Author: Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe

It’s story time at George Libraries
George libraries are looking forward to celebrating library week from the 20th until the 26th of March 2023. The theme for this year is Libraries – telling powerful stories.

The art of storytelling is as old as humankind itself. Irrespective of the type of story, whether it is fiction, biographical, dramatic, poetic, oral or in writing, each one of us has a story to tell. These stories transfer knowledge and traditions, put the spotlight on unsung heroes, and uplift, educate and inspire people. Since the days gone by, libraries have been central in collecting, preserving, storing, promoting, and encouraging millions of people to become aware of and enjoy these stories with the aim to understand how other people think, operate and live.

The 4IR has shifted the landscape and how we tell these stories which have contributed to global knowledge, memory, and communication. Despite the challenges that libraries are facing, libraries have persevered and continue to add to the good stories that they tell. George Libraries are opening its doors for a week of fun and laughter, drama and entertainment, as we invite all our communities to enjoy Library Week with us. Our library staff understand the power and effect stories have and plays in the lives of people.

George Library has already made plans to visit and share powerful stories at the following venues:
Below is the itinerary for George Public Library:
• Carpe Diem school on the 22nd of March at 11:00 am- 12:00 pm
• On the 23rd of March, at George preparatory at 11:00
• and Friday the 24th of March at Olympia

Come join us for a poetry workshop on 21 March 2023 on World Poetry Day (time: 18h00 until 20h00)

More Library Week Activities – 20-26 March 2023
Blanco Library

20 March 2023
• Activity Children from Kretzenshoop primary read out of a selection of children’s storybooks.
• Golden oldies and the community are welcome for tea and refreshments

22 March 2023
Board games face painting by 6 – 10-year primary children

23 March 2023
• Golden oldies and the public will be invited to listen to an informative session on social issues in the community by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
• Story hour at Born to Win for Library Week.
24 March 2023
• Worldbuilding and Spelling competition by grade 5 students.

Conville Library
Visits Primary Schools to promote telling your own story competition.

Pacaltsdorp – Library week program
Mystery book competition during library week
• Covered Book paper a short review will be subtracted from the book and the patron will be asked to read the book and return it on 22/03/2023 to win library related prize.
• Math Olympiad recruiting of 9 students – 3 of each School in Pacaltsdorp
• All learners in grade 7- The programme will run over a 4-week period (orientation of program will be in library week.

Thembalethu Library
Library week from 20 – 23 March 2023

20 March 2023
• Launch
• Registration – Write your own story
• Save water Presentation – 11H00 – 13H00
22 March 2023
• Take the High schools to Robben Island (They will be visiting the library with their outreach program. /History of Thembalethu by Mr Castro Leholo

23 March 2023
• Services rendered by Library – for Crèche Teachers in Thembalethu

24 March 23
• Story hour -11H00 – 12H00
• Story reading competition 14H00 – 16H00
• Official opening of the Library of the Blind at Thembalethu Library

Ends.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk during his visit to the Workers Collection Point (WCP) on Tuesday, 14 March 2023 pleaded to employers in George and to people looking for employment to fully utilise this facility that was established for private individuals and businesses to utilise it as a central point for those who wish to employ temporary workers and for job seekers to avail themselves for employment opportunities.

The Municipality wants to emphasize that the Workers Collection Point, which is situated on Industrial Street, in George Industrial, is the only authorised place for job seekers and for pick-up of job seekers. The WCP is staffed by officials from the George Municipality’s Economic Development Department. What makes the WCP reliable and safe for both job seekers and employers it is run professionally with the registration of job seekers capturing their personal information such as their names, identification documents and address as well as details of the employers to ensure adequate management of the whole process.

Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk meets job seekers at the Workers’ Collection Point during his visit.

Mayor van Wyk visited the centre to ascertain its functionality after it has been closed temporarily last year. The Municipality was unfortunately compelled to temporarily close the Workers Collection Point (WCP) in August 2022 due to ongoing safety challenges and concern for the well-being of the staff. Following a risk assessment that was conducted and addressed at the facility, the George Municipality is happy to announce that the workers’ collection point services have resumed since February this year. However, the Municipality notice that there has been a low number of both job seekers and especially the employers.

Alderman van Wyk appeals to the community of George to make use of this facility. “We are busy re-launching the whole Workers Collection Point program, so in other words, we’ve got workers who come to this point and are looking for work. They may well be painters they may well be in the construction industry; they could be drivers; they could be general workers.”

We appeal to employers not to look around for workers, but to come to the Workers Collection Point; it’s fully operational, and professionally run. Companies and businesses who are looking for workers that they might need on a temporary basis can come and collect them and come and select them,” Ald van Wyk added.

Ongeziwe Mthongwana (Local Economic Development official), Alderman Leon van Wyk (Executive Mayor of George), Portfolio Councillor Dirk Wessels (Financial & Strategic Services), Dr Kosie Haarhoff (Deputy Director for Strategic Growth and Development and Kelvin Abrahams (Local Economic Development Official). 

“We are also busy building a profile; a little CV of each of these workers and we hope to include this on our municipal app and also to try and get a check on how everybody has worked at the end of the day so that we can start building a more permanent career for each of these people. So, we would love our citizens and our businesses and our companies to join us and participate in this scheme so that we can make sure that our citizens have work thank you.”

George Municipality has successfully run the facility for more than five years and has proved to be a huge success. In the past, many of the work seekers have secured longer-term work (e.g., 2-week contracts) and several permanent positions have also materialised.  The demand for skilled labour (e.g., bricklayers and carpenters) often outweighed the supply of these skills at the facility.

It’s a thumbs-up for the Workers Collection Point as it is the only authorised place for job seekers and for pick-up of job seekers. Mayor van Wyk, Councillor Dirk Wessels and Local Economic Development officials meet the job seekers at the Workers Collection Point.

The WCP is situated at 12 Industrial Street, George Industrial and operates between 07:45 and 15:00, Monday to Friday. It is staffed by the following two officials from the Planning and Development Department

Kevin Abrahams, Email: kabrahams@george.gov.za  and Ongeziwe Mthongwana, Email: omthongwana@george.gov.za For enquiries, please phone the office on 044 801 9173.

ENDS.

George Municipal Tourism Manager, Joan Shaw, attended Meetings Africa 2023 from 27 February to 2 March 2023 at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg. Business meetings were pre-arranged with more than 30 buyers and business event organisers, over three days where George, Wilderness and Uniondale were positioned as the perfect destination to host small, medium, and large business events.

This is part of the strategy that George Tourism has adopted since the Covid pandemic, to attract more business through groups and events, and this has paid off as George’s recovery has been phenomenal to date, with many events taking place every month.

Joan met event and conference organisers, as well as tour operators that deal in both group and leisure travellers in the foreign individual travel (FIT) markets, and although the objective was to focus on the Garden Route’s Traditional markets of Germany and the United Kingdom, appointments with George were sought after by buyers from more than 10 counties including the United States of America, France, Turkey, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Russia. The keen interest from the United States can be ascribed to the direct flights from that continent now flying to Cape Town.

Joan Shaw said “Meetings Africa exists to provide a platform for exhibitors to showcase their offerings to International and local buyers, African associations, and corporate planners. It is a formidable platform to meet face-to-face with the most influential buyers in the world, and to be part of South Africa and ultimately George’s tourism and economic growth.”

Meetings Africa, owned by South African Tourism, serves as the primary platform to enable the growth of the business events industry on the continent. George attended on the Wesgro platform, making it more cost-effective for the destination to participate.

Joan Shaw said “Meetings Africa exists to provide a platform for exhibitors to showcase their offerings to International and local buyers, African associations, and corporate planners. It is a formidable platform to meet face-to-face with the most influential buyers in the world, and to be part of South Africa and ultimately George’s tourism and economic growth.”

Ends.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk was a panellist at the Western Cape Premier Alan Winde’s weekly Digicon on Thursday, 9 March 2023 to feature and discuss the Municipality’s plans for becoming energy resilient and other related initiatives.

This was Premier Winde’s second digital media briefing of a string of upcoming weekly briefings on energy-related issues and George was the first municipality invited to address Digicon. A special focus this week was on the George Municipality’s energy projects. Mayor van Wyk was accompanied by the Municipal Manager of George, Dr Michele Gratz and the George Municipality’s Director for Electrotechnical Services, Mr Bongani Mandla.

Mayor van Wyk spoke about the Municipal intentions on Energy efficiency and demand management through reduction of own consumption, Self-generation (Municipal and private) Small scale energy wheeling, enabling Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) and restructuring of tariffs.

“We are extremely proud to have had the opportunity, as George Municipality to be able to present on the Digicon that was hosted by the Premier of the Western Cape,” said Mayor van Wyk. “It is important that local municipalities do look and see what they can do to assist their citizens in fighting off the effects of load-shedding, and these are major effects on all municipalities and we are very glad that we’ve been able to share work that we are doing in combatting this issue, and let’s all work together to see what we can do to sort out this problem and the challenges the lie ahead.”

Premier Winde also expressed his appreciation of the George Municipality’s willingness to share its energy plans. “I would like to thank George Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk, for joining our #EnergyDigicon today. I am committed to ensuring that the Western Cape Government works tirelessly to mitigate the devastating effects of rolling blackouts in our province.

For a recording of the latest Digicon, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/live/SpBdggu90d0?feature=share

Ends.

The George Municipality has prepared a contingency plan consisting of integrated multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary services within the George Municipality including Uniondale, to respond and implement measures aimed at disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response, to the predicted heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms from Saturday night to Monday morning.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a weather warning of severe thunderstorms on Sunday, 05 March 2023 from 00h00 to 23h59. “Orange Level 6 warning for Severe Thunderstorms resulting in heavy downpours, strong damaging winds and flash flooding leading to damage to infrastructure are expected in the Overberg and Garden Route districts on Sunday,” SAWS announced.

Affected areas are: Bitou, Cape Agulhas, George, Hessequa, Kannaland, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Overstrand, Swellendam and Theewaterskloof. The George Municipality disaster management, Community Services, Planning and Human Settlements, traffic Services, Civil Engineering and Technical Services are on high alert to respond to heavy downpours and severe thunderstorms. The SAWS forecast the rainfall accumulation of 70-100mm and strong and gusty winds (50-60 km/h, gusting 70-80km), excessive lighting and large amounts of small hail (1-2 in diameter) can be expected in the mentioned districts.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk has meanwhile contacted Eskom to request a possible relief from load shedding during the night, as part of George Municipality’s preparations for the expected heavy rainstorm later on Saturday, into Sunday and Monday morning. “Load shedding has a great potential to affect work by emergency services and citizens living in vulnerable areas and circumstances. We trust that ESKOM will provide exemption from loadshedding during the night should the situation warrants it.” Mayor van Wyk said.

The Municipality appeals to residents to be alert and cautious. If possible, stay off the roads. Remain indoors and away from metal objects. If on the road avoid flooded areas and rivers, be ready to move to higher ground if necessary. Remember to keep pets safe. Watch the George Municipal social media pages, website and local media for updated information.

Important contact detail for emergencies:

Switchboard: 801 9111 (7.45 am-4.30 pm)
AFTER-HOURS AND EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6300
FIRE EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6311

Fire and Rescue: 044 801 6311 or 044 801 6300
Law Enforcement: 044 801 6350/89

UNIONDALE
Fire: 044 752 1225
Switchboard and fault reporting: 044 752 1024

Ends.

Following the bombing of a GO GEORGE bus this past week, George Municipality and the Western Cape Government have resolved to combine resources in offering a financial reward to help bring the perpetrators to book.

George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, strongly condemned the incident in Pacaltsdorp where a petrol bomb was thrown into a bus carrying passengers. Final figures confirm that 11 passengers have been taken to hospital by ambulance – eight of them have been treated for burn wounds of whom two have been admitted to hospital. The SA Police Service is investigating the incident.

“We are abhorred at the atrocious act and want to see those responsible meet the full brunt of the law,” Van Wyk said. “We need the cooperation of the community to come forward with any information that could lead to the conviction of these persons. We cannot and will not allow this type of action to jeopardise the safety of our residents and the operations of our much needed public bus service.”

People with information regarding the attack should phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044. Call Centre agents will notify the designated person(s) to return the call and take down information which will be treated with the utmost confidence. Take note that only information that leads to conviction will be considered for the reward.

Ends.

PERSVERKLARING: BELONING AANGEBIED VIR INLIGTING OOR BUS-BOMGOOIERS

Ná die bomaanval op ‘n GO GEORGE-bus die afgelope week het George-munisipaliteit en die Wes-Kaapse regering besluit om hulpbronne te kombineer om ‘n finansiële beloning aan te bied om die oortreders aan die pen te laat ry.

George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk, het die voorval in Pacaltsdorp waar ‘n petrolbom in ‘n bus met passasiers gegooi is, ten sterkste veroordeel. Finale syfers bevestig dat 11 passasiers per ambulans hospitaal toe geneem is – agt van hulle is vir brandwonde behandel van wie twee opgeneem is in die hospitaal. Die SA Polisiediens ondersoek die voorval.

“Ons verafsku die gruwelike daad en wil sien dat diegene wat verantwoordelik is, met die volle impak van die reg kennis maak,” het Van Wyk gesê. “Ons het die samewerking van die gemeenskap nodig om na vore te kom met enige inligting wat tot die skuldigbevinding van hierdie persone kan lei. Ons kan en sal nie toelaat dat hierdie tipe optrede die veiligheid van ons inwoners en die bedrywighede van ons broodnodige openbare busdiens in gevaar stel nie.”

Mense met inligting oor die aanval moet die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 skakel. Die agente sal die aangewese persoon in kennis stel om die oproep te beantwoord en inligting af te neem wat met die grootste vertroulikheid hanteer sal word. Let daarop dat slegs inligting wat tot skuldigbevinding lei, vir die beloning oorweeg sal word.

Einde.

George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, accompanied by James Robb, Acting Public Transport Oversight Official of the Municipality, paid a visit to the two patients still hospitalised after Wednesday’s petrol bomb attack on a GO GEORGE bus in Pacaltsdorp.

During the visit at the George Hospital on Friday afternoon, they also had the opportunity to speak to some family members of the victims, who were most appreciative of the courtesy and interest shown. The Mayor expressed the Municipality’s compassion and the commitment of the GO GEORGE team to stay in constant contact with the families.

“It is apparent that the patients who we visited are still traumatised and suffering from shock following this senseless criminal attack on innocent passengers going about their daily business of using the Go George bus service to commute to work,” he said.

Shortly after the visit, the female patient was transported by air ambulance to a Cape Town hospital to receive treatment at a specialist burn unit.

Call for affected persons to come forward

Robb reiterated the call for persons affected in any way by the incident to phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044 and leave their names and contact details.

“The crisis team will make contact with such persons, whether they had been injured, suffered from shock or witnessed the incident, and arrange for counselling where needed,” he said.

Several organisations and individuals have already reached out to offer support. Robb invites organisations or members of the community who would also like to express their solidarity and care in some way, to phone the Call Centre or send an email to info@gogeorge.org.za so that all the kind efforts can be coordinated to make a real difference where needed.

CAPTION:

George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk (left), and James Robb, Acting Public Transport Oversight Official of the Municipality, outside George Hospital after their visit to some of the victims of Wednesday’s petrol bomb attack on a GO GEORGE bus.

PERSVERKLARING: GEORGE-BURGEMEESTER BESOEK BUSBOMSLAGOFFER IN HOSPITAAL

George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk, vergesel van James Robb, die munisipaliteit se waarnemende toesigbeampte oor openbare vervoer, het ‘n besoek gebring aan die twee pasiënte wat steeds in die hospitaal is ná Woensdag se petrolbomaanval op ‘n GO GEORGE-bus in Pacaltsdorp.

Tydens die besoek Vrydagmiddag by die George-hospitaal het hulle ook die geleentheid gehad om met ‘n paar familielede van die slagoffers te praat, wat die hoflikheidsbesoek en belangstelling baie waardeer het. Die burgemeester het die munisipaliteit se meelewing en die toewyding van die GO GEORGE-span om voortdurend in kontak met die families te bly, bevestig.

“Dit is duidelik dat die pasiënte wat ons besoek het, steeds getraumatiseerd is en aan skok ly ná hierdie sinnelose kriminele aanval op onskuldige passasiers wat hul daaglikse roetine volg om die GO GEORGE-busdiens te gebruik om werk toe te ry,” het hy gesê.

Die vroulike pasiënt is kort ná die besoek per lugambulans na ‘n Kaapstadse hospitaal vervoer om behandeling by ‘n spesialisbrandeenheid te ontvang.

Beroep op geraakte persone om na vore te kom

Robb het die oproep herhaal dat persone wat op enige manier deur die voorval geraak is, die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 moet skakel en hul name en kontakbesonderhede moet laat.

“Die krisisspan sal kontak maak met sulke persone, hetsy hulle beseer is, aan skok ly of die voorval aanskou het, en reël vir berading waar nodig,” het hy gesê.

Verskeie organisasies en individue het reeds uitgereik om ondersteuning aa te bied. Robb nooi organisasies of lede van die gemeenskap wat ook graag hul solidariteit en omgee op een of ander manier wil betoon, om die inbelsentrum te skakel of ‘n e-pos aan info@gogeorge.org.za te stuur sodat al die pogings gekoördineer kan word om ‘n daadwerklike verskil te maak waar nodig.

ONDERSKRIF:

George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk (links), en James Robb, waarnemende toesigbeampte van openbare vervoer van die munisipaliteit, buite die George-hospitaal ná hul besoek aan van die slagoffers van Woensdag se petrolbomaanval op ‘n GO GEORGE-bus.