Author: Chantel Edwards

Look no further than this video highlighting the best that George has to offer!
https://youtu.be/m7YMxJD9shs?si=k7GPBwvdQRQGO1Tm

Kyknet’s Kwêla launched their popular ‘Dorp van die Jaar’ competition for 2024 on 3 March 2024, and it is time that the beautiful town of George took centre stage to show off its magnificent attributes. All towns in the 9 provinces of South Africa or Namibia with less than 500,000 residents, that have not been regional winners in the past three years qualify to be nominated.

What do you find special about George?  What are the special things that make you feel at home when you drive down the roads?  How many treasures are hidden in your community?  What are the jewels of your town that you are proud of?  Name George as your favourite town and you may win bragging rights for your entire town and its people!

John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address inspired citizens to see the importance of civic action and public service. His historic words, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” challenged every American to contribute to the public good. This is your opportunity, George!  In this case, ‘Ask not what your town can do for you – ask what you can do for your town.’  (with apologies to JFK).  The ultimate winner of the Town of the Year will receive R1 million in advertising on Kyknet.  This will be an invaluable boost to promoting our town as a tourist destination in the domestic and Namibian market, so please send an SMS to the benefit of every resident in George.

Nominate George by SMSing GEORGE to 33157 (SMS’s cost R1,50).  Entries of nominations close on Friday, 15 March at noon.  You can name as many towns as many times as you wish, but only one town name per SMS. 

Three towns with the most nominations from every region will go through to the semi-finals that will be announced on 14 April, 21 April, and 28 April 2024, when the public will have a weeklong opportunity to vote for their favourite town of the three finalists.  Only 30 SMSs per person will be allowed in this round.  The town with the most votes will represent their region as a finalist. Kwêla will film an insert on each of the 9 finalists, and once all nine towns are announced, the public can vote for their favourite between 19:00 on 14 July and noon on 19 July 2024.

The winning town will be announced on 28 July 2024, on Kwêla and take home the coveted title of Town of the Year, and an incredible R1 million advertising contract with Kyknet.  Homebrew Films, the producers of Kwela will make a 45-second advertisement on the town that will be broadcast during Kyknet’ s advertising time.  In addition to this, a festive function will be held in the town to celebrate with music, food, and fun, showing off the winning team’s spirit.  Lottoland has another surprise in store for the winning town as they will also donate a cash prize of R1 million to the town to invest back into the town.  Go on, it will be worth it!

This project will take a mammoth effort from the town, but if everyone pitches in, we can make it happen!  Residents and businesses that wish to be more involved in the process can contact George Municipality’s Tourism Manager, Joan Shaw, on jshaw@george.gov.za for more details.

Law Enforcement Officials Verona Botha and Nicole Smith issuing a R1000 fine for illegal dumping in Sarah Crescent, Rosedale.

Municipal Law Enforcement officials have been patrolling illegal dumping hot spots over the past month and have issued fines to the value of R8000 and 15 warnings. In terms of the applicable By-Laws being enforced, the fine for being caught illegal dumping is R1000. The law enforcement has been in support of the Community Services cleaning teams who have continued to clear hot spot areas in February, with a total of 29 430 black bags of refuse picked up. This past week illegal dump sites were cleared in Thembalethu (Phelandaba, Nelson Mandela Boulevard); Borcherds (Spandiel Street); Rosemoor (Miller Street); Blanco (Golden Valley); Conville (Fiskaal, Valk and Pienaar Street, Nelson Mandela Boulevard) and Uniondale (Du Preez Street). Eva Crescent in Rosedale received a tyre beautification.

The Community Services Directorate has concluded the Illegal Dumping month with a Hazardous Waste Open Day on Friday 23 February. The public are encouraged to hold onto their dangerous items and to safely dispose of them when the municipality hosts its quarterly Open Day. The municipality will take motor oil, oil filters, brake fluid, used antifreeze, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries, old TV’s, electronics, tyres, fluorescent tubes, globes, and household medical waste such as needles, old medicine and tablets. The public is requested to bring the items you wish to dispose of in a strong box preferably in their original, labelled containers. Please do not mix the products together. We are unable to take explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials and controlled substances.

Report Illegal Dumping
Help the municipality to curb illegal dumping by spreading the news in your community that the dumping of waste is dangerous and a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builders’ rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road). If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators who have dumped illegally and you  are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report it to Law Enforcement at 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. You don’t need a photograph of the perpetrator, but it will strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.

Eva Crescent in Rosedale was given a tyre beautification after the illegal dump site was cleared.

Cleaning teams for the George Municipal Community Services Directorate have cleared a total of 16 380 black bags of refuse in 10 working days after declaring February “Illegal Dumping Month* This past week illegal dump sites were cleared in Parkdene (Ballot Street, Hercules Street, Circular Drive, Golf Street, Scorpio Street, Leo Street, Bosvark Street); Borchards (Bruce Street, Spandiel Street, Garcia Street, PW Botha Blv) and Uniondale (Mitchell Lane, Daniels Lane, Cemetry and Informal Settlement).

Beautifying illegal dump sites 
We urge the community to report illegal dumping sites to the Community Services Directorate for clearing on 044 802 2900. But don’t just report it and wait for the municipality to respond. Get involved in your community. The municipality understands the importance of having the full cooperation of the entire community when it comes to cleanliness. Illegal Dumping sites pose a considerable health risk to all those living in the surrounding areas. The municipality spends important resources on constantly clearing the same sites. Tyres have now been used to beautify certain sites and encourage plant growth to stop the communities from repeatedly dumping at the same place. If you want to get involved in clearing, or beautifying and/or maintaining a site already cleared, please contact us on 044 802 2900.

Report Illegal Dumping
Help the municipality to curb illegal dumping by spreading the news in your community that the dumping of waste is dangerous and a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builders’ rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road). If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators who have dumped illegally and you are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report it to Law Enforcement at 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. You don’t need a photograph of the perpetrator, but it will strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.

Hazardous Waste Open Day 
A hazardous waste open day will be held on 23 February in the parking area of the Outeniqua Stadium from 08h00 to 15h00, to allow for safe disposal of dangerous items. The municipality will take motor oil, oil filters, brake fluid, used antifreeze, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries, old TV’s, electronics, tyres, fluorescent tubes, globes, and household medical waste such as needles, old medicine and tablets. The public is requested to bring the items you wish to dispose of in a strong box preferably in their original, labelled containers. Please do not mix the products together. We are unable to take explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials and controlled substances. Enquiries can be made at 044 802 2900.

Hibiscus Street, after clearing and beautification using tyres. 

The George Municipal Community Services Directorate has declared February, Illegal Dumping Month and kicked off on 5 February with a series of clearing and beautifying of illegal dump sites as well as targeted education and awareness around the danger of illegal dumping. Catch our radio discussions around Illegal Dumping on Eden FM today, Monday 12 February at 16h30 and Heartbeat FM on Thursday 15 February at 16h30.

The Touwsranten graveyard; Thembalethu Mayibuye Street, Nelson Mandela Boulevard behind the stadium and Qhawe Street; Lawaaikamp and Borchards (next to Vaal Winkel) and Conville, Fiskaal Street have all been cleared in the first week of February and fixed up. 5 tipper trucks, a JCB, a team of educators and EPWP officials assisted with the cleaning efforts. Households and spaza shops in Parkdene area were visited and pamphlets highlighting the dangers of illegal dumping and how to recycle were handed out in Leo Street, Paradise Street, Buffel Streets and Crane and Polarise Circles.

Further cleanups will take place in Thembalethu, Parkdene, Maraiskamp, Pacaltsdorp, Rosedale, Conville, Rosemoor, Blanco, Touwsranten, Wilderness Heights and Kleinkrantz this month.

We urge the community to report illegal dumping sites to the Community Services Directorate for clearing on 044 802 2900. But don’t just report it and wait for the municipality to respond. Get involved in your community. The municipality understands the importance of having the full cooperation of the entire community when it comes to cleanliness. Illegal Dumping sites pose a considerable health risk to all those living in the surrounding areas. The municipality spends important resources on constantly clearing the same sites. Tyres have now been used to beautify certain sites and encourage plant growth to stop the communities from repeatedly dumping at the same place. If you want to get involved in clearing, or beautifying and/or maintaining a site already cleared, please contact us on 044 802 2900.

Help the municipality to curb illegal dumping by spreading the news in your community that the dumping of waste is dangerous and a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builders’ rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road). If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators who have dumped illegally and you  are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report it to Law Enforcement at 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. You don’t need a photograph of the perpetrator, but it will strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.

A hazardous waste open day will be held on 23 February in the parking area of the Outeniqua Stadium from 08h00 to 15h00, to allow for safe disposal of dangerous items. The municipality will take motor oil, oil filters, brake fluid, used antifreeze, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries, old TV’s, electronics, tyres, fluorescent tubes, globes, and household medical waste such as needles, old medicine and tablets. The public is requested to bring the items you wish to dispose of in a strong box preferably in their original, labelled containers. Please do not mix the products together. We are unable to take explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials and controlled substances.  Enquiries can be made at 044 802 2900.

Qhawe Street, Thembalethu before and after clearing.