Issued by George Municipality, 6 April 2022

The fight against illegal connections is yielding positive results as the George Municipality’s Electro-Technical Department removed 1085 illegal power connections at informal settlements in George in February 2022.

This was confirmed in a report tabled at the Electrotechnical Services Committee meeting on Tuesday, 05 April 2022. The number of informal settlements in George is estimated at 8000, of which 5981 informal settlements shared between Thembalethu and Moeggeploeg have illegal and unsafe electricity connections.

Mr Bongani Mandla, director for Electrotechnical Services emphasized that illegal power connections, no matter how small or innocent-looking, are dangerous and are certainly a death trap.

Mandla assured that his department will continue with the campaign of removing the illegal connections and educating the public about the dangers of illegal power connections. “We are working with the George Municipality’s communications department to assist us with sharing educational information about the dangers of illegal connections,” Mandla said.

“In the next month, we are distributing 15 000 flyers in Afrikaans, English and Isi-Xhosa to the areas most affected by illegal connections, as part of our awareness campaign on illegal connections,” he said. “These flyers comprise information about the nature of the illegal connection, the dangers associated with illegal connections, financial implications, and useful information when one wants to report illegal connections as well as information on a reward attached to reporting illegal connection upon successful prosecution.”

Members of the public may report illegal connections to the George Municipality on 044 801 9222/044 803 9222 or 044 801 6300 (a/h). Report people who make illegal connections to 0860 044 044, SAPS 10111 or the South African Police Service (SAPS) to 10111.  The George Municipality offers R 2500 reward for information that leads to the successful conviction of electrical theft and/or vandalism in a court of law. The witness will have to go on record to 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.

Ends.

Water-Saving messages on the move…The Refuse Removal services have joined the George Municipality’s awareness campaign on water saving by using their trucks to spread the word in and around George. All refuse trucks have been branded with decals containing the message of saving water. These trucks drive past all households and businesses in George collecting refuse weekly.

To witness the display of the branded trucks were, from left to right: Mr Allen Paulse (with the bag in hand) – Director of Community Services, Ms Karin Stoffels – Project Coordinator: Street Cleansing, Mr Sivuyile Mtila – Senior Manager of Environmental Services, Mr Wessel Robertson – Head Cleansing, and Councillor Jean Safers (at the Back of the truck) – Portfolio Councillor for Environmental Services.

Issued by George Municipality

30/3/2022

Issued: Monday 28 March 2022

After two years of restricted contact with learners, schools in George are slowly opening their doors to carefully planned visits from the GO GEORGE communications team and, of course, the popular mascot Georgie.

With all the necessary Covid-19 safety precautions in place, Georgie and his team set out on a wide tour of pre-primary classes and primary schools during March. They were welcomed with loud cheering and singing, and eager young minds ready to learn about public transport, that all-important Smart Card, pedestrian safety near the buses and how to behave on the bus. The topic of vandalism was also addressed in an age-appropriate manner.

The bus-shaped photo banner with windows to peep through is a firm favourite among the little ones – that is after first giving Georgie a hug, of course.

Any organisation or school interested in a visit from GO GEORGE can phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044 to request contact from the communications team.

CAPTIONS:

Grade RR learners from George South Primary School flocking to greet and talk to the GO GEORGE mascot, Georgie. (The wearing of masks is not mandatory for children under the age of 6.)

The 4- and 5-year-olds at Joey’s Babies in Rosemoor were completely intrigued by Georgie and his friendly teammates who came to tell them more about the GO GEORGE buses. (The wearing of masks is not mandatory for children under the age of 6.)

A very safe ride on the bus! George South Primary School’s Grade 4 learners enjoyed peeping through the open windows of the GO GEORGE bus banner.

GO GEORGE has developed programmes to reach different ages of school learners with information about the bus service, how to behave on the bus and how to be safe around the bus. Mascot Georgie has become a favourite among the youngsters, with the bus banner also providing lots of fun, as can be seen with this group of Grade RR learners from George South Primary School. (The wearing of masks is not mandatory for children under the age of 6.)

The Grade 4 learners of Kretzenshoop Primary School listened with great attention to the information about the bus service. They were joined by acting principal, Mr Elton Titus (at the back), to pose for a photo with Georgie and the GO GEORGE bus banner.

The Grade Rs of George South Primary School enjoyed an outdoors visit with the GO GEORGE team, learning about the bus service and how to behave on and around the bus to ensure a safe ride. (The wearing of masks is not mandatory for children under the age of 6.)

Skole verwelkom Georgie terug

Uitgereik: Maandag 28 Maart 2022

Ná twee jaar van beperkte kontak met leerders, maak skole in George stadig hul deure oop vir noukeurig beplande besoeke van die GO GEORGE-kommunikasiespan en natuurlik, die gewilde gelukbringer, Georgie.

Met al die nodige Covid-19-veiligheidsmaatreëls in plek, het Georgie en sy span gedurende Maart ‘n wye toer van preprimêre klasse en laerskole aangepak. Hulle is verwelkom met luide gejuig, sang en gretige jong breine gereed om te leer oor openbare vervoer, daardie allerbelangrike Slimkaart, voetgangerveiligheid naby die busse en hoe om jou op die bus te gedra. Die onderwerp van vandalisme is ook op ‘n ouderdomsgepaste wyse aangespreek.

Die busvormige fotobanier met vensters om deur te loer, is ‘n besliste gunsteling onder die kleingoed – dit is nou nadat Georgie eers ‘n drukkie gekry het.

Enige organisasie of skool wat belangstel in ‘n besoek van GO GEORGE kan die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 skakel om kontak van die kommunikasiespan te versoek.

BYSKRIFTE:

George-Suid Gr RR (4):
Graad RR-leerders van Laerskool George-Suid drom saam om die GO GEORGE-gelukbringer, Georgie, te groet en te gesels. (Die dra van maskers is nie verpligtend vir kinders onder die ouderdom van 6 jaar nie.)

Die 4- en 5-jariges by Joey’s Babies in Rosemoor se aandag is vasgevang deur Georgie en sy vriendelike spanmaats wat hulle meer oor die GO GEORGE-busse kom vertel het. (Die dra van maskers is nie verpligtend vir kinders onder die ouderdom van 6 jaar nie.)

‘n Baie veilige rit op die bus! Laerskool George-Suid se graad 4-leerders het dit geniet om deur die oop vensters van die GO GEORGE-busbanier te loer.

GO GEORGE het programme ontwikkel om leerders van verskillende ouderdomme te bereik met inligting oor die busdiens, hoe om jou op die bus te gedra, en hoe om veilig rondom die bus te wees. Gelukbringer Georgie het ‘n gunsteling onder die jongklomp geword, met die busbanier wat deesdae ook baie pret verskaf, soos gesien kan word met hierdie groep Graad RR-leerders van Laerskool George-Suid. (Die dra van maskers is nie verpligtend vir kinders onder die ouderdom van 6 jaar nie.)

Die graad 4-leerders van Laerskool Kretzenshoop het aandag geluister na die inligting oor die busdiens. Waarnemende skoolhoof, mnr Elton Titus (agter), het saam kom poseer vir ‘n foto saam met Georgie en die GO GEORGE-busbanier.

Die Graad R’s van Laerskool George-Suid het ‘n buitelugbesoek van die GO GEORGE-span geniet en baie geleer oor die busdiens en hoe om jou op die bus te gedra om ‘n veilige rit te verseker. (Die dra van maskers is nie verpligtend vir kinders onder die ouderdom van 6 jaar nie.)

29 MARCH 2022

On 1 April, the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements will open applications for its Individual Subsidy. Applications only open once a year, in April, and close as soon as the subsidy allocation limit has been reached.  The Individual Subsidy is aimed at residents with a household income of between R0 and R3500, and allows one to: buy an existing house; buy a house on a plot-and-plan basis, or to finish an incomplete house. The subsidy amount is just over R200,000 and is paid directly to a seller, conveyancer, financier or contractor, depending on the case. Successful applicants will receive this subsidy only once.

There are various housing subsides available from the Department that does not require citizens to wait for a government housing development in your area. Assistance provided via the Individual Subsidy allows residents to, for example, identify a house for sale for the subsidy amount, or use it as a top-up, to purchase a home. As there is a limited budget, assistance with this subsidy is only provided once a year and is allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. Priority will be given to applicants who are elderly or have special needs (ie. disabled).

“The Individual Subsidy is one of the subsidy programmes that can assist Western Cape residents with a housing opportunity, without waiting for a specific government housing development to be built in an area. The subsidy can be used to purchase an existing house or to build a house on a vacant plot owned by the applicant” commented Ms Phila Mayisela, Acting Head of Department.

To qualify for this subsidy residents must :

• Be registered on the housing demand database (ie. waiting list)  at your nearest municipality;
• Must have been on the housing database for a minimum period of 10 years in Cape Town, and 5 years in areas outside of Cape Town;
• Be a South African citizen or have a permanent residency permit;
• 18 years or older;
• Be married or living with a partner;
• Be single or divorced, and have proven financial dependents living with you permanently;
• Not have owned a property before;
• Earn a monthly household income of R3500 or less, before deductions;
• Not have received a housing subsidy from government before.

Western Cape residents who are still on the waiting list, meet the qualification criteria, and are interested in applying for the Individual Subsidy, are urged to submit their applications from 01 April at the Department of Human Settlements offices in Cape Town. More information, including application forms, for this subsidy can be found on the Department’s website.

-End-

Media Enquiries:

Mr. Nathan Adriaanse

Director: Communication and Stakeholder Relations

Nathan.adriaanse@westerncape.gov.za

OR

Marcellino Martin

Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers

Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za

At present, George is fortunate in attracting many visitors who are participating in numerous sporting and other events. Over the recent long weekend a major provincial swimming gala has taken place at the Conville swimming pool.

Over the next few weeks we will be welcoming thousands of school learners who will be participating in different events that have attracted entries from across the country who will be utilising our various facilities.

Following the successful Cape Town Cycle event, a comment was made that we should be hosting a similar event here in George. This comment echoes our philosophy to regularly hold events in George that will generate tourism spend for our local economy and add to employment levels. In pre-Covid times, we experienced a trend whereby many businesses generated possibly 25-30% of their annual turnover over the traditional December-January holiday months. This would imply that 70% of turnover would flow over the remaining 10 months of the year at an average of 7% per month. Imagine if we could increase that 7% to an average of 8% per month resulting in boosting turnover for the year by 10%.

Recent events and activities ranging from the Dimension Data Pro-Am golf tournament, horse riding, the Old Car Show to paragliding, swimming, school rugby and other sports to bowls over Easter will all contribute to the economy ensuring that accommodation, restaurant and food establishments benefit from the additional visitors to George spending a few nights here. Many of these events attract not only the participants but also family members. It is vitally important that all our citizens extend welcome our visitors to ensure that they become repeat visitors who spread the word of their memorable experience to their friends elsewhere in the country. George needs to offer first class signature meals in restaurants, great guest house stays and improve our entertainment offering (uniquely we have a theatre and symphony orchestra). Over the recent summer holidays, the Municipality consciously invested millions of rands in setting a high standard of service delivery so that visitors could enjoy their holidays.

We wish to encourage events to be held in George over every weekend of the year to attract visitors to help build tourism occupancy rates. George already hosts many cycling and running events. With some imagination we could turn some of these events into iconic annual events of national significance through some tweaking. Many of our citizens are passionately involved in diverse activities or hobbies that could be developed into regular events or learning experiences, e.g. for crafts, artists, bridge, winter schools.

Some thoughts and ideas on more events and how to progress tourism can be forwarded to supportbusiness@george.gov.za

MEDIA RELEASE: City of George, proud hosts of hundreds of swimmers from the province

Issued by the George Municipality, 23 March 2022

One of the highlights in the sports and tourism this past long weekend, of which the City of George is proud, was the successful hosting of the SA Regional Level 3 Swimming Gala at the Conville Swimming Pool from 17 – 20 March 2022, with 350 participants from all over the Western Cape.

The City of George embraces the honour to be the host of several great sporting events, of which the Swimming Gala has recently joined in.  The executive mayor of George, Ald Leon van Wyk, officially opened the Swimming Gala, welcoming hundreds of participants, and visitors to George. Mayor van Wyk was accompanied by the members of the executive mayoral committee and the acting municipal manager, Dr Michelle Gratz to the Swimming Gala.

“At present, George is fortunate in attracting many visitors who are participating in numerous sporting and other events, such as this major provincial swimming gala,” said Ald van Wyk. “We are looking forward to hosting many more events of this calibre, and we are committed to ensuring that our sports facilities are of a high standard.”

“We would like to congratulate our staff for having risen to the occasion when George had to jump in to be the host of the swimming gala’s, especially considering that the Municipality had a very short time to prepare for the events,” mayor Wyk added.

“Over the next few weeks, we will be welcoming thousands of school learners who will be participating in different events that have attracted entries from across the country who will be utilising our various facilities,” he said.

“Following the successful Cape Town Cycle event, a comment was made that we should be hosting a similar event here in George. This comment echoes our philosophy to regularly hold events in George that will generate tourism spending for our local economy and add to employment levels.”

In his conclusion, mayor van Wyk encouraged sports federations to make George a place of choice for events, every weekend to attract visitors to help build tourism occupancy rates. “George is already hosting many cycling and running events. Nothing stops us from turning some of these events into iconic annual events of national significance through some tweaking. Many of our citizens are passionately involved in diverse activities or hobbies that could be developed into regular events or learning experiences, such as crafts, artists, bridge, winter schools.”

Ends.