Author: Debra Sauer

In the foto hierbo, by die vieringe is Minister Ricardo MacKenzie met van links Jesnick Pieterse van EPWP, Precious Spengana, Senior biblioteekassistent, Andri Avontuur, Biblioteekassistent.

Die Uniondale Gemeenskapsbiblioteek vier vanjaar ’n merkwaardige mylpaal van 130 jaar as ’n sentrum van kennis, leer en gemeenskapsontwikkeling in die dorp en Minister Ricardo MacKenzie, Provinsiale Minister an Kultuursake en Sport het ‘n hoflikheidsbesoek aan die biblioteek afgelê.

Die viering is onlangs by die biblioteek gehou waar die Minister die geleentheid bygewoon het en die belangrike rol van biblioteke in gemeenskappe beklemtoon het.

MacKenzie het gesê Uniondale Biblioteek  is ’n baie belangrike gemeenskapsbate vir die mense van Uniondale.

Hy het verduidelik dat biblioteke steeds een van die belangrikste hulpmiddels is om gemeenskappe te help ontwikkel en geleenthede te skep, veral in landelike gebiede. Volgens hom help biblioteke om kennis te versprei en mense toegang tot inligting en leergeleenthede te gee.

“Die Uniondale Biblioteek, wat reeds 130 jaar oud is, bly ’n bron van trots vir die gemeenskap. Die biblioteek beskik ook oor spesiale toerusting wat persone met siggestremdhede help om toegang tot boeke en leesmateriaal te kry. Ongeveer 15 siggestremde lede vorm deel van die biblioteek se klubgeskiedenis – ’n bewys dat die biblioteek ’n inklusiewe ruimte vir almal is, het MacKenzie beklemtoon.

MacKenzie het verder beklemtoon dat die bevordering van ’n lees-kultuur steeds ’n prioriteit is. Inwoners neem weekliks boeke uit en bring dit terug, wat wys dat lees steeds ’n belangrike deel van die gemeenskap se lewe is.

Die Wes-Kaapse regering ondersteun meer as 370 biblioteke regoor die provinsie in samewerking met munisipaliteite. Hierdie biblioteke speel ’n sleutelrol in die uitbreiding van kennis en die skep van geleenthede vir gemeenskappe.

Inwoners word aangemoedig om hul plaaslike biblioteke te besoek, ’n boek uit te neem en die waardevolle hulpbronne wat beskikbaar is, te benut.

Fotos:

Minister Ricardo MacKenzie gesels met een van die Uniondale biblioteek se lede.

Minister MacKenzie by die Uniondale Biblioteek.

Die Minister kyk na ‘n boek wat in en uitgeteken is.

This map indicates how the bus routes will be affected by the wheelchair challenge.

Delays and deviations to GO GEORGE routes are to be expected on Saturday 21 February 2026 when the annual OCC Wheelchair Challenge takes place in George.

The OCC routing requires that a section of Union Street, between Meade and York Streets, be closed off to traffic for a part of the day. The inside lanes of York Street and Courtenay Street will also be closed off. This will affect most of the GO GEORGE routes, with delays expected throughout the system between 06:30 to 13:00 and rerouting implemented on several main routes as follows:

Routes 13 City Loop, 18 Parkdene – Blanco and 18A Thembalethu – Blanco

Route 13 Forward will follow the normal route from the CBD until it reaches the corner of Union and Meade Streets. Here, it will turn right onto Meade Street, left onto Palgrave Street, left onto York Street and right onto Plattner Boulevard to continue with normal routing.

Route 13 Reverse will follow normal routing from CBD until it reaches the corner of Plattner Boulevard and York Street. Here, it will turn left onto York Street, right onto Palgrave Street, right onto Meade Street and left onto Union Street to continue with normal routing back to the CBD.

Routes 18 and 18A will follow the normal route from Parkdene and Thembalethu respectively until it reaches Meade Street. Here, it will turn right, then left onto Palgrave Street, left onto York Street and right onto Plattner Boulevard to continue with normal routing. The reverse from Blanco will apply.

It is anticipated that these routes will be affected from 05:00 until 13:30.

Route 9 Industrial Loop

No rerouting will be implemented on this route, however, all 10 trips between 06:00 and 12:00, both forward and reverse, will operate in a forward direction.

Route 10 Thembalethu – Industria

Route 10 Forward will operate as a Route 10 Reverse from 05:35 to 11:05. During this time, the route will be diverted from Union Street turning right onto Meade Street, left onto Palgrave Street and left onto York Street to continue with normal routing.

The 12:05 trip on Route 10 Forward will operate as normal but will need to be diverted from York Street, turning right onto Palgrave Street instead of Union Street, right onto Meade Street and left onto Union Street.

Delays on other routes

The inside lanes in both directions of York Street and Courtenay Street will be closed off to traffic from 05:00 until 12:00. No rerouting will be implemented on these roads, however, delays can be expected between 05:00 and 12:00 on all routes from Pacaltsdorp to the CBD, as well as routes 7 (CBD – Garden Route Mall), 24 (CBD – Loerie Park – Mall) and 56 (Denneoord – CBD) which all use these roads.

For help with trip planning during the race, passengers are welcome to phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044.

In the photo above, Joan Shaw, Manager: George Tourism, does the programme introduction to the attendees at the George Municipality Events Compliance and Support Workshop, held at the Conference Centre at George Civic Centre.

The Tourism Section of the George Municipality successfully hosted its annual Events Compliance Workshop on 11 February 2026. The workshop brought together key municipal departments and industry stakeholders to strengthen understanding of the processes required to host safe, compliant, and successful events within George.

The workshop focused on equipping event organisers with essential knowledge regarding event permit requirements, application timelines, and compliance procedures. Participants were also briefed on the Call for Event Support, which is currently open and will close on 22 February 2026.

Representatives from several departments presented critical event-related information, including the Sports Development Section, Town Planning, Traffic Services, Municipal Venues and Facilities, Tourism, and the Garden Route District Municipality’s Environmental Health Section— who provided important guidance on health and hygiene requirements for events where food vendors are present.

A total of 62 stakeholders and officials attended this year’s workshop, highlighting the growing interest in ensuring that events in George meet regulatory standards and operate safely.

Key insights shared during the sessions included:

The Sports Development Section noted that, although many facilities are designed for multi-purpose use, the municipality has chosen to limit access to season-specific sporting codes to reduce water consumption. This arrangement will remain in place until each respective sport code’s league season has concluded.

Stakeholders were reminded of the required lead times for applications pertaining to population certificates, posters and banners, and noise exemptions. They were also encouraged to register on the event organisers’ database at the George Tourism Office. George Municipality Tourism Section: events@visitgeorge.co.za

The workshop also provided an update on the Municipality’s transition to the regional online events portal, Collaborator. Once fully implemented, all event permit applications will be processed through this digital platform, streamlining communication and improving the efficiency of event management across the municipal area.

The George Municipality remains committed to supporting a thriving, safe, and well-managed events industry and thanks all stakeholders who participated in this year’s workshop.

Photos:

Some of the attendees during the workshop.

Melanie Martins from Georg e Tourism clarifies a topic after fielding a question from the attendees.

 Alwyn Joseph from George Municipality spoke on Auxiliary Servies and the rental of municipal halls.

George Traffic Officer, Franklin Windwaai, responded to a lot of questions regarding traffic services during events.