Notices

KENNISGEWING: FIN015/2021
2020/21 FINANSIëLE JAAR: AANSUIWERINGSBEGROTING 22 APRIL 2021
Kennis geskied hiermee ingevolge Artikel 28 (2) van die Wet op Plaaslike Regering: Munisipale Finansiële Bestuur, 2003 (Wet no.56 van 2003) en Artikel 23 van die Munisipale Begrotings en Verslagdoening Regulasies 2008 onderskeidelik, dat die Aansuiweringsbegroting goedgekeur is tydens die Raadsvergadering van 22 April 2021.
Ingevolge Artikel 21A van die Munisipale Stelsels Wet, 2000 (Wet no. 32 van 2000), gee George Munisipaliteit hiermee kennis aan die plaaslike gemeenskap dat die raadsbeluit, en alle ander tersaaklike dokumentasie, beskikbaar is op die webwerf van die Munisipaliteit: www.george.gov.za
Navrae in hierdie verband kan gerig word aan die Direkteur: Finansiele Dienste by tel 044 801 9035
DR M GRATZ
WAARNEMENDE MUNISIPALE BESTUURDER
_________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE: FIN015/2021
2020/21 FINANCIAL YEAR: ADJUSTMENT BUDGET 22 APRIL 2021
Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 28 (2) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act no.56 of 2003) and Section 23 of the Municipal Budgets and Reporting Regulations 2008 respectively, that the Adjustment Budget was approved during the Council meeting held on 22 April 2021.
In terms of Section 21A of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No. 32 of 2000), George Municipality hereby notifies the local community that the Council Resolution, and all other relevant documentation will be available on the website of the Municipality: www.george.gov.za
Enquiries may be directed to the Director: Financial Services at 044 801 9035
DR M GRATZ
ACTINGMUNICIPAL MANAGER

Pressure differences because of the new pipe installation at Ebb and Flow yesterday has caused a leak to an old connection on the same line. Repairs are already underway and should be resolved in the next two to three hours.
There is currently water in the reservoirs and pipes, but residents are requested to use water sparingly to sustain supply until the system has been reconnected. Water pressure may be lower while repairs are underway. Water tankers will be roaming just in case.
Minor leakages are normal following major repairs, especially in sections where old and new infrastructure connect, and the municipality has the necessary materials to make associated repairs on this site.
The George Municipality apologises of the inconvenience and thanks residents for their ongoing support and understanding.
Water tankers will be roaming in vicinity of Adonis Street, Jasper Street, Thyz Jacobz Retirement Village (Church Street, Hoekwil) and Denneboom Street. The fire department tanker will be stationed at the Touwsranten Superette from 5pm.

Mayor’s Newsletter: Written 19 April 2021

On 31 March 2021, the Municipality’s draft budget for 2021/22 to 2023/24 was tabled in Council. In an earlier newsletter, I commented on the structuring of electricity tariffs as they form an integral part of municipal budgets.

Over the past decade, high electricity tariff increases have dominated the basket of services provided by municipalities to the extent of limiting realistic tariff increases required for water, sewerage, refuse and property rates to make overall increases to residential and business customers affordable.

Municipalities are “price-takers” for increases granted to Eskom by Nersa for the bulk electricity purchases as well as nationally negotiated salary increases for municipal employees. These two expense categories comprise 50% (R1249m) of our Operational Expenditure budget of R2496m. Contracted services which include the operational expenditure on Housing projects and GIPTN amount to R599m (24%). The remaining expenditure of R648m covers all the other categories.
For the Operational Budget to balance, Revenue needs to exceed the Expenditure. The increases for Employee Related Costs and

Bulk Purchases, therefore, result in other tariffs being much lower to ensure that affordable tariffs are levied to our customers.

Core Services Revenue is budgeted at R1619m (or 62%) out of Total Revenue of R2628m with Grants Received amounting to R707m (27%). The balance comprises Sundry Revenue of R302m (11%) which includes bus fares of R86m. Electricity contributes R875m or 54% of our Core Services Revenue.

In summary, the administered prices have squeezed the flexibility in levying above inflation tariffs on other services that would realistically provide for sufficient funding for the refurbishment of water, sewerage, roads and storm water infrastructure. The poor management at Eskom has therefore resulted in pressures on municipalities who should have been spending more to maintain and upgrade infrastructure that has served us for the past 40-50 years. In the coming years, the next challenge will be to increase expenditure on maintenance and refurbishment.

We have already embarked on a programme of improving productivity in spending less in certain areas to make more money available for upgrades in infrastructure.

As active citizens we all need to be mindful of our environmental footprint to assist in ensuring that our spending is productive. The Clean George campaign that has recently been launched is targeted to spend approximately R1 000 000 per month employing temporary workers to clean up litter, get streets and verges clean, etc. While providing necessary employment in austere times, these funds could be spent more productively to provide greater value to our communities, e.g. facilitating economic activity. By using the available refuse collection channels and stopping littering, our citizens could therefore help in improving the services of the municipality.
We all need to work together.

On 25 March 2021 Council approved the new policy for rental of Davidson Court Rental Units, summarised as follows:

– Only new applicants with a joint monthly income of less than R15 000 per month will be considered;
– The rental amount will be calculated based on a sliding scale as per the Social Housing Policy (based on joint monthly income);
– The period of lease will only be for one year (12 months);
– Only two (2) individuals will be allowed in a one-bedroom unit and four (4) individuals in a two-bedroom unit;
– Allocations will be done according to date of application (first come first serve basis);
– There will only be one waiting list for both officials and non-officials of George Municipality; and
– No applicants who currently own property will be considered.

Current occupants will be contacted by the Section: Existing Housing regarding the way forward.

All individuals who have previously applied on the waiting list for Davidson Court Rental Units are requested to complete the attached form (see link below) to update their details before Friday, 30 April 2021. Please ensure that the complete form, with the necessary documents, is handed in at the Section: Existing Housing (Housing Offices next to the Clinic). If not possible to hand deliver, please forward via email to one of the following officials:

WILLENE DARIES – wjdaries@george.gov.za
PETRO BOTHA – pbotha@george.gov.za
SHEEN-WAYNE KIEWITZ – skiewitz@george.gov.za
DOMINIQUE OTGAAR – dotgaar@george.gov.za

For new application forms, please contact Cyrildene Fredericks or Siyamthanda Soga at 044 801 9113/9078 or download from here.

View the full policy and access the data base update form here.

Die konsep begroting vir die 2021/22 finansiële jaar is verlede week ter tafel gelê en het die nuwe tariewe vir elektrisiteit ingesluit. Ek verduidelik hieronder hoe hierdie tariewe bepaal word.

Nersa (“National Energy Regulator of South Africa”) bepaal die verhoging van elektrisiteitspryse wat Eskom aan verbruikers mag deurgee. Die prys waarteen elektrisiteit aan Munisipaliteite (“Muns”) verkoop styg met 17,8%. ‘n Formule word deur Nersa gebruik om die prysstyging wat Muns aan verbruikers kan deurgee, te bepaal. Bedrae vir onderhoud, salarisse en die netto toelaatbare marges op elektrisiteit word in hierdie jaar se verkoopsprys-styging van 14,59% ingereken.

Eskom verskaf dus elektrisiteit aan Muns teen die grootmaat-prys. Muns is dan verantwoordelik om hul eie verspreidingsnetwerk en substasies in stand te hou om hulle huishoudelike- en besigheids- verbruikers van krag te verskaf. Die kostes om elektrisiteit te versprei sluit onder andere die volgende in: onderhoud op kraglyne, transformators, substasies, onderhoudspanne, waardevermindering op toerusting, asook die interne gebruik van krag (vir pompstasies, straatligte, geboue) en behels ongeveer 30% van die totale aankope.

Daar is verskillende tariewe waarteen Eskom krag aan Muns verkoop afhangende van “piek” of “nie-piek” tye vir “winter” en “somer”. Die totale bedrag vir aankope vir die jaar is dus die kilowatt-ure teen die verskillende tariewe. Die Muns moet gevolglik daagliks statistiek hou van hulle aankope en verkope teenoor die verskillende tariewe en wie die verbruikers is.
Om die verkoopspryse te bepaal moet elke Mun die verbruikspatroon ontleed. Nywerhede word teen “time of use” tariewe gehef; “piek”-tariewe is dus baie duurder as ander tye. Die tarief vir verkope aan huishoudings word teen ‘n gemiddelde prys vir die jaar bepaal wat laer is as die hoë “winter-piek” pryse (maw die Mun verkoop teen ‘n verlies) maar wat ook die laer “somer”- en “nie-piek” tye in ag neem.

Ons Mun gebruik tans (2020/21) nog ‘n eenmalige tarief van 206,4 sent per kilowatt-uur sonder BTW (237,3 sent BTW ingesluit) vir alle verkope aan huishoudelike verbruikers (deernis-gevalle betaal minder vir ‘n getal eenhede). Sommige van ons naburige Muns het alreeds ‘n basiese beskikbaarheids-heffing begin toepas waar huishoudings ‘n bedrag van byvoorbeeld R50 (of R100) per maand betaal voordat hulle kilowatt-uur eenhede aankoop. Die aanvanklike blok eenhede wat aangekoop word sal dan goedkoper wees as die eenmalige tarief wat George hef maar daarna styg die tarief soos addisionele blokke aangekoop word. Hierdie stelsel word ook die “inclining block tariff” stelsel genoem. George moet nog die besluit neem of die laasgenoemde stelsel in die toekoms ingestel gaan word.

Die verkope van elektrisitiet vir 2021/22 word op R875m beraam (teenoor aankope van R616m) wat 54% van George se inkomste uit kerndienste en belasting verteenwoordig. Hierdie inkomstebron is dus uiters belangrik vir ons hele samelewing.

*************************************************************************************************************

The draft budget for the 2021/22 financial year was tabled last week and included the new tariffs for electricity. The Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk, explains below how these rates are determined.

Nersa (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) stipulates the increase in electricity prices that Eskom may pass on to consumers. The price at which electricity is sold to Municipalities (“Muns”) increases by 17.8%. A formula is used by Nersa to determine the price increase that Muns can pass on to consumers. Amounts for maintenance, salaries and the net allowable margins on electricity are included in this year’s sales price increase of 14.59%.

Eskom therefore supplies electricity to Muns at the bulk price. Muns is then responsible for maintaining their own distribution network and substations to power their domestic and business consumers. The costs of distributing electricity include the following: maintenance on power lines, transformers, substations, maintenance teams, depreciation on equipment, as well as the internal use of power (for pump stations, street lights, buildings) and comprises approximately 30% of total purchases .

There are different rates at which Eskom sells power to Muns depending on “peak” or “non-peak” times for “winter” and “summer”. The total amount for purchases for the year is therefore the kilowatt hours at the different rates. The Muns must therefore keep daily statistics of their purchases and sales against the different tariffs and who the consumers are.

To determine the selling prices, each Mun must analyse the consumption pattern. Industries are charged at time of use rates; “Peak” rates are therefore much more expensive than other times. The tariff for sales to households is determined at an average price for the year which is lower than the high “winter-peak” prices (ie the Mun sells at a loss) but which also includes the lower “summer” – and “not peak ”times.

Our Mun currently uses (2020/21) another one-off rate of 206.4 cents per kilowatt hour without VAT (237.3 cents VAT included) for all sales to domestic consumers (indigent consumers pay less for a number of units). Some of our neighbouring Muns have already started applying a basic availability levy where households pay an amount of, for example, R50 (or R100) per month before purchasing kilowatt-hour units. The initial block of units purchased will then be cheaper than the one-time rate charged by George but thereafter the rate will increase as additional blocks are purchased. This system is also called the “inclining block tariff” system. George has yet to decide whether the latter system will be introduced in the future.

Sales of electricity for 2021/22 are estimated at R875m (compared to purchases of R616m) which represents 54% of George’s revenue from core services and taxes. This source of income is therefore extremely important for our entire society.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has confirmed that renewal notices for driving licences and professional driving permits (PrDPs) will no longer be printed and posted, but from 8 March 2021 an online system will activate SMS and email reminders.

This means all driving licence holders whose correct contact details are on the NaTIS online system will in future receive a SMS or email notification on the 1st of the month for a driving licence or professional driving permit that expires at the end of that month (so, if your driving licence or PrDP expires 31 May, you will receive a notification on 1 May).

There will not be a follow-up SMS and no SMS or email will be sent if a driving licence or PrDP has already expired.

An SMS notice will read: Dear XXXXX, Your current Driving License Card expires (expiry date inserted). Visit/contact your nearest DLTC for further assistance. NaTIS Online, kindly visit https://online.natis.gov.za Brought to you by RTMC.

An SMS notice for PrDP will read: Dear XXXXX, Your current PrDP expires (expiry date inserted). Visit/contact your nearest DLTC for further assistance. NaTIS Online, kindly visit https://online.natis.gov.za Brought to you by RTMC.

If there are any outstanding tickets or fines against your name, you will not be able to renew your driving licence until the Enforcement Orders are resolved, which will be so indicated on the SMS or email notification.

An email notification is an electronic version of the Driving License Renewal notice (the one that was previously printed and posted to you) which can be downloaded and printed if need be, and then presented to the cashier to renew your driving license.

Please note YOU DO NOT NEED THE NOTICE TO BE ABLE TO RENEW YOUR LICENSE, it is just a convenient reminder. Your driving license expiry date is indicated on your current driving license card and it is recommended that you diarise the license expiry date in advance to ensure timely renewal. Driving licences are valid for five years from the date of renewal and the owner has three calendar months from the date of expiry on the card to renew the license – however, it is highly recommended that you renew sooner rather than later.

George Municipality Driving Licencing Department:
044 878 2400
Mission Street, Pacaltsdorp
Open weekdays 8am to 3pm
(all people in building by 3pm will be assisted)