Author: Debra Sauer

I have on occasion been asked why the Municipality promotes events and how these benefit local communities and citizens. It is therefore good useful to reflect on what is termed the “tourism multiplier effect” and the impact that it has on the local economy.

The traditional December five week holiday period has in the past often contributed 25-30% of the annual turnover to businesses directly dependent on tourism. The Municipality is actively seeking to encourage new additions to the calendar through events that will attract tourists to George over weekends and holiday periods.

Tourists arriving in George would firstly need accommodation at hotels or guest houses and may hire cars. These direct transactions will immediately trigger indirect transactions of employment at these establishments, purchases of fuel, cleaning of bedding and eating as examples. Tourists will buy food at restaurants or markets that benefit farmers or fishermen. Tourists will also seek out activities such as hiring canoes or going on boat trips.

If our tourists are mountain bikers, runners or participate in activities (that could range from sport, craft workshops to conferences) their entry fees will indirectly benefit the employees or suppliers contributing to the staging of these events.

The more tourists that we attract could result in part-time employment becoming full-time jobs. We have recently been privileged to host a film production unit with a crew of 70 based in local accommodation for three weeks making use of our scenic locations. Local individuals who acquire technical skills on film sets are then retained by film crews during future visits.

Stallholders at markets in the vicinity also benefit from tourists attracted to buy crafted products. Examples of locally produced products range from bread, cheese, preserves, clothing items, jewellery, to artistic works, etc. This sector provides employment to many either part-time or full-time, with even greater benefit flowing when local produce is being used.

The more events that are attracted will increase the annual turnover of businesses, improve sustainability, add more jobs and income for our citizens either directly through their employment or indirectly as more guest houses, services, entertainment facilities are constructed. Service charges and taxes that are paid to the municipality and government help to improve infrastructure that benefits the tourism sector.

One example of the infrastructure spending presently taking place in George is the upgrade of main roads where our provincial and national government partners have made grant funding available for these improvements on the proviso that the funding is spent within specified timelines.

We applaud those tourist operators who have added new activities to the annual calendar; and encourage even more iconic crafts and tourism product to be developed to further boost economic activity and employment.

George Municipality is issuing ON BEHALF of 1 on York, Ruwacon and Urban Engineering

TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS TO GRAB HOLD OF SHO’T LEFT TRAVEL WEEK SALES OPPORTUNITY
Issued George Municipality, 18^th August 2022, for immediate release

The Tourism section of George Municipality, representing George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism, urge all tourism activities, accommodation, restaurants and event suppliers to make use of the Sho’t Left Travel Week opportunity to boost sales.

Sho’t Left Travel Week, an initiative of South African Tourism, is the annual tourism sale that offers South Africans up to 50% off when booking during the specified week. This year it’s taking place between 5-11 September.  A considerable investment of 24 million Rand is spent on marketing.   George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism strongly urge all tourism stakeholders to grab this opportunity to make known their offering and to sell.

“We call on all tourism experiences and providers to register on the Sho’t Left website and ensure our destinations are strongly represented in the domestic market space.  Through loading your individual offerings, you are ensuring that domestic tourists become aware of our destinations.  Visitors filter by region and experience.  At present, Knysna, Oudtshoorn and Plettenberg Bay are represented, and our destinations are not featured at all.  It will only take you a few minutes to load your deals, and it’s free.  Since you can set the redemption dates, your business could use this as a tactic to fill up your bookings during quieter times.  However, do keep in mind that domestic tourists prefer to travel during the school holidays so if you are not fully booked over these periods, allowing redemption during these windows could be beneficial to converting more sales.  Tourism products could work together to load deals – for example events and accommodation could offer a package.”, says Tourism Manager, Joan Shaw.

All participating businesses must complete their registrations and deals by 28 August 2022.  The vouchers loaded by the participating businesses are valid beyond the travel week, for whichever dates determined by the business.  Register here: https://deals.southafrica.net/

Pacs High learner wins GO GEORGE rap competition

To loud and joyful applause, Pacaltsdorp High School learner Olwethu Sayidini was announced as the overall winner of the GO GEORGE Anti-vandalism Rap Competition for high schools held at the George Arts Theatre on Wednesday 10 August 2022. His catchy chorus lyrics will certainly stay on repeat in the minds of the audience: “Please stop the vandalism … It is part of gangsterism … Do you wanna end up in prison?”

The runners-up are both from George High School: Graziel Heathcote (second place) and Likho Ntshohgontshi (third place). The three winners were selected from 10 finalists entered by eight high schools in George.
The competition formed part of a focused, multi-pronged campaign by GO GEORGE to raise the alarm and to focus attention on the vexing social issue of vandalism, and specifically the vandalism of GO GEORGE infrastructure (buses and shelters) provided at high cost for the benefit of the community.

Entrants had to comply with specific criteria relating, amongst others, to the use of the words GO GEORGE and vandalism, in addition to the requirement that the content should not be offensive in any way and be suitable for distribution. The original lyrics the contestants came up with were inspiring and powerful, speaking about the negative influence of vandalism on the bus service and their communities, as well as the consequences to the perpetrator. Their messages will be strengthened by using the media to which the youth respond, such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, handed over the prizes to the three winners. He reiterated the importance of preventing vandalism. “We are acutely aware that the GO GEORGE and overall municipal anti-vandalism drive has been born out of the necessity to put a stop to the scourge of vandalism in our town and in our communities,” he said. “Vandalism is not a prank or a game; it is a criminal offence that can have lasting consequences for the perpetrators. I am truly heartened by what I have seen and heard tonight – vandalism needs to be discouraged at all costs. I believe that this competition represents a very relevant and powerful form of expression, used by our youth who have the power to influence their peers.”

The winner of the competition received Beats Solo3 wireless on-ear headphones, the second-prize winner a set of Skullcandy wireless earbuds, and the winner of the third prize went home with a JBL flip 5 Bluetooth speaker. Each finalist received a goodie bag containing vouchers or products from various sponsors including Margot Swiss, Watsons Meat, Coca-Cola, Root Café, Nando’s, RocoMamas, Spur and Panarotti’s.

CAPTIONS:
Winner of the GO GEORGE Anti-vandalism Rap Competition, Olwethu Sayidini
First runner-up of the GO GEORGE Anti-vandalism Rap Competition, Graziel Heathcote
Second runner-up of the GO GEORGE Anti-vandalism Rap Competition, Likho Ntshohgontshi

Rap winners with Mayor:
George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, handed over the prizes to the three talented winners of the rap competition. Posing with him are, from left, Olwethu Sayidini (winner), second runner-up Likho Ntshohgontshi, and first runner-up Graziel Heathcote.

Judges 1:
Three of the four competition judges are well-known entertainers: from left, Yoma, Moses Williams and Jason Hakkiesdraad Hartman.
Judges 2:
Robyn Mouton (right) is a local youth who is sight impaired, knows and sincerely loves rap music and listens with a fine-tuned ear. He was part of the panel of judges, assisted here by his father, Alberto Mouton.
Rap finalists:
The rap competition finalists who shared their wisdom and talent with an appreciative audience were, from left, front: Jade van Harte (Eden Technical High School), Jamil Pretorius (Outeniqua High School), Franwill Frazenberg (Van Kervel School), Kirstan Keffers (Parkdene High School), and Liyema Nsasane (George High School); from left, back: Jerome Appels (Olympia School), Baynalekhem Misland (Outeniqua High School), Liko Ntshohgontshi (George High School), Graziel Heathcote (George High School), Jerico Manies (Olympia School) and Olwetho Sayidine (Pacaltsdorp High School).
Winners with ambassadors and VIPs:
Posing with the three winners after the final competition event were George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk (middle, back), Cllr Gert Niehaus, chairman of the Section 79 committee of the George Council (second from right), and James Robb, acting Public Transport Oversight Official of the Municipality (second from left), as well as three of the six GO GEORGE anti-vandalism ambassadors: Moses Williams, actor and comedian (far left), Lizette da Silva, George Herald editor (middle), and behind her, Morné Pietersen, Station Manager, Eden FM. Three of the ambassadors, Peter Jaftha, Lloyd Bosman and Zane Kirchner, were not able to attend the event, but sent their best wishes to the finalists and winners. Olwethu Sayidini (winner) and second runner-up Likho Ntshohgontshi are standing next to James Robb, with first runner-up Graziel Heathcote far right.

AFRIKAANS:

PERSVRYSTELLING: Hoërskool Pacaltsdorp-leerder wen GO GEORGE rap-kompetisie

Olwethu Sayidini, ’n leerder van Hoërskool Pacaltsdorp, is onder luide en vreugdevolle applous aangekondig as die algehele wenner van die GO GEORGE Anti-vandalisme Rap-kompetisie vir hoërskole wat op Woensdag 10 Augustus 2022 in die George Kunsteteater gehou is. Sy treffende koorlirieke sal nog lank bly draai in die gehoor se geheue: “Please stop the vandalism … It is part of gangsterism … Do you wanna end up in prison?”

Die naaswenners is albei van Hoërskool George: Graziel Heathcote (tweede plek) en Likho Ntshohgontshi (derde plek). Die drie wenners is gekies uit 10 finaliste wat deur agt hoërskole in George ingeskryf is.

Die kompetisie het deel gevorm van ‘n gefokusde veldtog deur GO GEORGE om aandag te vestig op die kommerwekkende sosiale kwessie van vandalisme, en spesifiek die vandalisering van GO GEORGE-infrastruktuur (busse en skuilings) wat teen hoë koste tot voordeel van die gemeenskap verskaf word.

Deelnemers moes voldoen aan spesifieke kriteria soos die gebruik van die woorde GO GEORGE en vandalisme, benewens die vereiste dat die inhoud op geen manier aanstootlik moet wees nie en geskik moet wees vir verspreiding. Die oorspronklike lirieke waarmee die deelnemers vorendag gekom het, was inspirerend en kragtig en het verwys na die negatiewe invloed van vandalisme op hul gemeenskappe en die busdiens, asook die gevolge vir die oortreder. Die boodskappe sal versterk word deur die media te gebruik waarop die jeug reageer, soos Facebook, TikTok en Instagram.

George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk, het die pryse aan die drie wenners oorhandig. Hy het die belangrikheid daarvan om vandalisme te voorkom, beklemtoon. “Ons is deeglik bewus daarvan dat GO GEORGE en die munisipaliteit se anti-vandalisme-dryfkrag gebore is uit die noodsaaklikheid om ‘n einde te maak aan die plaag van vandalisme in ons dorp en in ons gemeenskappe,” het hy gesê. “Vandalisme is nie ‘n poets of ‘n speletjie nie; dit is ‘n kriminele oortreding wat blywende gevolge vir die oortreders kan hê. Ek is werklik bemoedig deur wat ek vanaand gesien en gehoor het – vandalisme moet ten alle koste ontmoedig word. Ek glo hierdie kompetisie verteenwoordig ‘n baie relevante en kragtige vorm van uitdrukking wat deur ons jeug gebruik word en wat die mag het om hul portuurgroep te beïnvloed.”

Die wenner van die kompetisie het Beats Solo3 draadlose oorfone ontvang, die tweede pryswenner ‘n stel Skullcandy draadlose oorfone, en die wenner van die derde prys is huis toe met ‘n JBL flip 5 Bluetooth-luidspreker. Elke finalis het ‘n geskenksak met koopbewyse of produkte van verskeie borge ontvang, waaronder Margot Swiss, Watsons Vleis, Coca-Cola, Root Café, Nando’s, RocoMamas, Spur en Panarotti’s.

BYSKRIFTE:
Wenner van die GO GEORGE Anti-vandalisme Rap-kompetisie, Olwethu Sayidini
Eerste naaswenner van die GO GEORGE Anti-vandalisme Rap-kompetisie, Graziel Heathcote
Tweede naaswenner van die GO GEORGE Anti-vandalisme Rap-kompetisie, Likho Ntshohgontshi

3 wenners met burgemeester:
George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk, het die pryse aan die drie talentvolle wenners van die rap-kompetisie oorhandig. Saam met hom op die verhoog is, van links, Olwethu Sayidini (wenner), tweede naaswenner Likho Ntshohgontshi, en eerste naaswenner Graziel Heathcote.

Judges 1:
Drie van die vier kompetisiebeoordelaars is bekende vermaaklikheidskunstenaars: van links, Yoma, Moses Williams en Jason Hakkiesdraad Hartman.

Judges 2:
Robyn Mouton (regs) is ‘n plaaslike jongman wat siggestremd is, baie lief is vir rap-musiek en met ‘n fyn ingestelde oor luister. Hy was deel van die paneel beoordelaars, hier bygestaan deur sy pa, Alberto Mouton.

Rap finalists:
Die rap-kompetisiefinaliste wat hul wysheid en talent met ‘n waarderende gehoor gedeel het, was van links, voor: Jade van Harte (Eden Tegniese Hoërskool), Jamil Pretorius (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Franwill Frazenberg (Van Kervel-skool), Kirstan Keffers (Hoërskool Parkdene) en Liyema Nsasane (Hoërskool George); van links, agter: Jerome Appels (Olympia-skool), Baynalekhem Misland (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Liko Ntshohgontshi (Hoërskool George), Graziel Heathcote (Hoërskool George), Jerico Manies (Olympia-skool) en Olwetho Sayidine (Hoërskool Pacaltsdorp).
Winners with ambassadors and VIPs:
Saam met die drie wenners ná die finale kompetisiegeleentheid was George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk (middel, agter), rdl. Gert Niehaus, voorsitter van die Artikel 79-komitee van die George-raad (tweede van regs), en James Robb, waarnemende toesigbeampte van openbare vervoer van die munisipaliteit (tweede van links), asook drie van GO GEORGE se ses anti-vandalisme-ambassadeurs: Moses Williams, akteur en komediant (heel links), Lizette da Silva, George Herald-redakteur (middel), en agter haar, Morné Pietersen, stasiebestuurder, Eden FM. Drie van die ambassadeurs, Peter Jaftha, Lloyd Bosman en Zane Kirchner, kon nie die geleentheid bywoon nie, maar het hul beste wense aan die finaliste en wenners gestuur. Olwethu Sayidini (wenner) en tweede naaswenner Likho Ntshohgontshi staan langs James Robb, met die eerste naaswenner Graziel Heathcote heel regs.

Calling on operators to register to operate a tourism activity at Outeniqua Nature Reserve – Cape Nature applications close 26 August 2022

Issued by George Municipality 12 August 2022 for immediate release

George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism encourages tourism industry stakeholders, in particular those that are activity-based operators, to consider and apply for an opportunity being offered by Cape Nature to submit proposals to operate within their reserves.

In George, this opportunity will specifically be within  the Outeniqua Nature Reserve. Joan Shaw, Manager: George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism said, “This is a great opportunity for local entrepreneurs operating in the sports or tourism industries to benefit from our magnificent natural outdoor setting.  The Outeniqua Reserve is right on our doorstep – literally at the entrance to George from the Oudtshoorn direction and close to the new Hawthorn Boutique Hotel opening soon.  The area is mostly used for trails – hiking, trail running and mountain biking – as well as the Power Van which utilises the railway track up the mountain.  We encourage entrepreneurs to grab hold of this prospect, as it will benefit not only your potential business, but also the greater community of George, continuing to position George as a sports and tourism destination.”

Please follow the link below to apply- Cape Nature invite activity-based operators to submit proposals to operate in the reserves:

https://www.capenature.co.za/news/2022/concessionaire-opportunities-for-activity-based-operators#msdynttrid=uCQKBxmz9wusFdcC-yYzSOEvftBd8uUlw83j_c4s-20

The closing date for proposals is 26 August 2022 @ 12:00.

Features of the Outeniqua Nature Reserve:  forested areas, mountain peaks, rivers and streams as well as the George and Cradock peaks and part of the Outeniqua Mountains. Rock climbing and many other activities can be considered in the mountainous area. The Outeniqua Nature Reserve is a very scenic area and part of a world heritage site complex. It consists of endemic plants, rare species not found anywhere else, animals and insects such as  leopard, caracal, honey badger, scorpions, spiders and it is an important water conservation area.

For all enquiries about the application process please contact Cape Nature, Nicolette Mouries at 087 087 3022 or email her on tourism@capenature.co.za

Please contact Joan Shaw or Sharon House at George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism on 044 801 9295 if you would like to arrange a virtual meeting with representatives from the Outeniqua Nature Reserve

Captions:

DSC pics: Hiking in the Outeniqua Mountains. Photos: Andre Roux

During the July Council meeting, reference was made to expenditure that had been incurred in the January-June 2022 period to prevent occurrences that would adversely affect our citizens. This included R15,4 million to acquire back-up generators to keep key water and wastewater pumping stations operational during periods of loadshedding and R2,8 million to provide uninterrupted power supplies to traffic lights at 40 intersections.

On the other hand, our small law enforcement unit is at full stretch dealing with the effects of cable theft that has become very prevalent across George. In June 2022, there were 101 incidents of cable theft. The costs incurred in these investigations and the repairs are extremely costly.

These incidents are occurring throughout the country with detrimental effects on the economy. National Government has belatedly issued a government gazette draft policy to address the theft of infrastructure metals.

I would like to appeal to our citizens to be on the look-out for any activity that may indicate incidents of tampering, the digging of holes in the vicinity of electrical pylons, streetlights, etc. These incidents should be reported immediately to our 24 hour emergency number, 044-801-6300. The theft of such cables is also being enabled by the purchasers of these materials who are keeping the thieves in business by on-selling stolen goods. Citizens should be reporting such transactions to SAPS.

Improvements in the safety of our communities will receive attention during the present financial year. Additional law enforcement unit officers will be recruited with approximately R12 million to be spent on broadening the existing network of over 600 CCTV cameras across George. It is planned to expand the control room operation monitoring these cameras to a 24-hour operation by the end of 2022. The expansion will also make provision for the introduction of numberplate recognition cameras.

It is vitally important that collaboration with neighbourhood watches is improved to ensure coordination (with law enforcement agencies) and reaction from the control room. In due course, discussions will take place to encourage the business sector and neighbourhood watches to collaborate through the linking up of existing CCTV cameras. Additional cameras that are compatible with the existing operation can also be contributed by these groups to cover more areas across the municipal area.

We continue to experience incidents of illegal electrical connections in informal settlements as well as illegal dumping (R7,5m) that also costs the municipality millions.

It is crucial that all these issues are addressed within community groups (and by church leaders and in schools). Suggestions can be forwarded to: mayor@george.gov.za