Author: Chantel Edwards

The George Municipality continues to feed communities through its longstanding soup kitchens programme.

The 137 soup kitchens, which operate from private homes in vulnerable communities across the municipal area, were the backbone of feeding programmes throughout the height of the Covid-19 lockdown period, serving up to 22 000 meals twice a day.

George Municipality Director Community Services Walter Hendricks said the soup kitchen programme had recently returned to its normal operations. “We currently serve 8000 meals a week to mostly children and the elderly three times a week. Covid-19 protocols remain in place at soup kitchens for as long as is necessary.

“The ongoing success of the municipality feeding scheme is proof of the extraordinary people who work and live here – from dedicated staff who run the day-to-day logistics to the people who selflessly host soup kitchens in their homes and volunteers who serve there every day, no matter the circumstances.

“The support from individuals, businesses and NGOs who had generously donated food during lockdown will always be remembered and we thank them again for their role in feeding our people. Individuals and organisations that want to continue supporting soup kitchens can drop off food and supplies at the municipality’s Community Development offices or phone the number below.”

Soup kitchen enquiries: 044 802 2000

Food and supplies donation deliveries to:
George Municipality Community Development offices (8am-4pm)
c/o Varing and St Johns Streets (diagonally behind main building)

Caption
Olivia Swiegelaar serves food at the municipal soup kitchen in Wilderness Heights which she and her partner Colin Wildemans run from their home.

The heavy rainfall experienced this week and that which is expected this weekend in the George area raises the ongoing complication our Civil Engineering Services directorate has to deal with – that is the illegal dumping of material into stormwater drains. Overflowing storm water drains are generally found to be blocked by illegal materials and rubbish dumped directly into the drain causing damage and flooding down the line.

Please help reduce blocked drains and how to report illegal dumping:
One of the main reasons for blocked drains and sewerage spills is the wrong stuff being flushed down toilets or thrown into manholes. Items that should not be flushed down toilets include baby nappies, sanitary pads and tampons, newspaper, cloth and fabric, fatty food or fat. Regular items that municipal staff have to clear from manholes include branches, tyres, rocks, mattresses and other solid items which are suspected to be dropped in there by mainly children getting up to mischief.

The municipality appeals to communities to NOT flush unsuitable items down the toilet, and to help prevent people from throwing stuff down manholes. Report sewerage complaints to Civil Engineering Services on 044 801 9262/66 during office hours or 044 801 6300 after hours.

Please spread 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 your areas 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 and are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report illegal dumping 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.

If you notice dumped waste, please report for collection to 044 802 2900.

Emergency After Hours Number 044 801 6300

Dam level: 78.69% (down from 79.43%)
Rainfall since 27 August 2020: 11.5mm
Demand/usage: 26,565 megalitres

SECTION 2B WATER RESTRICTIONS CURRENTLY APPLY IN GEORGE AND SURROUNDS:
• Handheld watering of gardens using a hose using municipal water: even-numbered households Mondays and Thursdays, 7pm-9pm (summer) and 3pm-5pm (winter) AND uneven-numbered households Tuesdays and Fridays, 7pm-9pm (summer) and 3pm-5pm (winter).
• Mechanical irrigation of gardens (sprayers) using municipal water is prohibited.
• Watering sports fields using municipal water is prohibited, except for golf course greens, bowling greens and cricket pitches, daily 7pm-9pm (summer) and 3pm-5pm (winter).
• Filling up of swimming pools using municipal water is prohibited.
• Washing cars with a hose using municipal water is prohibited (buckets allowed, rainwater encouraged), except for commercial car washes.
• Cleaning of outside surfaces using a hosepipe with municipal water is prohibited (buckets allowed, rainwater encouraged).
• “OWN WATER” signage must be displayed where applicable and must be proven on request by municipal officials.
• Applications for exemption of some restrictions may be considered on merit.

Report water leaks and burst pipes to 044 801 9262 or after hours at 044 801 6300, as soon as you notice them.

Recent cold weather has again highlighted the need for fire safety at home as the George Fire Department responded to an increasing number of residential fires over the past weeks.

George Fire Chief Neels Barnard said winter months were traditionally the busiest time for residential fires as people tried to stay warm in cold weather. “The past weekend was a case in point – six informal structures burned to the ground leaving 20 people homeless in three separate fires in Blanco, Conville and Thembalethu.

“While the causes of house fires are not always straight-forward to determine, they generally have in common unsafe practices including overloading electrical plugs, falling asleep with burning cigarettes or taking a drum or tin fire indoors. Fires in formal residences are often associated with newly installed fireplaces that had not been sufficiently insulated and new or neglected gas installations,” said Mr Barnard.

Vegetation fires in winter are often associated with homeless people making open fires to keep warm when sleeping outside. While not necessarily the cause of the past weekend’s fires, the department responded to five vegetation fires during this time.

When rain and snow accompany the cold, motor vehicle accidents increase, which are also attended by the fire department. George Fire and Rescue responded to 10 motor vehicle accidents this past weekend.

The above factors are often worsened by alcohol abuse and there is a correlation between the number of callouts on Fridays and at the end of the month when people have been paid wages and salaries.

“George Municipality Fire and Rescue appeals to everyone to take extra care when working with fire and electricity, to be responsible and fire-conscious at all times – your life and property are at stake,” said Mr Barnard.

WINTER FIRE SAFETY TIPS
Do not overload electrical connections and plugs, use the plug for what it was made for.
Do not override the safety switch on your electrical board to avoid the electricity kicking out when you overload plugs.
Monitor plugs and check that they do not become hot.
Pull out cellphone and other chargers when you are not using them.
Do not carry drum and tin fires indoors.
Do not get into bed with a cigarette.
Put the electrical heater off before you fall asleep.
If you install a fireplace, use a reputable builder or installer and monitor new installations when in use. Have your fireplace and chimney serviced regularly.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE
Stay low and under the smoke.
Make alarm and get everyone out of the house.
Close doors of rooms behind you as you move through and out of the house.
Phone the fire department when you are outside. (Save the fire department’s number on your phone – see below)

WHAT TO DO WHEN A HOUSE IS ON FIRE NEAR YOU
Phone the fire department. (Save the fire department’s number on your phone – see below).
Move cars and other obstacles out of the way so fire trucks can pass.
Do not carry furniture into the road where it can be in the way of fire trucks and firefighters.
Do not go into the burning house for any reason.
Do not open the doors or break windows – it fuels the fire.

USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS
Fire emergencies only: 044 801 6311
All after-hours emergencies: 044 801 6300
General enquiries fire department (office hours): 044 801 6300
Uniondale (office hours): 044 752 1225

Issued George Municipality, Monday 31 August 2020

George Municipality has identified a shocking 200 illegal dump sites in George, located in Thembalehtu, Protea Park, Lavalia, Rosemoor, Conville, Maraiskamp, Parkdene, Rosedale, Syferfontein, New Dawn Park, Seaview, Blanco, Touwsranten, Wilderness Heights Informal Settlement and Kleinkrantz Informal Settlement. The impact of Covid-19 on our communities and in particular on our two hotspots, Thembalehtu and Pacaltsdorp, has highlighted the extreme dangers of these illegal dump sites which serve as a breeding ground for insects and vermin as well possibly containing dangerous medical waste which could be contaminated with COVID-19.

The Budget office in response to a plea from the Hotspot Strategy Task Team, has set aside a sum of R500 000  to address the illegal dump sites over the next two months and the Community Services Directorate, Cleansing division will start this week with a cohesive clearing programme. Areas will be systematically cleared up and the refuse removed to the Transfer Station using JCB’s and trucks.  

An Intergovernmental, multi-disciplinary Hotspot Strategy Task Team (HSSTT) was established in July 2020 to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in areas such as Thembalehtu and Pacaltsdorp the moment evidence became available that these areas were Hotspots i.e. communities showing the highest rates of transmission of infection.  

Steven Erasmus, Director for Protection Services and Chairperson of the HSSTT noted that one of the proposed interventions which is critical to the strategy outlined in the HSSTT’s action plan, is the removal of refuse that has been illegally dumped in the respective hotspot areas.” This matter has been escalated internally as well as externally. A Provincial Cabinet decision on this and other critical matters is awaited. In the meantime, the George Municipality as well as the Garden Route District Municipality have joined efforts and made funding available for this purpose. This is a classic and very commendable example of intergovernmental cooperation, demonstrating how various authorities can collaborate to achieve a common goal. The Task Teams’ main objective is to minimize the spread of the virus and in so doing save as many lives possible,” said Mr Erasmus.

During a Budget meeting held on Friday 28 August, Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk highlighted the urgency and need to keep our vulnerable communities safe, but at the same time admonished those citizens who perpetuate the misinformation that illegal dumping provides for job creation. “The reality is no jobs are being created, the clearing  of these sites is generally done with expensive equipment which uses budget previously allocated to infrastructure and/or similar projects. By allowing illegal dumping to take place in your neighbourhood, and turning a blind eye, you are forcing the municipality to spend unnecessary funds on cleaning, when the funds should be used to maintain roads, water and sanitation services and so on, “ said Ald Van Wyk.

Municipal Manager, Trevor Botha thanked the Garden Route District Municipality for their collaborative approach  and funding assistance. “The ongoing inter-governmental approach to tackling the pandemic of Covid-19 means we are stronger and better at taking action with the unified goal of keeping our communities safe. In fact this pandemic has served to strengthen the cohesiveness of the three spheres of government in assisting and supporting  each other, sharing information and coordinating efforts against this invisible enemy,” said Trevor Botha.

George Municipality asks you to spread 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 situated off the R102 (airport road). Please report illegal dumping to our law enforcement offices, if you can provide names, the vehicle registration details or addresses of the alleged perpetrators and are willing to make a statement in this regard it will assist the municipality in catching the culprits.

Please report those illegally dumping waste to 044 801 6350 or e-mail sprins@george.gov.za. If you notice dumped waste in your area, please report for collection to 044 802 2900.

Stock Photograph: Melanie Mare for George Municipality

The Motor Vehicle Registration offices will be open on Saturday 29 August 2020, for those residents whose motor vehicle licences expire end of August.
Please note the standard grace period of 21 days applies to any motor vehicle licence expiring on 31 August 2020.

Open from 08h00 – 13h00

Motor Vehicle Registration and Licencing
Hibernia Street (next to train station) 044 801 9310 or 044 801 9311 or mvr@george.gov.za

Please be reminded that motor vehicle licences, temporary permits and roadworthy certificates that expired during initial lockdown (26 March-31 May) remain valid until 31 August 2020 and motor trade number licences until 30 November 2020.

Please consider online renewal of vehicle licences as per details below instead of in-person renewals – as Covid-19 regulations significantly impacts on the amount of people that can be served in a day. Offices are, however, fully staffed and bulk transactions are being handled after-hours.

Pregnant women, the elderly and disabled can pre-arrange preferential treatment by calling 044 801 9310.

Please note access to premises for Motor Vehicle Licence Centre and Vehicle Testing Station is regulated at the gate from the street.

You don’t have to go to the Vehicle Licence Centre to renew your licence – do it online!

ONLINE ELECTRONIC PAYMENT OF VEHICLE LICENCE RENEWALS
The customer starts by registering a profile online at https://online.natis.gov.za/#/
Choose between registering as an individual or business.

The following information will be required:
1. Individual: initial, name, surname, ID number, driving licence number, contact details via mobile phone or email.
2. Organisation: name of business, ID number of proxy, driving licence number of proxy, contact details via mobile phone or email.
3. A one-time pin will be sent to your email or mobile phone number, which you must enter online.
4. Go to the ‘View motor vehicle renewals’ section and verify the information.
5. Access and/or download your electronic motor vehicle licence RENEWAL NOTICE (also known as a MVL2 notice).
6. The amount for the renewal of your vehicle will be on the notice.
7. Pay this amount into the George Municipality ABSA bank account (details below) and use the relevant vehicle licence number as a reference, eg. CAW ###### / Private number ##### WP
8. ABSA Cheque Account number: George Municipality, Cheque Account 01022220981 (Branch Code 632005)9. Email the proof of payment to msbrits@george.gov.za or rharmse@george.gov.za AND mvr@george.gov.za AND mjulyan@george.gov.za
10. Keep a copy of your proof of payment in the relevant car until you receive your licence disk, but keep your expired disk on your window in the meantime.
11. Once payment reflects on the municipality’s bank statement, the vehicle licence will be processed, and the new disk will be posted to your registered address OR YOU CAN ARRANGE TO collect from the MVR offices. This must be pre-arranged and you will be notified via SMS.

Green and blue refuse bags collection resumes in the George municipal area from 1 September 2020. The service was temporarily discontinued when the service provider Interwaste had notified the municipality that it would close its regional offices in George and end its contract with the municipality.

George Municipality Director Community Service Walter Hendricks said the municipality would temporarily perform the service in-house. “We will be renting additional trucks (with drivers) and trailers for this purpose – Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers from other municipal departments will be reallocated to support the service.

“The tender process for the appointment of a new service provider to perform this role will commence shortly and, because of its scope, may take several months to finalise.

“The George Municipality thanks the public for their patience and understanding and reiterates its commitment to reduce waste. We will make every effort to remain true to this goal in the face of ongoing Covid-19 and other challenges,” said Mr Hendricks.

Residents can put out four green bags and unlimited number of blue bags together with up to seven black bags on their scheduled removal day. Blue and green bags will be collected on the same day as black bags, but by different truck-and-trailers. Replacement blue and green bags (two of each per household for participating neighbourhoods) will be distributed as soon as the supply chain process for the buying of bags has been finalised – probably within the next two to three weeks.

The green and blue bag collection service will be applicable in all neighbourhoods that have previously been serviced as well as Uniondale and Haarlem.

The municipality will attempt to catch up on the backlog on the first cycle, but if there are still some blue and green bags out by 8pm on the day of your regular collection, please take in whatever is left and put it out with the next week’s bags.

As per Covid-19 regulations, bags will be sprayed with sanitiser before distribution and collection personnel will be wearing personal protective gear.

Enquiries during office hours: Black, green and blue bags 044 802 2900 /edraghoender@george.gov.za

The George Municipality thanks residents for their understanding and for their ongoing support of our recycling and composting projects by correctly putting their waste in blue and green bags.
BLUE bags: non-soiled recyclable materials like plastic, paper, glass etc.
GREEN bags: green waste like kitchen and garden waste. No soil allowed in bags.
BLACK bags are for ‘wet’ waste, things that cannot be recycled.

Refuse removal days
MONDAY: Blanco, Riverlea, Heatherpark, Heatherlands, Glen Barrie, Kraaibosch, Groenkloof, Blue Mountain Village, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay
TUESDAY: Levallia, Rosemoor, Conville, Protea Park, Parkdene, Ballotsview, Borchards, Lawaaikamp, Thembalethu, Wilderness, Touwsranten, Constantia Kloof
WEDNESDAY: Camphersdrift, Fernridge, Denneoord, Bo-Dorp, Blommekloof, Tweerivieren, Hoogekraal, Hoekwil
THURSDAY: Dormehlsdrift, George South, Le Grand, Bos en Dal, Groeneweidepark, Sinksabrug, Herold, Geelhoutboom, Eselsjacht, Hansmoeskraal, Jonkershoek, Rooirivierrif, Pacaltsdorp, Rosedale, Waboomskraal, Wilderness Heights
FRIDAY: Glenwood, Loerie Park, Eden, Genevafontein, Denver Park, Bergsig, Eastern Extension
BUSINESSES: Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Municipal Manager, Trevor Botha expressed his shock following the death of a  municipal official, who tragically lost her life in a road accident yesterday in George.
Mr Botha on behalf of the municipality and its officials, offered his deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Elizabeth Mathenjwa. Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk expressed his sorrow at the tragic loss of life, on behalf of the George Council.

Ms Mathenjwa worked at the Corporate Services Directorate in the position of HR MANAGER: RECRUITMENT AND ADMIN.

Hamba Kahle Leah

The George Municipality confirms that as of the 11^th August, the collection and delivery of blue and green bags will be handled in-house. Following the announcement of the unfortunate closure of Interwaste, the appointed service provider, discussions were held to try and extend the service by one month. Unfortunately these discussions were not successful and the Community Service Directorate requests the patience of the public for one week to afford them the opportunity to put everything in place for a smooth collection process to start on 11^th August.

The municipality remains committed to waste reduction and recycling, and believes that its efforts will soon regain momentum.  Collection of green and blue bags will start on Tuesday 11 August 2020, and will be collected in neighbourhoods on the same day as the black bag refuse removal. PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR RECYCLING AND/OR GREEN BAGS OUT FOR WEEK MONDAY 3/08 – FRIDAY 7/08 AS COLLECTION WILL NOT TAKE PLACE.

Municipal trucks will collect the black bags, while blue and green bags will be collected by different trucks on the same day – before or after the black bag collection, and can be hours apart. Every week on the same day as collection, blue bags will be replaced and two green bags will replace those put out. The areas currently serviced by recycling include all suburbs of George as well as the outer areas of Wilderness, Kleinkrantz, Hoekwil, Victoria Bay, Herolds Bay, Haarlem and Uniondale.

CONTACT
Black bags, blue and green bags, dumped waste collection:
George Municipality Environmental Services
82 Meade Street, George. Phone 044 802 2900

GENERAL
Households may put out seven black, three green and an unlimited number of blue bags.
Additional tied bundles of branches are allowed if they are shorter than a metre in length and can be picked up by one person.

BLUE bags are for non-soiled recyclable materials, including plastic, paper, card board, glass etc.
GREEN bags are for green waste, including organic kitchen waste such as fruit and vegetable peels, as well as garden waste, including grass cuttings, leaves etc. No soil is allowed in the green bags.
BLACK bags are for ‘wet’ waste, things that cannot be recycled.

All refuse bags must be put out by 7am on removal day.
Please don’t put bags out the day or night before removal.
Please wrap broken glass in newspaper before placing in bags to prevent injuries to workers.
A pack of 26 black bags are distributed to households quarterly.

Blue and green bags are collected on the same day as black bag refuse removal, but by different trucks – before or after the black bag collection and may be hours apart.
Collected full blue bags will be replaced with the same colour on the same day. If you do not receive the same amount of replacement blue bags and want more, please phone  044 802 2900 during office hours.
While you can put out three green bags at a time, a maximum of two new replacement green bags  are issued per collection.
Households or businesses that are actively recycling and require additional green or blue bags, can collect from the  municipal Environmental Services offices at 82 Meade Street.

REFUSE REMOVAL DAYS
MONDAY: Blanco, Riverlea, Heatherpark, Heatherlands, Glen Barrie, Kraaibosch, Groenkloof, Blue Mountain Village, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay
TUESDAY: Levallia, Rosemoor, Conville, Protea Park, Parkdene, Ballotsview, Borchards, Lawaaikamp, Thembalethu, Wilderness (excluding Wilderness Heights), Touwsranten, Constantia Kloof
WEDNESDAY: Camphersdrift, Fernridge, Denneoord, Bo-Dorp, Blommekloof, Tweerivieren, Hoogekraal, Hoekwil
THURSDAY: Wilderness Heights, Dormehlsdrift, George South, Le Grand, Bos en Dal, Groeneweidepark, Sinksabrug, Herold, Geelhoutboom, Eselsjacht, Hansmoeskraal, Jonkershoek, Rooirivierrif, Pacaltsdorp, Rosedale, Waboomskraal
FRIDAY: Glenwood, Loerie Park, Eden, Genevafontein, Denver Park, Bergsig, Eastern Extension
BUSINESSES: Monday, Wednesday and Friday