Notice Archive

George Municipality regrets to inform residents and visitors that the George Tourism offices located in York Street are closed indefinitely following a structural fire in the early hours of Sunday morning, 30 June. The Fire Brigade responded this morning at 06:23 and was able to control the fire however extensive smoke damage has occurred. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this point.

The building control division which falls under the Directorate Human Settlements, Planning and Development will inspect the building due to its heritage status. Tourism officials will be accommodated in the main municipal building until further notice.

*Temporary Contact Number for George Tourism during office hours only: 081 412 9995*

*Wilderness Tourism Office*
Closed on Monday, 1 July 2024 due to maintenance and will re-open again on Tuesday, 2 July 2024 at 08:30.
_Office Hours 08:30 – 16:00 for 2 – 5 July_
Wilderness Tourism Office Number: 044 877 0045

Wilderness Tourism Office will be closed Monday, 1 July 2024 due to maintenance.
The office will re-open again on Tuesday, 2 July 2024 at 08h30.
For more information, the public can phone the George Tourism Office on 044 801 9295. The Wilderness Tourism Office number is 044 877 0045.

George Municipality urges the public and visitors to exercise extreme caution at all beaches under its jurisdiction, as there will be no lifeguards on duty until the end of November 2024. The affected beaches include:
• Wilderness Main Beach
• Wilderness Lagoon
• Wilderness Steps
• Wilderness Lientjiesklip
• Victoria Bay Beach
• Gwaing River Mouth Beach and Day Camp
• Herold’s Bay Beach and Tidal Pool

Beware of Rip Currents
Rip currents are strong, fast-moving flows of water running from the beach back to the open ocean, sea, or lake. They are one of the most dangerous natural hazards, capable of moving at speeds of up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) per hour and can be more than 45 meters (150 feet) wide.

How to Spot a Rip Current:
• Deeper and/or darker water.
• Fewer breaking waves.
• Sandy-colored water extending beyond the surf zone.
• A narrow gap of darker, seemingly calmer water flanked by areas of breaking waves and whitewater.
• A channel of churning or choppy water distinct from the surrounding water.
• A difference in water color, such as an area of muddy-appearing water due to sediment and sand being carried away from the beach.

For more information on how to identify rip currents and stay safe, please watch the following videos:

https://youtu.be/9GBUBDMENfw?si=Pe_EUU7qUaiWTqVS

Essential Phone Numbers:
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 23 at Wilderness Beach: 082 990 5955
George Fire Department: 044 803 6311
Toll-Free Disaster Number: 087 152 9999
George Municipality After Hours: 044 803 6300

Stay safe and vigilant when visiting our beaches.

Issued by George Municipality on behalf of Garden Route District Municipality

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), together with Western Cape Veterinary Services, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), City of Cape Town Coastal Management, and other partners are working closely to establish the extent and timeline of the outbreak through further sampling and testing.

Circular H80/2024, which is aligned to Circular H19/2022: Rabies: Updated Draft National Human Rabies Prophylaxis Guideline and the Prevention of Human Rabies Cases:

This serves as an alert to inform healthcare providers and workers of the necessary public health response following a confirmed rabies case in a wild Cape Fur Seal from Big Bay, Blouberg, Cape Town.

The sample was taken from the seal in question on 22 May 2024 and was confirmed to be infected with rabies by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture on 7 June 2024.

Rabies has never been detected in seals in Southern Africa before, and this is one of the very few detections in seals worldwide.

Information on various seal bite incidents has been received by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness from the City of Cape Town Coastal Management, Oudekraal, Kommetjie, Muizenberg, Blouberg in Cape Town, and Plettenberg Bay.

Rabies in unvaccinated animals can lead to the spread of the disease and can be fatal to humans. Therefore, with the confirmed rabies case in Cape Town, the public needs to be advised of the following:

READ MORE: https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/2024/06/27/27-june-2024-public-notice-alert-public-health-response-to-the-confirmation-of-rabies-in-cape-fur-seals/

The George Municipality wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to all citizens, and organisations that donated to the Thembalethu informal settlements fire victims.

The Municipality kindly requests the public to halt further donations for the Thembalethu Fire Victims. The items are sufficient to meet their needs and have been distributed to the affected families.

We have received clothing items, including school clothing and shoes for women, men, children, and babies. The Community Development Division of the George Municipality, which coordinated the receipt and distribution of donations, also received diapers, non-perishable food, bread, blankets, fleece blankets, and numerous towels.

Follow this link to read the JUNE 2024 Newsletter / Volg hierdie skakel om die JUNIE 2024 Nuusbrief te lees
https://tinyurl.com/ydvefjxz

The Electrotechnical Services Directorate have advised that on Wednesday 26 June from 11:00 – 13:00, both sides of York Street will be closed to traffic between the R102 Traffic Circle and the Mediclinic Traffic Circle to remove damaged Christmas Lights.

Municipal traffic officials will divert motorists travelling from direction Pacaltsdorp to Hope Street off the R103 Traffic Circle. Motorists travelling down York Street past the Checkers Centre towards Pacaltsdorp, will be stopped just past the GO GEORGE depot and have to turn around at the Mediclinic Traffic Circle.

The Christmas lights are due to be removed for health and safety reasons and currently span over all four lanes of York Street.

Please take note of these arrangements and plan your travelling accordingly. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Percentage storage at new raised dam wall height                                       98,96%

Rainfall for the previous days:                                                                         0,5mm (Measured rainfall figures from 19 June 2024 up until 24 June 2024)

For water-saving tips please visit: http://tinyurl.com/3439h4n7

The cooperation of all users of municipal water is essential and is greatly appreciated.