso yabo engagungqiyo kunye nokunyamezela kwabo ngexesha lobunzima. Siluluntu, sadibana
ukuze senze indima yethu ukunceda naphina apho sinakho kwaye ndihlala ndinombulelo ngokuthululwa kobubele
kunye novelwano oluchaze indlela esayisingatha ngayo lentlekele.

Njengoko sibhiyozela ulonwabo kunye nomoya welixesha lonyaka, ndingathanda ukwamkela ngokufudumeleyo wonke
umtyeleli ozakube ekunye nathi kwingingqi yethu entle. Ndiyakukhuthaza ukuba uthathe ulwandle, uhlaza oluchumileyo
kunye nayo yonke into eyenziwayo eGeorge – ngokwemvelo.

Kubahlali kunye neendwendwe ngokufanayo, ndiyanibongoza ukuba nibambelele kwimithetho ebekiweyo
ukuqinisekisa ukhuseleko lomntu wonke. Yiba ngokhuselekileyo. Njengomasipala, sizimisele ukugcina imigangatho yethu
ephezulu yonikezelo lweenkonzo ngexesha leeholide. Siza kuqhubeka sisebenza ngokuzimisela ukuqinisekisa ukuba
iinkonzo zethu aziphazamiseki, kwaye ndinochulumanco ukwazisa ukuba siza kubamba iminyhadala yokukhanyiswa
kwezibane kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zikamasipala, kuquka iGeorge, iUniondale, neHaarlem ukuzisa umoya wolonwabo
kubo bonke abahlali bethu. Kubahlali bethu abangamaKristu kunye neendwendwe, ndingathanda
ukuninqwenelela iKrisimesi emyoli kakhulu njengoko niqwalasela ukuzalwa kweNkosi noMsindisi wethu.

Kumntu ngamnye kubo bonke, ndininqwenelela ixesha leeholide
elisikelelekileyo nelikhuselekileyo!

George Municipality acknowledges community concerns regarding the Garden Route Dam following recent filming activities. We urge residents to review the detailed information below and allow the cleanup and restoration process to conclude as planned. Claims that no cleanup has taken place are incorrect. No indigenous vegetation removal has taken place, and the Municipality confirms again that existing trails were used for access (construction, operation as well as decommissioning).

The production team, led by Red Pepper Productions and its CEO Cecil Barry—a self-professed environmentalist —has undertaken this project with a strong commitment to environmental responsibility. It is important to note that heavy rains prior to filming brought flotsam, jetsam, and litter into the dam several times. The production team actively cleaned these materials throughout the preproduction, filming, and postproduction phases. Currently, local workers remain on site to assist with further cleanup efforts around the construction areas, contributing to both environmental care and local economic development.

The rafts used during filming were made with white plastic floaters. After filming ended, 13 floaters were initially reported missing following a count. In response, the production team hired a service provider who used an electric boat to thoroughly search the full dam perimeter. All 13 floaters were successfully retrieved, along with residual wood chips, logs linked to filming activities. This process also resulted in the collection and proper disposal of three black bags of litter collected which was not generated by the production crew.

In addition, a George-based small business specializing in vegetation management was engaged to address black wattle infestations around the filming site. The contractor, an expert in indigenous and non-indigenous plant species, has ensured that this work enhances the ecological balance of the area. Further wattle removal and rehabilitation, including the planting of indigenous vegetation, will be carried out in the relevant areas utilized for the production..

George Municipality and Red Pepper Productions understand the environmental significance of the Garden Route Dam as a vital community resource. Both parties remain committed to preserving and restoring this natural gem.

The municipality is, however, concerned about uninformed criticism directed at both the production company and the municipality. Filming activities, along with the ongoing cleanup efforts, demonstrate a continued commitment to meeting the strict environmental conditions outlined in the permits, which include monitoring by a professional environmental practitioner. These conditions were fully adhered to before, during, and after filming.

We respectfully request the public’s patience while the planned cleanup and restoration efforts are completed. It is worth noting that constructing the filming infrastructure took over three months, and a thorough cleanup cannot be accomplished in a single day. George Municipality will conduct a final inspection to ensure compliance with all environmental standards before declaring the project complete.

Further updates will be provided as progress continues.

According to a joint announcement by the Western Cape MEC of Mobility, Isaac Sileku, and George Executive Mayor, Alderman Jackie von Brandis, another bus route to Thembalethu will be activated by GO GEORGE on Monday 28 October 2024.

Route 10 Thembalethu – George Industria will be the second route servicing the residents of Thembalethu. R18A rolled out in November last year and connects Thembalethu with Blanco.

According to Minister Sileku, the GO GEORGE network is typical of what can be achieved in public transport development if all partners work together. “I am looking forward to experience the new line and to meet some of the commuters who will benefit from even better public transport opportunities,” he said.

Mayor Von Brandis expressed her delight at this next step in rolling out a comprehensive service to Thembalethu. “The full implementation of the GO GEORGE bus services to our residents of Thembalethu has always been a top priority. It is essential that our residents have access to dignified and reliable transportation in all areas. Although the implementation of the bus services was temporarily hindered by the congestion caused by the N2 bridge construction, residents can be assured that we are fully committed to ensuring that the bus service is operational and available to all who intend to use it,” she said.

Route 10 will start out with a temporary deviation from the planned routing to accommodate roadworks in PW Botha Boulevard. Maps and timetables have been adjusted accordingly and are available on the GO GEORGE website.

Community engagement
The GO GEORGE communications team members are engaging with Thembalethu residents working in the industrial area, explaining the new route to current and future bus users. Any businesses in this area, who would like the team to visit their staff to share route information are welcome to phone the Call Centre with such a request.

The GO GEORGE website, www.gogeorge.org.za, offers valuable information on how to use the system as well as user-friendly features to plan a trip. Contact GO GEORGE by phoning the Call Centre on 0800 044 044 or sending an email to info@gogeorge.org.za, or like the GO GEORGE Facebook page to stay up to date with developments.

GO GEORGE ROL TWEEDE ROETE NA THEMBALETHU UIT

Volgens ‘n gesamentlike aankondiging deur die Wes-Kaapse LUR vir mobiliteit, Isaac Sileku, en George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Jackie von Brandis, sal nog ‘n busroete na Thembalethu op Maandag 28 Oktober 2024 deur GO GEORGE geaktiveer word.

Roete 10 Thembalethu – George Industria sal die tweede roete wees wat die inwoners van Thembalethu bedien. R18A is in November verlede jaar uitgerol en verbind Thembalethu met Blanco.

Volgens minister Sileku is die GO GEORGE-netwerk tipies van wat bereik kan word in die ontwikkeling van openbare vervoer as alle vennote saamwerk. “Ek sien uit daarna om die nuwe roete te ervaar en om van die pendelaars te ontmoet wat by nog beter openbarevervoergeleenthede sal baat,” het hy gesê.

Burgemeester Von Brandis het haar vreugde uitgespreek oor hierdie volgende stap in die bekendstelling van ‘n omvattende diens aan Thembalethu. “Die volle implementering van die GO GEORGE-busdienste aan ons inwoners van Thembalethu was nog altyd ‘n topprioriteit. Dit is noodsaaklik dat ons inwoners toegang het tot waardige en betroubare vervoer op alle gebiede. Hoewel die implementering van die busroetes tydelik belemmer is deur die opeenhoping wat deur die N2-brugkonstruksie veroorsaak is, kan inwoners verseker wees dat ons ten volle daartoe verbind is om te verseker dat die busdiens operasioneel en beskikbaar is vir almal wat van plan is om dit te gebruik,” het sy gesê.

Roete 10 sal begin met ‘n tydelike afwyking van die beplande roete om padwerke in PW Botha-boulevard te akkommodeer. Roetekaarte en skedules is dienooreenkomstig aangepas en is beskikbaar op die GO GEORGE-webwerf.

 Skakeling met gemeenskap
Die GO GEORGE-kommunikasiespanlede is in gesprek met Thembalethu-inwoners wat in die nywerheidsgebied werk en verduidelik die nuwe roete aan huidige en toekomstige busgebruikers. Enige besighede in hierdie area wat wil hê die span moet hul personeel besoek om roete-inligting te deel, is welkom om die inbelsentrum te skakel met so ‘n versoek.

Die GO GEORGE-webwerf, www.gogeorge.org.za, bied waardevolle inligting oor hoe om die stelsel te gebruik, sowel as gebruikersvriendelike funksies om ‘n reis te beplan. Kontak GO GEORGE deur die inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 te skakel of ‘n e-pos aan info@gogeorge.org.za te stuur, of volg die GO GEORGE Facebook-blad om op hoogte te bly van verwikkelinge.

Seven of George Municipality’s toughest are participating in the 9th TFA competition being held in Mossel Bay at De Bakke beach. Junior Firefighter Duarte Carolus and Frazier Pedro are competing in the Individual Challenges and the full team will participate in the Team Relay Saturday 28 September.

Background:
The TFA-SA is based on the international Toughest Firefighter Alive’ Challenge, the blue riband event of the World Firefighter Games (WFG). The WFG started in Auckland, New Zealand 1990 and is held in a different country every two years with the winner of the TFA Competition at the WFG being crowned the World’s Toughest Firefighter Alive, a very prestigious award.

The Firefighters for Excellence Foundation – SA exists to promote and encourage elite fitness amongst firefighters, acknowledging the critical role fitness and wellness plays within the firefighting profession, in ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities.

Individuals, municipalities, volunteer organizations, private firefighting companies, military firefighters are encouraged to support and partake in TFA-SA. The event provides the opportunity to collaborate and benchmark the South Africa’s firefighters whilst enhancing service delivery through fitter, stronger fire fighters, build community relations, motivate fire fighters and restore local and national pride in the fire services.

Seen here in their Team gear are from left Firefighter and Team Leader Nico Rossouw, Junior Firefighters Duarte Carolus, Frasier Pedro, Shawn Platt, Regan Van Beulen and Firefighter Denzil Muller. Not in the photograph Junior Firefighter Thabiso Keketsi.