Author: Chantel Edwards

Celebrating the announcement of the George Festival 2025 are officials from George Municipality and Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport who together form the Festival Local Organising Committee. From the left at the back are Themba Mchunu (DCAS WC); Dyllon van der Rheede (DCAS WC); Khanyisile Fortuin (George Municipality); Melanie Martins (George Municipality); Richard Von Willigh (George Municipality) and Kevin Malan (DCAS WC).
Seated in front from the left are Thabo Tutu (WC DCAS); George Executive Mayor Jackie von Brandis with WC MEC Cultural Affairs & Sport Ricardo Mackenzie and Louis Massyn of George who has completed his 50th Comrades Marathon this year. Standing in front is Joan Shaw (George Municipality).

The Executive Mayor of George, Jackie von Brandis and Western Cape Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, are proud to announce the inaugural George Festival 2025  – Culture, Art and Sport, taking place from 13 to 16 December 2025 across multiple venues in the city, including Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre (Pacaltsdorp), Garden Route Botanical Gardens, Thembalethu Sports Field, Unity Park (York Street Traffic Circle), and the York Street CBD.

The festival, organised in collaboration with George Municipality the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), and the Eden Sports Council, aims to foster inclusive community participation, stimulate township economy, promote youth and arts development, and activate the local economy. The event is expected to attract visitors from across the Garden Route and beyond, positioning George as a premier destination for culture, sport, and tourism.

“We are thrilled to bring the first-ever George Festival 2025 – Culture, Art and Sport, to our city,” said Executive Mayor Jackie von Brandis. “This festival is more than just sport and culture – it’s a celebration of our community, our talent, and our heritage. By bringing together arts, sports, and music across George, we aim to create an inclusive, vibrant event that inspires participation, supports local businesses, and positions our city as a premier destination for culture and tourism in the Garden Route.”

Festival Highlights
The festival opens on Saturday, 13 December, with Unity Park hosting a vibrant cultural showcase featuring performances by local artists and DJs, culminating in the official festive lights switch-on at 20:00. Families can enjoy children’s entertainment and explore a variety of vendor stalls supporting local businesses. At the same time, sports activities will kick off that morning at Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp, including Rugby 7s, Soccer 5s, Netball Fast5, and tennis clinics.

On Sunday, 14 December, Unity Park will feature gospel performances by choirs, school groups, and motivational speakers. Christian-themed small businesses will be showcased, and the day will close with a reflective candlelight worship experience. At Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp, quarterfinals across FOUR (4) sport codes will take place alongside a special Indigenous Games showcase, celebrating heritage and tradition.

Monday, 15 December the cultural enrichment continues with a family Culture Day at the George Museum, featuring storytelling, Khoi plant healing demonstrations, poetry readings, and art classes. For younger attendees, the Garden Route Botanical Garden will host a Kiddies Fun Zone with face painting, games, hip-hop and rap dance sessions, spelling bees, and library-themed dress-up activities.

The festival concludes on Tuesday, 16 December, with culture and sports events at the York Street CBD and Unity Park. Semifinals and finals across all sport codes will be held, including mind games such as chess, scrabble, bridge and dominoes. The festival will wrap up with a closing awards ceremony and a DJ crossover showcase (weather permitting), celebrating the achievements of participants and the spirit of community that defined the event. A Summer Festival will run on the 16^th December at the Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre, Pacaltsdorp offering a musical treat for all ages.

Provincial Minister, Ricardo Mackenzie added: “George has always been a city of talent, vibrant culture, and natural beauty. The George Festival 2025  will showcase this uniqueness, bringing together our communities in ways never seen before. From sport to music to traditional arts, this festival puts George firmly on the map as a must-visit destination for culture and celebration. Investing in festivals like these offers unique experiences as well as unmatched economic and social benefits.”

The GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, also echoed Mackenzie’s support for the event, saying: ‘This festival belongs to the whole Garden Route. I invite every resident of our region, and visitors from beyond, to join us in making history as we showcase our region’s talent, heritage, and unity.’”

Further updates will be available on the George Municipality and DCAS websites, as well as on their official social media platforms.

DCAS Facebook: www.facebook.com/culturalaffairssport X: www.x.com/wcgovcas (@WCGovCas) Instagram: www.instagram.com/wcgovcas (@WCGovCas)

GEORGE MUNICIPALITY https://www.facebook.com/george.municipality: https://x.com/george_mun : https://www.instagram.com/municipality_george_insta/: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRHVS9HAdNXTJPKis3k

Something big is coming to George – don’t miss it!

In the photo: The new mechanical street sweeper truck launched at the Civil Engineering Depot. In the photograph from left to right are Cllr Jean Safers, Cllr Monique Simmers, Cllr Teresa Jeyi, Executive Mayor Jackie von Brandis, MMC Civil Engineering Services Marchell Kleynhans, Deputy Director Streets and Stormwater Lionel Daniels. Sharing in the excitement are far right the supplier of the vehicle, Dealer Principal for Shorts Nissan Grant Flattery and Managing Director for Transtech who manufactured the specialised vehicle, Chris-Henri Munro.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/R1Q_uNoV4lA?si=bqrkZfvLo72a3Q8e

George Municipality has officially launched its brand-new mechanical street sweeper truck, a powerful addition to the city’s road maintenance arsenal. The high-tech vehicle was unveiled at the Civil Engineering Services Depot this week and will begin regular cleaning operations across George immediately.

“During June 2025 a rented machine was used for a trial run and approximately 137km of road was cleaned, which equates to approximated 275km of roadside. This R4.5 million investment marks a major milestone in the city’s commitment to cleaner, safer streets and improved stormwater management.” said Executive Mayor Jackie von Brandis.

“With this acquisition, George becomes the only municipality in the Garden Route to operate mechanical street sweepers,” said Lionel Daniels, Deputy Director for Streets and Storm Water. “This innovative vehicle enhances our ability to keep our urban areas clean, reduce flood risk, and protect our natural watercourses from pollution.”

The sweeper truck is equipped with brooms on either side, a central sweeper under the chassis, a front-mounted sprayer to reduce dust, and internal suction that collects debris like leaves, gravel, and dirt into a large internal bin. Fine dust is then filtered and released through a rooftop vent. The vehicle can also spray herbicide along road edges to manage weed growth.

Ahead of the official launch, the municipality rented a similar sweeper truck to pilot operations in areas like Loerie Park, Denver Park, Bergsig, Levallia, Protea Park, and parts of George Industria. This trial period allowed teams to fine-tune logistics, determine production rates, and develop the right staff composition. A dedicated team is deployed on foot ahead of the truck to manually loosen compacted dirt, remove larger debris like rocks and tree branches, ensuring maximum cleaning effectiveness. The goal is to establish a regular cleaning schedule across George, rotating through several wards at a time for city-wide coverage.

Four drivers from Civil Engineering Services have already begun specialised training to operate the vehicle. Plans are also underway to rent a second street sweeper in the near future, with the long-term goal of owning two municipal sweepers working simultaneously to improve coverage and efficiency. Recent cleaning projects where manual labour was used, indicated that cleaning can cost approximately R1 million per Ward, making this mechanised solution both cost-effective and impactful.

“This street sweeper is more than just a vehicle—it’s a long-term investment in public health, environmental sustainability, and civic pride,” Daniels added. George Municipality thanks the public for its continued support and cooperation as we roll out this exciting new initiative to help keep George clean, green, and growing.