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 Thembalethu Bulk Sewer system upgrade for future developments

Issued by George Mun 10 May 2022 for immediate release

The Executive Mayor of George, Ald Leon van Wyk, visited the R3.8 million Thembalethu Bulk Sewer project recently that will upgrade the sewer network for future growth and Upgraded Informal Settlement (UISP). The next phase of the proposed Upgraded Informal Settlement Programme (UISP) projects is specifically Area 1.  This UISP project’s civil services tender is expected to be advertised as soon as the current Bulk Sewer Project is completed, according to Mr. Lionel Daniels, Acting Director: Civil Engineering Services.

Ald Van Wyk said, “This is an important piece of infrastructure. What we are seeing here at this project is how gravity gets used in an area where stormwater lines run along the rim of the valley to ensure that water runs through. The design being used here will result in more efficient handling of the wastewater from the sewer line. Once completed, this work will be able to replace four smaller pump stations by using the gravity flow.”

Project Details

The current project consists of the laying of approximately 600m of 315mm diameter sewer pipeline and 600m of 355mm diameter sewer pipeline and associated sewer manholes.  Currently, most of the excavation of trenches is being undertaken mostly by labor-intensive methods to assist with job creation, with the work platform being created by machine.

The Thembalethu Bulk Sewer upgrades will continue to cater to future developments within the Thembalethu area. The next phase will be the upgrading of the Thembalethu No.6 sewerage pump station to cater to the future housing phases.

Employment opportunities

Currently, approximately seventeen people are being employed out of the community with accredited training to be rolled out through several municipal projects to increase the capacity of the communities served by the projects to enhance their employment potential going forward.

Project timeline

The approximate five-month contract is currently just approaching the halfway mark in terms of time, with a due completion date expected in early August 2022.  There have been some delays in the recent past with the rainfall experienced in the region, but the project is currently on track, due to efficient progress on various aspects of the project.

Captions:

_WA0000 Trenches being started.

_WA0003  Site clearance work to create work platform for pipe trench.

_WA0004  Laying of bulk sewer in newly excavated trench, with alignment being checked to achieve acceptable tolerances.

_WA0006 New trench being trimmed.

_WA0008 New trench intersection where new manhole will be constructed.

_WA0009 View out of trench as work progresses.

Mayor: Ald Leon van Wyk, George Mayor, (right) on-site with Portfolio Cllr for Planning and Development, Henry Hill(left) and Adrian van Molendorff from Civil Engineering Services.

Following the successful application for a Budget Facility for Infrastructure funding (“BFI”) grant, two components of the 12 have broken ground and are underway while others will follow shortly. The 20 Ml/d treatment plant extension to the New Water Treatment Works (New WTW Denneoord) is component 2 of the 12 and the Sludge plant is component 1. These two components are grouped together in a single project with two construction contracts.

The first contract for the civil engineering construction has been awarded and construction has commenced on site for both components. This is the largest single component of the Water Security and Remedial Works project (BFI)  and is valued at R263 million. The tender for the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation (MEI) works is currently live and will close shortly.

The potable Water Security and Remedial Works project will also include the refurbishment of the existing sludge discharge system; upgrade of Garden Route Dam outlet supply; new generator for Garden Route Dam pump station to ease supply of raw water during power failures; new 30Ml Balancing Dam and pipeline to New Water Treatment Plant; rehabilitation of Old water treatment works; replacement for Kaaimans River Pump station pumps; new Pacaltsdorp (West) Reservoir; new Pacaltsdorp (East) Reservoir, Tower and pump station; new Thembalethu (West) Reservoir and Pump station and a new Thembalethu (East) Reservoir, Tower and pump station.

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk together with Portfolio Councillor Jackie Von Brandis ( Civil Engineering Services: Capital Projects & BFI) and Portfolio Councillor Henry Hill (Planning and Development) undertook a site inspection last week.  “The size of the site works illustrates the enormous scale of the project being undertaken. Discussions with the engineers on site outlined the various components of this huge Water Security and Remedial Works project that will need to be managed over the next few years,” said Ald Van Wyk.

According to Gerard De Swardt, Project Manager for George Civil Engineering Services, the earthworks are currently under way with the major excavation for the Water Treatment Works extension consisting of some 20 000 cubic meters of earth material that will be excavated and stockpiled on site for re-use elsewhere. The high clay content of the soil renders the material useful for earth dam construction and possible other uses where low permeability is required to prevent groundwater pollution. Such projects have already been identified with one being component 6 of the Water Security and Remedial Works project, that is the construction of an earth dam to provide an additional 30 Ml raw water storage for water supplied to the two treatment plants.

The excavation for the 20 Ml/d WTW module is nearing full depth for the construction of the structures, depending on the outcome of Geotechnical testing which will determine the bearing capacity of the in-situ soil. Some further excavation and material replacement may be required if the conditions are not suitable. The placing of concrete will commence shortly and for this purpose two tower cranes of 23m height will be installed on site.

It is well-known that there is widespread concern about the state of water and wastewater infrastructure in South Africa and that significant amounts of funding will be required to rehabilitate this infrastructure within municipalities. The George management team recognised that the capital expenditure required for such a project would be significant and place enormous strain on the municipality’s financial resources. The initiative was taken to approach National Treasury to search for a solution. This approach culminated in the application being launched and in being awarded the BFI facility, George has become the flag-bearer among non-metro municipalities to lead the restoration of water treatment as well as wastewater facilities in the country.

Ends.

Caption: Group pic from left: Henry Hill (Portfolio Cllr Planning and Development),  Jannie Koegelenberg (Engineer, Royal Haskoning DHV), Gerard De Swardt (Project Manager: George Civil Engineering Services), Ald Leon Van Wyk, Jackie Von Brandis (Portfolio Cllr Civil Engineering Services: Capital Projects & BFI) and Jonathan Bernon (Construction Manager, Icon Construction).

George Municipality is currently replacing a 40-year-old water pipeline infrastructure in Parkdene that is causing high water losses due to frequent pipe bursts. According to Lionel Daniels, Acting Director: Civil Engineering, the Parkdene pipe replacement is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation, worth approximately R3 million. The existing very old pipework is replaced with Un-plasticised Poli-vinyl Chloride (PVC-u) pipes with new fire and gate valves to facilitate maintenance and operations going forward.

Multi-year pipe replacement programme

Daniels said that this is the start of a comprehensive pipe replacement programme for the Parkdene, Conville and Protea Park Areas over a multi-year period.  The initial phase will be funded by the department through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant or WSIG programme, which aims to accelerate backlog reduction and enhance the sustainability of services.  This programme supports the Municipality in implementing water conservation and water demand management (WC/WDM) projects.

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk noted during his site inspection that the administration endeavours to conduct pre-emptive placement of these water lines to ensure breakages can be dealt with efficiently. “PVC allows for the introduction of valves and metres. The valves make it easier to isolate areas and meters will help with the management of water flow. “

Job Creation

Currently, approximately ten people are being employed out of the community with accredited training to be rolled out through a number of municipal projects to increase the capacity of the communities served by the projects to enhance their job creation potential going forward.

Safety

The work is undertaken in short sections to allow the trenches to be closed at the end of each day’s work.  This minimises inconvenience to residents and ensures access to each property at the end of each day as well as the safety of pedestrians.  The work is challenging due to a number of existing services being located within the sidewalk.

Duration of Work

The four-month contract is currently just over the halfway mark in terms of time, with a due completion date expected in early June 2022.  There have been some delays in the recent past with the rainfall experienced in the region.

Next steps

Approximately 800m of a 160mm diameter water pipeline along Main Road, Parkdene, needs to be replaced, with all associated fire hydrants and isolating valves.  At the same time, new erf connection pipework will be provided under Main Street by directional drilling. To protect the recently resurfaced Main Road, a number of the existing erf connections will be reinstated with new connection lines being drilled under the road thereby saving the newly resurfaced road.

Captions:

164508: Trenches on site are closed off daily to ensure access to properties.

155512:  Sites are being rehabilitated after work is completed in a section.

135443:  Several existing services like electrical cables, provide challenges in laying a new pipeline.

Parkdene water: Executive Mayor of George, Ald Leon van Wyk, Adrian van Molendorff from Civil Engineering Services and Cllr Henry Hill visited the site in Parkdene.

Ends.

Air blowers installation under way for air delivery to provide oxygen to the aerobic zones in the reactor.

Works at the Outeniqua Wastewater Treatment Works (OWWTW) for the upgrading and capacity extension of the plant are well under way and progressing steadily. The upgrade will allow for an increased capacity from 15Ml/dl to 25Ml/dl.

The components at the inlet works are nearing completion and are being commissioned as the installations are completed. The new perforated inlet screens are operational as well as the screenings and grit bins and the grit removal systems while the rock catcher and odour control systems are nearing completion. The remainder of the works largely focuses on the completion of equipment installation in and around the new reactor whereafter the focus will shift to the upgrading of the screw pump station for the sedimentation tank underflow sludge recycle.

After the commissioning of the new reactor, the full flow to the works will be diverted though it and this will allow the remedial works to the existing (old) carousel reactor to proceed. This tank of 17.5 Ml needs to be emptied and the concrete condition to be assessed with the necessary remedial and repair works to follow. The screw pump station for the Return Activated Sludge recycle also requires upgrading. The two new pumps were shipped to South Africa from Italy, and have arrived finally after a four month delay in Las Palmas, Canary Islands. This caused a project delay of this component of the project but will not have an impact on the final estimated completion time.

The major challenge will be to empty the old carousel reactor while separating the liquid from the various inorganic (non biodegradable) solids in the tank. These solids must be dewatered and disposed of separately. The contractor proposed geofabric bags for this dewatering and is currently experimenting with a small version on site. The mechanical & electrical installation is currently 70% complete and the construction is scheduled to be completed during the first half of 2023.

George Munisipaliteit vier Vryheidsdag

Uitvoerende Onderburgemeester van George, Rdl. Raybin Figland, Portefeuljeraadslid van Gemeenskapsontwikkeling, Rdl. Brendon Adams, nog raadslede, amptenare van die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingafdeling, asook lede van die LGBTQIA-gemeenskap, het Dinsdagmiddag 26 April ‘n demonstrasie voor George-stadsaal gehou ter viering van Vryheidsdag. Die inisiatief was ter bewusmaking van die vryheid en menseregte vir alle lede van die samelewing. 

Issued by George Mun 3 May 2022 for immediate release

Text: George Tourism held a successful tourism conference in George recently and had the support of 36 attendees from local tourism stakeholders.

Dr Kosie Haarhoff, Deputy Director; Strategic Growth and Development, discussed in his presentation the George’s Film policy, which purpose is to facilitate, regulate and standardize filming within the George Municipal area and provide for the issuing of a film permit; to provide for filming in environmentally sensitive areas. Dr. Haarhoff also shared the Events Assistance Policy that prescribes processes to be followed by the Municipality for event support provision, commercial partnerships, event permit applications and more.

Santa Sternsdorf from George Fire Department discussed the importance of population certificates and the importance of the timeous applications of such certificates.

The Garden Route Film Commission shared its focus with the audience. Its first focus is to develop the region as a “Film Friendly” destination for filmmakers. This is achieved through skills development and training in the short term, education of stakeholders and the supply chain and further support for production development.

A second focus is an economic focus which the GRFC must facilitate through its focus; job creation, tourism growth through film events, attracting productions to the region by creating platforms, permitting access to locations and much more.

Chairperson of the Regional Tourism Liaison Committee (RTLC), Denver Johnson, explained the role of this committee and how the different regions in the Western Cape can benefit from being part of the committee.

Cape Town Air Access touched on its mandate to broaden Western Cape air access for targeted international markets, to improve economic competitiveness and shared recovery figures of Cape Town and George Airports since the pandemic. Between presentations, local artists from the Dotsure George Arts Theatre entertained the attendees.

Feedback from some of the attendees was very positive:

Nicola McDevitt from the Fat Fish restaurant raved about the super conference and said stakeholders who did not attend really missed out. She thanked the Tourism team for the time and effort they put into the conference and said the information that was shared was extremely useful and beneficial. She said the resources the Tourism office makes available to stakeholders are appreciated and make a huge difference.

Anthony Rosenbaum from Wide Open Spaces thanked George Tourism for a very informative conference, and it was good to catch up with team members at the event.

Sharon House, Senior Tourism Officer said: “We would like to extend a big thank you to all our tourism stakeholders who attended the tourism conference – it was fantastic to network with you in person, finally – after such a long spell of not being able to meet face-to-face due to Covid-19.  It was fabulous to hear feedback throughout the day from the tourism industry, and especially the insights into what is happening in private business ‘on the ground’.  We hope to see more tourism stakeholders attend future engagements and encourage all tourism products to engage with our office.  Please send us your marketing photos, videos and deals, specials or events to members@visitgeorge.co.za.”

Captions:

Tour 1: Denver Johnson, from Garden Route District Municipality, Sharon House (George Tourism), Melanie Martins (George Tourism), Joan Shaw, (George Tourism Manager), Lika Berning, (Garden Route Film Commission), Kosie Haarhoff (Deputy Director: Strategic Growth and Development at George Municipality) and Danyaal Samuels, WESGRO Air Access Unit at the conference.

Tour2: Melanie Martins, Sharon House, Lindi Harley, Rayvian Moolman, Joan Shaw and Caydyn Louis, the George Tourism team at the conference.

Tour 3, 4, 5: Local artists entertained the attendees at the conference at the venue, Dotsure George Arts Theatre.

Ends.

MEDIA STATEMENT                                                        

28 April 2022

Statistics South Africa will continue to collect census data from households in the Western Cape for an additional two weeks until 14 May. The extension follows a strong response by residents of the province to the call to get counted.

Stats SA data collectors will be visiting communities with low response rates across the province. Almost 1,1 million households in the province have completed the census questionnaire since data collection began in February.

Completing the questionnaire only takes 15 – 30 minutes. Stats SA assures respondents that all personal information collected for the purpose of the census is kept strictly confidential.

The online questionnaire is available on https://getcounted.statssa.gov.za (datafree) allowing residents to answer the questions at a time and place convenient to themselves.

Households have until the close of counting on 14 May to complete the questionnaire online. With over 600 000 households yet to be visited, Western Cape households that have not been counted are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

Census information is essential for determining the funding allocation to provinces and municipalities. Census data will provide detailed information on where schools, clinics and houses should be built and where electricity, water and sewerage infrastructure is needed. Census has an impact on the life of every resident and everyone is encouraged to be counted.

Western Cape households are requested to please cooperate with the data collectors by answering the questions accurately and completely.

The Census call centre is open to assist with any enquiries – 0800 110 248 or email census2022@statssa.gov.za.

Ends…

For media inquiries contact: Trevor Oosterwyk Email: trevoro@statssa.gov.za

In the past week I attended two important meetings that once again signify how important it is to pay attention to economic activity within George.

At the annual general meeting of the George Business Chamber, Mr Nelius van Greunen, a leading commercial farmer, addressed the attendees. He mentioned the importance of the agricultural sector for the local economy and region and  that George needs to ensure it becomes more sustainable by also expanding from being pre-dominantly a “consuming” economy.

These comments are totally aligned to my philosophy that George needs to evolve towards a “producing” economy where we produce goods and services that are “exported” both nationally and internationally.

On Friday, the municipal manager, Dr Michele Gratz (now appointed for five years) and I attended a Meet and Greet Session in Cape Town where we were allocated a maximum of 20 minutes with each of the ten Provincial Ministers and the Premier to raise matters for their attention. We made full use of the opportunity to continue the discussion relating to the coordination required for increasing economic activity in George to improve job creation. There are already numerous initiatives underway that the Municipality and Provincial departments are involved in.

While we are looking closely at developing the agro-processing sector and expanding tourism event activity as examples, other niches are being explored as well. It is therefore critical that the private sector engage with us on opportunities that can be nurtured and grown. The Economic Growth and Development Strategy is currently under revision and further engagements are being arranged to foster the necessary collaboration.

It is generally accepted that George is experiencing in-migration. Some businesses are commenting that turnover is now 30% above pre-Covid-19 levels. The Municipality has been responding to these increases with increased spending on the capital budget to increase water and wastewater treatment capacity and refurbishment of existing infrastructure.

There is however an important role that George business leaders and residents need to play in their communication with the Municipality on how we can provide the enabling environment to ensure economic growth and the necessary collaboration can take place.

There is a very urgent call to Residents to participate in Census 2022 which has been extended to 30 April so that many stragglers in the Western Cape complete the Census. The Census can be completed very easily on mobile phones by using the following link:   https://getcounted.statssa.gov.za/#!/home

It is essential to complete the Census because this is used to determine the Grants that National Government allocates to municipalities. George has seen rapid growth in its population and if residents fail to register we do not receive our required allocation of funding with the burden shifting to municipal accounts. Comments are welcomed at: supportbusiness@george.gov.za

Outeniqua Marathon op hande en George Munisipaliteit borg R50 000

Issued by George Municipality 25 April 2022

Caption: George se Uitvoerende Burgemeester, Rdh Leon van Wyk (regs) oorhandig ‘n tjek van R50 000 aan Duppie du Preez, President van Outeniqua Harriers ten bate van die jaarlikse Outeniqua Marathon wat die naweek plaasvind.

George se Uitvoerende Burgemeester, Rdh Leon van Wyk het ‘n bielie van ‘n tjek van R50 000 ten bate van die Outeniqua Marathon die eerskomende naweek oorhandig.

Duppie du Preez, President van Outeniqua Harriers, het die tjek in ontvangs geneem. Outeniqua Harriers bied jaarliks die marathon aan en word gebord deur die Munisipaliteit en ander borge. Die marathon vind plaas Saterdag, 30 April 2022. Volgens Du Preez word dié wedloop beskou as een van die heel mooiste wedlope in Suid-Afrika en vind al meer as 30 jaar plaas.

Die wedloop bestaan uit die drie sub-wedlope.

Die 42,2km marathon begin by die George Sportklub om 07h00. ‘n

Gedeelte van die marathon beweeg om die Tuinroete dam verby die Nelson Mandela Universiteit op met die Sewe Passe na Whitesweg, waarna die hardlopers ‘n asemrowende uitsig op die see en Wildernis-mere het wat voor hulle lê, voordat dit eindig by die Commonage.

Die halwe mararthon,  21,1km begin by die Tuinroete Dam om 08h00  en die 10km wedloop begin by die Wilderness Commonage om 08h00. Al die wedlope eindig by die Wilderness Commonage (die oop vlak oorkant die Wilderness Hotel).

Inskrywings kan nog Vrydagaand vanaf 16h00 tot 21h00 by die George Sportklub , Langenhovenweg gedoen word.

Vir navrae bel vir Eileen de Jager 084 404 2695 of Esme Boshoff by 084 499 7753.

Issued by George Municipality, 25 April 2022

The Executive Mayor of George, Ald. Leon van Wyk welcomes Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA) extension of the online questionnaire for Census 2022 until the end of April 2022 and encourages the George Municipality’s citizens to take full advantage of this opportunity to complete the census questionnaire.

Statistics generated from the census are a crucial part of any development, especially local government, as this crucial information gives a true reflection of the situation and needs of citizens,” said Mayor van Wyk. “Fiscal allocations and grants are greatly influenced by the data and information emanating from the census; therefore it is the responsibility of each and every citizen to participate in the census and make use of this extended time to help to get the most accurate statistics for the George Municipality’s precinct.”

Stats SA announced on its website last week, 21 April 2022, that it has reopened the online completion of census survey questionnaires by the respondents themselves until the end of April 2022.  “Households that are not counted can go to https://getcounted.statssa.gov.za/#!/home and fill in their name, surname, and cellphone number. After successfully registering, an OTP will be shared which will give access to the census questionnaire. Once the questionnaire is completed, households will get a reference number which they should keep in a safe place for when they are visited by a census fieldworker, or during the Post-Enumeration Survey, which is a quality check for the census project,” Stats SA said in the statement.

“Data collection challenges, particularly in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, which was heavily impacted by the recent extreme weather conditions, led to the decision to extend the census mop-up period to the end of April. All provinces will be able to take advantage of the extended period to ensure that they count as many households as possible,” Stats SA added.

Stats SA is calling on all households to ensure that they get counted in the 2022 Census, either online or by a fieldworker. “The country’s socio-economic dynamics have changed a lot since the last census was conducted in 2011. Government and business need accurate information in order to plan, and the census is the only source of population and housing data at a local level. The more people who participate, the more accurate the data,” said Project Director Calvin Molongoana. “It is critical that every household participates in the census, and makes sure that they get counted”.

Stats SA is appealing to all who live within the borders of South Africa, irrespective of their status, to do the right thing and be counted. The Statistics Act (Act 6 of 1999) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (Act 4 of 2013) complement each other in ensuring that all data collected by Statistics SA remains confidential. Data on an individual cannot be shared with any other agency; any data released by Stats SA is aggregated and confidential to ensure anonymity.

Ends.

Issued by George Municipality on 25 April 2022

The George Municipality is embarking on a pre-paid electricity metering software update for its approximately 49 500 prepaid consumers as the current software will expire in November 2024, not only in George but in the entire Country. Failure to update before the deadline will result in consumers not being able to recharge their meter with the new tokens and therefore will not have power.

Standard Transfer Specification (STS) prepaid meters use encrypted tokens to transfer units purchased onto the meters as per the STS standards and industry guidelines. Each token is encoded with a unique Token Identifier (TID), which has a limited range and will run out (rollover) on 24 November 2024.

After this date, all STS compliant meters will stop accepting credit tokens, unless an intervention takes place.  This implies that all these meters need to receive the TID Rollover Key Change with a new base date before the said date. Failing to act timeously will have a negative impact on consumers as they will be unable to load electricity on the meter.

Households that are in line for the municipal ongoing meter replacement program must be aware that all new meters installed will eventually be updated, but we are working through older stock now. Older stock, even though newly installed, would need to be updated. The new compliant-ready meters are in the municipality stock stores now. Some of the field staff are already updating the meters if they are on-site doing a meter change or site inspection.

As the update unfolds, consumers must ensure that all their old pre-paid electricity tokens must be entered prior to the update being completed, as the old token will not work once the update has been done.

Details about the specific dates of updates in various areas in George will be released in due course. A team conducting the audits from the George Municipality, in conjunction with the teams from the service providers, Alegro and Ontec will be wearing shirts and/or jackets indicating the “Alegro” name as well as ID cards and correspondence confirming and authenticating them being assigned to conduct the audit. Covid-19 health and safety protocols will be adhered to.

Customers may phone the George Municipality on 044 801 9222 or Ontec for verification on 044 873 5474. For more information on the TID Rollover please visit the George Municipality’s website to view frequently asked questions (FAQ): https://www.george.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/TID-ROLLOVER-FAQ-English-Updated-Version-May-2022.pdf

Ends.

CAPTION:

A team conducting the audits from the George Municipality, in conjunction with the teams from the service providers, Alegro and Ontec will be wearing shirts and/or jackets indicating the “Alegro” name as well as ID cards and correspondence confirming and authenticating them being assigned to conduct the audit.

There is currently construction taking place at Schaapkop Pump Station to stabilise and rehabilitate the slope on the riverbank to protect the pump station from an encroaching donga and create a safe working space for the pump station contractor to establish on-site.

The source of funding for this construction is the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) funding and the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) project.

The embankment contains several pipelines including the rising main (pumping line) from the pump station. The pipeline needs to be replaced by a larger diameter pipeline in Phase 2 of the pump station upgrading and therefore provision must be made in the currently installed infrastructure for the new pipeline to prevent demolition/ excavation into the gabions for the new pipeline.

Gabions are being installed as a retaining wall to retain the earthworks slope and the wire needs to be protected against vandalism and theft, so a concrete capping was specified to prevent access to the wires. The contractor has subsequently introduced the use of gunite (spray-on concrete) instead of conventional concrete due to the ease and speed of construction to save time.

Ends.

The George Council unanimously approved the appointment of Dr Michele Gratz as Municipal Manager on a five year contract during the Special Council meeting held on Thursday, 14 April 2022 after following the recruitment and selection process as determined by Municipal Regulations.

In proposing the appointment, Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk referred to the critical role played by Dr Gratz as Acting Municipal Manager in the turnaround process since the beginning of January 2021, of stabilising the administration, making key appointments, ensuring that capital projects were executed on time and that grants were spent in terms of their conditions. Following an engagement with National Treasury in April 2021, the application for the successful Budget Facility for Infrastructure Grant of almost R1,2 billion was launched.

Service delivery standards have improved and continue to receive ongoing attention. The Executive Mayor emphasised the increase in total spending by the Municipality that has commenced from almost R2,2 billion in the year ended 30 June 2020 to a budget of over R3,6 billion for the year commencing on 1 July 2022.

In congratulating Dr Gratz on her appointment, Alderman Van Wyk referred to the common objectives for the five year term, being the next phases of the turnaround to effect internal operational efficiencies, improvement to services, tackling the refurbishment of infrastructure, mitigating the risks of unreliable electricity supply through renewable energy and ensuring an enabling environment for increased economic activity.

During the draft budget that was tabled at the council meeting of 28^th March 2022, a new basis for calculating electricity tariffs was introduced.

To date, George has used a per kilowatt-hour charge for domestic use of electricity. All the neighbouring towns have been using a fixed charge and a variable cost for electricity for some years already. George consumers have often compared local tariffs to those levied elsewhere and seemingly not realised the difference.

There is pressure on municipalities to recognise the “Cost of Supply” which relates to the fixed infrastructure component (i.e. substations, transformers, powerlines, underground connections, maintenance of the network, etc.) and how to ensure these costs are recouped annually. George’s network has a replacement cost of over R2 billion.

The fixed cost component should therefore be shared by the consumers according to the level of usage availability that each consumer requires. An increasing threat faced by municipalities in their distribution is that of business and domestic users who are making use of renewable sources of electricity. It is now imperative that George introduces fixed and variable charges to secure the annual operational costs of the network and then to charge the user for the actual electricity delivered to the premises.

In introducing the new basis of charges, the municipality is looking at ways of reducing the maximum available load capacity (ampere) that ESKOM charges George to supply electricity, which is levied at this peak charge rate. At present all domestic users are notionally rated at 60-amp usage. From 1^st July 2022, this maximum will be reduced to 40 amps. Most households in George only require 20 amps. The new fixed rate tariff will be based on 40 amps. Consumers who need less or more than 40 amps, can apply for adjustments between 20 and 60 amps, which will also result in a monthly tariff adjustment (our house has a trip switch set at 35 amps).

The benefit of reducing households’ share of the peak off-take from ESKOM is likely to decrease the cost of bulk purchases of electricity. This reduction will also assist when calculations are made to avoid Stage 1 of load-shedding.

The envisaged charges will be implemented over 2 – 3 years to phase in the charges that have been designed to be revenue neutral. All indigents and other domestic users using up to 400 kilowatt hours per month will continue to pay a per kilowatt hour charge as at present.

Households and businesses using more than 400 kilowatt hours will migrate to a fixed monthly charge of R75 per month plus a per ampere charge of R4.54 (R181.60 for 40 amps). Costs per kWh for domestic users will amount to R210.04 cents per kWh. These amounts exclude VAT.

Issued by George Municipality on 12 April 2022

The Protea Transformer that feeds power to Pacaltsdorp, Hansmoeskraal and Syferfontein had undergone R2.5 million worth of maintenance in the 2021/2022 financial year.

According to the director of the George Municipality’s Electrotechnical Department, Mr Bongani Mandla, a transformer is the most critical component within the electricity distribution network, its function is to increase the voltage, also known as stepping up the voltage, or they can decrease the voltage also known as stepping down the voltage.

Mandla confirmed that maintenance was necessary for this transformer as one of its components is rusting.  “The trigger for this maintenance, which is funded from George Municipality’s capital budget and loans, was excessive corrosion on the main tank,” he said.  “The Unit was sent to an external service provider and upon intrusive inspection, it was detected that the active components and accessories needed to be refurbished or replaced.”

The average lifespan is approximately 30-50 years dependent on application, loading and environmental conditions. The average lead time for a new power transformer is nine to fifteen months. This refurbishment project will extend the usable life of this transformer by approximately 30-40 years.

The Portfolio Councillor of the Electrotechnical Services directorate Cllr Nosicelo Mbete visited the site as part of her series of visits to Electrotechnical Service capital projects. During her visit, Cllr Mbete commended the department for prioritising the installation and commissioning of this transformer, as it will help improve the reliability of supply to the Pacaltsdorp, Hansmoeskraal and Syferfontein areas.

The 10 MVA Protea Transformer has been successfully commissioned.

Ends.

CAPTION:

Electrotechnical management: Planning, Engineering Services and Distribution

Photo 1: (FLTR) Cllr Nosicelo Mbete (Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services), Mr Thembani Mzekeli (Testing and Protection Manager), Mr David Mckenzie (Specialised Electrician), Mr John Cornelius (Chief Engineering Technician), Mr Cuan Edick (Senior Superintendent: Sub-station)

Photo 2: (FLTR) Mr Bongani Mandla (Director for Electrotechnical Services), Mr David Mckenzie (Specialised Electrician), Cllr Nosicelo Mbete (Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services), Mr John Cornelius (Chief Engineering Technician), Mr Cuan Edick (Senior Superintendent- Sub-station).

Issued by George Municipality, 6 April 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ends.

George Municipality would like to highlight a recent Supreme court case which upheld the argument that municipalities are entitled to levy penalty rates based on the Municipal Structures Act where a property (home) is being used to conduct a business, if the use is in contravention of the property’s zoning provisions. Municipalities are entitled to levy penalty rates based on the Municipal Structures Act which is the umbrella act under which the Rates Act falls.

Director for Planning and Development at George, Lauren Waring said that her directorate is aware that there are many businesses being operated from residential zoned properties and, where the purpose and nature of the use has changed completely, these owners will find themselves in contravention and can face contravention levies, penalties, fines and even imprisonment.

The zoning of a property determines the primary use and other ancillary uses that the property may be utilised for. The zoning also determines the restrictions or parameters within which the applicable use rights may be exercised or if the consent of the municipality is required for the use. If a property is used outside its zoning, the municipality can change the category of use to unlawful or uncategorised use and increase the municipal rates in accordance with the new category.

If you are contemplating setting up a business in a residential area or from your home you need to understand all the relevant provisions regarding the zoning of your property to ensure that you are complying with the bylaws. Zoning schemes bylaws stipulate what type of buildings and what type of activities can occur in a particular property.

In technical terms, a zoning scheme is a legal document that records all land use rights on properties in its area of jurisdiction. It also includes provisions pertaining to restrictions on such rights and how they can be exercised. Within a zoning scheme, there are certain land uses and activities that can be taken as a right and certain land uses and activities that are only permitted with the local authorities consent. If the land use or activity is not stated, then it is not allowed on that property.

For minor deviations from the provisions of the zoning scheme, one may apply for a Departure. For major deviations for a change in land usage or change in the type of building, one requires a Rezoning. The George Municipality’s zoning scheme allows certain residential business activities as a right on Single Residential properties. These include home occupations (professional practices with no more than 3 people employed), places of instruction up to 6 learners at a time, and a bed and breakfast (not more than 2 guest rooms). Other uses such as a house shop (small retail business), guest houses and creches are permitted with the Consent of the municipality.

Any business that is run from home and does not fall under these land uses / activities, are not permitted on residential properties. The zoning by-laws state that such businesses can only be conducted in areas zoned for business or industrial purposes and not in residential areas. These business activities will require you to apply for either a departure or a rezoning.

How to apply for a rezoning or departure
The Land Use Management Application form is used when submitting a planning application. The form needs to be completed in full and accompanied by the relevant supporting information and documentation. It is important to note that submitting this application does not necessarily mean it will be approved.

Businesses in residential areas tend to generate traffic, parking, noise, and other problems, with some being known to be used as fronts for illicit activities. The concerns and objections of residents will be considered with each application.

The land use application process can take, on average between six and nine months, depending on the level of public participation needed, whether objections are received against the application, and which authority decides on the application. Any business that cause disturbances to neighbours such as vehicle repair workshops, night clubs, manufacturing enterprises, etc will generally not be permitted in a residential area.

George Municipality has an internet-based land use application system to enable the electronic submission and processing of land use applications. This system will be soon be moving to an on-line platform. All application forms, application submission requirements and public participation requirements are available on the George Municipality’s website at https://www.george.gov.za/town-planning/Applications.

All completed applications are submitted via email to town.planning.applications@george.gov.za and applicants will receive SMSs on the progress made on their applications.