Author: Chantel Edwards

Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk announced today that for the 2021 Festive Season, safety and service delivery will be key focuses for the municipal administration of George. To ensure a smooth festive season, a multi-disciplinary Season Committee will meet daily Monday to Friday, online, to discuss all problems being experienced and to find immediate and reasonable solutions where possible. The Season Committee will start on 1 December and continue operations to mid-January 2022.

Municipal departments will all be represented and meet daily with all role players, including SAPS, Tourism and other tourism-related role players, SanParks, NSRI, Lifeguard representatives, and more to ensure optimal service delivery standards during the festive season and to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to George and surrounds. Topics will include lifesavers, parking issues, safety, service delivery in terms of refuse collection, water and electricity, traffic and management of beaches.

OPEN OVER FESTIVE SEASON
The municipal offices will remain open throughout the Festive Season operating Monday to Friday from 07.45am – 4.30 pm apart from weekend and Public Holidays:
16 December 2021 – Public Holiday and offices are closed.
27 December  – Public Holiday and offices are closed

Please note Covid-19 Regulations apply and offices will clearly indicate the number of persons allowed in at any given time. Where possible, the public is encouraged to continue using our online services.

All essential services will be provided during this time. The Municipal Call Centre will be operational and all service delivery matters can be reported either on the Municipal App, 044 801 9111 or admin@george.gov.za. Emergencies must be reported to 044 801 6300 and Fire to 044 801 6311.

LIFEGUARDS
Lifeguards will be deployed at Gwaing Beach, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay, Wilderness Leentjiesklip and Wilderness Salina’s on a fulltime daily basis from 1 December 2021 to 31 January 2021.

TRAFFIC
George Traffic Services will actively patrol all municipal areas in collaboration with Western Cape Provincial Traffic over the festive season with regular roadblocks to be set up at various strategic points in and around George. We appeal to motorists and road users to always obey all road and traffic rules and to exercise patience during peak traffic, especially during the busy holiday period. An additional 30 pointsmen/women will be addressing congested traffic intersections from 1 December to 31 January to ease traffic flow.

BEACH MONITORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
George Municipality will strictly enforce no alcohol allowed on our beaches and the George law enforcement officers will be augmented by at least 30 Beach Monitors who will start service as of the second week of December to assist with beach patrols and bag checks. We encourage all beachgoers to assist our officials in ensuring that their day at the beach is a safe and pleasant experience.  Neighbourhood Watches, Community Police Forums as well as the SAPS also work closely with the Municipality with regards to Community Safety.

DOGS
The following beach areas under the control of the George Municipality which include Herold’s Bay, Gwaiing River Mouth, Victoria Bay and the Leentjiesklip areas do not allow dogs on the beach although dogs are allowed on the sidewalks of the beach areas but must be on a leash. Wilderness Beach from the estuary onwards falls under the control of SANPARKS and as such they have an infographic which clearly demarcates where dogs are allowed and where not. In terms of the Municipal Bylaw no dog or other animal may be in any public street or public space (any open public space the public has access to which falls under the George Municipal jurisdiction for example parks, sport fields, beachfronts ( not on the sand) and sidewalks) unless on a leash and under control.

FIREWORKS
Due to the high fire risk, there is a general ban on the setting off, selling and possession of fireworks, fire-crackers, flares, paper lanterns and other such paraphernalia in the George municipal area. Fines of R300 may apply, all fireworks will be confiscated. Report Fireworks to Law Enforcement on 044 801 6350/6300 and Fires to 044 801 6311.

REFUSE COLLECTION
Refuse Collection black, blue and green bags will continue throughout the festive season including public holidays. The CBD cleaning crews will work throughout with an extension of their hours as and when required. As with previous years, an additional Saturday Refuse Collection for businesses (restaurants) will start on 1 December and end 1 January 2022.

George Municipality held ‘Information Jamborees’ in New Dawn Park and Pacaltsdorp today.

The initiative is the second in a series of pop-up sessions in which service departments set up in communities to provide information and deal with complaints. Areas in which new government subsidised housing projects have been completed are being prioritised for now to assist new beneficiaries with building-related issues that might have come up since they have occupied their new homes. The sessions, however, are open to all residents.
The municipal departments Housing, Community Development, Cleansing, Libraries, Civil Engineering Services (water, sanitation and streets), Finance, Electrotechnical Services, Tourism, Traffic and GO GEORGE were represented.
George Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk, who visited both sites this morning, encouraged locals to make use of the one-stop initiatives to address as many service-related issues as soon as possible.

Caption
Environmental Services staff from left Grace Notshokovu, Abongile Nontshikiza and Jody Stuurman promoted the municipality’s recycling programme.

TO THE MATRICS OF 2021
The 27th of October 2021 marks the beginning of a new phase in your young and budding academic careers. You will be starting your final examinations. Despite all the challenges you have faced over the past couple of years, you have worked hard and fought hard to get to this stage.

The Covid-19 pandemic has helped prepare you for life’s challenges that are often tough. It is now time for you to use this very same tenacity as you face this next challenge. These exams are twelve years in the making and represent the culmination of your journey as a learner. For this reason, it is extremely important that you study hard and prepare yourselves to the best of your ability for the task that lies before you later this month and next month. As a young person in our country, you have an important role to play in shaping our societies and it starts here.

There will be nerves, this is the case for each of us when we encounter something new or unknown, but do not be discouraged. It will be good to keep calm during the exams. Stay focused, keep your eyes on the prize – to achieve great results that will open doors for you and shape your entire future.

Matric class of 2021, this is your moment. Use the time you have been given to prepare, wisely. You have the backing, well wishes, thoughts and prayers of this entire George municipal area behind you.

Do not be discouraged, face this challenge, and conquer it.
Good luck to all of you, make us proud.

Your Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk

AAN DIE MATRIEKS VAN 2021
Die 27ste Oktober 2021 is die begin van ‘n nuwe fase in jul jong en ontluikende akademiese loopbane, dit is die begin van jul finale eksamens. Ten spyte van al die uitdagings waar voor julle die afgelope paar jaar te staan gekom het, het julle hard gewerk en hard baklei om hier uit te kom.

Die Covid-19 pandemie het julle voorberei vir die lewe se dikwels moeilike uitdagings. Dit is nou tyd om hierdie volharding in te span om die volgende uitdaging die hoof te bied. Hierdie eksamens is twaalf jaar in wording en verteenwoordig die hoogtepunt in jou reis as leerder. Dit is daarom uiters belangrik om hard te studeer en jouself tot die beste van jou vermoë voor te berei op die taak wat later hierdie maand en volgende maand voorlê. As ‘n jong persoon in ons land het jy ‘n belangrike rol om te speel in die vorming van ons samelewing, en dit begin nou.

Daar sal senuwees wees, dit is vir ons almal die geval wanneer ons iets nuuts of onbekends teëkom, maar moenie moed verloor nie. Dit sal goed wees om kalm te bly tydens die eksamens. Bly gefokus, hou jou oog op die prys – om uitstekende resultate te behaal wat vir jou deure gaan oopmaak en jou hele toekoms gaan vorm.

Matriekklas van 2021, hierdie is julle oomblik. Gebruik die tyd wat jul gegun is om goed voor te berei. Julle het die steun, goeie wense, gedagtes en gebede van hierdie hele George munisipale gebied.

Moenie moed verloor nie, kyk die uitdaging vierkantig in die oë en oorkom dit.
Sterkte aan julle almal, maak ons trots.

Uitvoerende Burgemeester, Leon van Wyk

George Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk recently visited the municipality’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) control room which is currently undergoing extensions.
There are more than 500 cameras located across the city that feed into the control room and are monitored to protect municipal property, identify criminal activities and/or situations that may lead to unlawful actions.

Ald van Wyk said that while he was visiting the control room suspicious activity was identified alongside the road and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and SAPS were contacted to investigate. A suspect was subsequently arrested for alleged attempt of cable theft. “As was clearly illustrated during my visit, the need for ongoing expansion of the CCTV network is important and continuous investment into such technology essential.”

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk visited the very first “environmental offset area” which has been established for George Municipality on Erf 3810.  An “offset area” is an area set aside for biodiversity conservation and protection in perpetuity, when another area of conservation value has been utilized for a development.  In this case the building of the housing project on Erf 325 was done in such a way that a portion of the wetlands were utilized for housing.  As a result, an offset was called for when the scoping report was submitted.

As the area that was utilized was of a lower conservation value than that being conserved, it is known as “Trading up”. So, this environmental offset area,  a total of 9.94 hectare, is an ecosystem of greater value to biodiversity conservation from the one used for the housing project.

This area will have to be registered under the Stewardship Programme which is co-ordinated by CapeNature. A Management plan will be compiled and implemented, and it has been recommended during the site visit by CapeNature on 23^rd September, that a controlled burn be carried out next year in the appropriate season to keep the fynbos from becoming moribund. The vegetation is classified as Fynbos, more specifically Garden Route Granite Fynbos which has been classified as critically endangered due to the small amount found in conservation areas.

Ald Van Wyk expressed his delight during his visit last week Friday. “I am thrilled to be introduced to this green lung which will serve as an offset area to the large housing development nearby. It will be important to communicate with the surrounding communities to explain its purpose and to secure their collaboration to conserve the area. The school across the road can use this ground as its outside laboratory to encourage an understanding of how to live side-by-side with nature and to ensure that littering is kept to a minimum.”  

Alien invasive species have been cleared in the previous season and follow ups will be done.The picking of indigenous flowers during season is allowed provided the correct and required permits are obtained from the municipality . The issue of dumping in this area is of great concern and communities are asked to report any such illegal dumping to our Law Enforcement offices on 044 801 6350 and for clearing to our Community Services offices on 044 802 2900.

Nature Conservation officials visited the site in September and were most impressed with the state of the vegetation as the Erica sp. occurring there was in full flower and this small area (9.94 ha) is a haven for biodiversity right within our urban edge. Birds are breeding in the wetland section.

For more information and or details around permits for picking of flowers please contact 044 8022900.

Photographed in the midst of the 9.94 ha environmental offset area are Priscilla Burgoyne, Environmental Control Officer, Directorate Planning; Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk  and newly appointed Manager: Parks and Recreation for Community Services, Nosidima Vumindaba.

The ongoing inter-governmental relationship between Conville Library and Cape Access has resulted in the most Covid-19 vaccination registrations in the Southern Cape and Klein Karoo region. The Cape Access e-Centre has been operating from the Conville Library premises for years and the municipality and province have offered joint services that complement each other, which meant the community automatically knew where to go and was familiar with operations. The centre registered 298 people for vaccination in August and September.
A George Municipality mayoral team popped into the offices of Cape Access e-Centre Administrator Victor Arries (far right). From left are Library Services Manager Rachel Williams, Community Services Portfolio Councillor Sean Snyman, Executive Deputy Mayor Charlotte Clarke and Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk.

George Municipality is spending R14-million this financial year (2021-22) upgrading roads in the municipal area, half of which is for the paving of gravel roads and the remainder for resealing of existing tar roads.

George Municipality Acting Director Civil Engineering Services Lionel Daniels said the municipality had already resealed 22 of the 25 roads identified as high priority upgrades through its Pavement Management System for this financial year, and paving of ten out of 12 gravel roads were underway. Work on the remainder of roads will commence as soon as contractors have been appointed.

“In addition to municipal funding, there are also several projects underway or completed that are financed by provincial funding. These include rehabilitation and upgrade of CJ Langenhoven Street (a proclaimed road) which was completed earlier this year and public transport infrastructure grant funding for the upgrades in Market Street that are currently underway,” said Mr Daniels.

George Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk said the municipality was committed to optimise road upgrades across the city. “While budget restraints require that we prioritise roads in poor to very poor condition, we continually pursue other sources of funding to address as many issues as possible,” said Mr Van Wyk.

More information on how road repairs are prioritised in George is available at https://www.george.gov.za/civil-engineering/streets-storm-water/

Phase two of Operation Clean up swung into action last week in areas Borcherds, Conville, Parkdene and Lawaaikamp with cleaning teams from Community Services moving in to clear up illegal dump sites and raise awareness around the dangers of illegal dumping. A total of 4600 black bags of refuse was collected and cleared over a seven (7) day period.

Illegal Dumping Awareness – George Municipal Officials for Community Services Aneliswa Igwilo, discusses the dangers of illegal dumping at the Corner Shop, Borchards.

Conville Library Colour Competition for local Creches
Conville Library Assistant Hazel Springfield set up two interesting displays explaining the consequences of Illegal Dumping. Four local creches took great delight in participating in a colouring-in-competition run by Conville Library. Parkdene Creche, Monica’s Nest, Siembamba Speelgroep and Sonneblom Kleurterskool each received a Children’s Book, Disney: Die Klokluier van Notre Dame, as a prize for their participation.

Road markings upgraded
Civil Engineering Services took the opportunity to walk along all of the main sewer lines in the areas of Borcherds, Parkdene, Lawaaikamp and Conville. Two problems were immediately addressed. A catchpit repair was undertaken in De Villiers Street, Borcherds. In a number of instances road markings and street signage was either reinstated/ or repaired.

George Municipal Traffic Department participated in Operation Borcherds, Conville, Parkdene and Lawaaikamp on Friday 1ast October with the team stationed outside Conville Clinic.

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk visited the team on the day and spent some time reviewing the technology at the department’s disposal. The new mobile traffic vehicle is fully equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras (ANPR)  which can view an oncoming vehicle, and indicate whether there are any outstanding traffic fines linked to the licence plate. The fines can be printed inside the mobile bus. If the fine is a warrant of arrest, payment is immediately payable, either on the bus or the individual can be escorted to the Traffic Department. For any other fines, the driver is notified of the fine and cautioned to pay before due date.

“This vehicle allows our traffic officials to issue drivers with notices of their outstanding fines. Outstanding fines are always a cause of great concern for Council, as well as the municipality due to the expenditure on traffic policing. We know that fines for misconduct by road users are issued, but some of them just simply do not get paid. It is important that drivers adhere to road rules and pay fines when notified to avoid the process of a summons that will follow due to non-payment”,  said Ald Van Wyk.

The Mayor was impressed by the devices available to test drivers who might be under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Ruben Lakata, Assistant Director, Road Safety Management, Department of Transport and Public Works explained step for step how the disposable breathalyzer’s must be used and the meaning of the different colours that will display for example, yellow shows no alcohol present and green shows alcohol present.

“ It was a very proud moment for me as the Executive Mayor of our municipality to see our traffic officials at work and to witness the technology in action. With the Covid-19 Alert level having been changed to level one, and a number of relaxations having been affected, that does not mean that we should ignore the rules and regulations of the road. We want our drivers to keep safe, as well as drive safe.”

During a light-hearted moment Ald Van Wyk tested goggles that simulate the effects of drunk driving noting that it’s very sobering  on viewing the video of himself afterwards, to see how poor your judgement becomes when under the influence.

Daantjie Kat was on hand to hand out colouring books, crayons, reflective bands and more to local children to raise awareness around traffic safety. In the main photograph Mayor Van Wyk and Daantjie Kat (in the middle) and George Traffic Services officials hand over pamphlets, crayons and colour in books to children from left,  Shireen Jordaan (9),  Patriano Davids (6), Joshua Hofmeester  (9), Melenicia Hess (9), Haylene Jordaan (4) and Jay lee-anne Davids (8).

George Municipality held a sod-turning ceremony last week to signal the beginning of construction of a 66/11 kV 40 MVA electrical substation in Thembalethu, one of the largest of its kind in the Southern Cape and a major bulk infrastructure milestone for the city.

George Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk said the new substation would alleviate load on the substations that were currently supplying Thembalethu and therefore served as an important catalyst for investment funding from both the state and business.

“George Municipality is a key growth area for many investors, but it requires certain very expensive bulk infrastructure to support the growth. The allocation of supportive funding from the national Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to build this substation signals trust in the local authority to facilitate growth and service delivery. In turn, the municipality can provide the kind of infrastructure required for outside manufacturers and business to invest and for housing supportive facilities to be developed across the municipal area,” said Mr Van Wyk.

Municipality Director Electrotechnical Services Bongani Mandla said the completed Thembalethu substation would be one of the largest 66/11 kV substations in the Southern Cape. “It will provide power to Thembalethu and other suburbs east of the N2 that are currently supplied from substations across the highway. The overall impact on the city’s grid will be adequate capacity for a growing city and more reliable supply to especially the eastern areas,” said Mr Mandla.

Construction on the Thembalethu 66kV substation commences this month (October 2021) and will run across three financial years. The first phase, costing about R30-million, is funded two thirds by the municipality and the rest by the Integrated National Electrification Programme grant (INEP) of the national Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. The entire project is costed at an estimated R58 million.

The substation’s construction consists mostly of the manufacturing, supply and installation of 11 kV and 66 kV equipment, two new 66/11 kV 20MVA power transformers and ancillary protection and control equipment.

The first phase of the substation, which will include the commissioning of the 66 kV yard, first power transformer and 11 kV switchgear, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.

Caption
At the sod turning ceremony of the new Thembalethu 66 kV substation, back from left to right: Deon Esterhuysen (George Municipality), Chris Spies (George Municipality), Alwyn Huisamen (VE Reticulation), Electrotechnical Services Portfolio Councillor Nosicelo Mbete, Jurgens Bosman (VE Reticulation), Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk, Joubert Theart (Zutari) and Danie de Vries (BDE Consulting), and front from left are George Municipality Electrotechnical Services Director Bongani Mandla and Kevin Grunewald (BDE Consulting).

The George Municipality cleansing team and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) conducted a clean-up at Meul River, Thembalethu recently which is located near Tyhaliti Close.
The purpose of this clean-up was to show community members that illegal dumping should become something of the past and that it affects everyone in the community in terms of health . Besides the obvious health risks, it has become a bad habit for residents as it attracts snakes and rats and more. While the group were cleaning, they found three snakes in the rubble. This could have very serious consequences for children, as most of them like to play in these dumping locations.
The campaign was undertaken by 36 individuals from different departments.

Caption:Information on illegal dumping and its consequences were distributed in areas near the cleanup.

The Vooma Vaccination Weekend is on our doorstep, taking place from 1 to 3 October nationally.  The aim of this vaccination drive is to vaccinate 70% of adults by the end of the year – that’s 17 million more people. If we achieve that, projections are that we will save at least 20 000 lives.

The Garden Route has administered 256 879 vaccines to date.  The percentage of the Garden Route population over 18 years who have received at least one dose vaccine stands at 41% . If you are 18 or older, don’t wait any longer! Go and get vaccinated at a site near you. The vaccination is free to everyone living in South Africa, whether you are a South African or from another country.

VOOMA weekend sites:

COVID cases
The district is still showing a decrease in the total number of new cases over the last 7 days compared to 7 – 14 days ago. George Regional Hospital is also experiencing decreased pressure in wards as well as the critical care unit. Today there are 26 COVID patients in the COVID ward and 10 patients in the critical care unit. Harry Comay Hospital, a step-down facility for George Hospital has 7 COVID-19 patients. All district hospitals have decreased pressure except for Oudtshoorn Hospital, which although less busy, still has a high number of COVID inpatients.

George Fire and Rescue has taken delivery of a state-of-the-art mobile incident command unit that will be used to manage administration and support on the scene of a crisis, disaster or rescue situation.

“The custom-built minibus is effectively a mini crisis command centre that can collect and distribute real-time data that will empower decisionmakers and roleplayers that are not on the scene to respond appropriately to a given situation,” said Chief Fire Officer Neels Barnard.

“The diverse circumstances of the George municipal area often result in extraordinary emergency situations that range from mountain, cliffside and sea rescues and recoveries to runaway fires, floods, wind damage and more. Most of these happen far from crisis centre hubs, which require constant scene-to-management feedback and updates which in turn draws essential emergency workers off site and away from the important work of saving lives and property.

“The Type-3 mobile command unit is equipped with technology that bridges the gap so that emergency personnel can stay on site and get on with their work, while providing online, real-time information and footage to decisionmakers that support and finance the work on the ground. The communications capacity also means the ability to synchronise multi-agency situations that require communication to Joint Operations Centres, government roleplayers and other stakeholders almost anywhere in the world.”

The unit can be set up almost anywhere in a short timeframe. It is the first of its kind in the country with a super-high roof to allow for standing room and additional above-counter space. The technology onboard includes two computerised workstations, radio frequency transceivers and internet access, an electric generator and solar panels, and a fixed camera with live footage capability to allow remote monitoring.

It can operate in an environment with little or no basic facilities, including no electrical service and phone lines, and has own power generation capacity to operate independently for at least three days.

The back section of the vehicle incorporates a Type-3 hazardous materials response unit with a mobile decontamination unit, hazardous materials suits and equipment for detecting chemicals, harmful gasses and radiation.

The vehicle was financed with Western Cape grant funding and kitted out using municipal funds. “We are grateful that provincial government and Council recognise the diverse challenges of firefighting in the George Municipality and surrounds. We continue to see the significant difference it makes in the field where lives and properties are saved every day,” said Mr Barnard.

In the main photograph, Western Cape Deputy Director Disaster Manager Rowena Page officially handed over the municipality’s new mobile incident command centre to George Chief Fire Officer Neels Barnard and Executive Alderman Mayor Leon van Wyk last week.

George Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk (left) fist bumps Brandon Woolley of Ramcom, the company that fitted the vehicle for its advanced requirement.

George Municipality’s metering and billing system for alternative energy sources is being used in national training as a good example for other municipalities in the country to follow.

Electrotechnical Services Director Bongani Mandla said installation of alternative energy sources, also known as small scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems, had steadily increased in the region over the past few years. “The need had arisen for a system that could take on metered energy and possibly compensate consumers with financial credit for excess energy fed back into the municipal electricity grid.

“George Municipality’s electrotechnical measurements section has over the past few years successfully implemented bidirectional metering and time-of-use tariffs at registered SSEG sites, mostly solar energy plants, in the George municipal area.”

George is one of very few B-type municipalities in the country to have implemented such a metering and billing system successfully, which is now being used in a national SSEG training course on the national SSEG Municipal Resource Portal as an example to other municipalities on how to introduce such systems into their distribution networks. The Resource Portal is backed by Sustainable Energy Africa, CSIR, GIZ and SALGA, which makes the achievement even more commendable.

Mr Mandla commended the measurements section and in particular senior engineering technician Adam Willems and manager measurements Derek Baxter, for their dedication to implement this system.

“We are proud to be at the forefront in implementing a new system that enhances service delivery and contributes to long-term sustainability and responsible resource management. We believe it is important for municipalities to allow SSEG customers onto their system and hope our example will inspire others to follow,” said Mr Mandla.

More information about the registration of SSEGs and related information is available on the municipal website at https://www.george.gov.za/electro-technical/

In the photograph: The dedication of senior engineering technician Adam Willems (left) and manager measurements Derek Baxter (right) was key to the successful implementation of the SSEG system, under the management of deputy director engineering services Kobus Wilken.