last-news

In the photo: Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk in deep discussion with Richard Hetem, Side Street Adventures.

George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism hosted an official festive season launch on Wednesday, 06 December at the George Museum. Attendees could enjoy a free self-tour of the museum upon arrival and were then welcomed by MANCO Chairperson for the George Museum, Dr Okkie Stander, who explained the importance of the museum which preserves the history of the town with a special focus on the timber industry.

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk provided a Keynote Address on Festive Season Readiness which was followed by Q&A from the floor with several municipal officials attending, including Dr Michele Gratz (Municipal Manager), Lauren Waring (Director Human Settlements, Planning and Development), Janine Wells (Traffic Chief), and Neels Barnard (Disaster and Fire Chief), along with comments by the Chief Whip, Cllr Marlene Barnardt.

Sharon House, Acting Manager for Tourism at the time, presented a fun formatted presentation of the 60+ things to do in greater George, which is now presented in a stunning flyer due to be handed out to all tourism establishments this coming week. Ricardo Classen, responsible for statistics at the tourism office, delivered the good news that accommodation forward bookings for this festive season are already 10% up, according to Online Travel Agent data, from the same period last year, with the very peak days already in the 70 to 80 percents – indicating another bumper festive season for George Municipality. Further tourism stakeholder information was shared, highlighting useful season information and resources, and tourism office planned activations.

The robust question and answer session was followed by snacks and networking between guests. “Thank you to all who attended the function, as well as to the George Museum for warmly hosting us. We wish you every success over the December and January period,” says Acting Tourism Manager, Sharon House. “There’s still time to fetch maps, table talkers and flyers to distribute to your guests, so please do stop past the George Visitor Information Centre,” adds House.

In the photo: Release of red and white balloons by Cllrs Adams and Jantjies

In collaboration with the Department of Health and various stakeholders, the George Municipality HIV & AIDS Sub-Section hosted a commemoration event for World AIDS Day 2023 on 1st December 2023 at the Rosemore sports field. The event brought together high school students, and mothers caring for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), and featured health-related tests conducted on gazebos erected on the sports field.

Ward Councillor (Cllr) Jayzee Jantjies of Ward 6 addressed the community, emphasising the importance of maintaining a healthy community. The event included sports activities, motivational speakers, and the release of red and white balloons by Portfolio Councillor for Community Services: Social Development, Libraries and Sport, Cllr Brandan Adams, and Ward Cllr Jayzee Jantjies in remembrance of loved ones who lost their lives to the HIV pandemic.

The organizers conveyed a message of hope, emphasizing that individuals living with HIV/AIDS and using Antiretroviral medicine can still enjoy life and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

World AIDS Day, observed on December 1st each year, has become a globally recognized health day, providing an essential opportunity to raise awareness, remember those who have passed away, and celebrate achievements such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day, “World AIDS Day 35: Remember and Commit,” marked the 35th commemoration, highlighting the theme “LET COMMUNITIES LEAD.”

In the photo: Young adults living with disabilities on a journey into the forest

In commemoration of the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities on Sunday, 3 December 2023, the George Municipality’s Gender and Disability Desk joined hands with the Association of People with Disability (APD) George and Garden Route National Park to facilitate a day of nature exploration and empowerment.

A group of 20 young adults living with disabilities was taken on a meaningful journey into the forest to take a walk to the Big Tree, where they were educated about nature. Those who were able also participated in 1 kilometre walk into the forest. Nature has such a positive effect on the human body just think of the calming effect the fresh air had on this group.

After the visit to the forest, we went to San Parks to go canoeing with the group, some of them were quite scared of the river, but we managed to take a few for canoeing. Through this program persons with a disability could showcase that they can do anything an able-bodied person can do.

This initiative not only provided a day of enjoyment and exploration but also served as a platform for challenging stereotypes and promoting inclusivity. By showcasing the capabilities of persons with disabilities, the event aimed to break down barriers and inspire a more inclusive community.

In the photo: Various Stakeholders at the 16 days of Activism in Uniondale

George Municipality, in collaboration with various stakeholders including the Department of Social Development, UNIEP, Working on Fire, Uniondale SAPS, and EMS, spearheaded a campaign against gender-based violence. The campaign, held from 23rd November 2023 to 7th December 2023, featured different speakers addressing the purpose and effects of gender-based violence, highlighting new amendments to the law, spiritual dancing, and a keynote address.

Campaign Highlights:
20 November 2023: Last planning meeting for 16 Days of Activism with 17 stakeholders present.

23 November 2023: Opening event in Haarlem marked the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, attended by 40 individuals.

24 November 2023: Launch of the 16 days with a March in Uniondale, drawing the participation of 91 attendees.

27 & 28 November 2023: Puppet shows conducted at creches in Uniondale, Avontuur, and Haarlem, reaching 170 children.

30 November 2023: Program for parents to inform them about their rights and responsibilities, reaching 30 individuals.

The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about all forms of abuse, encourage reporting, and discourage silence. The active involvement of various stakeholders reflects a community-wide commitment to combatting gender-based violence.

In the photo above the concrete foundations are the bases of the equipment to be installed. Following this, is to put up the steel structure and once this is done, the equipment can be mounted on it.

George Municipality has made great strides in its efforts to supply citizens with a more reliable power supply by installing transformers of which one is at the Glenwood substation. According to Daniel Greeff, Deputy Director: Planning and Design, Electrotechnical Services, work on the project was hampered by rain but the various foundations for the 66kV equipment have now been completed.  Next up will be the steel structures whereafter the equipment can be mounted. Greeff noted that this is very precise work give the equipment must be mounted at specified heights and the structure itself must be signed off by a structural engineer to ensure that it can withstand the forces on the equipment during a possible fault.

Greeff noted that the oil containment system is also on track with the fencing and stormwater management channel completed. The “oil containment dam” can also be seen in the pictures. This is required during emergencies for the collection of the oil.  The firewalls which prevent a fire at one transformer from affecting or spreading to another have been completed.

Greeff said there will be three transformers at the plant and two smaller transformers with forced cooling. “The existing two transformers will be upgraded to the specifications of the new third transformer. The existing two forced cool transformers will be reused at the Protea Substation to increase the capacity there. The new transformers have been ordered and will be delivered on or before June 2024 according to current planning,” Greeff said. The Glenwood transformer is a 20 MVA 66kV/11kV and will be added to the existing two 20 MVA transformers to assist with the growing demand in the east of George and surrounds.

Mayor Leon van Wyk said previously, that the installation of these transformers solidifies the municipality’s quest to capacitate and supply adequate electricity to the city of George while also catering for growth.

 The oil containment system is also on track at the Glenwood substation.

In the photograph above: Mzimkhulu Mabhoza, Buysile Ngemtu from the California Settlement and Ward Councillor Siphelo Manxele, with representatives from Buffalo Tanks, Jürgen Graupe, Co-owner and Manager: Sanitation, Ruben Graupe, Junior Project Manager and Siegfried Graupe Co-owner and Manager: Administration and Design.

George Municipality recently rolled out the first project of an alternative sanitation solution, a bio-separator toilet system in California Informal Settlement, Thembalethu, by Buffalo Tanks.

According to Wendy Mentor: Manager: New Housing at George Municipality, the system contains a tank that is completely submerged underground where the sludge is being treated and it disintegrates from there. There is no way that people can reach the tank. The system was approved by the Water Services Board, which tested the technology. “Our pilot system is going excellent, we’ve had no complaints with the 13 toilets that have been installed,” Mentor said.

Mentor said the George Municipality advertised a tender for the implementation of an alternative sanitation solution in Informal Settlements where the area cannot be connected to the sewer network.  “A pilot project was launched for three months to test the implemented technology.  Buffalo Tanks was awarded the contract for the implementation over three years,” Mentor said.

Mentor said the California Informal Settlement was chosen as a pilot as the Councillor of Ward 21 discussed the need and shortage of toilets in this settlement. There is a total of 203 structures in the settlement and only had 3 flush toilets and one chemical toilet, before the installation of the 13 alternative sanitation solution toilets.

According to Jürgen Graupe, co-owner of Buffalo Tanks, that installed the system, they only used people living in the area for labour and workers were paid per toilet. Buffalo Tanks did the coupling of the toilets. The toilets are anchored securely, and the raw materials used for the toilets are also manufactured in George. Graupe said the material of the toilet is also UV resistant, so the sun cannot damage it. It is built so that no pipes or features can be vandalised.

Buffalo Tanks were also awarded a month-to-month contract to service the toilet system. Graupe said the servicing involves only the adding of enzymes and bacteria into the system to assist the biological process and to make sure everything is clean and neat and working properly. As the project grows and more toilets are installed, the company trains and pays local people to do the maintenance.

Mentor said people were a desperate need of additional toilets as the national norm is 1 toilet for 5 structures.

According to Lauren Waring, Director of Planning, Human Settlements and Development at George, this project aims to replace the use of chemical toilets (funding permitting) over the next three years with the new alternative sanitation technology as it is a fully flush unit.

After the award of the contract, a funding request was submitted to the Department of Infrastructure for the roll-out to Informal Settlements where we cannot connect to the sewer system.

Ward Councillor of Ward 21, Cllr Siphelo Manxele, thanked the Municipality for this excellent project. He said he is looking forward to seeing more of these projects in his ward and the rest of Thembalethu.

The end-users in the settlement are happy with this new technology and indicated that their dignity has been restored and that it is an upgrade from the chemical toilets and much more hygienic.

In the photograph above the festive lights were switched on in Pacaltsdorp

The Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival was a resounding success and attracted between 900 to 1100 people inside and outside the Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre. Cllr Raybin Figland, Deputy Mayor of George officially opened the festive season by switching the festive lights on at the Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre. He wished Georgians and visitors alike a blessed and joyous Festive Season. The line-up of artists and choirs that performed at the event focussed on the spirit of Christmas with well-loved Carols.

The Pacaltsdorp Minister’s Fraternal with their spouses were part of the celebrations with Cllrs Theresa Jeyi, Marchelle Kleynhans and Ebrahim America supporting the event on behalf of George Council. George Municipality thanked the Fraternal for their involvement and support of the festival.

The Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival remains a very important event on the yearly calendar of George Municipality as it aims to contribute to the start of a good and cheery festive season for all, showcasing some of George’s best talent, entertaining the children and providing much-needed opportunities to local traders that had food and arts/crafts stalls at the event.

Cllr Figland thanked all George Municipality’s departments involved in making the festival a success and also thanked the South African Police Services (SAPS), Pacaltsdorp and local Neighbourhood Watch groups that kept everyone safe during the festivities. A big thank you to all the choirs and artists that performed and made the event a success.

Executive Deputy Mayor of George, Cllr Raybin Figland, with member of the Pacaltsdorp Minister’s Fraternal and their spouses at the Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival.

A buzzing of people at the stalls at the event.

Deputy Mayor Raybin Figland officially switches the Christmas lights after the Pacaltsdorp Mass choir assisted him in the countdown.

People from all over George gathered earlier on Sunday to enjoy the Lights Festival at the Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre.

In the group photograph from left to right are Kaelyn Haffern, Jemma Kelly, Cllr Marlene Barnardt, Susan Burger ( WRRA Exco) and Joletta Eichweber (WRRA Exco).

George Municipality approved the Visual Artwork Management Policy this year and was thrilled when Kaelyn Haffern, a 17-year-old student at Glenwood House High in George and street artist, approached the George Municipality and the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association (WRRA) offering her time and talent towards beautifying some of the building exteriors on Station Road leading to Leentjiesklip beach, Wilderness.

“The wilderness is such a beautiful place, and I felt the buildings around and in it needed to reflect the natural beauty. Art not only brings people together but also impacts the mood of a person walking past. I wanted to try to make the Wilderness a brighter place. Painting makes me happy and watching the impact art can have on the people around it, is really moving. I wanted to give back to the beautiful place I call home and help others appreciate it as much as I do,” said Kaelyn. Her artistic journey began at the age of 6 under the guidance of renowned artist Arabella Leggat in Johannesburg. The family relocated to Wilderness in 2022 and Kaelyn firmly believes that art has the power to make communities stronger by encouraging creativity, expression, and unity. In 2018, she created a whale-themed calendar with artwork that was sold in a Plettenberg Bay whale safari shop to raise awareness about whale poaching.

Kaelyn is passionate about community building and has a strong commitment to environmental causes participating in the Wildlife Conservation Schools Art Challenge, winning the runner-up award. Her winning submission was showcased at the Wilderness Art Festival in April 2023. Exploring various artistic media is Kaelyn’s forte, and she is excited to bring her street art inspired creativity to the George Municipal initiative.

Ward Councillor Marlene Barnardt was thrilled at Kaelyn’s offer to upgrade the look of the wall and substation along Station Road. “ The road takes a lot of traffic to Leentjiesklip and is incredibly busy during season. Upgrading it is definitely adding some holiday zing! If you haven’t taken a drive on Station Road in the last week, please do so! And take a look at what can be achieved by people who take the initiative to actually be the change they want to see in our beautiful Wilderness village!”

Cllr Barnardt thanked Director for Human Settlements, Planning and Development, Lauren Waring who assisted Kaelyn through the municipal approval processes required by the Visual Arts Management Policy as well as Susan Burger of the WRRA who arranged for the sponsorship of the paint. Follow Kaelyn’s artistic adventures on Instagram @ArtByKae.h

On ladder Kaelyn Haffern and in front Jemma Kelly.

Abby Craft (7) is the youngest learner at Up With Down’s. She found Anna Lavin’s soft shoulder “just right” to cuddle against.

With November being Disability Rights Awareness Month, GO GEORGE once again collaborated with key stakeholders who take an interest in people with disabilities, to raise awareness and achieve greater efficiency towards an inclusive public transport service. The focus is on the attributes of GO GEORGE that make it accessible to all and empower the community to access work, economic, social and educational opportunities.

Persons with disabilities include those who have perceived or actual physical, psychosocial, intellectual, neurological and/or sensory impairments and who, as a result of various attitudinal, communication, physical or information barriers, are hindered from participating fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others.

Attitude change

According to Morné Lakay, Acting GO GEORGE Manager, the bus service aims to empower frontline staff such as Call Centre agents, information officers and communication champions with skills to support persons with disabilities.

“We also want to assist with the process of attitude change among passengers. People’s intentions might be pure, but they might not know how to approach a person with a disability when offering assistance. We need to keep in mind that not all disabilities are visible when we interact with people in public and that many people might require different ways of interaction. People might refer to ‘wheelchair-bound’ people while the correct terminology is wheelchair users – that is the kind of mindset change we want to help bring about. Once we see passengers voluntarily getting up from a priority seat in the bus to offer it to a person with special needs, we’ll know that we’ve achieved our objective,” Lakay said.

The red-backed priority seats meant for passengers with disabilities and other special needs are clearly discernible on the lower floor of the bigger buses as well as on the minibus, and offer more leg space.

Awareness activities

A sensitisation workshop with GO GEORGE frontline staff is presented annually to empower communication champions and Call Centre agents to better understand and support persons with disabilities. Especially for new staff, this is an enlightening experience and conveys insight they are eager to share and apply.

GO GEORGE staff always enjoy their visits to the Up with Down’s Centre for children and adults with Down’s syndrome and other special needs. Latching on to the school’s current theme of safety during the holidays, they requested assistance to arrange an educational bus trip to empower young adults on the autism spectrum to use the bus service independently. The younger learners had their own joy ride.

Anyone with a disability who feels uncertain about using the GO GEORGE bus service is welcome to phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044 to request personal guidance and assistance from passenger support staff.

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Staff UA training: Universal Access specialist Colette Fransolet takes a group of GO GEORGE communication champions through an interactive training session regarding engagement with passengers with different disabilities.

Up with Downs young adults: An educational bus trip to empower young adults on the autism spectrum to use the bus service independently latched on to Up with Down’s current theme of safety during the holidays.

Theo Arries boarding bus: Theo Arries from Conville uses a wheelchair and although he can hear, he communicates through sign language. Theo uses the bus service daily, transfers from the community bus to the main route to the city centre all on his own and finds the service most convenient.

Passenger in priority seat DRAM: The red-backed priority seats meant for passengers with disabilities and other special needs are clearly discernible on the lower floor of the bigger buses as well as on the minibus, and offer more leg space.

AFRIKAANS OP VOLGENDE BLADSY

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MAAND VIR BEWUSMAKING VAN GESTREMDES

GO GEORGE fokus op houdingsverandering onder busgebruikers

Aangesien November bewustheidsmaand vir die regte van persone met gestremdhede is, het GO GEORGE weer eens met sleutelbelanghebbendes saamgewerk om bewustheid te verhoog en groter doeltreffendheid vir ‘n inklusiewe openbare vervoerdiens te bewerkstellig. Die fokus is op die kenmerke van GO GEORGE wat dit vir almal toeganklik maak en die gemeenskap bemagtig om toegang tot werk-, ekonomiese, maatskaplike en opvoedkundige geleenthede te verkry.

Persone met gestremdhede sluit in diegene met fisiese, psigososiale, intellektuele, neurologiese en/of sensoriese gestremdhede en wat as gevolg van verskeie houdings-, kommunikasie-, fisiese of inligtingstruikelblokke verhinder word om ten volle en effektief en op gelyke basis in die samelewing deel te neem.

Houdingsverandering

Volgens Morné Lakay, waarnemende GO GEORGE-bestuurder, het die busdiens ten doel om frontliniepersoneel soos inbelsentrumagente, inligtings- en passasiersdiensbeamptes te bemagtig met vaardighede om persone met gestremdhede te ondersteun.

“Ons wil ook help met die proses van houdingsverandering onder passasiers. Mense se bedoelings kan suiwer wees, maar hulle weet dalk nie hoe om ‘n persoon met ‘n gestremdheid te benader wanneer hulle hulp aanbied nie. Ons moet in gedagte hou dat nie alle gestremdhede sigbaar is wanneer ons met mense in die openbaar omgaan nie en dat baie mense verskillende maniere van interaksie benodig. Mense kan na ‘rolstoelgebonde’ mense verwys, terwyl die korrekte terminologie rolstoelgebruikers is – dit is die soort ingesteldheidsverandering wat ons wil help bewerkstellig. Sodra ons sien hoe passasiers vrywillig van ‘n prioriteitsitplek in die bus opstaan om dit aan ‘n persoon met spesiale behoeftes te bied, sal ons weet dat ons ons doelwit bereik het,” het Lakay gesê.

Die prioriteitsitplekke met rooi rugleunings wat vir passasiers met gestremdhede en ander spesiale behoeftes bedoel is, is duidelik onderskeibaar op die laer vloer van die groter busse sowel as op die minibus, en bied meer beenruimte.

Bewusmakingsaktiwiteite

‘n Sensitiseringswerkswinkel met GO GEORGE-frontliniepersoneel word jaarliks aangebied om passsiersdiensbeamptes en inbelsentrumagente te bemagtig om persone met gestremdhede beter te verstaan en te ondersteun. Veral vir nuwe personeel is dit ‘n leersame ervaring en dra dit insig oor wat hulle gretig is om te deel en toe te pas.

GO GEORGE-personeel geniet altyd hul besoeke aan die Up with Down’s-sentrum vir kinders en volwassenes met Down-sindroom en ander spesiale behoeftes. In aansluiting by Up with Down’s se huidige tema van veiligheid gedurende die vakansie het die personeel ‘n opvoedkundige busrit gereël om jong volwassenes op die outismespektrum te bemagtig om die busdiens onafhanklik te gebruik

onafhanklik te gebruik en aan te sluit by die skool se huidige tema van veiligheid gedurende die vakansie. Die jonger leerders het hul eie plesierrit onderneem.

Enigiemand met ‘n gestremdheid wat onseker voel oor die gebruik van die GO GEORGE-busdiens, is welkom om die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 te skakel om persoonlike leiding en hulp van passasiersdiensbeamptes aan te vra.

In the photo above: Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

George Municipality has awarded a construction contract for the upgrade (enlargement) of the raw water suction supply pipe from the intake tower in the Garden Route Dam to the two raw water pumpstations. The work will be completed by July 2024 and will not impact recreational activities around the dam for most of the construction duration including the festive season. There will be a short period of time next year when the contractor will do some upgrading off the approach road to the parking area and the public will be notified timeously when that occurs.

The construction on site has started with delivery of the new 800 mm diameter stainless steel pipes and installation of a crawl beam in the tunnel under the dam wall. The current raw water supply pipe is an aged 600 mm diameter asbestos-cement pipe, which requires upgrading to cater for the additional capacity required in future years. The new pipe will have a capacity of 1200 litres per second, which will be able to supply both pumpstations and allow them to operate simultaneously. The pumpstations will then in future be able to pump up to 100 million litres of raw water per day to the balancing dams and water treatment plants to supply in the medium to long term future potable water demand for George.

During the construction period, involving the removal of the old existing pipe and installation of the new stainless-steel pipe, the raw water supply to the pumpstations will be pushed through an existing adjacent pipe, which will be connected to the pumpstations through a new cross-connection. After completion of the installation of the new stainless steel supply pipe, this existing adjacent pipe will be closed off from the tower intake and pumpstations and be returned to function as a dedicated dam scour pipe. The adjacent pipe can also be used in emergencies. The project also includes other minor upgrades to the access and surrounds of the dam and pumpstations to improve various safety aspects.

Photos:

Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

Workers busy with the crawl beam installation. It is used to remove the 3-meter old pipeline pieces and in turn also used to bring in and move the stainless pipe pieces to where they need to be installed. The installation is permanent and is also being done with safety measures in mind.

Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

Workers busy with the crawl beam installation. It is used to remove the 3-meter old pipeline pieces and in turn also used to bring in and move the stainless pipe pieces to where they need to be installed. The installation is permanent and is also being done with safety measures in mind.

The Rosemoor route was one of the first to roll out in December 2014. Today, 34 bus routes serve communities all over town over a distance of 145 km.

Celebrating nine years of service to the community of George, there is an extra bounce in the step of all GO GEORGE stakeholders this year, sparked by the long-awaited addition of Thembalethu to the list of communities that can enjoy the service.

Nine years ago on 8 December 2014, the bus service rolled out four routes with 14 beautiful buses that caught the eye and made residents’ hearts beat proudly as the long, shiny bodies drove down the streets of George. Eight months later, 35 minibuses with hydraulic hoists for wheelchairs were added to the fleet. The minibuses were designed and built especially for GO GEORGE and remain the only public service minibuses in South Africa that have this feature.

Today the bus service is operated over 145 km on 34 routes with 54 standard buses, 33 midibuses and 35 minibuses traversing the streets of George and enabling residents to travel to work and school as well as to medical and community services and shops throughout town. A total of 97 buses are operational during peak hours, with a specified number of backup buses and buses undergoing routine maintenance or repairs at the depot.

Gradual roll-out to Thembalethu
The service to Thembalethu is being rolled out gradually to accommodate the traffic challenges on the Thembalethu/N2 bridge. The first route, between Thembalethu and Blanco, was introduced on 5 November and was welcomed with great excitement and gratitude by the residents of Thembalethu. Altogether 30 028 trips were undertaken on this route in November alone.
Announcements about which routes come next will be made when the construction work on the bridge and other factors allow.
“We are very proud of everything we have achieved thus far,” says GO GEORGE Acting Manager, Morné Lakay. “But this year, we are mostly grateful to have rolled out to Thembalethu. Even though we activated only one route, the Thembalethu residents now believe that we are determined to include them in the benefits offered by this affordable, scheduled transport service.”

More people travel by bus
Aside from the expansion to Thembalethu, it is clear that people increasingly choose the bus service as their means of transport.
Last year, GO GEORGE carried 41 581 passengers during Black Friday weekend. This year, the weekend saw 43 998 boardings. The average weekday trips have also increased over the past year, from 17 635 in November 2022 to 19 979 last month – an increase of more than 2 000 trips per day.

“This trend is gratifying since, besides offering benefits to our passengers, public transport also aims to alleviate the impact of toxic exhaust fumes on the environment. When we encourage George residents to make use of the bus service – even if they own a car – we explain this as the environmentally friendly choice,” Lakay said.
For more information about the bus service, the GO GEORGE Call Centre is operational from 05:00 until 20:00, seven days a week, and can be called toll-free on 0800 044 044.

GO GEORGE vier nege jaar diens aan die gemeenskap 

Met die viering van nege jaar se diens aan die gemeenskap van George is daar vanjaar ‘n ekstra huppel in die stap van alle belanghebbendes by GO GEORGE, aangevuur deur die langverwagte byvoeging van Thembalethu op die lys van gemeenskappe wat die voordeel van die busdiens kan geniet.
Nege jaar gelede op 8 Desember 2014 het die busdiens vier roetes uitgerol met 14 pragtige busse wat oë laat rek en harte trots laat klop het wanneer die lang, blink lywe in die strate van George afry. Agt maande later is 35 minibusse met hidrouliese hystoestelle vir rolstoele by die vloot gevoeg. Die minibusse is spesiaal vir GO GEORGE ontwerp en gebou en is steeds die enigste minibusse in openbare diens in Suid-Afrika wat oor hierdie fasiliteit beskik.
Vandag word die busdiens oor 145 km op 34 roetes bedryf met 54 standaardbusse, 33 midibusse en 35 minibusse wat die strate van George deurkruis en inwoners in staat stel om werk en skool toe as ook na mediese- en gemeenskapsdienste en winkels oral in die dorp te ry. Altesame 97 busse is in bedryf tydens spitstye, met ’n bepaalde aantal rugsteunbusse en busse wat roetine-onderhoud of herstelwerk ondergaan in die depot.

Geleidelike uitrol na Thembalethu
Die diens na Thembalethu word geleidelik uitgerol om die verkeersuitdagings op die Thembalethu/N2-brug te akkommodeer. Die eerste roete, tussen Thembalethu en Blanco, is op 5 November geaktiveer en is met groot opgewondenheid en dankbaarheid deur die inwoners van Thembalethu verwelkom. Altesaam 30 028 ritte is net in November op dié roete onderneem.
Aankondigings oor watter roete(s) volgende aan die beurt kom, sal gemaak word wanneer die konstruksiewerk op die brug en ander faktore dit toelaat.

“Ons is baie trots op alles wat ons tot dusver bereik het,” sê GO GEORGE se waarnemende bestuurder, Morné Lakay. “Maar vanjaar is ons grotendeels dankbaar dat ons na Thembalethu kon uitrol. Al het ons net een roete geaktiveer, glo die Thembalethu-inwoners nou dat ons vasbeslote is om hulle in te sluit by die voordele wat hierdie bekostigbare, geskeduleerde vervoerdiens bied.”

Al hoe meer mense ry bus
Afgesien van die uitbreiding na Thembalethu, is dit duidelik dat mense toenemend die busdiens as hul vervoermiddel kies.
Verlede jaar het GO GEORGE 41 581 passasiers tydens Swart Vrydag-naweek vervoer. Vanjaar is daar oor dié naweek 43 998 ritte onderneem. Die gemiddelde ritte per weeksdag het ook die afgelope jaar toegeneem, van 17 635 in November 2022 tot 19 979 verlede maand – ‘n toename van meer as 2 000 ritte per dag.

“Hierdie tendens is verblydend aangesien openbare vervoer – tesame met die voordele aan ons passasiers – ook daarop gemik is om die impak van giftige uitlaatgasse op die omgewing te verlig. Wanneer ons inwoners van George aanmoedig om van die busdiens gebruik te maak – selfs al besit hulle ‘n motor – verduidelik ons dit as die omgewingsvriendelike keuse,” het Lakay gesê.
Vir meer inligting oor die busdiens kan die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum tolvry geskakel word op 0800 044 044, met agente aan diens van 05:00 tot 20:00, sewe dae per week.

ONDERSKRIF:
Die Rosemoor-roete was een van die eerstes wat in Desember 2014 uitgerol is. Vandag is daar 34 busroetes wat gemeenskappe regoor die dorp oor ’n afstand van 145 km bedien.

As we enter our busy holiday period, readers will probably have noticed the preparations being made to ensure that our visitors have a pleasant stay. From the beginning of December, there is a daily season preparedness meeting to ensure that all our services function optimally. Once again, we are enduring loadshedding and doing our best to operate within these constraints. This year beachgoers will notice that we have partnered with the NSRI who will be managing the teams of lifesavers on duty at our beaches.

Over the past couple of weeks, George has been called upon to assist Knysna Municipality where difficulties have been experienced by the municipality in transporting refuse to the regional landfill site and in providing water to households where there have been supply interruptions. This has meant that we have sent in some of our refuse compactors and water tankers to assist a neighbouring municipality.

George takes enormous pride in ensuring that our core services function effectively and that when repairs are necessary, they are undertaken in the fastest possible time with the proviso that the applicable faulty parts can be sourced rapidly.

Readers may be interested to note that the Western Cape Government has recently released the MERO report for 2023-24 for the province which is the Municipal Economic Review and Outlook.
This report follows the Census 2022 report which has revealed that the Western Cape’s population has grown to 7,4 million with the City of Cape Town at 4,8 million people. The substantial increase in population has raised the demand for basic services, housing, education, and health services. George as well as the Province will be addressing these challenges in the coming months. While unemployment has decreased, it is evident that the informal sector is largely responsible for job growth.

In terms of the Gross Domestic Product per Region (“GDPR”), the Cape Metro, George and Drakenstein are the biggest contributors to growth with George growing at an estimated 3,3% in 2022. The GDPR for the Garden Route for 2021 is R57,3 billion with George at R22,8 billion or 40% of the region and 3% of the Province. The 2022 population of George at 294929 is 35,2% of the region’s 838457 persons. As of 2021, there is an indication of 73193 persons being in employment with an estimated job gain of 4650 for 2022.

It is interesting to note that in respect of the regional tourism performance bed-nights occupied in 2022 had recovered to 72,9% (13,32m) for the Cape Metro when compared to pre-Covid-19 in 2019, whereas in the Garden Route, the recovery was at 74,7% (6,8m).

Readers interested in obtaining the full report are welcome to email mayor@george.gov.za

Ald Leon van Wyk
Executive Mayor of George

Above photograph of Veronique Ferndale who will be performing at the Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival.

The George Municipality wishes to confirm that Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival programme will run from 18h00 to 20h00 on Sunday, 10 December 2023, and the line-up of artists will focus on the spirit of Christmas with well-loved Carols.

Map of the road closures at Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival.

The T.B.C group

Zintle Langa

Geraldo Lewis

Accompanied by members of his MAYCO from left back, Cllr Nosicelo Mbete, Cllr Brendan Adams, Mr Bent Nicolajsen (Danish Liberal Democracy Programme), Cllr Johan Stander, Cllr Christiaan Neethling and Cllr Johan Du Toit. Front row Chief Whip Marlene Viljoen, Rebecca Carter Smith, NSRI Lifeguard Operations Manager and Adam Helling, NSRI Lifeguard Area Manager, Ald Van Wyk hoisted the blue flag to cheers.

The Executive Mayor for George, Leon Van Wyk made a quick stop in Herold’s Bay on Friday 1 December to officially hoist the first Blue flag of the season assisted by Bent Nicolajsen, from the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme.

Ald Van Wyk had just finished with a site visit to the George 1 MW Solar Plant and the Outeniqua Wastewater Treatment Works with Mr Nicolajsen. After a pleasant stop in the sunshine at Herold’s Bay, the itinerary continued with a visit to the Denneoord Water Treatment Works and the George Fire Station and Control Room.

The day ended with a visit to Redberry Farm. Mr Bent Nicolajsen is the project manager for the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme, a programme funded by the Danish Government that promotes democracy and coalitions. Mr Nicolajsen made a short visit to George to view some of our infrastructure and to gain a better understanding of George as intermediate city. The Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk was a participant on a recent study tour to Denmark which focussed on energy and coalitions and was led by Mr Nicolajsen.

George Municipality is proud to have received our third consecutive Clean Audit for 2022/23 financial year. Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz noted that a clean audit is based on 3 pillars, namely compliance with legislation, performance outcomes and financial processes. “All of our municipal officials therefore play a role in ensuring that all three aspects are performed to the satisfaction of the Auditor-General.  A special thanks to the CFO and his team and all of our officials for this great team effort. This is George’s 3rd consecutive clean audit, and we strive to maintain this standard going forward”.

Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk extended his congratulations to the Municipal Manager, chief financial officer and the entire team involved in once again achieving the clean audit on behalf of Council. “ We are very proud of the perseverance and tenacity of our team as the accounting treatment and technical interpretations and requirements have become more complex over the past decade, especially so for large municipalities.”

Definitions:
Qualified Opinion – An isolated account/s balance/s or disclosure note may contain material misstatements as indicated in the audit report, but except for the qualification areas highlighted, the financial statements present fairly, or give a true and fair view, of the financial affairs of the municipality.

Unqualified Opinion– Is also known is an unmodified opinion. Unmodified opinions are expressed by the auditor when the auditor concludes that the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. Therefore, the financial statements contain no material misstatements, but some findings may have been raised on either reporting on predetermined objectives or non-compliance with legislation, or both.

Clean Audit – The financial statements are free from material misstatements (in other words, a financially unqualified audit opinion) and there are no material findings on reporting on performance objectives or non-compliance with legislation.

George Municipality has in the past two weeks assisted Hessequa Municipality as well as Knysna Municipality with water-related issues. George Fire Brigade sent our 35,000-liter stainless steel water tanker to Heidelberg last week after they experienced issues with a reservoir that ran dry.

Seen here before departing the Civils Depot are Water Tanker 1 with from left Neville Olyn, Cebisa Mabophe (EPWP) and Simthanda Mjucu

Water was moved from Riversdale to Heidelberg by Fire Officials Johan Troskie and Wilton Oktober who worked throughout the night to finish filling the reservoir. The tanker is fitted with a pump that can extract water from sources and can deliver 2200 litres per minute at 10 Bar. On the road the 18-metre (13-metre tanker pulled by a five-metre truck), 22-wheeler vehicle is an impressive site and requires an advanced EC-driver’s licence for articulated vehicles.

This weekend the fire tanker again managed by Fire Officials Johan Troskie and Wilton Oktober assisted in Knysna following the decommissioning of the Khayalethu Dam which underwent a cleaning operation. Our Civil Engineering Department sent two teams with two water trucks through to assist as well with delivering of water to Knysna communities during the cleaning process.

Tanker 2 manned by from left Shando Abrahams, Lifa Duks (EPWP) and Nonzukiso Ntutela. The two EPWP employees assisted with filling of the tankers but did not go with to Knysna. Regretably all of the George vehicles including the Fire tanker had to withdraw following threats of violence from the Knysna local communities.

George Municipality thanks all of our officials for always going the extra mile when called upon.

George Municipality is pleased to advise that three temporary camping sites (as per graphic attached A, B and C) have been identified for overnight camping at Gwaing River Mouth and Beach from 15  December to 3 January 2024.

This is in addition to the current Caravan Camp site which has twenty stands and the Gwaing Day Camp which allows for ten braai spots but no overnight camping.
Council noted the requirements for additional camping sites at this popular site during the festive season and approved the concession at the Ordinary Council of 30 November 2023.

Prospective campers are expected to pay a deposit to secure their booking on a first come first served basis. The temporary camp sites which allow a maximum of six persons per site, do not have access to electricity, and only the public amenities at the beach area are available to the temporary beach camp sites. Gwaiing River Mouth and Beach falls under the Outeniqua Sensitive Coastal Area and for that reason no additional vegetation can be cleared and each individual tent site will not extend past 30 m2. Campers wishing to use the beach camp sites must adhere to the conditions of the Gwaing Green Coast Award and note that littering and excessive noise is not allowed.

For bookings please contact Celeste Africa via email cpafrica@george.gov.za or 044 802 1622 for an application form.
Cost: R182.85 (50% discount of normal R365.70). Full amount to be paid as soon as invoices are processed.

In the photo, the Portfolio Cllr for Electrotechnical Services Nosicelo Mbete and Mayor Leon van Wyk are switching one of the  high mast lights

In a concerted effort to address safety concerns and combat criminal activities, the George Municipality has successfully installed 30 high mast lights in strategic locations over the past six months. These installations, situated in Thembalethu, Lawaaikamp, Parkdene, and Borchers, aim to improve lighting in high-density areas with historically low to no lighting, ultimately contributing to enhanced community safety.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk commended the Municipal Electrotechnical Services for the installation of the high mast lights saying that the installation of these high mast lights is expected to yield several benefits, including crime prevention and improved Security.

“The enhanced lighting will act as a deterrent to criminal activities, providing communities with increased visibility and the ability to monitor cable theft and vandalism of municipal resources and property.” Mayor van Wyk said. “Adequate lighting significantly reduces safety risks associated with nighttime activities. The high mast lights, with an effective radius of approximately 50 to 60 meters, will contribute to the overall security of the communities.”

The distribution of the high mast lights is as follows:
• Thembalethu: 18 high mast lights distributed across various wards.
• Parkdene: 5 high mast lights.
• Lawaaikamp: 4 high mast lights.
• Borchards: 3 high mast lights.

According to the acting director for Electrotechnical Services, Kobus Wilken, this initiative was made possible through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and a portion came from the George Municipal’s own funding. “The Municipality submitted funding requests to address the critical need for improved lighting and successfully secured approval from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for the installation of the 30 high mast lights. The MIG allocated a total of R17 million, supplemented by an additional R2 million from municipal funding,” Wilken said.

The Portfolio Councillor of the Electrotechnical Services and Fleet, Councillor Nosicelo Mbete urged the public to preserve these important assets. “While celebrating this significant milestone, the Municipality urges the community to play an active role in safeguarding this essential infrastructure against theft and vandalism. The success of these installations relies on the collective effort of residents to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the high mast lights,” Cllr Mbete said.

The Municipality is confident that these installations will contribute to a safer environment and provide residents with the assurance of well-lit public spaces.

Aerial view of Thembalethu Substation

In response to the growing demand for electricity and to enhance reliability in Thembalethu, the construction of the new 66/11 kV 40 MVA electrical substation in the area is well underway. This project, currently one of the largest in the Southern Cape, signifies a major milestone in the City of George’s bulk infrastructure development.

Reacting to the progress made so far, Alderman Leon Van Wyk, Executive Mayor of George, expressed the significance of this initiative. “The construction of the Thembalethu 66kV Substation is a crucial step in ensuring improved electrical supply reliability and providing adequate capacity to support the area’s growth. It is a demonstration of our commitment to facilitating growth and service delivery, attracting investment from both the state and businesses,” Mayor Van Wyk said.

Construction Update

Despite some initial delays, construction progress remains on track, with the project expected to be completed within three years. Key milestones include the completion of the substation building and the installation of most electrical equipment. The 11 kV switchgear panel is in place, and two 66/11 kV, 20 MVA power transformers, along with switchgear and other essential equipment, have been successfully installed. Ongoing work involves the installation of electrical and control cabling.

The substation is adopting the latest, state-of-the-art technology, including an IEC61850 protocol protection scheme for enhanced control and protection within the substation. The DNP3 VER 2 protocol is being utilized for communication between the substation and the control centre, ensuring efficiency with reduced ‘overheads.’ Fibre optic cables are being used extensively for control and protection communication, minimizing the reliance on copper cables. This advanced network enables remote monitoring of alarms, CCTV security, and control of the substation.

The benefits of the New 66KV substation

The acting director of the George Municipality’s Electrotechnical Services Kobus Wilken highlighted the expected benefits of the new substation upon completion at the end of 2023. “The Thembalethu 66kV Substation will not only cater to the immediate needs of the area but will also allow for future expansion. It will provide reliable electricity, additional job opportunities, and improve the overall capacity for growth in Thembalethu and surrounding areas.”

“The load on the adjacent 66 kV substations and electrical networks in Pacaltsdorp and George Industria will be reduced once the new substation takes up the load. This will prolong the available capacity at these substations and electrical networks and provide alternate capacity during system faults. The ring supply to Thembalethu substation will also provide a ring feed and firm supply to SS Protea, the 66 kV substation in Pacaltsdorp and to SS Glenwood, the 66 kV substation that supplies the entire Eastern area of George, including the Garden Route Mall,” Wilken added.

The final cost of the substation, including all associated consultant fees and 15% VAT, is expected to be approximately R77 900,000.00.

Background

The need for a 66kV substation in Thembalethu was identified over 20 years ago, and the current project builds upon the foundation laid by the Ballots Bay 11kV substation. High demand necessitated the expansion of the electrical supply capacity, leading to the establishment of the new Thembalethu 66/11 kV substation. The completion of the initial phase in 2014/15 laid the groundwork for the current project, connecting SS Protea in Pacaltsdorp to Thembalethu and energizing it at 11 kV.

Mayor Van Wyk acknowledged the collaborative efforts and planning involved, saying, “The Thembalethu 66kV Substation is proof of the long-term vision and commitment of the municipality to address the evolving energy needs of our community. This strategic infrastructure investment sets the stage for sustained electrification and growth for years to come.”

During the Voters’ Registration Weekend, it was noticeable that citizens have become more aware of their civic role to ensure that they are correctly registered as voters to participate in the 2024 National/Provincial Elections. Citizens who have moved to George from elsewhere in the country have been positive about our efforts to provide a high standard of service delivery when compared to municipalities outside of the Western Cape.

In engaging citizens, passionate persons spoke about potential dream projects that can lead to a further improvement in living circumstances in George. These projects will require inter alia champions, project teams, benefactors, roles by government and corporates to collaborate to bring these dreams to fruition. Four of these projects are centred around health, education and the environment.

One of our senior citizens would like to see the development of a dedicated children’s hospital facility in George that would be able to offer a comprehensive range of specialist paediatric services similar to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town possibly as an extension of the George Hospital. The biggest need would initially be to secure benefactors for the erection and equipping of such a facility.

The next dream relates to the development of a school of skills that would provide practical schooling for learners focussed and centred on economic sectors requiring the skills learnt. A few years ago, farmers in the Bonnievale district decided to collaborate with the Department of Education in building such a school that focussed on skills that could be utilised for the agricultural sector. The collaboration entailed the donation of building materials and/or labour to build the school with the private sector partnership contributing 60% and the Western Cape Government 40% to the overall costs. The success of this project has resulted in the second such school being constructed in Struisbaai. A potential donor of land has come forward in George with a similar dream for a school of skills to be erected here. Preliminary discussions are already taking place about such a project.

The Garden Route Botanical Gardens is celebrating their 25th anniversary. The trustees have been developing their dream expansion plan to enlarge the footprint of the Gardens. This environmental project provides for development phases to expand the green lung of George thereby protecting the habitat of the rich flora and fauna that already exists in the Gardens and surrounds. Such an expansion will also benefit tourism.

In other engagements, citizens spoke about the importance of growing trees either to provide fruit along the rivers and streams that flow through George’s living areas or along streets.

Potential project champions or benefactors who may be interested are welcome to communicate using the mayor@george.gov.za address.

Alderman Leon van Wyk
Executive Mayor