Author: Chantel Edwards

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.

Jonga / Nelson Mandela Boulevard Transfer Location 

George Municipality is currently implementing large-scale road and infrastructure upgrades across the city to support the expansion of the GO GEORGE public transport service. These upgrades form part of a multi-year capital investment enabled through funding received from the Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG) administered by the National Department of Transport.

An addition R250 million has been awarded for new projects to be implemented during the 2025/26 financial year. In the 2024/25 financial year R505 million has also been allocated towards the rollout of essential public transport infrastructure. These funding supports road rehabilitation, construction of transfer locations (TLs), sidewalk upgrades to promote universal accessibility, and other associated infrastructure improvements.

Speaking during an Eden FM radio broadcast on 30 June 2025, MMC for Civil Engineering Services, Cllr Marchell Kleynhans, and Deputy Director for Roads and Stormwater, Lionel Daniels, explained that the scope and pace of current roadworks are a direct result of this funding windfall. “Our original plan was to phase projects over three years, but we received the entire amount in one go,” said Daniels. “This came with conditions—including that the funding must be spent within a specified timeframe. That is why several major routes in areas such as Pacaltsdorp are being upgraded simultaneously.”

“This is one of the largest infrastructure rollouts in George’s history,” says Cllr Marchell Kleynhans, MMC for Civil Engineering Services. “While the temporary disruption is unavoidable, the long-term impact will be safer roads, better accessibility, and improved commuting efficiency for all road users.”

ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECTS – PROGRESS UPDATE
George Municipality is committed to providing regular updates to the public on the progress of road upgrades across the city.

PACALTSDORP
• Mission Street: 39% complete | Commenced 18 October 2024 | Expected completion: June 2026
• Protea Street: 83% complete | Commenced 30 September 2024 | Expected completion: September 2025
• Heather, Haydn and Rose Streets: 28% complete | Commenced 25 September 2024 | Expected completion: July 2026

THEMBALETHU
• Ngcakani and Ncamanza Streets: 61% complete | Commenced 21 October 2024 | Expected completion: January 2026
• Tabata and 26th Streets: 61% complete | Commenced 25 September 2024 | Expected completion: March 2026

GEORGE INDUSTRIA
• PW Botha Boulevard: 35% complete | Commenced 26 September 2024 | Expected completion: July 2026

ROSEMOOR
• Beer and Woltemade Streets: 79% complete | Commenced 13 August 2024 | Expected completion: July 2025
• O’Connell Street: 81% complete | Commenced 19 August 2024 | Expected completion: July 2025

HEATHER PARK
• Airway Street: Construction complete | Practical completion achieved in March 2025 | Final Road markings completed June 2025

Ncamanza / Nelson Mandela Boulevard Transfer Location 

TRANSFER LOCATIONS – CRITICAL SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GO GEORGE
In addition to road upgrades, the construction of GO GEORGE Transfer Locations (TLs) is progressing. These facilities are essential for improving route connectivity and allowing commuters to transfer safely and efficiently between routes.

Current Projects:
• Beach/Panther TL: 65% complete | Commenced March 2025 | Expected completion: July 2025
• NMB/Jonga Intersection TL: 70% complete | Commenced February 2025 | Progress dependent on associated infrastructure
• 26/Ncamanza/NMB TL: Construction commenced in May 2025 | Expected completion: August 2025 (subject to bridging finance)

“In addition to the long-term benefits—like safer roads and improved accessibility—we’re also proud that these projects are creating jobs and empowering emerging contractors, especially from areas like Pacaltsdorp,” said Kleynhans. “The temporary inconvenience is unfortunate but necessary for lasting development.”

PLANNED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS – 2025/26 FINANCIAL YEAR
With the recent allocation of R250 million, George Municipality will commence with the following infrastructure projects in the new financial year:
Construction on these projects is expected to begin within the next 2–3 months, with most scheduled for completion within 5–9 months.

Planned Road Upgrades:
• Beukes Street (Geelhout to Beach Road)
• Cradock Street (Hibernia to Market Street)
• Pine Street (Witfontein to Protea Street)
• Plattner Street (Airway to Victor Smith Street)
• Protea Street (Phase 3 and 4)
• Beer Street (Phase 3)
• Tabata Street (26th to Lingelethu Street)
• Genesis Street

Planned Transfer Locations and Associated Sidewalks:
• Cradock Street CBD (Transport Hub Phase 2)
• Main / School Terminus
• Protea Precinct
• York Street (Market to Hibernia)
• Courtenay / Wellington Intersection
• NMB / Vuyani Ncamazana / Main Intersection
• York / Union Intersection
• Thembalethu Roundabout (Jonga Phases 2 and 3)

Ngcakani Street Phase 3 Sidewalk Construction 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT DELAYS AND EMPLOYER COMMUNICATION
George Municipality acknowledges the impact of ongoing construction on bus operations and general traffic flow, particularly in Pacaltsdorp and surrounding areas. GO GEORGE is continuously monitoring the situation and implementing mitigation measures including temporary route changes and the deployment of additional buses where possible.

“We continue to receive numerous complaints from commuters whose travel times have been affected, and we appeal to employers to show understanding where lateness is due to factors beyond the commuter’s control,” said Kleynhans. “The first few buses in the mornings are often already full, and once they are caught in outbound peak traffic, the ripple effects can delay multiple routes.” Employers who require confirmation of service delays are encouraged to contact the GO GEORGE Call Centre. Trip slips showing boarding times are also available for verification purposes.

George Municipality remains committed to improving the quality and safety of its transport infrastructure. These upgrades are essential to the city’s development as a smart, integrated and accessible urban centre. Road users are reminded to exercise caution near construction zones, adhere to all temporary signage and plan their travel to accommodate possible delays. Regular updates will continue to be published via the Municipality’s official communication channels.