Author: Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe

Pacaltsdorp residents are invited to submit their home residence to be considered as a temporary film set for a television production, faciliated through the Tourism section of George Municipality.

The Tourism section of George Municipality facilitates film support as an economic impact activity to boost the local industry.  The section has been assisting Meerfout Films with various aspects of their production for Juffrou X, a drama about a group of teachers and parents who work together to rid their school of bad influences, set to air on kykNET.  The producers are looking for residential homes in Pacaltsdorp which can be used as a film set for a specified duration. “We will need about 5 homes, preferably close together, where we can film for one day at each house”, says Producer and Director Berdene Burger.

Dates:              January and February 2023 (exact dates TBC)

Home Impact: Film crews understand that additional care must be taken when filming in a residential residence.  They bring their own porta loos, catering, chairs and gazebos. The family will need to vacate the home for approximately 12 hours on the day of filming.

Rate:               R3,500 per house

Interested Pacaltsdorp residents should make contact with shouse@george.gov.za by Friday, 25 November 2022.  Please submit your contact details, residential address and a photo of the outside of the house.

18 November 2022

They are the smallest patients, coming into this world too early. The road is not always easy and on 17 November 2022, we show compassion and support for families who are experiencing the anxiety of premature births by observing World Prematurity Day.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that every year, 15 million infants worldwide are born preterm. Sadly, the complications of preterm birth are among the leading causes of death in children under five. All infants born preterm require immediate and significant medical care that pose unexpected challenges –  emotional and financial – to their parents and family system.

A premature birth occurs when a baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation (pregnancy). In humans, a normal gestation period is from 38 to 42 weeks. Ideally, babies remain in the womb until they are full term, but for various reasons this does not always happen. The causes of preterm birth vary, but in most cases the exact cause is unknown.

Claudine Damons (36) gave birth to her beautiful baby girl, Aria-Lee Damons, on 7 September 2022 at George Hospital. At only 28 weeks, little Aria-Lee weighed 930 g and went to ICU for further care and treatment. Before the birth of her daughter, Claudine was a mom of two boys. ‘Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to give birth prematurely. This was my first experience and I had to adapt,’ she added.

Two months later, baby Aria-Lee is still in her premature stage and a healthy baby.

Another mother who has walked the road with her preemie is Thembisa Saptoe (29) from Thembalethu, George, who gave birth on 10 August 2022 at 28 weeks. She adds that caring for and nursing her preemie baby was one of the most challenging and toughest experience of her life. ‘I am really grateful for the fact that she is a survivor; she fought with everything that she had. At one point we thought we were going to lose her, but she really, really made it through,’ she said.

Western Cape Government Health and Wellness walks a journey with mothers in every stage of their pregnancy. It starts with the antenatal visits during which chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can be picked up and managed accordingly. It is important for mothers to go to all their antenatal classes, to speak to a healthcare worker when they are unsure or worried about their health or the babies’. This also forms part of the first 1 000 days in a child’s development, starting from conception, moving through pregnancy, birth, and after the first 2 years of life, which are crucial for securing a child’s bright future. Your child’s health is most vulnerable during the first 1 000 days of their life. The right care and nutrition during this time helps to develop their brains, fuel their physical growth, build up a strong immune system, improve their school readiness and educational achievement, and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease later in life.

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/first-1000-days/

Caption: Thembisa Saptoe and her baby daughter who was born premature.

Caption: Claudine Damons and daughter Aria-Lee

Caption: Miles Moos with his dad

Caption: Prem Day event at Knysna Hospital

ISSUED BY THE WESTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT HEALTH

GARDEN ROUTE AND CENTRAL KAROO DISTRICTS

In an effort to provide better health and wellness opportunities to people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic statuses, the George Municipality has established three Outdoor Gym Trim, one on Knysna Road and another one at the Corner of Mission and Fern Streets in Pacaltsdorp, and ERF 80 Van Riebeeck Gardens.

The Executive Mayor of George Aderman Leon van Wyk this week visited the Outdoor Gym Trims to officially open this easy-to-use outdoor gym equipment which is accessible to the public for recreation purposes.

“This initiative is part of a pilot project that we launched to provide outdoor gym equipment for communal use. We look forward to seeing how the equipment is going to be utilized by community members so we can continue the rollout of such equipment in other wards. At this stage, this open-air gym is one of three pilot sites; one is in Van Riebeek Park (between Heatherlands and Camfersdrift), and Mission Street (Pacaltsdorp),” said Mayor van Wyk.

Councillor Monique Simmers who was also part of the mayor’s entourage during the official launch of the Outdoor Gym Trim also shared her thoughts about this gym facility, as the ward councillor for Ward 5 wherein Lavallia is located, “I am pleased that this amenity is now available for all the residents, young and old, in my ward.  These initiatives provide forms of recreational activities for our residents, and I would like to invite everyone to come and try them out. Thanks to our portfolio Cllr Jean Safers and our officials for making this possible.”

Ends

The George and Knysna Municipalities’ fire departments collaborated to present a Fire Instructor 1 course to the fire services staff in the Garden Route, Southern Cape. The training which was a hybrid course of face-to-face training and home-based training took place during September and October 2022 and the final assessment was concluded on the 10^th and 11^th of November 2022.

“Professional Fire Fighting training is a very specialised training and because of that, the places that can present accredited training are few and far between. Until now firefighter training required us to send staff to Cape Town or other provinces to obtain these IFSAC accredited training,” said Santa Sternsdorf, Station Commander Training, at the George Fire Station. “With the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Training Academy, obtaining their IFSAC accreditation, they are now willing to assess and accredited the training that we can present ourselves. This allows us as “smaller” Municipalities to train our staff, and in doing so we can reduce the cost of training and ensure a high level of quality training for our staff,” Sternsdorf said.

Western Cape Province Disaster Management Fire and Rescue has been instrumental in this process, through their capacity building grants will assist the Training with resources and costs of assessments to support training in the Western Cape. The instructor training is part of a strategic process to increase the training capabilities of the “Smaller” fire services in the Southern Cape.

This training will, according to Sternsdorf, increase the training capacity of the Fire Services in the area. “Through collaboration with other Municipalities, we can present the training each Municipality Fire service requires locally.” The Fire Instructor 1 course was attended by George, Knysna, Bitou, Mossel Bay, and Hessequa Municipalities. The course was presented as a “hybrid” course where a combination of self-study and classroom training was done. The final assessments will be done the second week in November with a City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Training Academy assessor.

Ends.

MAYOR’S NEWSLETTER FOR GEORGE HERALD OF 17 NOVEMBER 2022

As we rapidly head towards our holiday season, preparations have begun to receive our visitors.

This year there is pent-up enthusiasm for the season ahead as we prepare to receive the influx of visitors over the next few weeks. We have already had several preparatory meetings with key municipal staff in anticipation of this season in readiness for the daily early morning meetings from 1 December to deal with service delivery issues.

We have noted that passenger traffic through the George Airport during each month of 2022 has returned to levels from a low of 86% of 2019 levels for January rising into the high 90% to over 100% monthly compared to 2019 levels, resulting in George reflecting among the best recovery rates for the country post the pandemic. It also appears that occupancy rates for the Garden Route National Park and accommodation establishments have been climbing during the months of 2022. Expectations accordingly are that we should experience a good season.

The recent airing of the My Kitchen Rules (MKR) television cooking show that was held at Victoria Bay should assist in boosting the tourist attractions offered by our locations. I recently visited the NSRI station in Wilderness where, as expected, the crew were meticulously checking their equipment and practising their training procedures for the summer. We spoke about the importance of avoiding those parts of the beach where rip currents are prevalent.

This year, George has been awarded Blue Flag status for the Wilderness and Herold’s Bay beaches and pilot site status for Victoria Bay beach. Blue Flag is recognised internationally for water quality along with a host of tests and requirements that need to be met throughout the season. There are a number of beaches, e.g., around Durban, that have failed to retain their status as a result of not meeting the water quality requirements.

In our preparations for this year, we will be making use of QR codes that will provide access to websites containing information on tourist activities and events, important municipal contact details as well as water and other safety tips for our visitors. We are preparing the checklists for season preparedness that will include the provision of refuse and cleansing services, parking, signage, ablutions, traffic control, communications, al fresco dining, etc.

The holiday season is a great boost to many sectors of the broader tourism economy and to employment. It is therefore important for all citizens to be friendly and welcoming to our visitors to make their stay spectacular. Every experience, including each meal, activity or swim, should be so memorable as to ensure they return next year. As always, if there are good ideas, please send us an email at supporttourism@george.gov.za

Ald. Leon van Wyk

Executive Mayor of George

The George Municipal Vehicle Testing Station (VTS) is again offering a FREE 10-Point Check for your vehicle on 12 to 15 December 2022 and 10 to 13 January 2023 (08h30 -15h30). Bring your vehicle to the VTS situated at Hibernia Street, George on the dates listed above and please note first come first served rule will apply.

The 10 Point inspection includes:

• Identification of vehicle
• Lights
• Equipment and Body structure
• Braking Systems
• Wheels and Tyres
• Suspension and undercarriage
• Steering
• Oil leaks
• Exhaust System
• Transmission

The full inspection will take approximately 10 minutes and you will be free to go with a clean bill of health – or know that something needs to be repaired before you leave for that long drive.

Safety is our priority – make use of the opportunity to ensure you and your family travel safely this festive season.

SAFETY TIPS
Check that vehicle is roadworthy before you start your journey
Carry the necessary equipment and tools to assist you on the road in case of a breakdown
Have enough rest before you start your journey and take a rest every 2 hours
Adhere to all road signs and rules of the road
Maintain a safe following distance
Adhere to and stay within the speed limits
Follow instructions that are given by Law enforcement or Traffic Officials
No overloading of passengers because it affects the braking system of the vehicle
Have the necessary contact numbers in case of emergency
Be patient towards other road users

ENDS.

NEW FIRE HYDRANTS FOR GLENWOOD AVENUE

Glenwood avenue extension got its first public hydrant. The existing fire hydrants in the Glenwood Ave extension area are all located within the private developments.  Access to these fire hydrants is challenging during times of high risk/emergency and the Civil Engineering Services Directorate decided to rather install two additional hydrants along Glenwood Ave Extension.  The area North of the Glenwood Ave extension is a high-risk fire area, and the hydrants will assist the George Municipal`s Fire Department during emergency situations.  The installation was completed successfully.

Ends.

THE GEORGE TENS SPORT & LIFESTYLE FESTIVAL IS ALMOST HERE! HERE’S YOUR LINE-UP!

Team registrations are heating up for the George Tens Sport & Lifestyle Festival. Will we see you there?

Returning to Outeniqua Park and surrounds, the 2022 George Tens takes place on 15 – 18 Dec 2022. The event will see a week of exciting Tens rugby coupled with additional events including Women’s Rugby, ladies & mixed teams Netball, Touchies, Volleyball, Golf, Trail running, Mountain biking …. and just for a bit of extra fun, ‘boeresport’!

“The response to the announcement of the festival has been incredible!” says Heyneke Meyer, co-founder of the festival and former Springbok Coach. “We are getting emails and calls from right across the country as sports lovers prepare to enter their teams for the range of events. Some of SA’s biggest rugby icons will also be joining us this year.

Join legends like Anton Leonard, Wynie Strydom, Victor Matfield, Johan Kapp & more on Oubaai Hotel, Golf & Spa or Pieter Hendriks, Vlok Cilliers, Meyer Bosman & Hein Truter on Pinnacle Point Golf Estate on 15 December ’22!

From there, we hit the beach at Wilderness Beach on 16 & 17 Dec ’22 for Touchies & Beach Volleyball! Oh, and for warm-up we thought a bit of old fashioned ‘Boeresport’ will be just the thing!

Rugby & Netball is starting at Outeniqua Park on 16 December and Trail Running & Mountain Biking will hit the ground from the park on 17 & 18 Dec respectively!

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! ….. closing off the festivities daily, is the 1925 Band, opening for Heuwels Fantasties on 16 Dec, Spoegwolf on 17 Dec & Early B on the 18th!

“The George Municipality is delighted to support this important event and I encourage all role-players in the George economic community, but also the rest of the country, to once again join us for this epic event” says Portfolio Councillor for Finance and Strategic Services, Dirk Wessels.

“Working with Heyneke Meyer is a delight and this event has the promise of stimulating and developing the George economy in a tremendous way. An ethos that we as the George Municipality live by and aspires to uphold! “

Meyer reiterates, “I am grateful for the support from the George Municipality and that of the George community! We kicked off the festival in 2021 amidst a lot of Covid restrictions. This year, all are welcome, and we can’t wait to welcome YOU! It’s going to be SPECTACULAR!

Follow @George10s on Facebook and www.georgetens.co.za to stay up to date on all the latest details.

Here follows the registration information for the all the specific codes:

All prices, registration information and more on www.georgetens.co.za

Golf

15 December

Oubaai Golf Resort & Spa & Pinnacle Point Golf Estate

Women’s & Men’s Rugby

16, 17 & 18 December

Outeniqua Park

Schools: Bulletjies, Primary Schools, High Schools

Students:

Social: Amateurs: (U/35), Veterans (Above 35)

Premier Division: Professional, Semi-Professional

Ladies & Mixed teams Netball

16 – 17 December

Outeniqua Park

School: Primary Schools, High Schools

Students

Social: Social/Amateurs (U/35), Veterans (O/35)

Touchies

16 December

Wilderness

Volleyball

17 December

Wilderness

Professionals

Schools: Primary Schools, High Schools

Social: Amateurs (U/35) / Veterans (Above 35)

Mountain Biking,

17 December

20km

Trail Running

18 December

5 km

14km

20km

ENDS

Social Media Tags / Handles:

#GeorgeTENS

#Festival

#GeorgeTENSFestivalVillage

#Wilderness

#georgetourism

#georgemunicipality

#georgevents

#visitgeorge

#tourismgeorge

Website: www.GeorgeTENS.co.za

Facebook: George TENS

Invictus Sport and Entertainment

Instagram: @invictussportan

MEDIA 7 INTERVIEW QUERIES

juanita@invictusinternational.co.za

frieda@invictusinternational.co.za

admin@georgetens.co.za

The 1000mm diameter Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) potable water supply pipeline, one of the Western area’s main water supply pipelines suffered stormwater damage during the November 2021 flooding events has been repaired. The value of the repairs is just over R 500 000, inclusive of VAT.

According to Deon de Jager, the deputy director of the George Municipality’s Civil Engineering Services Directorate the November 2021 floods caused a leak to the pipeline, leading to the need for repair and replacement. We have replaced about 6 meters of GRP pipe.

“The work was executed successfully with minimal disturbance to the water distribution system.  The Directorates operational teams ensured that the areas affected by the pipe failure could still obtain water by feeding the affected areas through other parts of the network,” de Jager added.

The Municipality appointed one of the panel contractors ‘a specialist contractor’ to assist the Directorate with remedial measures to ensure that the supply is restored to its full potential.

Ends.