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Author: Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe

Western Cape Human Settlements opens Individual Subsidy Applications on 1 April 2022

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

 

NaTIS ON AND OFF: MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND DRIVING LICENCE TESTING CENTRE SERVICES SLOW

The George Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) situated in Hibernia Street (next to the train station) and the Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC) in Pacaltsdorp are experiencing a slow service from the electronic National Administration Traffic Information System (NaTIS) as it has been on and off since this morning.

This is a country-wide technical issue experienced by NaTIS users and it is being attended to.

Issued George Municipality

29 March 2022

11:45

Mayor’s Newsletter for George Herald of 24 March 2022

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

UPGRADING OF STORMWATER AND ASSOCIATED STREETS: NEW DAWN PARK PHASE 4

PROJECT:

MIG: UPGRADING OF STORMWATER AND ASSOCIATED STREETS

NEW DAWN PARK PHASE 4

The upgrade of residential streets and associated stormwater pipeline servicing New Dawn Park; including portions of Sierrisie, Bougainvillea, Primrose, Granaalblom, Voelnesvaring, and Klokkiesblom Streets, as well as a portion of Croton Close will have an impact on road users for the period from 01 March to 15 December 2022.

DESCRIPTION:

The upgrade of residential streets and associated stormwater pipeline servicing New Dawn Park; including portions of Sierrisie, Bougainvillea, Primrose, Granaalblom, Voelnesvaring, and Klokkiesblom Streets, as well as a portion of Croton Close will be upgraded.

PROJECT PERIOD:

01 March 2022 to 15 December 2022

SERVICE DISRUPTION:

Municipal services may be disrupted during construction. Advance notification of planned temporary disruptions will be sent out via social media.

TRAFFIC IMPACT:

Caution needs to be exercised by road users and pedestrians throughout the duration of the construction period.  Adherence to temporary road signage and markings will be required.

ACCESS TO SITE:

Access to the site will be strictly controlled. Any member of the public who enters the site will have to comply with the relevant requirements in terms of the Health and Safety Act and the National State of Disaster: COVID-19 Regulations.

PROJECT ENQUIRIES: Urhwebo e-Transand Klasie on Tel: 044 695 0105

The George Municipality apologises for any inconvenience and appeals to road users to be patient and exercise caution during the upgrade.

Please look out for and adhere to temporary road signage and roadworks personnel.

The George Municipality apologises for any inconvenience.

CONTROLLED FIRE BURNING IN DENNEOORD WATERWORKS AREA

The George Fire Department will do a controlled fire burn in the Denneoord Waterworks area today, between 11:00 and 14:00. Members of the public are requested not to call the fire department about the burning as it is pre-arranged event.

Issued by George Mun

23 March 2022

 

 

City of George, proud hosts of hundreds of swimmers from the province

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.

 

PUBLIC NOTICE: REFUSE COLLECTION FOR 21 MARCH 2022

Refuse (black, green and blue bags) will be collected as per normal schedule on Monday, 21 March 2022.

Affected areas: 21 March 2022 – Blanco, Riverlea, Heatherpark, Heatherlands, Glen Barrie, Kraaibosch, Groenkloof, Blue Mountain Village, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay, Rondevlei area (George side) and businesses.

Businesses ARE REQUESTED TO PLEASE ONLY put REFUSE BAGS OUT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays AND only at designated spots, not on the sidewalk.

REFUSE REMOVAL: GENERAL

All refuse bags; black, green, and blue, must be put out by 07:00 am on the removal day ONLY.
Only 4 green bags are allowed, and unlimited blue bags.

All black bags will be collected on the Public Holiday (21 March 2022) and can also be substituted or combined with bundles of branches/ garden waste. Bundles must not be too big for one person to pick up OR more than 1m in length.

Broken glass should be wrapped in newspaper when thrown into bags to prevent injuries to workers.
Bulky waste must be disposed of at the Gwaiing Landfill Site on R102. The Gwaiing landfill site will be open Monday to Friday at 7:00 until 19:00, Saturdays and Public Holidays from 7:00 until 15:00 (except Christmas Day).

CONTACT
George Municipality Environmental Services
82 Meade Street, George. Phone 044 802 2900
Black bag-related enquiries: 044 802 2900
Blue and green bag enquiries: LGE Waste, 044 878 0688/lgewaste@gmail.com

 

UPDATE: ESKOM POWER OUTAGE IN WILDERNESS AND SURROUNDS

UPDATE: ESKOM POWER OUTAGE IN WILDERNESS AND SURROUNDS

Wilderness and surrounds experienced an unexpected power outage due to a fault on an Eskom power line.

Eskom could not locate the fault up to now. The George Municipality’s Electro-Tech Department which is responsible for electricity supply in the City has, meanwhile, provided an alternative power supply in the whole Wilderness area, while Eskom is still attending to the situation. We would like to urge all consumers to use electricity sparingly.

This temporary alternative power supply will certainly not be able to carry the demand tomorrow morning, therefore, a rotational load shedding will be implemented in Wilderness to ensure some continuity of power supply.

THE FOLLOWING ROTATIONAL LOAD SHEDDING WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE WILDERNESS AREA:

(Please note that this is an emergency schedule, which means that it may or may not be implemented depending on real-time loading).

OFF 7AM- 8AM:

Kleinkrans, Langvlei Dunes & Pinedew

OFF 8AM-9AM:

Hoekwil, Kerk Str line up to Valley Road

OFF 9AM-10AM:

Hoekwil, post office up to Platrug weg

OFF 10AM-11AM:

Wilderness heights, from heights road up to 10 Myl laan

Should we find the load to be too high at an earlier stage, we may have to implement rotational load shedding at an earlier time, and all time slots will automatically move backwards from the initial start time and will approximately be an hour long each time.

Issued by George Mun

13/3/2022

22:35

UPDATE: ESKOM LINE POWER OUTAGE WILDERNESS

We are currently trying to energise Wilderness from George, whilst Eskom is still down. Customers must please take note that this alternative route of supply is over an extended distance and may result in lower-than-normal voltages.

At this stage, we are also not certain if the entire Wilderness can be supplied from this point, but we will update as we go along.

Portion Wilderness Heights, Map of Afrika Wilderness CBD restored so far.

Eskom unfortunately does not have a clear estimated time of repair at this stage. At the same time, Electrotechnical is trying to energise as much as possible from the George supply. We urge customers to reduce their load as much as possible this will enable us to energise a larger area.

Issued by George Mun

13/3/2022

20:00

ESKOM LOAD SHEDDING UPDATE

Loadshedding will be suspended at 20:00 tonight as generation capacity sufficiently recovers. Eskom thanks the public for support and patience during the load shedding.

UPDATE: POWER OUTAGES IN PARTS OF GEORGE

Parts of George have been experiencing power outages since Friday evening following rain and thunderstorms. Electricians have been up and about restoring power supply.

➡️ Portion of Victoria Bay has been restored, another portion is is still off, being repaired, estimated time of repair is 2.5hours

➡️Modderivier to be energised shortly

➡️Kiosk damaged in Nel Str, Borcherds, repairs underway

➡️Portion of Lavalia is off, electricians are attending to it

Issued by George Mun
13/3/2022
12:00

UPDATE: POWER OUTAGES IN PARTS OF GEORGE

Power supply has been restored in Herolds Bay and at a portion of the Airport line. Only a smaller portion of Modderivier remains off as electricians continue to inspect the line. The portion of Modderivier that is currently off will unfortunately stand over until tomorrow when the trees have been cut off.

Also, a portion of the Sandkraal line (Silvertown and portion Hansmoeskraal) will have to be de-energised and left off until repairs can be done tomorrow.

A small portion of about Six (6) small holdings in Victoria Bay will remain off until tomorrow as well.

Please note that the severe weather conditions as well as lightning is negatively affecting the progress of repairs. As soon as weather subsides the repairs will resume.

Issued by George Mun

12/3/2022

22:15

BALLOTSVIEW WATER SHORTAGE BEING ATTENDED TO

Residents in Ballotsview have been experiencing water supply shortages. Main, Gemini, Orion and Virgo Streets in Ballotsview were affected. A valve failed after this morning’s pipe burst. Two trucks are servicing these streets while the pressure is gradually building up to restore water supply in this area.

Issued by George Mun

12/3/2022

20:00

UPDATE: ELECTRICIANS STILL BATTLING TO RESTORE POWER SUPPLY IN PARTS OF GEORGE

Electricians continue to restore power supply in parts of George following unexpected power outages that started last night.

The following areas’ power supply has been restored:

• Portion of Victoria Bay Heights (Another portion still off)
• Portion of Hansmoenskraal
• Gwaing Airport Road
• Parkdene

Electricians are still busy in Lawaaikamp. There are also additional single complaints that we have received from Wilderness Heights and Hoekwil.

Issued George Mun
12/3/2022
19:40

PARTS OF GEORGE ARE EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED POWER OUTAGES

Several areas in George are experienced power outages, following last night’s storm. Our electricians are out, attending to the outages. The following areas’ power supply is still off and receiving attention:

  • Gwaing Airport Road
  • Victoria Bay Heights
  • Ballotsview, Parkdene
  • Lawaaikamp
  • Hansmoeskraal

Wilderness Heights and Hoekwil were also affected but have been restored.

We are also aware off the streetlights that were off at Gusha Street since last night.

Issued George Mun

12/3/2022

14:30