Author: Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe

George Municipality Showcases Commitment to World-Class Service Delivery

The George Municipality has once again underscored its dedication to providing high-quality service delivery to both citizens and visitors during the recent festive season. A Municipal-led multi-stakeholder Festive Season Monitoring Committee, conducting daily meetings from December 1, 2023, to January 8, 2024, played a central role in planning and evaluating operations throughout the festive season.

Attended by municipal and external stakeholders such as NSRI, SANParks, and others, the daily committee meetings aimed to assess available resources, identify potential risks, and implement action plans to address these risks, ensuring a smooth experience for holidaymakers. The municipality’s objective was to maintain consistent service delivery during this bustling period, keeping George running efficiently.

Alderman Leon van Wyk, the Executive Mayor of George, expressed commendation for the tireless efforts of officials in ensuring effective service delivery during the festive season. He extended gratitude to all municipal departments, stakeholders, fellow councillors who dedicated their time to monitor the festive season, and Municipal Manager Dr Michele Gratz for her exceptional leadership.

As the traditional New Year and New Year’s Eve events approach, George Municipality’s integrated services are geared up for all possibilities. Our disaster management team is actively monitoring the situation, including the anticipated rainy weather that may lead to floods.

Approximately 1000 people visited the beaches on Christmas afternoon. We are prepared for the expected crowds during the coming weekend.

Ensuring the safety of our visitors and residents remains our top priority during this Festive Season. Beach monitors and law enforcement officials are patrolling the beaches, addressing any incidents that may arise. They are actively searching for and confiscating any alcohol found, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy. They are also ensuring compliance with regulations, including no dogs or other animals on Blue Flag beaches. The public is reminded that the setting off of fireworks is prohibited in the George Municipal Area and offenders will be fined.

With three beaches holding full Blue Flag status, one with pilot Blue Flag status, and one Green Coast Award, visitors can be assured of high standards and safe, clean beaches. All teams are working collaboratively to meet Blue Flag requirements.

To enhance traffic management, additional wardens are deployed, implementing a drop-and-go system at all beaches to streamline parking. Additional cleaning staff are ensuring pristine beaches and clean facilities. Well-trained and equipped lifesavers are stationed at the beaches.

Daily management meetings address any arising matters, reflecting our commitment to service delivery. George Municipality aims to welcome visitors with open arms, benefiting local businesses and the economy.

PUBLIC NOTICE: Drop-off/pick-up points for private and public transport vehicles on beaches on 1 and 2 January 2024

To minimise traffic congestion, the George Municipality has made alternative arrangements for the drop-off and pick-up of large groups of passengers by public transport vehicles (taxis and buses) and/or private vehicles.

George traffic officers and point service officers will be in place to ensure the smooth flow of traffic as far as possible. Traffic controllers will assist with general parking as well as at the designated drop-and-go/pick-up areas at all beaches. Clear directions are in place. These arrangements are made for the safety of all public transport users and pedestrians.

VICTORIA BAY: 1 and 2 January 2024: 07:00 – 18:00
Pick-up:
All public transport vehicles (taxis and buses): At the upper parking area at stop sign on the left where you enter Victoria Bay.
Private vehicles: Drop-and-go circle at the boom, until officials indicate otherwise.
Drop-off: Drop-and-go circle at the boom, until officials indicate otherwise.

HEROLDS BAY: 1 and 2 January 2024: 06:00 – 18:00
Drop-and-go/pick-up points at the caravan food stalls and on the left side of the public toilet facilities.
No public transport vehicles, including buses and taxis, may park at the main parking area overlooking the sea.
Motorists are also allowed to park on the sides of the R404 road, provided they are completely off the road and do not create any obstruction.

WILDERNESS BEACH: 1 and 2 January 2024: 07:00 – 18:00
All public transport vehicles, (taxis and buses): Wilderness common drop-off point and parking area
ONLY private vehicles, the elderly and persons with disabilities: Wilderness Main beach drop-and-go point.

Map key:
Yellow arrows indicate parking areas.
Purple arrows indicate beach access.
Red stars indicate location of lifeguards.
Red triangle indicates that area/access is closed.
Green arrow indicates drop-and-go point for public, elderly people, and persons with disabilities.
Blue arrow indicates public transport drop-off/pick-up point (taxis and buses).

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OPENBARE KENNISGEWING: Aflaai-en-ry / oplaaipunte vir privaat en openbare vervoer-voertuie op strande op 1 en 2 Januarie 2024

Om te verseker dat verkeersopeenhopings tot die minimum beperk word, het die George-munisipaliteit alternatiewe reëlings getref vir die af- en oplaai van groot groepe passasiers deur openbare vervoer-voertuie (taxi’s en busse) en/of private voertuie.

George-verkeersbeamptes en puntdiensbeamptes sal in plek wees om die gladde vloei van verkeer so ver moontlik te verseker. Verkeersbeheerders sal help met algemene parkering sowel as by die aangewese aflaai-en-ry / oplaaigebiede by alle strande. Duidelike aanwysings is in plek. Hierdie reëlings word getref ter wille van die veiligheid van alle openbare vervoergebruikers en voetgangers.

VICTORIABAAI: 1 en 2 Januarie 2024: 07:00 – 18:00
Oplaai:
Alle openbare vervoer-voertuie (taxi’s en busse): By die boonste parkeerarea by stopteken aan die linkerkant waar u Victoriabaai binnekom.
Privaat voertuie: Aflaai-en-ry-sirkel by die valhek, totdat beamptes anders aandui.
Aflaai: Aflaai-en-ry-sirkel by die valhek, totdat beamptes anders aandui.

HEROLDSBAAI: 1 en 2 Januarie 2024: 06:00 – 18:00
Aflaai-en-ry / oplaaipunte by die karavaankosstalletjies en aan die linkerkant van die openbare toiletgeriewe
Geen openbare-vervoervoertuie, insluitend busse en taxi’s, mag by die hoofparkeerarea wat op die see uitkyk, parkeer nie.
Motoriste mag ook aan die kante van die R404-pad parkeer, mits hulle heeltemal van die pad af is en geen versperring veroorsaak nie.

WILDERNIS-STRAND: 1 en 2 Januarie 2023: 07:00 – 18:00
Alle openbare-vervoervoertuie, (taxi’s en busse): Wildernis se gemeenskaplike aflaaipunt en parkeerarea (Wilderness common)
SLEGS privaat voertuie, bejaardes en persone met gestremdhede: Wildernis hoof-strand aflaai-en-ry-punt.

Kaartsleutel:
Geel pyle dui parkeerareas aan.
Pers pyle dui toegang tot strand aan.
Rooi sterre dui ligging van lewensredders aan.
Rooi driehoek dui aan dat area / toegang gesluit is.
Groen pyl dui aflaai-en-ry-punt vir publiek, bejaardes en persone met gestremdhede aan.
Blou pyl dui aflaai- /oplaaipunt vir openbare vervoer (taxi’s en busse) aan.

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ISAZISO SIKAWONKE-WONKE: Ukwehla nokuHamba (Drop and Go) / iindawo zokuQokelela kwiZithuthi zaBucala kunye nezoThutho lukaWonke-wonke elunxwemeni ngomhla 1 & 2 Januwari 2024

Ukuqinisekisa ukuba ingxinano yezothutho iyathotywa, uMasipala waseGeorge wenze amanye amalungiselelo okwehlisa kunye nokuqokelelwa kwabakhweli beZithuthi zikaWonke-wonke (kuquka neeTaxi) kunye/okanye izithuthi zabucala.
Amagosa ezendlela eGeorge kunye nama Points-man aza kube ekhona ukuqinisekisa ukuhamba kakuhle kwezithuthi kangangoko. Abalawuli bezendlela bancedisa kwindawo yokupaka jikelele kunye nakwiindawo ezichongiweyo ze-Drop and Go / Collection kuzo zonke iilwandle. Iimpawu ezicacileyo zikhona. La malungiselelo enziwa ngeenjongo zokhuseleko loluntu olusebenzisa izithuthi zikawonke-wonke kunye nabahambi ngeenyawo.

IVictoria Bay: 1 & 2 Januwari 2024: 07:00 – 18:00
Ukukhwela:
Zonke izithuthi zikawonke-wonke (iiteksi kunye neebhasi): Kuphawu lokumisa olusekhohlo kwindawo yokumisa izithuthi ephezulu xa ungena eVictoria Bay.
Izithuthi zabucala: Kwisangqa sokwehla-ukhwelise kwisango elilawulwa yibhum, ade amagosa anike eminye imiyalelo.
Ukwehlisa: Kwisangqa sokwehla-ukhwelise kwisango elilawulwa yibhum, ade amagosa anike eminye imiyalelo.

Herold’s Bay: 1 & 2 Januwari 2024: 06:00 – 18:00
Iindawo zokuLahla kunye nokuHamba / zokuQokelelwa zikwindawo yokutyela yeKharavani kwaye ngasekhohlo kwendawo yokuGcina uLuntu.
Akukho ziThuthi zoThutho lukaWonke-wonke kuquka iiteksi neebhasi ezivumelekileyo ukuba zipake kwindawo yokupaka ejongene nolwandle.
Abaqhubi nabo bavumelekile ukuba bapake kwincam yendlela i-R404 engena kunxweme lolwandle ukuba ngaba baphumile ngokupheleleyo endleleni kwaye ababangeli mqobo.

Wilderness Beach: 1 & 2 Januwari 2024: 07:00 – 18:00
Zonke iZithuthi zoThutho lukaWonke-wonke kuquka iiteksi neebhasi: I-Wilderness Common Drop kunye ne-Go/Ndawo yokuqokelelwa
Izithuthi zabucala, abaDala kunye nabakhubazekileyo KUPHELA: I-Wilderness Main beach Drop and Go

Imephu ilivo:
Iintolo ezityheli(Yellow) zibonisa iindawo zokuPaka.
Iintolo ezimfusa (Purple) zibonisa uFikelelo eLwandle
Iinkwenkwezi eziBomvu(Red) zibonisa Indawo yabaKhuseli bokuphila
Unxantathu obomvu. Indawo / Ufikelelo luvaliwe.
Utolo oluluhlaza(Green) lubonisa UKULAHLA kunye ne-HAMBA kuluntu kunye naBakhulileyo nabaKhubazekileyo.
Utolo oluBlue lubonisa ukuLahla kunye nokuya kwiiteksi neebhasi. Amanqaku okuqokelelwa kweeTaxi.

At the beginning of December, the George Municipality excitedly announced the switching on of Christmas Lights through a lights Festival that took place in Pacaltsdorp, an event that helps create a festive atmosphere throughout the Festive Season. Sadly, some of the lights, particularly in York Street in the George CBD, and at the Unity Park Circle, have been vandalised. Not only have the power lines been vandalized, but also the controller unit, which makes the repair work more costly for the Municipality and can take longer to repair.

The Municipality’s Electrotechnical Department Services has already started the repair work and replacement of the vandalised material.

The Municipality urges the members of the public to refrain from destroying their property. Vandalism is a crime and ultimately costs ratepayers’ money. Please report people tampering, painting, breaking, or stealing municipal property to the SAPS and George Municipality Law Enforcement (044 801 6350 or 044 801 6300 after hours) as soon as you see it happening. If you can take pictures of the culprits in the act without endangering yourself, it will help a lot. Thank you in advance for helping us protect our infrastructure.

Reward
George Municipality offers an amount of R2500 as a reward for information that leads to the successful conviction of vandalism in a court of law. The witness will have to go on record with the authorities, giving his/her name and contact details to testify, but his/her identity will be protected. Report to 0860 044 044 to be eligible for the reward.

In the photo: Beach monitors

In a proactive measure to enhance safety along its beaches, George Municipality proudly announces the recruitment of 38 dedicated Beach Monitors. These monitors will play a pivotal role in supporting the Municipal Law Enforcement teams, fostering a safer environment for both residents and visitors during the festive season.

The Beach Monitors undergo briefing every morning to be ready for the daily actions and attend to any problems to ensure a secure and enjoyable beach experience for everyone. Their primary responsibilities include monitoring and maintaining order along the beachfront, responding to incidents, and assisting law enforcement initiatives.

George Municipality remains steadfast in its dedication to providing a secure and welcoming atmosphere for beachgoers. The Beach Monitors serve as valuable additions to the municipality’s efforts to promote safety and enjoyment at its beaches.

George Municipality is thrilled to announce the expansion of its solar power initiative for traffic lights, marking the successful installation of solar panels in Pacaltsdorp. This comes on the heels of the initial pilot project in Knysna Road and the Witfontein Road intersection in Blanco.

The solar panels are designed to charge batteries and supply excess energy to power traffic lights, contributing to sustainability and reducing the municipality’s carbon footprint. This initiative aligns with George Municipality’s commitment to green processes and resource efficiency.

George Municipality remains committed to exploring additional opportunities for integrating renewable energy into its infrastructure projects, contributing to the creation of a more sustainable and eco-friendly city.