Author: Debra Sauer

In the photo above, Vivian Kotzee from Bergrivier Municipality addresses the attendees at Institute of Municipal Practitioners South Africa (IMPSA) Cape Branch’s quarterly Knowledge Sharing Seminar in George. Looking on from left are Bevan Cassim, Deputy Director: Human Resources, George Municipality, Tamkazi Lombo from O.R Tambo District Municipality and Rorisang Sigenu from George Municipality.
HR3: Bevan Cassim, Deputy Director: Human Resources, George Municipality addresses the attendees at the event.

George Municipality hosted the Institute of Municipal Practitioners South Africa (IMPSA) Cape Branch’s quarterly Knowledge Sharing Seminar on 20 August 2026, followed by the Cape Branch Executive Meeting on 21 August 2026.

The two-day gathering brought together Human Resource and People Management practitioners from municipalities across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State.

The seminar provided an opportunity for municipal HR professionals to share experiences, learn from one another and discuss practical ways of supporting employees and creating healthier, more effective workplaces.
For George Municipality, being part of these engagements helps ensure that its HR practitioners stay up to date with developments in the workplace and continue learning from the experiences of colleagues across local government.

A key focus of this year’s seminar was the well-being of HR professionals themselves.
The first presentation, by Christa Liebenberg, looked at “Help, My Inner Critic Will Not Stop!” and explored some of the pressures faced by professionals in the workplace. These include managing competing expectations, dealing with accountability and working under pressure.
Participants were given practical tools to help them deal with workplace challenges, build resilience and manage stress more effectively.
The second presentation focused on employee wellness and was delivered by Colleen Chandler-Hendricks, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Officer. She shared examples of the work being done through Drakenstein Municipality’s Employee Wellness Programme.

The discussion covered a range of issues, including employee assistance and counselling, health promotion, occupational health and safety, absenteeism, productivity, policy development and ways of encouraging employees to take part in wellness initiatives.
One of the strongest messages from the seminar was that HR practitioners spend much of their working lives supporting others, but can sometimes forget to look after themselves.

The simple message was: you cannot pour from an empty cup.
Looking after their own mental well-being, resilience and personal development enables HR professionals to continue supporting employees and their organisations effectively.
The seminar was officially opened by Reginald Salmons, Chairperson of the IMPSA Cape Branch, while Bevan Cassim, Deputy Chairperson, welcomed delegates and outlined the programme.
Nokuzuka Matolengwe, Manager: Human Resources at Drakenstein Municipality, facilitated an interactive icebreaker session before the presentations.

The discussions also provided an opportunity for practitioners from different municipalities and provinces to connect, exchange ideas and share practical experiences.
The Knowledge Sharing Seminar was followed on 21 August by the IMPSA Cape Branch Executive Meeting, where members discussed the future direction of the branch and matters relating to its work within the national IMPSA structure.
Among the matters discussed were the IMPSA Constitution, the Cape Branch vision and mission, and the adoption of the branch slogan:
“Leading in Professional Excellence in Municipal People Management.”

The Cape Branch Terms of Reference were also approved to guide its engagement with the national IMPSA structure.
The next IMPSA Cape Branch Knowledge Sharing Seminar will be hosted by the City of Cape Town from 18 to 19 November 2026, followed by the Cape Branch Executive Meeting on 20 November.
George Municipality was pleased to host colleagues from across the region and to contribute to an event focused on learning, collaboration and the well-being of the people who support municipal employees every day.

Photos:

Attendees during the seminar in George.

Attendees at the Institute of Municipal Practitioners South Africa (IMPSA) Cape Branch’s quarterly Knowledge Sharing Seminar at the Conference Centre, George Civic Centre.

Attendees at the Institute of Municipal Practitioners South Africa (IMPSA) Cape Branch’s quarterly Knowledge Sharing Seminar at the Conference Centre, George Civic Centre.

Bevan Cassim, Deputy Director: Human Resources, George Municipality addresses the attendees at the event.

In the photo above, Speakers at the the event are from left, Michael Rhode, Director of Electrical Engineering Services, George Municipality, Kenneth Samolapo, SARPA President, Dr Kosie Haarhoff, Acting Director: Community Services, George Municipality and Ald Browen Johnson, Executive Mayor of George singing the national anthem at the 2026 Southern African Revenue Protection Association (SARPA) Convention, held in George from 20 to 21 August.

George Municipality official Edward Nqumse received the Best Paper award at the 2026 Southern African Revenue Protection Association (SARPA) Convention, held in George from 20 to 21 August.

Nqumse was recognised for his presentation, “Case Study of Best Practices to Combat Essential Infrastructure Crimes in George Municipality”, which shared the municipality’s approach to combating infrastructure-related crime and protecting essential services and municipal revenue.

The award was a highlight of the two-day convention, hosted by George Municipality and attended by municipal leaders, revenue protection practitioners, technical experts, business representatives and delegates from South Africa and abroad.
Held under the theme “Protecting Revenue in a Changing Landscape: Balancing Enforcement and Equity through Change Management, Innovation and Consequence Management”, the convention focused on the growing pressures facing municipal revenue and the need for municipalities to adapt to a changing energy, water and technology landscape.

The keynote address by Lerato Phasha of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) highlighted the financial pressures facing municipalities, including declining collection rates, consumer debt, inaccurate billing, infrastructure failures, electricity and water losses, illegal connections and increasing costs associated with infrastructure theft and vandalism.
Phasha said reforms in the electricity, water and local government sectors presented both opportunities and risks for municipalities. While municipalities have opportunities to modernise their systems, introduce new technologies and diversify their revenue sources, traditional revenue streams are increasingly under pressure.

The growing use of rooftop solar, embedded generation and energy efficiency, is changing the municipal electricity environment, while water losses, ageing infrastructure, theft, vandalism and affordability pressures continue to affect water revenue.
Phasha emphasised that revenue protection must become a strategic priority, with municipalities investing in smart metering, advanced metering infrastructure, data analytics, customer database verification and stronger enforcement.
Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of revenue certainty – the ability of a municipality to accurately measure, bill, collect and forecast its revenue. This is essential for financial sustainability and can influence a municipality’s ability to access infrastructure financing and attract investment.

George Municipality used the convention to share practical examples of how it is responding to these challenges.
Three municipal presentations formed part of the programme, covering smart metering implementation by Jemaine Cupido, Manager Energy Security, the Digital Water Network Twin by SP Van Zyl GLS Consulting – Water Services Department and best practices in combating essential infrastructure crime Edward Nqumse, Superintendent Illegal Connections.
Other sessions focused on revenue protection best practices, power quality monitoring, digital revenue recovery, change management, smart water meter deployment and innovative approaches to combating cable theft.
The programme also explored how municipalities can balance enforcement with equity while using technology to improve revenue collection and reduce losses.

George Municipality has already begun adapting to changes in the energy environment through initiatives including wheeling agreements and Independent Power Producer (IPP) arrangements. The municipality has entered into a three-year IPP agreement expected to generate savings on bulk electricity purchases and is working towards a 20MW IPP contract. These initiatives form part of the municipality’s broader efforts to manage resources responsibly, strengthen financial sustainability and ensure that municipal services remain viable in a changing environment.

The theft and vandalism of essential infrastructure was a recurring theme during the convention.
Damage to electricity infrastructure and other municipal assets can interrupt services to communities while placing additional financial pressure on municipalities.

SARPA President Kenneth Samolapo said revenue protection was no longer simply a matter of collecting money, but was closely linked to protecting infrastructure, maintaining services and ensuring the sustainability of municipalities.
SARPA also highlighted its involvement in efforts to strengthen the response to infrastructure-related crimes, including collaboration with organisations such as SALGA, the Association of Municipal Electricity Undertakings (AMEU), CIGFARO, National and Provincial Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).

The convention marked an important milestone in SARPA’s professionalisation programme.
The association introduced a structured professional designation pathway for revenue protection practitioners, ranging from Junior Revenue Protection Officer through to Master Revenue Protection Officer.

The designations recognise increasing levels of competence, experience and contribution to the profession and are supported by continuous professional development requirements.
The initiative supports the broader professionalisation of the public sector and aims to strengthen revenue protection as a specialised professional field.
A strong message emerging from the convention was that municipalities cannot rely solely on traditional revenue streams as the operating environment changes.

Potential opportunities discussed included renewable energy, electricity wheeling, telecommunications infrastructure, property development, land value capture and green finance.
At the same time, municipalities need to focus on improving collection rates, reducing non-revenue water and electricity losses, maintaining infrastructure, strengthening financial controls and supporting local economic growth.
George Executive Mayor, Ald Browen Johnson, welcomed delegates to the city and said the convention provided an important platform for municipalities to share practical solutions to the challenges created by growth and a changing operating environment.

“George is a city that continues to grow. Our population has increased significantly over the years, bringing with it greater demand for housing, infrastructure, electricity, water, roads and other essential municipal services,” said Mayor Johnson.
He said the municipality wanted George to become a smarter city in the Garden Route that embraces innovation and responds practically to the challenges of a growing population and changing environment.
The convention brought together local and international expertise, including a contribution from the UK Revenue Protection Association, and provided an opportunity for delegates to exchange knowledge and experiences.

The overall message was clear: protecting municipal revenue is fundamental to ensuring sustainable service delivery.

Photos:

 A view of the attendees standing to observe the national anthem.

 Thembalethu Primary School choir entertained the attendees at the SARPA convention

Lerato Phasha, Portfolio Head for Municipal Finance, Fiscal Policy and Revenue Enhancement at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) delivered the keynote address at the convention.

 Edward Nqumse, Superintendent Illegal Connection received the Best Paper award at the Convention.

In the photo above, at the event are from left, Victoria Tshambo from Shoprite Thembalethu, Andile Mobo from Henque Waste, Aphelele Dyani from Henque Waste, Vuyisani Dwani, Sarel Samson from George Municipality, Likho Ndlebe from Hungry Lion, Thembile Kobi from Shoprite Thembalethu, Zamikhaya Motonjeni from Jam Alley Tavern, Khanyisa Shoto from George Municipality, Sisipho Mngqushwana, Thandokazi Bontiya and Innocentia Sikweyiya. Infront is Nombuyiselo Majola from George Municipality.

In the spirit of Mandela Day, George Municipality’s Waste Management and Pollution Control Section, in partnership with Henque Waste and the Garden Route District Municipality, officially launched the Waste Wise Business Pledge Campaign on Friday, 17 July, encouraging local businesses to become champions of responsible waste management.
While Mandela Day is officially commemorated on 18 July, South Africans traditionally dedicate 67 minutes of service to making a positive difference in their communities. This year, George Municipality Waste Management department
marked the occasion by inspiring businesses to invest in a cleaner, greener future through practical environmental action.
The inaugural event saw four businesses, Shoprite, Boxer, Hungry Lion and Jam Alley Tavern sign the Waste Wise Business Pledge, voluntarily committing themselves to better waste management practices, waste separation at source and increased recycling within their workplaces. The event took place at the Thembalethu Community Hall.
The event also included an interactive educational session highlighting the importance of reducing waste sent to landfill and demonstrating how simple changes in daily operations can have a lasting impact on the environment.
To help businesses begin their sustainability journey, each participant received recycling bins and refuse bags, together with a Waste Wise Business Certificate and an official window sticker recognising their commitment to environmental responsibility.
Nombuyiselo Majola, Manager: George Municipality’s Waste Management and Pollution Control Section described the launch as a great success, with participating businesses showing enthusiasm for the initiative and a willingness to work alongside the municipality to improve waste management across the city.
The Waste Wise Business Pledge Campaign forms part of an ongoing programme that will continue to expand the George Waste Wise Business Network. Through education, collaboration and practical support, the initiative aims to encourage more businesses to adopt responsible waste practices and become ambassadors for a cleaner environment.
Businesses interested in joining the Waste Wise Business Network or arranging a free waste management awareness session for their staff are encouraged to contact the Waste Management and Pollution Control Section at nmajola@george.gov.za
George Municipality extends its sincere appreciation to Shoprite, Boxer, Hungry Lion, Jam Alley Tavern, Henque Waste and the Garden Route District Municipality for their support in making the launch a success.

Photos:

Nombuyiselo Majola Manager: George Municipality’s Waste Management and Pollution Control Section speak to participants during the event.

Andile Lebua Mobo from Henque Waste speaks on recycling and demonstrating types of waste that can be recycled.

In the photo above are some of the elements contained in the digital marketing toolkit.

George, Wilderness and Uniondale tourism has officially launched a digital destination marketing toolkit so every stakeholder can access common tools to promote our amazing destination. The concept was one of the outcomes of the Unity for Growth Conference hosted by George Municiplaity’s tourism department in May this year. This toolkit provides ready-to-use content, visuals, and guidelines to make promoting the destination simple and effective.
Every visitor who chooses our destination creates an opportunity for every tourism business. When visitors discover more of what our region has to offer, they stay longer, explore further, spend more, and leave with memories worth sharing.

The Destination Marketing Toolkit makes it easy to promote the destination with ready-to-use marketing resources. Share destination content on digital platforms, display brochures and maps in- business, recommend local attractions and events to guests, and include destination links in communications.

The more we educate visitors about everything our area has to offer, the longer they stay, the further they explore, the more they spend across local businesses, and the more likely they are to return. Each tourism business plays an important role in shaping every visitor’s journey. By sharing the destination’s marketing resources across marketing platforms and throughout every premises or guest room, you help visitors unlock experiences beyond your own doorstep.

Tourism Manager Joan Shaw says: “Destination marketing is most successful when we work together. By promoting local attractions, experiences, events, and neighbouring businesses alongside your own products, you help create a seamless visitor experience while strengthening the local tourism economy. Market your neighbour like you market yourself!”
The digital files are accessible online, so if you are a stakeholder, check your Inbox for the newsletter and download the marketing assets, such as promotional videos, photos, logos and more, to let your audience know that you are situated in George, Naturally!
Need more support or assistance in implementing destination resources on your channels? Please reach out to Sharon House via marketing@visitgeorge.co.za

The majority of GO GEORGE passengers say the bus service is making their daily lives easier, safer, and more affordable. The latest annual passenger satisfaction survey shows an impressive 90% overall satisfaction rating, confirming the bus service’s central role in connecting people to work, education, healthcare, and socio-economic opportunities.

Strong performance across key service areas
The 2025 Macro-, Transport-, Socio-Economic Study (MTSES), conducted among nearly 4 000 passengers, highlights consistently high satisfaction with the reliability, safety, accessibility, and professionalism of the service. Interviews were conducted at 322 bus stops over a four week period in October and November 2025. The number of participants (the survey sample) constitutes 31,5% of the individual users based on the average number of weekly bus users with most people doing two trips per day.

Passengers reported exceptionally high satisfaction in several areas, including:
• Drivers adhering to traffic rules (99%)
• Smart Card kiosk staff being knowledgeable and helpful (99%)
• Courtesy and support from route controllers and superintendents (97%)
• Accessibility for passengers with disabilities at bus stops (97%)
• Reliability of the service (97%)
• Skilled, responsible driving (96%)
• Sidewalk accessibility to bus stops for people with disabilities (94%)
• Friendly, courteous and helpful drivers (93%)
• Safety and security on board (91%)
• On board accessibility for persons with disabilities (90%)
• Affordability (90%)
Accessibility emerged as a key theme, with 97% of passengers saying GO GEORGE makes a positive contribution to their community. The vast majority of respondents (97%) indicated that GO GEORGE is reliable, reflecting a high level of trust in the consistency and dependability of the service.

Interesting demographics
The study shows a predominantly working age passenger base, with 66% between 25 and 45 years old and 72% being women. Employment among passengers aged 25–35 increased by 12% compared to 2024, underscoring the link between mobility and economic opportunity.

Voices from leadership
Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Isaac Sileku, welcomes the findings, saying they reflect the kind of public transport service that residents deserve. “To every resident who chooses GO GEORGE, thank you for placing your trust in this service. We know how important your daily journey is, whether you’re travelling to work, school, healthcare or other opportunities. Every time you step onto one of our buses, you should experience a service that is safe, reliable and treats everyone with dignity. That is what every GO GEORGE driver, operational team member and support staff member works hard to deliver every single day.”

GO GEORGE Manager, Morné Lakay, says the results reflect a system that listens and adapts. “This survey gives us a clear picture of how passengers experience the service every day. The high scores for reliability, safety and staff professionalism show that our investment in training and operations is paying off.

“It is particularly encouraging that 90% of passengers perceive the current fare per trip as affordable. That is what our service is all about – keeping fares affordable, enabling also those with low income to use the bus service. If you look at the annual tariff increase for GO GEORGE on 1 July, you’ll notice it was smaller than last year’s, despite the record high fuel prices worldwide,” Lakay said.

George Executive Mayor, Alderman Browen Johnson, highlights the value for residents. “Affordability remains one of the greatest benefits of GO GEORGE. This service ensures that people can reach opportunities without transport being a barrier. These findings underscore the important role of GO GEORGE as a network that links communities to opportunities and supports socio-economic integration. We are proud of the positive impact it has on households and the local economy.”