Author: Debra Sauer

George Mayor announces winners of Municipal Poster Competition on Energy Sustainability

The George Municipality’s Poster Competition on Energy Sustainability came to an end on Monday 7th June, when the two winning schools in the high school and primary school categories, Outeniqua High School and Outeniqua Primary School were announced and the Mayor of George presented them with their prizes.

Mayor van Wyk was in awe of the standard of work of both the primary and high school learners. He told the learners that he is not only impressed by their artwork but by their thinking. “We are all experiencing the inconvenience of loadshedding. We need to move into other forms of energy by wind, sun and other methods. This is the future of our world and our world is changing rapidly. It is awesome that you are part of that change,” he said.
Van Wyk said to the learners that you are the generation that will use renewable energy and it is great that you had this opportunity to showcase your thoughts. He congratulated the winners and thanked all of the schools that participated and made the competition a success.

The first prize winners (Primary and High School) both received a R5000 stationery voucher. The second prize in the primary school category went to Mzoxolo Primary school who received a R2000 stationery voucher. The third prize winner in the Primary School category is Holy Cross Convent and won a R1000 stationery voucher.
The second prize winner in the High School category is Parkdene High School and won a R1500 stationery voucher. There is no third prize for high schools as there were only 3 participating schools.

In total 10 schools participated, 3 High Schools and 7 Primary Schools. All the learners who participated in the competition received goody bag packages as a token of appreciation. The other schools that participated were Kretzenshoop Primary School, Hibernia Primary School, Dellville Park Primary School, McKinley Reid High School and Thembalethu Primary School.

Thabo Yiga from the Electrotechnical Directorate who drove the project with the other interns at the Directorate, thanked all the ten schools for participating in the George Municipality’s Energy Sustainability Competition. “The posters clearly show that the learners took the competition seriously and worked hard to produce quality work,” Yiga said.

Learners were meant to reflect their understanding of Energy Sustainability in the poster. The posters were judged by effort, art and creativity and message.
Some of the teachers and learners shared their experiences during the competition.
Leoni Selzer, Art teacher at Outeniqua Primary School said the process taught them how very important it is to save the world we live in and it was an incredibly great opportunity for the learners to research their own work and work on their art pieces.

Kyla Nel (12), a grade 6 learner, said she wanted to make people aware that our earth is dying.
Linske Steenkamp (11), also a grade 6 learner, said she drew an eye with the idea to change people’s view on how they saw the world, how we are to fix people’s eyes on the problem we need to solve.

An-Sophie Buchholz (12), a grade 7 pupil, said her painting depicted the earth warming up to the extent that it has a detrimental effect on the survival of wildlife like the polar bear.
Mari Coetzee, Art teacher at Outeniqua High School, said it was important to them to participate in the competition to get our younger generation thinking about preserving nature and thinking of alternative solutions to our energy needs.

Marlo Barnard (16), a grade 11 learner, said it was great coming together as a team, while his teammate, Wessel Janse van Rensburg (17), grade 11, said they are grateful for the opportunity and had loads of fun. They have used recycled paper from old exam books and magazines for the task.

George Municipality is part of the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) programme funded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. The Municipality received grant funding of R4.5 million for the solar PV project at the George Municipality Main Building parking area and part of the requirements is to spend 1% of that grant funding on creating an energy awareness campaign.

Sustainable energy is power which is able to be replenished within a human lifetime and so cause no long-term damage to the environment. Sustainable energy includes all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, biomass, geothermal, wind, wave, tidal and solar energies.

Captions:

Outeniqua High School: Outeniqua High School is the winner out of the three competing high schools in the George Municipality’s Energy Sustainability Poster Competition. Here Mayor Van Wyk hands over the winning cheque to principal Christo Vorster (with black jacket). At the back from left are Mphielo Ramotsai, Electrotechnical Directorate, two of the winning learners with the winning poster, Wessel Janse van Rensburg, Marlo Barnard, Art teacher Mari Coetzee and Thabo Yiga, Electrotechnical Directorate. The poster that was made mostly of recycled material says: Power “of” Nature. The “of” word is cleverly formed and hidden into one of the windmills. All the prize-winners are mentioned in the full page advert in the George Herald 10 June 2021.

Outeniqua Primary: Outeniqua Primary School is the winner in the category Primary Schools, in the George Municipality’s Energy Sustainability Poster Competition. They have beaten six other schools to the first prize. In the middle of the picture is the Executive Mayor of George, Ald Leon van Wyk (with the dark suit) handing the winning cheque of R5000 to Dr Nico Venter, School Principal. To the Mayor’s left are Mphielo Ramotsai and Thabo Yiga, Electrotechnical Directorate who drove the project. To Dr Venter’s right is the Art teacher that assisted the learners in the project, Leoni Selzer. Around them are all the learners who are part of the group that won the competition.

Thembalethu’s new 66 kV Substation to improve reliability and provide adequate capacity of electrical supply
Issued George Municipality, 28 June 2021, for immediate release

A new 66 kV municipal substation planned for Thembalethu will not only provide adequate capacity for growth in the area, but also improve the reliability of the electrical supply and provide additional job opportunities as the electrification projects are completed. The planning for the substation goes as far back as 20 years ago, when the Ballots Bay 11 kV substation in the southern part of Thembalethu was established. This 11 kV substation project at the time also made provision for a 66 kV substation. The electrical masterplans for George indicated that a 66 kV substation would be needed in the future. An Environmental Impact Study (EIA) was finalized in 2008 to gain approval for the 66 kV powerline routes to the various proposed substations in George which included the powerlines to Thembalethu.

In 2011, the new 132 kV Schaapkop substation was established to provide sufficient capacity after the existing ESKOM bulk supply had reached capacity in George, following the growth in electricity demand in George and Thembalethu. The bulk municipal electrical supply to Thembalethu also reached capacity and had to be increased to enable the electrification program to continue.
A presentation was made to the George Council in 2013 to acquire funds for the first phase of the establishment of the municipal 66 kV substation in Thembalethu. Funds were provided and the 66 kV power line from SS Protea in Pacaltsdorp to Thembalethu was built in 2014/15. This power line is energized at 11 kV to supplement the capacity and will be energized at 66 kV to supply the new 66 kV substation once it is completed.
During a UISP* (Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme ) community presentation in Thembalethu on July 2014, the public was updated about an analysis completed to determine the impact of the additional electrical load on the existing Thembalethu electrical network as a result of the electrification projects that had been completed. At this stage the first section of the 66 kV power line between Protea substation and Thembalethu’s 66/11 kV substation would have to be established and operated on 11 kV before any further electrification can take place. Further urgent upgrades included the establishment of the municipal 66/11 kV substation.

The electrification of the formalised, as well as informal areas in Thembalethu, cannot continue without the upgrading of the bulk services in Thembalethu. The establishment of the substation is a key project in this regard. Subsequently, the 66 kV power line section between Thembalethu and the Glenwood Substation in Knysna Road has also been completed to place the new Thembalethu 66 kV substation on a ring feed.

Thembalethu 66 kV Substation
The position of the 66 kV substation was changed slightly to accommodate the final 66 kV line route that is aligned to the proposed main southern arterial road and a revised EIA for the new position was approved in 2016. The detailed planning of the substation began in 2017. The substation’s construction consists mostly of the manufacturing, supply and installation of 11 kV and 66 kV equipment, two new 66/11 kV 20MVA power transformers and ancillary protection and control equipment. The construction and commissioning of the substation requires specialized engineers and artisans.

Following standard supply chain processes, the tender was awarded this year and the appointed contractor has provided all of the initial procurement documentation, and is in the process of completing the final construction designs and drawings based on the equipment to be supplied. The construction of the civil work can begin as a construction work permit has been issued by the Department of Labour. Once completed, this will be the biggest 66/11 kV substation in the Southern Cape, and one of the biggest electrical capital expansion projects embarked on by the George Municipality over the last decade.

The first phase of the substation, which will include the commissioning of the 66 kV yard, first power transformer and 11 kV switchgear, should be completed in 18 months. It is envisaged that the complete project will be completed over 3 years, as and when funding becomes available.

*THEMBALETHU UISP HOUSING PROJECT
The project approved in 2010 will provide 4350 families with a serviced site with access to water, sanitation and electricity. The top structures will incrementally follow. As at 30 June 2021, 662 top structures had been built and handed over to beneficiaries and 2126 sites were serviced. Phase One of the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) which delivered 1746 serviced sites was completed in June 2016, with 662 top structures to date. Phase two is currently underway with 380 serviced sites completed to date. The UISP is funded by the Western Cape Department Human Settlements with the George Municipality acting as the developer.

GEORGE EN DISTRIK BAAT BY 2023 NETBAL – WêRELDBEKERTOERNOOI

Die 2023 Netbal Wêreldbeker-toernooi word in Kaapstad aangebied – die eerste keer dat die toernooi in Afrika gehou sal word en die Wes-Kaapse platteland mag ook daarby baat.

Dié uitgelese toernooi volg op verskeie ander, baie suksesvolle Wêreldbeker-byeenkomste wat in die verlede in Suid-Afrika aangebied is. Groot infrastruktuurontwikkeling het veral die Wêreldbeker-rugby, die Wêreldbeker-sokkertoernooi en die Wêreldbeker-kriekettoernooi voorafgegaan.

Die land het egter ook die Wêreldbeker-toernooi vir vroue (2005) en die A1 GP-wêreldbeker van Motorsport (2006) aangebied, ‘n prestasie wat weinig ander lande ter wêreld Suid-Afrika kan nadoen.
In afwagting op die Netbal Wêreldbeker-toernooi in 2023, word infrastruktuur regoor die Wes-Kaap ontwikkel, en beide Mosselbaai-munisipaliteit en George-munisipaliteit het ruim voordeel getrek uit befondsing wat deur die Wes-Kaapse regering se departement kultuursake en sport bewillig is. Netbalbane in die distrik sal opgegradeer of nuut aangebou word om te voorsien in toekomstige streeks-, nasionale-, selfs internasionale toernooie wat in die vooruitsig gestel word.

Die Wes-Kaapse LUR vir kultuursake en sport, Minister Anroux Marais, het die onderskeie netbalspanne van die Suidwestelike Distrikte, en spesifiek atlete van Groot-Brakrivier, aangemoedig om nou reeds te begin met voorbereiding vir die 2023-wêreldbekernetbal. Na verwagting mag van die wegwedstryde en voorbereidings vir die toernooi in die Eden-distrik plaasvind.

Voorsitter van die Eden Netbalfederasie, Rene Booysen, het atlete herinner aan die voordele van georganiseerde sport vir die groter gemeenskap. Sy beklemtoon die voordele wat spanwerk, dissipline, toewyding en respek – kenmerke van spansport – vir die groter gemeenskap meebring. Enige atleet wat sukses in die sportsoort van sy keuse bereik, slaag dikwels ook op ander fasette omdat sport die grondslag vir deursettingsvermoë en ‘n wenkultuur gelê het.”

Minister Marais het die jeug en veral jong meisies aangemoedig om by sport betrokke te raak. “Sport bied geleenthede en uitdagings. Die gemeenskap moet hul jongmense aanmoedig om netbal te speel om voordeel te kan trek uit die talle geleenthede wat dié en ander sport meebring.”
Die minister en haar personeel het ook die geleentheid benut om besoek te bring aan die area waar ‘n nuwe sokkerveld vir Groot-Brakrivier gebou word.

Raadsheer Harry Levendal, Mosselbaai se Uitvoerende Burgemeester, het uit eie ondervinding gepraat oor die waarde wat sport vir jongmense en afrigters meebring.
Voorsitter van die Eden Netbalfederasie Rene Booysen, ‘n gebore Grootbrakker, het die hoop uitgespreek dat Groot-Brakrivier se jongklomp met oorgawe die geleenthede van opgeknapte netbalbane sal benut in die oploop na die 2023 Wêreldbeker-netbaltoernooi.
Benewens ‘n ruim bewilliging vir die opgradering en bou van netbalbane, het die Wes-Kaapse LUR vir kultuursake en sport, Minister Anroux Marais ook ‘n ruim skening van netbaltoerusting aan die voorsitter van die Eden Netbalfederasie, Rene Booysen, gemaak.

Raadsheer Harry Levendal, Mosselbaai se Uitvoerende Burgemeester ontvang die befondsing vir die opgradering van plaaslike netbalfasiliteite van die Wes-Kaapse LUR vir kultuursake en sport, Minister Anroux Marais.
Die Wes-Kaapse LUR vir kultuursake en sport, Minister Anroux Marais, het ook geld bewillig aan die George-munisipaliteit wat deur die uitvoerende burgemeester, Raadsheer Leon van Wyk, ontvang is.
Die spelreëls vir netbal is in isiXhosa vertaal en kopië van die reëlboekie is aan die Voorsitter van die Eden Netbalfederasie Rene Booysen, oorhandig.

Onderskrif vir foto: Die Wes-Kaapse Minister van Kultuursake en Sport, Anroux Marais oorhandig ‘n tjek van R700 000 ter oprigting van netbalbane en fasiliteite by die Outeniqua Stadion aan Rdh. Leon van Wyk, Uitvoerende Burgemeester van George by ‘n onlangse oorhandingingseremonie in Groot Brakrivier.

George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism has launched an extensive digital campaign featuring the three towns across Facebook, Instagram, and Google Adwords.

The campaign, targeting Cape Town and Gqeberha, aims to create brand awareness for the destination, prompting users to take a mid-year break, whilst driving accommodation bookings for the upcoming winter season.

Accommodation product members were invited to participate in a deal to offer prospective visitors up to 25% off. A great response to the call has highlighted the need for more direct marketing to help tourism businesses to increase their occupancy levels.

The results of the campaign are being tracked and will show a return on investment for the destination, as well as the members who are partnering with the George Municipality’s Tourism Department to increase interest in and business to the area. Enquiries are being tracked digitally and in real time to evaluate the success of the campaign.

Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager at George Municipality says: “It is more important than ever that the Tourism Department and the accommodation products partner to get the best results from marketing campaigns. Marketing actions executed by George Municipality are mainly for the benefit of the Tourism Business Community. I am confident that our partners who are will see the benefits in, what is generally, a slow winter season.

This campaign supports and extends the recent highly successful radio campaign featured on both KFM and Radio 702, ensuring listeners keep George, Wilderness and Uniondale top of mind when wanting to take a winter break

1. Acorn Guesthouse in the warm heart of George is just one of the properties offering up to 25% off for the campaign.
2. Moontide Guesthouse, on the river in Wilderness, is one of the properties offering up to 25% off the campaign.
3. Cinnamon Boutique Hotel is one of the amazing properties offering up to 25% off for the campaign.
4. Escape to the Beach, says it all – one of the luxury properties offering up to 25% off for the campaign.
5. Beach Villa  Wilderness, one of the spectacular properties offering up to 25% off for the campaign.

For more information contact Joan Shaw 081 412 9995

Captions:
Outeniqua Primary: Outeniqua Primary School is the winner in the category Primary Schools, in the George Municipality’s Energy Sustainability Poster Competition. They have beaten six other schools to the first prize. In the middle of the picture is the Executive Mayor of George, Ald Leon van Wyk (with the dark suit) handing the winning cheque of R5000 to Dr Nico Venter, School Principal. To the Mayor’s left are Mphielo Ramotsai and Thabo Yiga, Electrotechnical Directorate who drove the project. To Dr Venter’s right is the Art teacher that assisted the learners in the project, Leoni Selzer. Around them are all the learners who are part of the group that won the competition.

Outeniqua High School: Outeniqua High School is the winner out of the three competing high schools in the George Municipality’s Energy Sustainability Poster Competition. Here Mayor Van Wyk hands over the winning cheque to principal Christo Vorster (with black jacket). At the back from left are Mphielo Ramotsai, Electrotechnical Directorate, two of the winning learners with the winning poster, Wessel Janse van Rensburg, Marlo Barnard, Art teacher Mari Coetzee and Thabo Yiga, Electrotechnical Directorate. The poster that was made mostly of recycled material says: Power “of” Nature. The “of” word is cleverly formed and hidden into one of the windmills. All the prize-winners are mentioned in the full page advert in the George Herald 10 June 2021.

Text: The George Municipality’s Poster Competition on Energy Sustainability came to an end on Monday 7th June, when the two winning schools in the high school and primary school categories, Outeniqua High School and Outeniqua Primary School were announced and the Mayor of George presented them with their prizes.
Mayor van Wyk was in awe of the standard of work of both the primary and high school learners. He told the learners that he is not only impressed by their artwork but by their thinking. “We are all experiencing the inconvenience of loadshedding. We need to move into other forms of energy by wind, sun and other methods. This is the future of our world and our world is changing rapidly. It is awesome that you are part of that change,” he said.
Van Wyk said to the learners that you are the generation that will use renewable energy and it is great that you had this opportunity to showcase your thoughts. He congratulated the winners and thanked all of the schools that participated and made the competition a success.
The first prize winners (Primary and High School) both received a R5000 stationery voucher. The second prize in the primary school category went to Mzoxolo Primary school who received a R2000 stationery voucher. The third prize winner in the Primary School category is Holy Cross Convent and won a R1000 stationery voucher.
The second prize winner in the High School category is Parkdene High School and won a R1500 stationery voucher. There is no third prize for high schools as there were only 3 participating schools.
In total 10 schools participated, 3 High Schools and 7 Primary Schools. All the learners who participated in the competition received goody bag packages as a token of appreciation. The other schools that participated were Kretzenshoop Primary School, Hibernia Primary School, Dellville Park Primary School, McKinley Reid High School and Thembalethu Primary School.
Thabo Yiga from the Electrotechnical Directorate who drove the project with the other interns at the Directorate, thanked all the ten schools for participating in the George Municipality’s Energy Sustainability Competition. “The posters clearly show that the learners took the competition seriously and worked hard to produce quality work,” Yiga said.
Learners were meant to reflect their understanding of Energy Sustainability in the poster. The posters were judged by effort, art and creativity and message.
Some of the teachers and learners shared their experiences during the competition.
Leoni Selzer, Art teacher at Outeniqua Primary School said the process taught them how very important it is to save the world we live in and it was an incredibly great opportunity for the learners to research their own work and work on their art pieces.
Kyla Nel (12), a grade 6 learner, said she wanted to make people aware that our earth is dying.
Linske Steenkamp (11), also a grade 6 learner, said she drew an eye with the idea to change people’s view on how they saw the world, how we are to fix people’s eyes on the problem we need to solve.
An-Sophie Buchholz (12), a grade 7 pupil, said her painting depicted the earth warming up to the extent that it has a detrimental effect on the survival of wildlife like the polar bear.
Mari Coetzee, Art teacher at Outeniqua High School, said it was important to them to participate in the competition to get our younger generation thinking about preserving nature and thinking of alternative solutions to our energy needs.
Marlo Barnard (16), a grade 11 learner, said it was great coming together as a team, while his teammate, Wessel Janse van Rensburg (17), grade 11, said they are grateful for the opportunity and had loads of fun. They have used recycled paper from old exam books and magazines for the task.
George Municipality is part of the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) programme funded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. The Municipality received grant funding of R4.5 million for the solar PV project at the George Municipality Main Building parking area and part of the requirements is to spend 1% of that grant funding on creating an energy awareness campaign.
Sustainable energy is power which is able to be replenished within a human lifetime and so cause no long-term damage to the environment. Sustainable energy includes all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, biomass, geothermal, wind, wave, tidal and solar energies.

Municipality announces GO GEORGE tariff increase

The George Municipality has announced the annual increase in the GO GEORGE bus fares from 1 July 2021. The increase forms part of the annual municipal tariff adjustments.

Bundles still the best buy
Smart Card trips bought in bundles of 10 or more will increase by only 50c per trip to R10.50 and bundles of less than 10 trips will cost R11.50 per trip (also a 50c increase). The price of single trips increases with R2 to R14. The bundles of 10 trips and more remain the best buy and can save a passenger who travels to work or school and back home five days per week, R110 per month in travel expense, compared to single trips loaded on the card.

Free trips for first-time card buyers
The cost of the Smart Card is R25, with first-time buyers getting two free, preloaded trips when they present a valid form of identification.

Trips loaded on a Smart Card never expire. This means that trips bought before the tariff increase stay valid. Passengers are welcome to buy more trips than usual before the increase to save money but are cautioned to keep their cards safe – if lost or stolen, the trips cannot be transferred to a new card.

For more information, please call the GO GEORGE Call Centre at 0800 044 044, or send an email to info@gogeorge.org.za.
CAPTION:
To stay in line with Covid safety measures, passengers are advised to top up their Smart Cards when kiosks and vendors are not too busy, to avoid long queues and crowding.

Munisipaliteit kondig GO GEORGE-tariefverhoging aan

Die George-munisipaliteit het die jaarlikse verhoging van die GO GEORGE-bustariewe vanaf 1 Julie 2021 bekendgemaak. Hierdie verhoging is deel van die jaarlikse munisipale tariefaanpassings.
Bondels steeds die beste koop
Slimkaartritte wat in bondels van 10 of meer gekoop word sal met slegs 50c per rit verhoog na R10.50 en bondels van minder as 10 ritte sal R11.50 per rit kos (ook ’n 50c-verhoging). Die prys van enkelritte verhoog met R2 na R14. Die bondels van 10 ritte en meer bly die beste koop en kan ’n passasier wat vyf dae per week werk of skool toe en terug huis toe ry, R110 per maand in vervoeruitgawes spaar, vergeleke met enkelritte wat op die kaart gelaai word.
Gratis ritte vir eerstekaartkopers
Die prys van die Slimkaart is R25 met kopers van hul eerste kaart wat twee gratis, voorafgelaaide ritte op die kaart kry indien hulle ‘n geldige bewys van identiteit toon.

Ritte wat op die Slimkaart gelaai is, verval nooit nie. Dit beteken dat ritte wat voor die tariefverhoging gekoop is geldig bly. Passasiers is welkom om voor die verhoging meer ritte as gewoonlik te koop om geld te spaar, maar word gemaan om hul kaarte veilig te hou – indien dit wegraak of gesteel word, kan die ritte nie op ’n nuwe kaart oorgedra word nie.

Vir meer inligting, skakel gerus die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044, of stuur ’n e-pos na info@gogeorge.org.za.
ONDERSKRIF:
Om aan te sluit by Covid-veiligheidsmaatreëls word passasiers aangeraai om hul Slimkaarte te herlaai op tye wanneer die kiosks en herlaaipunte nie te besig is nie. Sodoende kan hulle lang rye en samedromming van mense vermy.

George Municipality has a new business partner, Kathaka RAW Enterprises, on board to combat illegal dumping by providing skips in areas that still need these urgently and to educate communities on how to turn their refuse into money.

Kathaka RAW Enterprises started with a pilot project in Maraiskamp last week as a part of the social responsibility programme, where they used 20 community members and 25 EPWP workers from the Municipality to clean a dumping site on the corner of Kloof and Marlyn Streets. One of the five skips the company made available, was put up at this corner. The company paid each community a small incentive of R5 per bag they filled on the day with recyclables (this arrangement was ONLY for the one day to encourage people to recycle). The other four will be put up at hotspots in Pacaltsdorp, Thembalethu, Conville and Rosemoor.

According to Max Modise, Director of Kathaka RAW Enterprises (PTY)LTD, it was found that 70 % of all South African household waste is recyclable. “People throw money away by dumping electronic waste, plastics, paper, tin, glass bottles and milk cartons.”

Modise thanked the Municipality for agreeing to partner with his company in this endeavour. “As a corporate business citizen of George, we recognise that what we are attempting to do may have been done before, but we would like to do it slightly differently!”

Modise said they are hopeful that they can set the right example and educate the public but also recognise that they will not conquer the scourge of illegal dumping and be able to provide the right alternatives to the communities, if they do not do it as an inclusive partnership.

Executive Mayor of George, Ald Leon van Wyk, said Kathaka RAW is a company who is doing their corporate social responsibility in the communities they are doing business in. The Municipality have entered into a memorandum of understanding from 1 May 2021 for a six month period as part of a corporate social responsibility.

“We commend them for this initiative and encourage other companies to get into business with the Municipality,” Van Wyk said.
Mayor Van Wyk said the community involvement in this project encourages citizens to become active in contributing to making George a better place to live in.

Illegal dumping is still a crime!
What is illegal dumping?
Illegal dumping is anything you throw away in a place where it does not belong.
• If you know who is dumping illegally, report them to 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za or 044 801 6300 (a/h).
• Information that will help the case for a warning or fine: car description and/or registration number, address of alleged perpetrator, type of waste and address of where it was dumped. A cellphone photo of dumping in action will help, but is not essential.
• Report dumped waste for collection to 044 802 2900 or 044 801 6300 (a/h).
ILLEGAL DUMPING IS EVERYBODY’S PROBLEM
If you throw your junk just anywhere, it will eventually become your problem some way or another. It can make you sick or kill you.

Caption: Max Modise, Director of Kathaka Raw Enterprises, Executive Mayor of George Ald Leon van Wyk and Cllr Sean Snyman, Portfolio Councillor for Community Services during the cleanup at the illegal dumping site in Maraikamp.

Allen Paulse was officially appointed Director: Community Services as from 1 May 2021.
Paulse is a qualified attorney and practiced law during his earlier years. He studied at the University of the Western Cape. Paulse has vast experience in managing public institutions and is well known in local government circles for having a great strategic approach in the workplace. He has been Municipal Manager to Oudtshoorn Municipality, Bitou Municipality and Breede Valley Municipality from 2002 until October 2020. He acted in his current position from January 2021.

Georgians would be glad to hear that George is not at all alien to Paulse. He has worked at George Municipality between February 1999 to December 2001 as Deputy to the Town Clerk.

The Community Services Directorate includes Refuse Removal and Waste Management, Libraries, Parks and Recreation, Sport Development, Community Development (Social), Environmental Services and the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) with a total of 235 staff members.

Paulse says he will be applying strategic functioning to the units and sections in the Directorate, without taking away from core functions of each unit. “My overall approach will be to re-align the directorate strategically along core principles relating to people management, financial management and more.
“I will be output driven by way of training motivating and directing my subordinates to optimise work place productivity.” Some of his financial management planning and planning towards quality outputs are already in use.

Paulse says one of his most important tasks will be to replace the culture of mediocracy and complacency with one of productivity and proudness to be part of the Community Services Directorate, through acknowledging and rewarding excellence.

On a personal note, Paulse is married to wife, Adré, and they have 4 children, Dino (deceased), Curnick, Adlen and Iviwe. He hails from Paarl.

Ten schools, seven Primary Schools and three High Schools have confirmed the that they will be taking part in the George Municipality’s POSTER MAKING COMPETITION on the topic of Energy Sustainability. Primary and High Schools were invited to take part in the competition. The idea is for learners to reflect their understanding of Energy Sustainability in the poster.

Interns from the Electrotechnical Services Directorate, who are spearheading the campaign, delivered stationery for the purposes of making the posters to participating schools.
George Municipality is part of the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) programme funded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. The Municipality received grant funding of R4.5 million for the solar pv project at the George Municipality Main Building parking area and part of the requirements is to spend 1% of that grant funding on creating an energy awareness campaign.

The rules of the competition are as follows, the poster should be accompanied by a half page paragraph of text, explaining the message conveyed by the poster. The maximum number of learners allowed to take part in making the poster is 10 learners per school with the aid of 2 teachers. Primary Schools will be competing with each other, as will the High Schools, for fairness. A non-response from a school will be interpreted as not interested.

The selection criteria for the winning poster is as follows: (a) does the message conveyed show the learners understanding of the topic, and is it factually correct? (b) is the poster neat, organised and well presented?

The finished poster can be dropped off at the George Municipality Electrotechnical Services Office in 16 Brick Road, George Industria, 6529. Alternatively, the schools can call the judges on the following numbers 044 801 9255 / 044 801 9221 and the poster entries will be collected. Please ensure that each poster is clearly marked on the back with the name of the school, name of the teacher, name of the pupil, age of the pupil and grade as well as the contact details for the school. Unmarked posters will unfortunately not be judged.
The closing date for the competition is the 21st of May 2021.

George Municipality will retain the posters on completion of the competition. Enquiries about the competition can be send to Thabo Yiga on tyiga@george.gov.za

The winning school will receive a prize to the value of R5 000, and the winning poster will be advertised in the George Herald Newspaper. All participating learners will receive goody bags as tokens of appreciation.

Sustainable energy is power which is able to be replenished within a human lifetime and so cause no long-term damage to the environment. Sustainable energy includes all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, biomass, geothermal, wind, wave, tidal and solar energies.
The schools taking part in the competition are: Mzoxolo Primary School, Parkdene High School, Hibernia Primary School,
Holy Primary School, Dellville Park Primary School, McKinley Reid High School,Thembalethu Primary School, Kretzenshoop Primary School and
Outeniqua Primary School and Outeniqua High School.

Caption Mari Coetzee, teacher at Outeniqua High School receives stationery from Mphielo Ramotsamai (Electrotechnical Services Directorate: George Municipality).

Activities at George Libraries

Captions:
1. World book day: Youngsters enjoyed a story hour at Conville Library on World Book Day on 23 April. With them are George Mayor, Leon van Wyk (in the grey jacket), who popped in after the session to meet and greet everyone and Cllr Sean Snyman, Portfolio Councillor for Community Services (in the white shirt). Some of the library staff members dressed up as book characters. The Mayor had a full programme with the youngsters and read to them himself.

2. Garelene Muller, Children’s Librarian at George Library, demonstrates and reads to children from the Association of Disabled People using a wordless picture book during the demonstration at the Conville Library.

3. George Library obtained a valuable set of reference material when bird enthusiast and author, Peter Ginn, donated his latest glossy, full colour double-volume guide for birding enthusiasts to the library. From left are Peter Ginn, Cllr Sean Snyman, Portfolio Councillor for Community Services and Malibongwe Luyenge, Senior Librarian at George Library, at the handover at Conville Library recently.

4. Staff members of George Library Service completed a Book sharing for Families week training during April 2021 at Pacaltsdorp Library. From left with their Certificates are Anneli Booysen (library assistant), Annidean Kramer (EPWP Worker), Sakhile Zungu (of Mikhulu Trust Foundation) and Petro Ruiters (George Library). At the back are Freddie Rheeder (George Library, library assistant) and the Facilitator of the Training, Rosslyn Damon of the Seven Passes Initiative.

VANDALISED BUS SHELTERS REPAIRED AT HUGE COST

Repair work to vandalised GO GEORGE bus shelters is currently in process all over town after a budget provision of R1,3 million has been made available by the George Municipality for this purpose.
Of the 124 shelters already put up at bus stops, 92% have been damaged structurally by breaking the glass or laminate panels, while vinyl stickers with passenger information inside the shelters need to be replaced continuously when torn down or defaced by graffiti.

The glass side panel of the bus shelters seem to be targeted most by vandals. After extensive research and testing, an even stronger, shatterproof glass is now being used in replacements, as well as in new shelters being erected. The glass panels were chosen for safety reasons to ensure visibility of passengers inside the shelter, as well as passengers’ need to see oncoming buses.

If all goes according to plan, the current repair work will be completed before winter sets in, to provide shelter during cold and wet weather conditions. The budget does not make provision for new damage, which has to be discouraged and curbed at all cost.
Call for public’s help

GO GEORGE Manager, James Robb, says the community’s support is needed to help turn around the habit of destruction. “By vandalising and damaging these structures, the culprits deprive their own communities of the facilities. Investigation, putting out tenders and executing repair work on damaged shelters take time, and until this is concluded, passengers are the victims who are inconvenienced and exposed to the elements,” he said. “The same goes for the senseless stoning of GO GEORGE buses. Taking buses out of service for repairs reduces the level of service we are aiming to provide, when passengers have to wait longer for their bus to arrive or have to use a bus carrying more passengers than they feel safe to join.”

George Acting Municipal Manager, Dr Michelle Gratz, has spoken out strongly against this criminal conduct. “Three men have been arrested recently after being caught red-handed, breaking the rear window of a bus. The Municipality has a zero-tolerance approach to criminality, but we need the public to come forward if they have information that can help us bring these perpetrators to justice. Take a photo if you can, and please phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre at 0800 044 044 with information about what happened, where and when it happened, and who did it.”

CAPTION:
The glass side panel of the bus shelters seem to be targeted most by vandals. Here, workers are replacing glass panels at a bus stop in Knysna Road. After extensive research and testing, a stronger, shatterproof glass is now being used in replacements, as well as in new shelters being erected.

GEVANDALISEERDE BUSSKUILINGS HERSTEL TEEN GROOT KOSTE

Herstelwerk aan gevandaliseerde GO GEORGE-busskuilings is tans oral in die dorp aan die gang nadat ‘n begrotingsvoorsiening van R1,3 miljoen vir dié doel deur die George-munisipaliteit beskikbaar gestel is.
Van die 124 skuilings wat reeds by bushaltes opgerig is, is 92% struktureel beskadig deur die glas of gelamineerde panele te breek, terwyl vinielplakkers met passasiersinligting binne die skuilings voortdurend vervang moet word wanneer dit deur graffiti bederf of afgeskeur word.

Die glas-kantpaneel van die busskuilings blyk die meeste geteiken te word deur vandale. Ná uitgebreide navorsing en toetsing word ‘n nog sterker, breekvaste glas nou in vervangings gebruik, asook in nuwe skuilings wat opgerig word. Die glaspanele is om veiligheidsredes gekies om sigbaarheid van passasiers in die skuiling te verseker, asook om passasiers in staat te stel om aankomende busse te sien.

As alles volgens plan verloop, sal die huidige herstelwerk voltooi word voordat die winter begin om skuiling te verskaf tydens koue en nat weerstoestande. Die begroting maak nie voorsiening vir nuwe skade nie, wat ten alle koste ontmoedig en bekamp moet word.
Oproep vir publiek se hulp

GO GEORGE-bestuurder James Robb sê die gemeenskap se ondersteuning is nodig om te help om die gewoonte van vernietiging en vernielsug om te keer. “Deur hierdie strukture te vandaliseer en te beskadig, ontneem die skuldiges hul eie gemeenskappe van die fasiliteite. Om ondersoeke, die uitgee van tenders en herstelwerk aan beskadigde skuilings uit te voer, neem tyd, en totdat dit afgehandel is, is passasiers die slagoffers wat ongerief verduur en blootgestel word aan die elemente,” het hy gesê. “Dieselfde geld vir die sinnelose klipgooiery na GO GEORGE-busse. Om busse uit diens te neem vir herstelwerk verminder die vlak van diens wat ons poog om te voorsien wanneer passasiers langer moet wag vir hul bus om op te daag, of ‘n bus te moet gebruik wat meer passasiers dra as wat hulle veilig voel om mee saam te ry.”

George se waarnemende munisipale bestuurder, dr Michelle Gratz, het haar sterk uitgespreek teen hierdie kriminele gedrag. “Drie mans is onlangs in hegtenis geneem nadat hulle op heterdaad betrap is terwyl hulle die agterste venster van ‘n bus breek. Die munisipaliteit het ‘n zero-verdraagsaamheidsbeleid teenoor misdaad, maar ons het die publiek nodig om na vore te kom as hulle inligting het wat ons kan help om hierdie oortreders aan die pen te laat ry. Neem ‘n foto as jy kan, en skakel asseblief die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 met inligting oor wat gebeur het, waar en wanneer dit gebeur het, en wie het dit gedoen.”
Byskrif:
Die glas-kantpaneel van die busskuilings blyk die meeste geteiken word deur vandale. Hier vervang werkers glaspanele by ‘n bushalte in Knysnaweg. Ná uitgebreide navorsing en toetsing word ‘n sterker, breekvaste glas nou in vervangings gebruik, asook in nuwe skuilings wat opgerig word.

MEDIA STATEMENT: Live Conferencing Webinar focuses on reigniting local Tourism
Issued 19 April 2021

Over one hundred local entrepreneurs attended George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism’s first ever live conferencing webinar, aimed at rejuvenating local tourism. The conference took place on the 13th to the 15th of April. Attendees included hotel, guest house and restaurant owners, as well as activity providers and tour operators. Fourteen speakers representing local, national, and international travel brands delivered up-to-date research, designed to help local tourism operators boost their bookings. Delegates participated in the virtual conference on Zoom and were able to interact with an array of speakers from ATTA, Expedia, South African Tourism, George Municipality, Wesgro and Thompsons Holidays.

The host and moderator for the webinar was Dirk Wessels, the portfolio councillor for Strategic Services. Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager of George Municipality, opened the conference by encouraging local businesses to “take George into a new era, together”. She emphasised the need for collaboration and partnership between local businesses in making the region a strong travel destination.

On Wednesday the 14th of April, award-winning tour operator, Thompsons Holidays, indicated that they are currently looking for tourism product partners in George and Wilderness, affording a rare opportunity for products to go into the consideration pool with the wholesale giant. Trudie Jacobs, Senior Product and Operations Manager with Thompsons, went on to explain what qualities tour operators search for when looking to add local hotels and activities to their Garden Route portfolio. Jacobs provided a wealth of advice to tourism business owners on how to boost their businesses. She recommended collaboration with other local businesses to produce creative package deals that include accommodation and activities.

“Exceptional value-added packages can be created around special holidays, including Mother’s Day, youth packages for school holidays or Women’s Month,” said Jacobs. She further advised business owners to focus on domestic travellers by modifying their pricing and adopting flexible cancellation policies.

“International tourists are dreaming of their next holiday to South Africa,” according to Gillaume Massey, of the Expedia Group in UAE and Africa. The Senior Business Development Manager shared global market research insights to help George grab a larger share of the tourism market. Massey described evidence of a large increase in online searches for flights to South Africa. He further described the major international trend towards ‘last-minute travel’ and had good news for tourism when he revealed that international travellers are starting to trickle back to South Africa, currently booking for July 2021. He added that many travellers are now spending 3 to 4 times more on their international holidays than before lockdown.

Massey advised local tourism operators to inspire potential travellers; “Tourists are seeking rejuvenation,” he said, “there is a huge demand for holidays which offer rest, relaxation and a focus on mental health”. Gil Massey also advised local tourism providers to ensure that their marketing material provides strong reassurance to potential travellers of COVID safety protocols.

On Thursday the 15th of April, Monika Iuel, the new CMO at WESGRO, shared an overview of the Remote Working, Remote Living campaign’s results to date, as well as highlighting the safetravels.capetown website. Ilse van Schalkwyk described the Western Cape’s Tourism Blueprint 2030. The Chief Director of Economic Sector Support for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism said the ten-year strategy is designed to stimulate tourism throughout the region. She advised local tourism providers to focus on branding the Garden Route as an ‘active outdoor region’. Van Schalkwyk had welcome news when she announced that George has been identified as a secondary business hub for the Western Cape. It is set to benefit from a growing business events industry and attract investment for a large conference facility.

Note:
Tourism establishments interested in partnering with Thompsons should email George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism to get in touch with Trudie Jacobs, the Senior Product and Operations Manager: marketing@visitgeorge.co.za