Author: Chantel Edwards

The Transnet-Phelophepa Healthcare Train brings health and hope to citizens that are in need of access to health-care facilities and will be at the George Train Station from 19-23 April 2021, and for advanced cancer screenings from 26-30 April 2021.

The Healthcare Train helps thousands of rural South Africans annually in need of access to health-care facilities.

The Phelophepa Train services include a healthcare clinic, eyecare clinic, dental clinic, and a counselling and psychology clinic.

Free healthcare services offered include:
• Healthcare education
• A complete physical assessment
• Cancer treatments
• Pap smear
• Prostate cancer testing (PSA blood test).
Patients pay R5 for the entire script of medicines.

Eyecare clinic services include:
• Free eye tests
• Spectacles @ R30. The eye clinic does not issue bi-focal lenses.
• Eye drops @ R5.
Note: The eye clinic does not offer eye operations.

Counselling and psychology clinic services include:
• One-on-one sessions
• Workshops targeting schools, communities, workers, teachers
• Topics covered include leadership, drug and alcohol abuse, sexuality and tools to deal with physical and emotional abuse

Dental clinic
• Free screening and education
• Extract and cleaning of teeth @ R10

All the health services are free to children 15 years and younger. All services are offered on a first come, first served basis. Bring along your clinic card and child’s immunisation certificate.

The train opens at 08h00 and closes at 14h00. Each patient will be issued with a sticker upon their arrival. Patients are encouraged to come early.

Strict Covid protocols will be observed.

MORE ABOUT THE PHELOPHEPA HEALTHCARE TRAIN:

The Transnet-Phelophepa Healthcare Train – the world’s first primary healthcare hospital on wheels – uses the existing rail network in South Africa to make quality medical care an accessible reality for many of South Africa’s most remote communities.

This nineteen-coach train, with its twenty resident staff members, fondly known as the “miracle train”, carries the most modern medical equipment on board.

Phelophepa is indeed a journey of hope that continues to make a history of caring. The name ‘Phelophepa’ combines elements of Sotho and Tswana and, roughly translated, means ‘good, clean health’ – which is exactly what this travelling health clinic provides.

The first of our much-loved Phelophepa Health Trains started operating in 1994. The Phelophepa Health Train has shown incredible growth since its humble beginnings as a three-carriage eye clinic.

The train travels for 35 weeks each year visiting a different rural community every week or two weeks throughout eight provinces. The success of the Transnet-Phelophepa Healthcare Train, together with the increased demand for healthcare services set in motion plans for another train. That dream became a reality when the second train, Phelophepa II, began operation in March 2012.

Although the Transnet-Phelophepa Healthcare Trains can only be in an area for a limited time, the goal is to supplement and support existing facilities to make sure the residents can continue benefitting from quality healthcare once the train has departed. Education and empowerment that leave better equipped and informed communities in its tracks is a core value of the Phelophepa programme.

• Before the train rolls into town, teams are sent out to alert the community of the days the train will be delivering services. A comprehensive social mobilisation strategy is developed and implemented in collaboration with all of the local stakeholders in each community.
• Relationships are established with the existing healthcare providers so that patients can be referred and continue to receive the care they need.
• While the train is in the area, screening and healthcare education are the primary concerns. Nursing teams visit local schools to screen children for health-related problems and educate them about basic healthcare.

• Distributed on behalf of Phelophepa Healthcare Trains

George Municipality this week officially awarded burial blocks to local undertakers following recent extensions at its York Street Cemetery. The 18 000sqm new extension provides space for about 7500 graves which should be sufficient for at least seven years.

George Municipality Acting Director Allen Paulse said the York Street cemetery had been nearing capacity and had become urgent when deaths rapidly increased from 64 burials at municipal cemeteries in October 2020 to 94 in November 2020 and 176 in December 2020 – most of which were confirmed Covid-19 related deaths. “There had been historic uncertainty about the zoning for cemeteries adjacent to the current cemetery, which had subsequently been resolved and allowed us to clear land early in January 2021.

“We are grateful that the necessary groundworks could be done well before capacity had become a crisis. The remainder of burial sites on the old site will be the preferred site for Covid-19 burials, and the undertakers can commence with burials on the new site immediately.”

Mr Paulse said that in addition to the space cleared now, more suitable land was available on the York Street premises when required.

The George municipal area has four operational public cemeteries including York Street, Thembalethu, Touwsranten and Uniondale. The Thembalethu cemetery is currently at about 80 percent capacity with over 2800 burial spaces available and adjacent land available for clearing when required. Touwsranten cemetery is about 20 percent capacity with more than 880 available.

The Uniondale cemetery is nearing capacity with burial sites for about another three years. The municipality has identified possible suitable land and are currently investigating whether it meets the specific requirements for the establishment of a new cemetery.

Caption
George Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk (middle formal jacket) and local undertakers on the York Street extension where the official awarding of blocks took place this week.

Tourism stakeholders are invited attend George, Wilderness & Uniondale Tourism’s Membership Conference, Together, from 13 – 15 April 2021.

An incredible line up of speakers will be representing local and global brands.  Gain market insights from ATTA, Expedia, South African Tourism, Wesgro, Thompsons and more.  This isn’t just a list of YouTube videos to watch later – these world class speakers have prepared insights specifically to help us, in our setting.  These talks have been tailored for our audience.

Set aside 2 hours per day to add value to your business and get more connected to your tourism peers.  While the conference is virtual, it’s still interactive.  We’ll be providing opportunities for you to ask and answer questions and more.

Each day has a limited number of participants, so register now to reserve your spot!

13 – 15 April 2021 from 11:00 to 13:00 daily

RSVP here

The final phase of major extensions and upgrades at the Outeniqua Wastewater Treatment Works (OWwTW) in Pacaltsdorp is underway.

The civil works for the project was completed in 2019, but unforeseen delays with the mechanical-electrical component of the works had stalled its completion. Acting Director Civil Engineering Services Lionel Daniels said the work permit for the relevant works had been issued and the contractor had commenced work.

“Four monitoring boreholes at Kleinkrantz, Herolds Bay, Outeniqua and Gwaiing have been drilled as part of groundwater quality monitoring over the past week, and access-related excavating started today.”

The design and approval process for the upgrading of the mechanical and electrical construction works are underway, and orders for relevant equipment will follow upon signoff of final specifications.

This final phase will take an estimated two years to complete and comprise all mechanical-electrical works. Should no further delays occur, the upgraded additional 10Ml/day capacity facility should be operational in the first quarter of 2023.

George Municipality Acting Municipal Manager Dr Michele Gratz said the municipality was looking forward to the completion of the upgraded plant which would be a catalyst to much more development than what the current plant could manage.

“Delays to these upgrades have been frustrating to the municipality, developers and stakeholders alike and we are relieved that this contract is finally underway. George remains a desirable development and investment destination and the many infrastructure projects taking place – such as current stormwater upgrades and the planned widening of Thembalethu bridge over the N2 – go a long way in confirming the city’s commitment to long-term sustainability,” said Dr Gratz.

Caption
From left to right, contractor Gert de Kock, George Municipality engineer Gerard de Swardt, contractor Dion Kuter, George Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk and Civil Engieering Services portfolio councillor Jacqulique von Brandis visit the site where the last phase of extensions and upgrades of the OWwTW have commenced.

A sewerage pump station in Rosedale has sustained damage following a break-in and theft of mostly electrical equipment that power the plant. An initial cost estimate of repairs is valued at R400 000.

George Municipality Acting Director Civil Engineering Services Lionel Daniels said the damage and theft were discovered on Sunday during daily routine inspection of the small pumpstation situated at the edge of a residential area. “Electrical boxes have been forced open and electrical circuit boards and cables have been removed, which in turn halted the clearing out of sewerage. Fortunately, the incident happened at a time when the sumps were empty, and a sewerage spill was prevented.”

The pump station is walled and locked with a gate. A case of break-in, vandalism and theft has been reported to the SAPS.

Emergency temporary repairs are underway to activate the pumps and the pump station should be working by late this afternoon. The supply chain management process for the permanent replacement and repairs is underway and a contractor should be appointed later this week.

While the pump station is not in operation, sumps are being monitored and sewerage sucker trucks are manually extracting sewerage from the station when necessary.

George Acting Municipal Manager Dr Michelle Gratz said vandalism and theft to municipal infrastructure impacted on whole communities. “The municipality has 112 sewerage pump stations across the municipal area, many of which are in or near communities that would be directly affected if vandalised or stolen from.

“We appeal to residents in these areas to help guard our infrastructure and to report suspicious activities near such facilities to the SAPS. If residents can safely photograph perpetrators on their cell phones and take registration numbers of suspicious vehicles to help apprehend offenders, it will help to promote uninterrupted service and long-term cost-saving that will benefit everyone,” said Dr Gratz.

Section 2 B Water Restrictions in terms of the George Municipality Drought Management Policy were lifted  with immediate effect for George following an Ordinary Council meeting held yesterday 25 March 2021.  Water restrictions were implemented in June 2017 when the Garden Route Dam level dropped to below 60% and these have remained in place due to a number of reasons including a national water scarcity.

The completion of the raising of the Garden Route Dam Spillway and associated works  in December 2019 increased the capacity of the dam by an estimated 25%, together with the revoking of the declaration of the National Drought Disaster classification in July last year, and the current status of the level of the dam allows for the water restrictions be lifted for George.

On 15 March 2021, the Garden Route Dam (GRD) level was at 99.74% in terms of its capacity before the construction of the new spillway, and at an estimated 79.80% in terms of the new capacity. The new capacity of the Garden Route dam will be confirmed by Department of Water Services, once the dam basin has been re-surveyed and the new dam levels calibrated. George received good rainfall following  the completion of the project and although the new spillway has not overflowed yet, the level of the dam has stayed above the old spillway level since September 2020. The George area received about 145mm more rainfall than the annual average for 2020. The average daily water demand for 2020 in George was 27.76 Megalitres per day.

Similarly, the Haarlem Dam although on a dam level of 10.49% for  March 2021, this level equates to  a volume of 480 Megalitres. The water registration for Haarlem is 230 Megalitres per year and the average yearly water demand for Haarlem is 155 Megalitres.

The level of the  Uniondale Dam is currently estimated at 30% and the water flow at the abstraction point at Holdrift in the Kamanassie River is reportedly normal for this time of year. The weir area is at present silted up following heavy rain in February 2021 and this  area needs to be cleared to improve flow to the Uniondale Water Treatment Works.  The arrangements for authorization to do so are under way with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP). However, given the current situation, and prevailing weather conditions in Uniondale, Council has approved the implementation of Section 2 B water restrictions in Uniondale with immediate effect.

The activation of the different water restriction levels stipulated in the George Municipality Drought Management Policy is based on the level of the Garden Route Dam and this  policy was drafted before the Uniondale and Haarlem areas were incorporated into the George Municipal area of jurisdiction. Due to the different prevailing weather conditions and the different water sources for these areas, the George Municipal Drought Policy will be reviewed and updated  to include and make specific provision for the Uniondale and Haarlem areas. Simultaneously, the George Municipality Water and Sanitation Services By-Laws and the George Municipality Water Services By-Law to Limit or Restrict the Use of Water will  be reviewed and updated in line with the policy.

The right of access to basic water supply and sanitation is a basic right for all communities and it is the responsibility of the George Municipality as the Water Services Institution to take reasonable measure to ensure these rights.

The immediate measures to be adhered to are as follows: SECTION 2B UNIONDALE

1. The mechanical irrigation of gardens is prohibited
2. Gardens may only be watered between the times of 19h00 to 21h00. Garden hoses must be handheld only.
   Mondays and Thursdays for even numbered households ONLY
   Tuesdays and Fridays for uneven numbered households ONLY.
3. The irrigation or watering of all sport fields is prohibited. Exemption from restrictions in the following instances only: golf course greens, bowling greens and cricket pitches which may only be watered between 19h00 and 21h00.
4. The washing of vehicles with a garden hose , except by a commercial enterprise whose business it is to wash cars, is prohibited.
5. The cleaning of any area by means of water is prohibited.
6. The filling of swimming pools is prohibited.
7. Where own water  from a borehole or reservoir is used, the appropriate notice shall be displayed on the premises.

Report water leaks and burst pipes to 044 801 9262/66 or after hours at 044 801 6300, as soon as you notice them.

UNIONDALE/HAARLEM report to 044 752 1024 or after hours at 044 801 6300

Major stormwater upgrades are well underway, which will significantly reduce flooding in problem areas in George during normal rainfall events.

Four projects to the value of R23-million will in some cases include upgrading of sections of gravel road to paved streets to allow the effective operation of the stormwater system in these areas.

The current Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG)-funded projects in Thembalethu Zone 1, Thembalethu Zone 9, Pacaltsdorp (Andersonville) and New Dawn Park are the first to be targeted in what the municipality hopes to be an on-going government-supported programme to upgrade stormwater infrastructure across the municipal area. George Municipality counter-funded the MIG allocation with approximately R5-million.

George Municipality Deputy Director Streets and Stormwater Lionel Daniels said these four areas were prioritised by using the George Municipality Stormwater Area Master Plan, a tool that analysed the condition of existing stormwater infrastructure and determined what kinds of work were required to resolve existing problems and/or to accommodate the needs of increased development. “The master plans are developed per area and the most critical upgrades per area are then prioritised for funding.

“While the master plan may identify critical projects per area, other areas where existing stormwater problems persist will take priority, especially those where houses have been flooded in the past and urgent remedial work must be undertaken,” said Mr Daniels.

“We are pleased by the progress on the first four sites, especially since they had been approved a year ago in February 2020 but were halted in their tracks by the Covid-19 lockdown. Project roll-out was revised and construction finally restarted in December 2020. Completion is expected by 30 June 2021.”

Large diameter pipes, up to 1m diameter, are being installed in places and residents are advised to avoid the construction areas where possible. As construction is taking place in the road reserves this will impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic. George Municipality apologises for any inconvenience and appeals to road users and residents to be patient, exercise caution near roadworks and adhere to traffic and construction signage.

The municipality continues to develop plans per area and setting out projects. Implementation is subject to the availability of capital funding on the annual budget. The municipality continues to pursue alternative funding and applies for MIG-funding where applicable. “We are confident that more of these upgrades will follow in the next few financial years, which will ultimately mean better overall stormwater systems of the entire municipal area,” said Mr Daniels.

Caption
The Thembalethu Zone 9 Stormwater project is one of four currently underway.

POTENTIAL WATER CRISIS BEING MANAGED, PLEASE KEEP SAVING WATER
The potential city-wide water crisis is being managed following the recommissioning of an old raw water pipeline to the Water Treatment Works. Please continue to use water sparingly as the old raw water pipes are smaller and cannot handle full capacity and there is still no drinking water supply to reservoirs east of the city.

Water trucks are roaming in Thembalethu Zones 1-8 where reservoirs have run dry. Zone 9 still has water for now but will be monitored and supplied if required. Thank you to Mossel Bay Municipality for continued assistance with a large water truck to help supply to these areas.

Eastern suburbs of George, Kraaibosch and Victoria Bay will be experiencing extreme low pressure and still runs the risk of running dry. Water should be used for essentials only.

Please note that in high lying areas of eastern suburbs water pressure may be insufficient at the moment to supply water to taps. Nonetheless the entire network is systematically being checked and the necessary adjustments made.

Work is going well at the site in Genevafontein where a major raw water pipe burst under the tar in Herriot Street caused a large sink hole. The pipe supplies the town’s main water treatment works, which meant that water could not be pumped into the facility’s holding dams.

A traffic incident delayed work at the site, which was referred to the SAPS. It was later discovered that the drinking water pipe that runs parallel to the raw water line has also been damaged.

Civil engineering teams worked through the night excavating the sink hole site to safeguard it for workers, after which repairs commenced. Priority was given to the drinking water line which should be completed late afternoon and water supply reinstated thereafter. It will take additional few hours for water to have filled up sufficiently to restore full water pressure throughout the system.

The raw water line repairs are being done in tandem when possible, and is expected to be complete this evening, a few hours after the drinking water line.

We are concerned that heavy rains expected later today may hamper repairs, and all efforts are being made to finish works as soon as possible.

Herriot Road below Stander Street remains closed and the public is warned to not visit the area on foot and to stay well clear of the entire area as it may be unsafe. Traffic officials are on site and residents of the houses in the repair zone must proceed with extreme caution and only if alternative access is not possible. Spreeu Street is being monitored and may be closed if necessary.

The municipality will update residents as repairs progress.

ENDS
Issued George Municipality on 14 March 2021 at 9.50am.

George Municipality makes an urgent appeal to all residents of George and surrounding areas to use water for essentials only, following the major raw water supply line damage in Genevafontein. The pipe supplies the town’s main water treatment works, which means that water cannot be pumped into the facility’s holding dams at the moment.

It has now been established that the drinking water pipe that runs parallel to the raw water line has also been damaged. The line is the main drinking water supply line to Kraaibosch area, Victoria Bay and Wilderness as well as Thembalethu.

Water is already running extremely low in Thembalethu and roaming water trucks will soon be deployed to Zones 1 to 8. Zone 9 still has water for now but will be monitored and supplied if required. Thank you to Mossel Bay Municipality for assistance with a large water truck to help supply to these areas.

Details of trucks to other areas will be confirmed should it become necessary.

Water reservoirs across the city is running low and the remaining water can only be managed with the cooperation of residents.

In the meantime, the municipality is doing everything it can to repair the lines as quickly as possible.

Civil Engineering teams will be working through the night on repairs to both lines. Priority will be given to the drinking water line. Extreme low pressure water is most likely to be experienced in affected areas – we ask that you use this as a reminder to use water for absolute essentials only.

The municipality will update residents as repairs progress.

ENDS
Issued George Municipality, 13 March 2021 (7pm update)

Construction of the satellite fire station in Wilderness, 14km outside George, is going well. George Chief Fire Officer Neels Barnard said construction was currently ahead of schedule and should be roof height by the end of the month (March 2021). “We look forward to serving Wilderness from a local base, which is currently being addressed from the main fire station in the George CBD.” Situated near the Caltex The Waves traffic circle on the N2, the station will ensure quick access and faster response times to road accidents and fires east of the Kaaimans River Bridge. The station is expected to be ready for occupation in July 2021 and will be manned around the clock by four firefighters.
Wilderness will be the municipality’s third satellite station in addition to Thembalethu and Uniondale.

Massive wildfires in the Garden Route in recent years have highlighted the varied needs of an area with some of the most diverse biomes in the country.

There are few municipalities that deal with the combination of fire and rescue challenges faced in the George municipal area.

From hot and dry conditions in Uniondale and Haarlem north of the Outeniqua Mountains to windy seaside environments in the south, the George Fire and Rescue Services address fire management for semi-desert,
mountainous terrain on both sides and over the mountain, as well as large tracts of agricultural land, pine plantations, alien vegetation, coastal fynbos, indigenous forest and winding inaccessible roads connecting towns and villages over long distances.

In addition, two major national roads and several provincial roads go through the area, which require the fire department’s response at vehicle accidents and transport related hazardous material incidents. The city’s industrial node has also significantly grown over the past decade, which increased factory and hazardous materials fires.

Chief Fire Officer Neels Barnard said the devastating wildfires in the neighbouring town of Knysna in June 2017, which took place outside the Western Cape’s traditional summer fire season, was a huge wake-up call for municipalities everywhere. “The George Municipality council approved a multi-faceted approach by the department to acquire key equipment and additional vehicles over a few financial years to systematically address different aspects of fire and rescue management.

“We wanted to be smart and use resources wisely, so we did the research, consulted with colleagues and role players and came up with practical, sustainable solutions for a variety of fire-fighting situations,” said Mr Barnard.

Denneoord fire base
The establishment of the Garden Route’s first dedicated emergency firefighting airstrip on municipal property above Denneoord in December 2017 proved a gamechanger during the month-long wildfires around George less than a year later.

The project between George Municipality, Southern Cape Fire Protection Association, Working on Fire and Garden Route District Municipality meant firefighting planes could respond much faster than they would have been able if they were stationed at a commercial airport where they would have had to wait in line for a runway along with other aircraft. This is especially applicable during the summer fire season which coincides with the very busy holiday season when thousands of flights are scheduled at commercial airports.

Five aeroplanes and a chopper are stationed at the base during the fire season, and usually at least one plane and a chopper out of season. Municipalities in the Garden Route district use the facility on a call-out basis as services are required. The airbase consists of a runway, helipad, firebase, hangars, taxiways and a water refilling point.

First-of-its-kind fire tanker and portable dam
The municipality’s capacity to deal with fires in remote and dry areas received a significant boost with the delivery of a large capacity water tanker and portable dam in September 2019. The tanker is the first of its kind to be used for firefighting in South Africa.

The 35 000-litre stainless steel water tanker is a movable water source that can be driven to a suitable site from where all kinds of fire vehicles can refill. The tanker is fitted with a pump that can extract water from sources such as farm dams and can deliver 2200 litres per minute at 10 Bar. On the road the 18-metre (13-metre tanker pulled by a five-metre truck), 22-wheeler vehicle it is an impressive site and requires an advanced EC-driver’s licence for articulated vehicles, which most of the city’s firefighters have.

The 14 000-litre portable dam is one of only three in the country and the first for a local municipality (the others are at West Coast District Municipality and City of Cape Town). The dam is intended as an artificial water source from which a helicopter bucket can scoop water or fire vehicles can be filled. The dam in turn can be filled by the new water tanker or by other fire trucks, depending on where the portable dam is set up. Manufactured from high grade poly-yarn industrial material that can be folded up and transported inside an ordinary trailer, the portable dam’s equipment includes a portable pump, hard suction pipes and valves for filling or emptying the dam water. The water pushes the walls up and the dam readjusts as water empties out (it is not an inflatable). Any water that is not used can be pumped from the dam back into the tanker and reused elsewhere.

“The tanker and dam now become part of a streamlined system in which water can be brought much closer to a fire, and therefore significantly reduce the turnaround time. Instead of having to drive several kilometres to refill one truck, or wasting valuable fuel and water refilling time for choppers, the tanker and portable dam is a sustainable combination solution that will make a significant difference in the first hour of a fire. In firefighting, the first hour is crucial to bring a runaway fire under control, which ultimately increases the chance to save people and property,” said Mr Barnard.

Eyes in the sky
Drone technology is being used for multiple applications, most notably for reconnaissance during fires and rescues in areas that are difficult to access in dense vegetation, mountains, sand dunes and seaside cliffs.

The municipality’s high-tech drone also enables extensive fire risk assessment across the municipal area including footage of naturally inaccessible areas, much of which is on private agricultural and residential land. The department can then take steps to address issues highlighted by assessments such as the issuing of notices to landowners reminding them of their legal responsibility regarding alien vegetation and fire management.

Bush-clearing tractor
A big part of ongoing fire management is the maintenance of permanent firebreaks, which in the 2018 George fires proved very effective in safeguarding residences at the foot of the mountain. George now has a specialised multi-use 4×4 tractor for the clearing of firebreaks, designed to access rugged terrain. It is fitted with a specialised blade in front to scrape roads and a brush cutter (bossiekapper) at the back for cutting grass and fine brush.

Dealing with hazardous materials
A mobile decontamination unit and two hazardous materials suits were introduced in mid-2020 to support the department’s handling of hazardous materials at vehicle accidents and factory fires. The new equipment has the added benefit of protecting firefighters in the unknown possible contaminate situations that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic may be associated with.

George Fire Department is often the first responder to vehicle accidents in which trucks had spilt dangerous contents. “The hazmat suit is fire retardant and has its own air supply to protect the firefighter from dangerous fumes and chemicals, which is also very necessary at chemical fires at factories and businesses.

“The decontamination unit is mobile and can be set up at the site to decontaminate personnel attending to the situation, which increases the safety of everyone at the site and reduces the chances of transference.”

Mobile command centre
The municipality is expecting the delivery of a mobile command unit that will be used to manage administration and support on the scene of a crisis, disaster or rescue situation.

The custom-built minibus will be set up with two computerised works stations, radio frequency transceivers and internet access, an electric generator and solar panels, and a fixed camera with live footage capability to allow remote monitoring.

Wilderness fire station
Construction of a satellite fire station in Wilderness, 14km outside George, has commenced. “A satellite station here will ensure quick response to areas characterised by dense vegetation and agricultural land with high fire risk and is close to higher risk structures such as hotels and fuel stations. It is located next to the N2-highway to reduce response time to motor vehicle accidents and is near the Wilderness beach for quick response to beach and water incidents.”

Mr Barnard said the fire department was very grateful to its council for recognising the diverse challenges of firefighting in the George municipal area and for supporting an ongoing plan to address as many aspects as possible in a practical and cost-effective manner. “We continue to see the significant difference it makes in the field every day, which ultimately means the more effective protection of people and property.”

GEORGE FIRE AND RESCUE FLEET
The George Fire and Rescue Fleet currently comprises:
Two major pumper fire engines for structural and vehicle accident fires.
One medium pumper fire engine for structural and vehicle accident fires.
One 7000-litre water tanker for back-up water during firefighting operations.
One 34 000-litre water tanker for extended water supply where there are no hydrants.
Two 4×4 bakkie skid unit with 500-litre water tank for quick response to small fires.
Two 4×4 Unimog 2000-litre bush pumpers for tough terrain and fires in informal areas.
One 4×4 Iveco 3000-litre bush pumper truck for tough terrain and fires in informal areas.
One dedicated rescue bakkie for vehicle accidents and other rescue situations.
One response vehicle bakkie for command response for officers.
One service bakkie and a sedan for personnel transfer and general use.

(Article published in Estate Living platform for luxury estates in Autumn 2021.)