Press Release Archive

Cllr Erica Brown, Deputy Chairperson of the Community Services Section 80 Committee recently accompanied officials from the directorate on deliveries of emergency hampers to soup kitchens participating in the George Municipal programme. They visited Rosina Gordon, based in Pacaltsdorp who runs one of the biggest nutritional centres feeding between 150 – 250 people per day. The soup kitchens assisted by the municipality continue to  serve around 8000 meals to mostly children and the elderly , three times per week. With the closure of schools on the 30 June 2021,  following amended Alert Level 4 Regulations,  the soup kitchens increased their meals to five days per week again as they had done during the height of the Covid-19 lockdown last year.

Officials including Senior Manager for Community Development: Libraries and Sport, Shanold Marillac; Social Worker, Janine Adams; Community Field Worker, Ashley Booysen and Soup Kitchen Co-ordinator, Veronique Ferndale accompanied Cllr Brown on the visit. The Soup kitchens are monitored on a regular basis, not only to ensure that they are operating optimally, but also to review and check that all Cvoid-19 safety protocols are being adhered to. Aunt Rosina has two adults who assist her at the centre to ensure that social distancing, the wearing of masks and cleaning of hands is observed.  Soup products, fresh vegetables and sanitation products were delivered and the Councillor experienced how the food was prepared and served.

Soup kitchen enquiries: 044 802 2000

The George Parks and Recreation division was thrilled to take ownership of two brand new herbicide trailers which will be used for the spraying of granule and liquid herbicide across the George Municipal area including Wilderness and Herold’s Bay. Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk in the middle, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tyrone April and new Senior Environmental Services Manager Sivuyile Mtila visited the Fleet yard this week to inspect the new purchases.

The 1000l capacity per trailer will provide time-savings and improve efficiency for the parks team, reducing time wasted on refill trips for the smaller capacity individual pumps being used currently. The existing smaller pumps will now be repurposed and given to our Community Worker cleaning project to use as and when required. This will greatly improve their cleaning efforts in areas where not only illegal dumping but also weeds are a persistent problem.

George Municipality currently uses a combination granular and liquid herbicide. Future plans are to assess the viability of changing completely over to liquid herbicide that will result in less maintenance with the same soil action capability of granular forms.  These herbicides are targeted at specific vegetation groups at specific mix ratios to enable the municipality to control a wide spectrum annual and perennial broadleaf weeds and grasses in urban areas.

Where homeowners have gone the extra mile and planted their sidewalks decoratively and/or continue to maintain the sidewalk,  the Parks and Recreation department is cautious not to disturb or spray in these areas, within reason as sidewalks are by rights intended for pedestrians and suitable space should always be available for safe pedestrian movement.

George Municipality is fast making progress towards becoming one of the first B- municipality’s  in South Africa,  to offer wheeling and electricity trading through the municipal grid. Two very important milestones in this project have been reached with firstly;  NERSA (national energy regulator)  approving the George Municipality’s recommended wheeling tariff and; secondly George Municipality on 25 June 2021,  signed the first use of system’s agreement with a participant in this pilot project.

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk expressed his delight at the first agreement having been signed. “In George we have recognised that private sector generators of electricity would like to use our network to deliver electricity to their buyers. George can therefore still cover the cost of maintaining and 24/7 operating of our network by charging the private sector generator a fee for the distribution of electricity It is our belief that businesses and individuals would welcome the innovative opportunities being offered in George in opening up a new market for investors in renewable energy. We believe that this will also attract Industries and businesses who would rather buy privately generated electricity from reliable providers.”

The agreement includes  the legal terms that govern the relationship between the third party energy provider and the municipality. This pilot project approved by Council on 28 January 2021, will be used by the George Municipality to develop and explore the technical aspects, and address the currently unknown regulatory process of wheeling and electricity trading within a municipal environment. In essence, the municipality is looking to develop a more sustainable business model, which will allow the delivery of electricity generated by a private operator at one location to a buyer or off-taker in another location via the municipal network. This forms part of a larger process where the municipality is aiming to migrate to a more sustainable financial model in the future.

Although this pilot project will have no immediate effect on the electricity reliability or load shedding within George, it will assist the municipality to mitigate the challenges introduced by the changing energy sector. During the pilot project the George Municipality will investigate the technical challenges of wheeling electricity through the grid as well as the policy, legal and regulatory reform required. George Municipality published a wheeling guideline together with tariffs on 30 April 2021, to inform the public of the current requirements in order to wheel energy on the George distribution grid.

In the photograph standing in front of the Electrotechnical Offices, following the signing of the First Use of System Agreement are from left at the back: Phillip Van Niekerk, Intern for Electrotechnical Directorate, Planning; Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk; and Louise Botha, Executive Support Electrotechnical Directorate  and in the front row: Bongani Mandla, newly appointed Electrotechnical Director; Dr Michele Gratz, Acting Municipal Manager and Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services, Nosicelo Mbete.

Wellington Street
As part of the road rehabilitation process, Wellington Street has been completed including the universally accessible sidewalks.

Market street
The 15-month Market Street project will be completed in phases and includes the upgrading of underground services such as stormwater and sewerage pipelines in addition to road structure and surface rehabilitation, as well as the construction of universally accessible pedestrian walkways to support high foot traffic in the city’s central business district. The full project extends from the York Street to Hope Street. Roadworks will be done in phases, intersection to intersection, with the five phases of construction overlapping.  Phases 1 – 3 have commenced between York and Mitchell Streets.  Construction of the first 3 phases is planned to continue to mid-May 2022.

George Municipality is currently working in three sections between York Street and Mitchell Street, and the area will be an active construction site for the duration of the construction periods. The contractor will, where as far as is possible, maintain property accesses and will make the necessary arrangements /provisions in advance with any affected business owner via Mr Alewijn Dippernaar, should access not be possible.  Business and property owners affected by the road construction are requested to contact Alewijn Dippenaar at dyndev@mweb.co.za or on 082 457 5675 if they have any queries or concerns, and must not communicate directly with, or request information from, the Contractor’s personnel.

Makriel Street
The construction in Makriel Street in Maraiskamp, which serves as a link road between Conville and Parkdene, has commenced with the Contractor relocating existing infrastructure and upgrading the existing stormwater, where after the physical road and sidewalk construction will commence.  The project is set for completion in mid-November 2021.

Rosedale Access road
The rehabilitation of a portion of the Rosedale Access Road, eastwards from Beach Road,  has started and the project is currently on schedule for completion at the end of October 2021.

Tabata street  Phase 1
The upgrading of a portion of Tabata Street, Thembalethu from Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Mfayana Street (about 760m), recommenced  in February this year, following the approval of funding.  Intense labour and sub-contracting procurement processes were followed, and this phase is expected to be completed by mid-October 2021.  The improvements to this main arterial through Zone 12, 13 and 15 will most certainly improve the experience of road users, pedestrians and the lives of residents.  The road, sidewalk (similar to other community routes) and stormwater pipe upgrades will improve vehicle and pedestrian movement, and reduce flooding of the street and properties.

The entire intended Tabata Street upgrade extends from the intersection with Nelson Mandela Boulevard (Fourways) to where the road re-joins Nelson Mandela Boulevard and will be implemented in phases.  . Further phases (phases 2 to 5) will be rolled out subject to the availability of funds.

Fourway stop maintenance
The rehabilitation of the Nelson Mandela Boulevard four-way intersection with Tabata Street was completed in the first week of July 2021 with the bulk of the work taking place at night time to reduce the impact and inconvenience on traffic movement.

New Dawn Park
The existing roads and associated stormwater pipeline servicing New Dawn Park from the c/o Protea and Sierrisie Drive to the intersection of Sierrissie and Voëlnesvaring Drives , as well as portions of Garnaalbloom Street, Klokkiesblom and Voelnesvaring Drives have been upgraded.

General construction information
Traffic impacts are different for each project depending on the nature of work done, details of which will be published in red-framed advertisements in local print media and the George Municipality social media channels.  GO GEORGE implications at the Market Street roadworks will be communicated by GO GEORGE champions on location as well as via the usual social media and other communication platforms.

Municipal services such as water, sewer and electricity may be temporarily disrupted, and will be communicated via social media when required.

“The municipality realises the impacts during road works are inconvenient, but we ask that road users and pedestrians bear with us and keep the bigger picture in mind. Liaison with business and affected parties in the construction zones will be ongoing and we thank residents, tenants and all general road users in advance for their support and cooperation. Please take extra care when you are inside or near the construction zone and adhere to all signage and directions by road works personnel. Vehicles should take heed that road surfaces can vary in height at times,” said Mr Daniels.

Wellington Street completed with brand new universally accessible sidewalks being inspected  by, from left Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk, Portfolio Councillor Civil Engineering Services, Jackie Von Brandis and Ricus Fivaz, Civil Engineering Services.  Similar road and sidewalk construction is currently being undertaken on other community routes within the municipal area.

Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk accompanied by Mr Sivuyile Mtila, new Senior Manager Environmental Services as well as Tyrone April, Superintendent Parks and Recreation for the Community Services Directorate, visited Gwaing Beach on Friday afternoon (9 July 2021) to inspect the newly replaced balustrades along the promenade.  The brand new stainless steel railings were installed in June to replace the existing wooden railings at a cost of R90 000.

The ablution facilities at the beach were vandalised in March this year with toilets, windows and pipes all damaged and/or  broken. a door at the campsite was vandalised. The windows and frames have been replaced at a cost of R60 000 and additional security measures will be put in place to mitigate further vandalism of this nature. Both projects were completed using budget from the 2020/21 Financial year.

George Municipality appeals to the public to please come forward if they have any information about vandalism against municipal property or assets. Help us to look after your community’s safety and wellbeing and allow the George Municipality to keep improving our service delivery. Contact the George Municipality on 044 801 9111 or 044 801 6300. Make use of the four W’s – Stick to the factual details and tell us Where it happened, What happened, When it happened and Who did it? Help the George Municipality to Keep George Safe.

Tyrone April, Superintendent Parks and Recreation; Sivuyile Mtila, new Senior Manager Environmental Services and the Executive Mayor of George, Leon van Wyk inspect the new stainless steel railings on the Gwaing Beach promenade.

George Municipality has collaborated with local company oZONE to promote George’s trails in partnership with world leading trail runner, Ryan Sandes, who is currently in the area to train for the Ultra Trail Mount Blanc (UTMB).

George’s trails cover an expanse of over 1,000km and are one of the main reasons the area is known as an outdoor paradise.  Trail runners, hikers and mountain bikers can enjoy a variety of terrains and verticals and one particular trail legend has decided it is just right for him.

South African trail running legend, Ryan Sandes, is the first person to have won an ultra-race on all 7 continents and is considered one of the world’s leading ultra-trail runners.  Sandes has been training in the Outeniqua Mountains to prepare for the grueling UTMB and as a by-product, has deemed George’s trails world class.  Sandes is also fast becoming more than just a visitor, after running the local trails in May alongside Kane Reilly.

Local adventure company oZONE approached George Municipality for a partnership where George’s trails could be highlighted for their first-rate offering in collaboration with Sandes.  Ozone Africa is a collaboration between award-winning photojournalist and photographer, Jacques Marais and adventure specialist, Zane Schmahl.  Jacques regularly contributes to a wide selection of premium adventure-, travel- and outdoor magazines around the globe. As a premier columnist for the Media 24 national newspapers, his photographs and articles are published widely, and he has authored more than a dozen outdoor books and guides.  Zane has been central to a range of trendsetting outdoor sporting events as both Project Manager and Race Director, most recently the George MUT 2021.

Portfolio Councillor for Strategic Services, Dirk Wessels himself a keen trail runner said as a municipality we are very proud to be associated with the likes of Ryan Sandes. “Ryan has done remarkable things, and I certainly feel that the Outeniqua mountains hold some of the most beautiful trails in the world. Together with our local trail running organizers and the tourism industry, I am very excited to make George the hub of adventure sport in the country.”

“We’ve always known that George has fantastic trails,” said Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager.  “If you look at the variety of scenery one gets to enjoy – forested sections, beautiful blue mountainous area contrasted against green fynbos sections, trails that wind through farmlands and next to our magnificent dam – that alone makes them very special.  But for an elite athlete to use them as his training ground tells us something else.  It says they are challenging enough for the great trail runners of our time; they are world-class.”

Media content and a collaboration on social media are taking place to create awareness about the magnificent trails and to let the trail running world know that George’s trails are not only stunning to run,  but have been graced by an elite athlete in the pursuit of pushing greater limits, making them worthy of the best-of-the-best.

Learn more about trails in George here www.georgetrails.org.za and see what else the area offers at www.visitgeorge.co.za.

In the photograph, Ryan Sandes, leading trail runner is preparing for the UTMB – Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc, a 106 miler (160km) race with almost 10000m of vertical gain (the tallest summit in the Alps). Ryan photographed yesterday in George,  preparing  for this gruelling event.

George Municipality has partnered with the 100km Karoo to Coast mountain bike challenge due to take place on the 26 September 2021. The 100km challenge is an extreme endurance off-road race from Uniondale over the Prince Alfred’s Pass and ends at the Knysna High School sports field. This will be the 22^nd race which jointly belongs to the Uniondale and Knysna Lions Clubs with all proceeds going to charity and is formally titled the CCPP Lions Karoo to Coast. The 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid-19 and the 2021 event will be held with all Covid-19 protocols in place.

The small town of Uniondale is flooded every year with 4500 riders all ready and eager to take on the hard challenge ahead of them. The event organisers have indicated that the 2021 event is fully subscribed, this year at 2500 riders, making the already coveted race in even greater demand (taking into account Covid-related protocols required).

The race is focused on the safety of athletes and crew while not forgetting about the exceptional experience riders come back for, year after year.  Not for the faint of heart, the sinewy Prince Alfred’s Pass dirt road is a masterpiece to ride, and the race’s quirky shotgun start makes it all the more memorable.

When asked why the municipality is partnering with the event, Joan Shaw, George Municipality’s Tourism Manager  highlighted the need for events as drivers of Tourism.  “George Municipality has consistently supported a mixture of events to stimulate travel to the destination.  The Karoo to Coast has been voted as the ‘Top MTB Ultra-Marathon in South Africa’ and is an official seeding event of the 2021 Cape Town Cycle Tour.  While it is one of the premier events on the Garden Route calendar, as with all events this past year, the Karoo to Coast was hit hard by not being able to take place in 2020 due to COVID-19.

This event is critical to tourism in the Uniondale area, as it has created a keen interest in mountain biking through Uniondale’s open plains and passes.  Karoo to Coast entrants often book trips to Uniondale throughout the year to get a lay of the land and ride the area pre-event, thereby supporting tourism in an otherwise very quiet area.

This is evidenced through our own Tourism Office insights and again highlighted in the Wesgro Cape Garden Route and Klein Karoo Visitor Trends report for 2019, which indicates that the main reason for visiting Uniondale is Sport (34%).  Uniondale is the only town in the Garden Route where sport is a top driver of Tourism, according to the same Wesgro data.  George Municipality is committed to doing all we can to help events, like the Karoo to Coast, survive our current climate”, says Shaw.

To maximise enjoyment of the event, Race Director Zandile Meneses encourages riders to train sufficiently for the scenic but challenging route.  “The George and Uniondale area are rich in mountain biking trails and have a variety of terrains which offer the perfect training ground leading up to the race” says Meneses.

Riders looking for accommodation can get great deals in the George and Wilderness area.  With Uniondale selling out yearly, establishments in George and Wilderness have come on board to offer participants discounted deals for their stay.  Activity providers have also chimed in, to allow  riders and their supporters extending their stay, to enjoy the area’s offerings.

Find exclusive deals for Karoo to Coast riders and their supporters here www.visitgeorge.co.za/Blog/BlogItem/?id=33 and check out the 2019 Super Sport video to see just how special the Karoo to Coast route really is: https://vimeo.com/369267319

George Municipality, the third largest municipality in the Western Cape, is reaching for the stars and developing an Integrated Economic Growth Strategy, which will put it on the map as a premier business and investment destination in Southern Africa. So why is it such a great idea to locate your business in George?

1. A well-governed city
   George Municipality applies sound financial planning and budgeting, clean governance, high levels of execution and a zero-rated approach to corruption to it’s financial and corporate management. It delivers excellent services to residents and offers highly efficient bulk services to the business community in sectors such as light industry, agro-processing, property development and financial services.
2. A growing city
   Established in 1776 by the Dutch East India Company as an outpost for the provision of timber and covering an area of 5,191 square kilometres in the Garden Route and Little Karoo regions, George is one of the oldest cities in South Africa. With a population of over 220 000 people from almost 70 000 households George Municipality includes the City of George, the pristine coastal areas of Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herolds Bay and Gwaing as well as the beautiful rural hamlets of Herold, Waboomskraal, Uniondale and Haarlem. And George has room to grow.
   It boasts the largest economy in the Garden Route, one of the lowest unemployment rates nationally, a diversely skilled population, a healthy measure of business confidence, and a mix of contemporary urban and attractive rural spaces. The city and its surrounds offer premium residential and business development opportunities for the astute investor.

3. A competitive, connected city
When you do business in George, it means you will rub shoulders with several respected national and international corporate. Businesses such as Lancewood, Badger Holdings, Tekkie Town, Mr. Tekkie, Tradelink and Data-Dot are headquartered in George, where well-structured business and residential districts enjoy a solid road network, a high level of security, a ready and skilled labour pool, and guaranteed and efficient services. Businesses can access a basket of attractive incentives which ease the process of starting up; and, growth in provision of business services such as broadband access, are ahead of the curve. By 2025, the entire business district will have high speed fibre connectivity and there is already an excellent coverage in almost every area of George and surrounds via a network of service providers.

4. Tourist mecca of note
George has a sophisticated infrastructure with banks, conference facilities, businesses and shopping centres including the Garden Route Mall and Eden Meander, transport and sporting facilities, yet retains its small-town atmosphere. The city is also a major accommodation centre. George has numerous world-class golf courses, some designed by famous golfers. The most well-known is Fancourt Golf Estate, which hosted the Presidents Cup in 2003 and is often the host to high-profile golf tournaments. Throughout the year George hosts a wide variety of events to promote the City, its region and the vast array of opportunities offered.

5. Easy access
George boasts access to the full array of transport modalities. It is situated on the N2 motorway halfway between Cape Town and Gqeberha; is home to the George airport; within 40 km from the nearest harbour; and on a major rail line.  This means producers can get their products to major markets quickly and efficiently.  The George Airport facilitates +- 850 000 passengers annually on scheduled flights, has daily unscheduled private flights, three flight training schools, and several general aviation activities. The airport prides itself on being a green, innovative space which houses its own solar plant and is carbon.   A completed masterplan for the airport will include increased cargo operations and infrastructure upgrades to increase accommodation to 1.5 million passengers per annum. The public bus service branded GO GEORGE launched in 2014 with routes covering a significant portion of the city.

6. Contemporary urban, beguiling rural
Nestled in the pristine beauty of the Garden Route, George has sophisticated urban living spaces range from trendy and affordable, to sophisticated and upmarket, gated complexes such as Kraaibosch, Kingswood, an
d the majestic Fancourt is regarded as one of the world’s top lifestyle estates. The quaint smaller hamlets such Uniondale and Haarlem offer tranquil rural living spaces for those wanting to get away from it all.

7. Local excellence for internationally competitive businesses
The excellent local infrastructure managed and maintained by George Municipality includes a well-developed, sophisticated road network providing good vehicular access. The N2 link runs north-south through the municipal area, guaranteeing ease of access to transport for incoming and outgoing goods.
A drive through George reveals fertile lands and orchards, cheek-by-jowl with some of the largest and most sophisticated agro-processing capability in the country, such as cold-storage and processing facilities. This makes George the go-to place for a wide range of agricultural products – fresh and processed – for both local consumption and the export market.

8. A manufacturing hub
George is a thriving manufacturing hub, with sector representation in textiles, dairy & juice products, furniture & timber products, charcoal with related barbeque products and more. Businesses are attracted by the range of state-of-the-art bulk services and business services on offer. The next ten years will see new light industrial and commercial business hubs developing in the area as well.

9. Quality education
The Garden Route is establishing itself as a skills mecca, and George is central to this vision. There are over 50 schools in the area providing a wide array of quality education opportunities. Schools include the Afrikaans-medium George High School established in 1947 and Hoërskool Outeniqua established in 1923. The largest English medium high school is York High School and there is also a dual medium technical school named Eden Technical High School. Many independent schools have been established such as Glenwood House, an English medium co-ed school from Grade 000 to Grade 12.

George is the tertiary hub of the Southern Cape, with several public and private institutions providing education at various campuses. The South Cape College is a public further education and training college, comprising six campuses. The Nelson Mandela University, at Saasveld Campus, offers two centres of excellence – the Centre for Resource Management and the Centre for Business and Information Technology studies.
These institutions offer brilliant facilities for a range of tertiary studies to support the needs of the growing business and industrial sectors.

10. Solid artisan skills base
The manufacturing infrastructure in George is underpinned by a skilled artisan cohort, and with the increased focus on artisan training, this resource is set to grow, making it an appealing location for businesses that are reliant on skilled artisans.  Various institutions are geared at the development of artisans by offering apprenticeships for plumbers, welders, electricians, bricklayers, carpenters, furniture makers, hairdressers and many more also focussing on alternative energy installations.  Learnerships and IT training bolster the set of skills on offer for George businesses and entrepreneurs.

11. Beautiful surroundings
George is nestled within the Outeniqua mountains, the name derived from the Khoi word meaning “man laden with honey”. The eastern, coastal belt is home to a series of ancient lakes originated at the end of the last era of the ice ages. The  Wilderness Lakes and beach from Mossel Bay to Sedgefield provide ample opportunities for eco-tourism, adventure sports, boating and related ventures. As one traverses the Outeniquas the lush coastal thicket makes way for the sparsely vegetated plains of the Little Karoo.  Rivers, forests and scenic view-points emphasise why this area is called the Garden Route.

12. Quality of Life
According to a well-known Quality of Life Index, which assesses a number of factors that impact the lifestyle of a city’s residents  George offers the overall highest quality of life in the country.  Numbeo’s research proves that with the highest safety rating, good climate, a relatively affordable cost of living, low traffic and low pollution levels, George is the place to be!

Contact George Municipal Economic Development: 044 801 9173, 62 Cathedral Street
Director Planning and Development, Lauren Waring;  Acting ED Manager, Joan Shaw;
www.george.gov.za