Author: Debra Sauer

In the photograph above are Zelda Barnard from Stop Trafficking, Brian Faul from Sahara and Estelle Fredericks from Community Development handing out socks and beanies during the soup drive. The goods were donated by Barnard.

The George Municipality officially launched its annual Winter Soup Drive in early May, providing hot, nourishing meals – along with a message of hope – to individuals experiencing homelessness during the cold winter months.

Held weekly from its launch, the drive reached between 111 and 140 people per session in the Central Business District during the winter months. While initially scheduled to run throughout the winter months, limited food resources led to an earlier conclusion. Despite this, the initiative made a significant impact. It not only reached vulnerable community members by identifying and supporting new individuals living on the streets, including minors, elderly persons, and those with disabilities, but also played a vital role in reducing hunger and supporting health by providing regular meals to people on chronic medication. In addition, the programme served as a bridge to essential services, connecting homeless individuals with organisations offering medical care, housing assistance, and social support.

The Municipality extends its heartfelt thanks to community partners whose dedication made the drive possible. In particular, Zelda Barnard of Stop Trafficking and Brian Faul of Sahara, who have contributed weekly pots of soup, transport, time, and resources, joining municipal teams on the ground.

Special recognition also goes to Elrico Tarentaal, Jonathan Gelderbloem, Ejustley Boshoff, Patricia Sikade, the George Night Shelter, and all George Municipality officials involved.

“Your compassion and commitment have made a tangible difference in the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Asavela Mandongana, Social Worker: Community Development at George Municipality.

If you want to get involved in outreaches or donate to programmes of the George Municipality please contact 044 802 2000 or email amandongana@george.gov.za

Municipal officials, representatives from Sahara and Kidstop and members from a local church group assisting in one of the winter soup drive outreaches.

George municipal officials and partners in the field during the soup drive.

George municipal officials and partners in the field during the soup drive.

The George Municipality’s Parks and Recreation tree team visited Blanco Primary School last week as part of the school’s Occupation’s Week programme. The visit aimed to raise awareness among young learners about the importance of trees and to provide a behind-the-scenes look at how municipal teams care for and maintain trees and vegetation.

Foreman Valdon Muller, small plant operators Awie Michaels, Msimelelo Mgongo, Mzwawupheli Thinta, and driver Daniel Busch attended the event, engaging with learners and answering questions about their daily work.

Sisanda Velembo, Superintendent: Parks and Recreation said the Municipality values opportunities to educate and inspire the next generation while showcasing the vital work being done to preserve George’s green spaces.
The Parks and Recreation department can be contacted at 044 802 2900.

Photos:

Officials prepared tree equipment ahead of demonstrations for learners, showcasing the tools used daily in tree maintenance.

Learners listened attentively and watched closely as the Tree Team explained and demonstrated their work during a typical day.

In the photo above proudly sharing in the Mayor’s achievement are from left MMC Environmental Services, Cllr Monique Simmers; Whip of Council Theresa Jeyi, Cllr Annatjie Janse van Rensburg (Mossel Bay) who accepted the award on behalf of George and who represents the Western Cape SALGA Women’s Commission; Executive Mayor Jackie von Brandis and MMC Finance and Strategic Services Ald Iona Kritzinger.

George Municipality is proud to announce that Executive Mayor, Alderman Jackie von Brandis, has received national recognition from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) for Excellence in Leadership, in celebration of Women’s Month. This prestigious award, presented at the end of July, was conferred on only nine female Executive Mayors across the country. It honours exceptional women in leadership who have demonstrated sound governance and achieved clean audit outcomes within their respective municipalities.
Executive Mayor von Brandis expressed her appreciation, stating:“I would like to thank SALGA for this honour and for acknowledging the strong governance systems we have implemented to ensure George Municipality remains financially sustainable. A clean audit is the result of focused leadership, teamwork, and our commitment to transparency. I also extend my congratulations to my fellow recipients for their outstanding contributions to their communities.”

The award underscores George Municipality’s ongoing commitment to good governance, fiscal discipline, and accountable leadership. Under the guidance of the Executive Mayor, the municipality has consistently upheld its vision to deliver services in a responsible and transparent manner.
The ceremony, held as part of national Women’s Month commemorations, celebrated the achievements of outstanding women leaders in local government who continue to inspire future generations of public servants.

Other recipients of the award include the Executive Mayors of:
• Joe Gqabi District Municipality (Eastern Cape)
• Mnquma Local Municipality (Eastern Cape)
• Umzimvubu Local Municipality (Eastern Cape)
• Cape Winelands District Municipality (Western Cape)
• Breede Valley Local Municipality (Western Cape)
• Capricorn District Municipality (Limpopo)
• Umlalazi Local Municipality (KwaZulu-Natal)

George Municipality remains steadfast in its dedication to high standards of governance, financial accountability, and delivering on its mandate to the people of George.

Issued by George Municipality, on behalf of Western Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure

Background
Since November 2021, the Garden Route District Municipality area has experienced repeated flooding events in which numerous river crossings and roadway infrastructure have often been overtopped, undermined and significantly damaged. The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) had to conduct strategic road condition and flood damage assessments to drive its response to restoring access with necessary measures. These action measures include: partial road closures, ensuring the safety of road users, and providing the necessary conditions for transport infrastructure recovery, as well as resilience and sustainability. Main Road 355 (MR355), also known as the Seven Passes Road, is an example of the measures undertaken by DOI to respond to the need for safe road infrastructure in the longer term.

Seven Passes Road (MR355)
A culvert was completely washed away at km 3.75 on the Seven Passes Road during major storm events and flooding in November 2021. DOI’s initial response was to assess the roadway for safe passage, to remove debris, and to put temporary measures in place, including traffic accommodation and public notifications under the leadership of the Oudtshoorn District Roads Engineer and Garden Route District Municipality road services. The road was reopened for a short period of time. Subsequently, further DOI assessments indicated that the extent of damage required specialist engineering services to put appropriate design solutions in place to reinstate safe travelling conditions for road users and enhance the resilience of the drainage infrastructure so that it can better withstand future flood events.

In May 2022, DOI appointed Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd to provide these engineering professional services in close collaboration with in-house DOI staff and other resources. This appointment was for the flood damage repairs to Seven Passes Road and other divisional roads in the area (namely MR355, DR1633, DR1791, DR1639 and DR1602). During the design investigations, DOI and its partners have liaised and collaborated with Heritage Western Cape (HWC) and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) to ensure that the design solutions consider and incorporate the heritage and environment aspects of these historical routes. For projects of this nature, it is critical to involve these bodies to proactively manage project implementation, design solutions and environmental/heritage compliance wherever this is required.

Due to funding limitations and the widespread flood damage across the vast Western Cape government road network, it was decided to postpone the flood damage repairs on these roads. This allowed DOI and the project role-players to conduct investigations and finalise resilient and sustainable damage repair design solutions. Under our C1157.02 appointment, the design solutions and scope were approved in May 2024 to proceed with detailed design with the commissioning of specialist geotechnical surveys to inform the final design details.

The approved design solution may be summarised as follows:
• Cut slope geotechnical to improve soil stability, control erosion and enhance load-bearing capacity
• Removal of debris and vegetation from existing drainage structures
• Reinstatement and enhancement of side drains
• Upgrading and enhancement of select drainage structures for improved capacity
• Repairs and reinstatement of existing drainage structures using heritage techniques on affected walls
• Repairs to fill slope repairs and reinstatement of road layerworks and surfacing
• Repair of damaged bridge end-blocks using the same aesthetics as the original structures

DOI flood damage repairs response strategy – C1157.02
In October 2024, DOI received additional funding from the National Disaster Management Centre (Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – COGTA) in response to widespread flood damage across the Western Cape. In response to the stringent conditions that applied to this funding, DOI embarked on a flood damage repairs response strategy across several district municipalities and more than ten construction projects. C1157.02 forms part of this broader response strategy. Our thanks go to our national government colleagues for their financial assistance and support in project implementation.

In February 2025, DOI submitted an application to HWC for approval for work to be done on DR1602 and DR1791 and we are close to finalising our application for environmental authorisation with DEADP. This process is expected to take up to 9 months, depending on the public participation process. To this end, DOI hopes that continual engagement with interested and affected parties, through publications and other means, may facilitate and assist this public participation process.

In March 2025, our geotechnical survey was established on site, following several unanticipated delays in acquiring permits and identifying details of existing services infrastructure along Seven Passes Road. The geotechnical survey was completed, and all other related investigations were closed out. In close collaboration with the appointed consultant Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd, DOI has finalised the designs and the work has been issued to various contractors through a limited bid process – this limited bid process and the appointment of a successful contractor will follow soon.
At this stage, the cost of flood damage repair works is estimated at R53.4 million with a construction period of approximately 18 months. DOI has advertised the tender through a limited bid process at the end of March 2025, with construction anticipated to commence in early September 2025. Due to the extent of damage to the Seven Passes Road, we only expect to reinstate the full travelway and open the road in the last quarter of the 2026 calendar year.

“We note the frustrations and inconveniences caused as Seven Passes Road offered an alternative route to the national route N2 between George and the greater Wilderness area,” said Mr Tertuis Simmers, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure. “These frustrations are further compounded by current construction works along the N2 by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), especially upgrades from George to Wilderness through Kaaimans River Pass,” Minister Simmers added.

“We have received several reports of local road users still making use of Seven Passes Road by bypassing road closure temporary measures. This is an illegal act and places road users at risk while subjecting the already-damaged roads infrastructure to further traffic loading that increases the risk of catastrophic failure and further fill slope collapses. If this were to happen, this will further delay our repair efforts and delay the reopening of the route. We appeal to all road users to adhere to traffic accommodation measures as road safety is of utmost importance,” Minister Simmers concluded.

George Municipality is proud to announce that Wilderness has been selected as the Western Cape finalist in kykNET’s prestigious ‘Dorp van die Jaar 2025’ (Town of the Year) competition.
Residents, ratepayers, and the business community have united in support of Wilderness, with voting enthusiasm running high as the town vies for the national title. Winning this coveted accolade will bring significant exposure and investment to the region, including R1 million in advertising and promotional content on kykNET platforms throughout the year, as well as a R1 million cash prize from Lotto Land. The cash award will be allocated towards the repair of the Wilderness Boardwalk—an iconic pathway used and enjoyed daily by residents and visitors alike.
The public is urged to continue voting and help secure the title for Wilderness before voting closes at 12:00 on Friday, 18 July 2025. To cast your vote, SMS the word “Wilderness” to 33157, up to 30 times. Each SMS costs R1.50.
Make it count – you could win too!
Once you have voted, take a screenshot and enter your proof via Facebook Messenger (see the George Tourism Facebook page for details) or by completing the online form at:
🔗 https://surveyzohopublic.com/zs/pGB17q
Let’s rally together and show our support for Wilderness – a gem of the Garden Route.