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Author: Debra Sauer

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SELECTED LIBRARIES DURING GEORGE FESTIVAL 2025


The George Municipality wishes to inform residents of the temporary closure of several libraries on Monday, 15 December 2025,
due to operational support required for the George Festival 2025, taking place from 13–16 December 2025.
To accommodate festival activities, the following libraries will be closed on 15 December:
• Blanco Library
• Conville Library
• Pacaltsdorp Library
• Thembalethu Library
Please also note that George Library will close earlier than usual and will be operating until 17:00 on Monday, 15 December 2025, due to the same festival-related requirements.
Full library services will resume on Wednesday, 17 December 2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely thank our community for its understanding and support during this vibrant city-wide event.

GARDEN ROUTE DAM LEVEL – 8 December 2025

Percentage storage at new raised dam wall height 47.65 %
Rainfall for the previous days: 9.8 mm (Measured from 2- 8 December 2025)

Please see the link to 2C water restrictions implemented as of 4 December 2025: http://tinyurl.com/3439h4n7
The cooperation of all users of municipal water is essential and is greatly appreciated.

Adjusted Extended Hours for George & Wilderness Tourism Offices

Kindly note the operational hours during the festive season for this year.

George & Wilderness Offices
Monday – Friday 08:00 – 16:30
Weekends & Public Holidays: Closed

Look out for our pop-up information stands at tourism hot spots or QR codes displayed extensively throughout the destination for online information.

PUBLIC NOTICE: UNIONDALE OFFICES AND TOWN HALL – FUMIGATION

Please note that the Uniondale Municipal Offices and Town Hall will undergo fumigation on Monday, 8 December 2025.

The buildings will be closed to the public from 14:00 to 16:30.

Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, 9 Desember at 07:45. The Municipality apologises for any inconvenience caused.

 

OPENBARE KENNISGEWING: UNIONDALE-KANTORE EN SAAL – BEROKING(ONTSMETTING)

Neem asseblief kennis dat die Uniondale Munisipale Kantore en Saal op Maandag, 8 Desember 2025, ontsmet sal word met beroking.

Die geboue sal van 14:00 tot 16:30 vir die publiek gesluit wees.

Normale bedrywighede sal Dinsdag, 9 Desemer om 07:45 hervat word. Die Munisipaliteit vra om verskoning vir enige ongerief.

PUBLIC NOTICE: Refuse Collection During the Festive Season

Households may put out SEVEN BLACK, FOUR GREEN, and an UNLIMITED number of BLUE bags on their weekly collection day.

Additional tied bundles of branches are allowed if they are shorter than a metre in length and can be picked up by one person.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF HOUSEHOLD REFUSE REMOVAL SCHEDULE OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON
16 December 2025 – Collection as per normal schedule – TUESDAY
25 December 2025 – Collection as per normal schedule – THURSDAY
26 December 2025 – Collection as per normal schedule – FRIDAY
1 January 2026 – Collection as per normal schedule – THURSDAY

ALL BUSINESS REFUSE WILL BE COLLECTED ON MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS, INCLUDING CHRISTMAS DAY.
ANY BUSINESS THAT WANTS EXTRA REFUSE COLLECTION DUE TO WASTE VOLUMES, CAN CONTACT THE REFUSE REMOVAL OFFICES TO MAKE SUCH ARRANGEMENTS AND MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS.

BLUE bags are for non-soiled recyclable materials, including plastic, paper, cardboard, 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 green bags.
BLACK bags are for ‘wet’ waste, things that cannot be recycled.

All refuse bags must be put out by 7 am on removal day.

Please don’t put bags out the day or night before removal.

Please wrap broken glass in newspaper before placing it in bags to prevent injuries to workers.
A pack of 26 black bags is distributed to households quarterly.

Black and green bags are removed by George Municipality trucks, and blue bags are removed by service provider Henque Waste trucks, all on the same day.

Participating households will receive a maximum of two blue and two green replacement bags per week

Households or businesses that are actively recycling and require additional blue bags can collect from the municipality’s Environmental Services department or Henque Waste at the addresses listed below.

Households that regularly generate more than four green bags per week are advised to make use of a private garden or waste removal service.

REFUSE REMOVAL DAYS

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

BUSINESSES: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

CONTACT DETAILS

REFUSE AND GREEN BAS COLLECTION
George Municipality Environmental Services
82 Meade Street, George.
Phone 044 802 2900
Black and Green bag-related enquiries: 044 802 2900

Blue bag enquiries:
Contact Person Name: Douw Bezuidenhout
Contact Number Office: 064 905 8180 (also WhatsApp)
Complaints Number: 072 592 6212
General Contact Email Address: admin@henquewaste.co.za
Complaints Contact Email Address: douw@henquewaste.co.za
Factory Address: 27 Rand St, George Industria, George, 6536
Website Address: www.henquewaste.co.za

George Municipality delivers sustained strong audit results

George Municipality is proud to announce that it has once again received an unqualified audit opinion for the 2024/2025 financial year — marking 13 unqualified audit opinions in the past 14 years, of which 11 were unqualified without findings. This long-term track record places George among the top-performing non-metro municipalities in South Africa for financial governance and accountability.

Executive Mayor Johnson welcomed the outcome. “This audit outcome demonstrates our commitment to transparent, accountable governance and sound financial management. It is a reflection of strong leadership, disciplined financial management, and a culture of compliance that underpins everything we do. George is striving to be South Africa’s best non-metro municipality — proving that good governance is truly a team effort.”

MMC for Finance and Strategic Services, Iona Kritzinger, expressed her appreciation for the result, noting that his outcome confirms that our financial controls, reporting practices, and oversight mechanisms are functioning exactly as they should. “We remain focused on prudent spending, efficient service delivery, and ensuring that every rand is used to benefit our residents.”

Municipal Manager Godfrey Louw thanked the administration for their commitment, and commended the high standards maintained across all departments. “Our teams are committed to accuracy, accountability, and the continuous strengthening of financial governance.”

George Municipality remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance and financial accountability, ensuring that resources are managed responsibly in the service of all residents.

#GoodGovernance #

Water Safety Tips for the Festive Season

As we enjoy the festive season, please keep these essential water safety tips in mind to protect yourself and your loved ones:
· Never swim alone and avoid swimming in the sea, dams, or rivers at night.
· Do not swim under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
· Always supervise children near water. Ensure they cannot access pools, ponds, water features, baths, buckets of water, or open toilets—young children can drown in as little as 4 cm of water.
· Secure your swimming pool with a pool net or an SABS-approved fence to prevent accidental falls.
· Swim only in designated areas at the beach where lifeguards are present and avoid swimming too far out.
· Remember, swimming in the sea is very different from swimming in a pool or dam, even for experienced swimmers.
· Only dive into water if you can see what’s below the surface, and always test the depth, first.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
· George Fire and Rescue: 044 801 6311
· Toll-Free Disaster Number: 087 152 9999
· NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute): 082 990 5955 | 087 094 9774
Stay safe and enjoy the water responsibly!

NATIS SYSTEM down or slow at Pacaltsdorp DLTC and Hibernia Street MVR

Please be advised that the NATIS System is currently down or very slow at the Pacaltsdorp Traffic Centre, Motor Vehicle Registration (next to the train station).
The situation affects transactions and services.
Technicians have been informed of the problem and the public is asked to be patient in this regard.
For more information contact the Pacaltsdorp DLTC on 044 878 2400,MVR on 044 801 9310.

New Aldermen for George Council

Executive Mayor of George, Browen Johnson, extended his heartfelt congratulations to Cllr Johan du Toit (ACDP) and Cllr Johan Stander (DA) on being conferred with the prestigious Aldermanship during yesterday’s continuation of the Special Council Meeting, Monday 24 November.
“This is not merely a title, but a recognition of years of hard work, principled leadership, and a deep, sustained commitment to public service. This honour represents the culmination of countless mornings, late nights, difficult decisions, and the courage to stand firm when it would have been easier to compromise. It is earned through consistency,” said Ald Johnson. “Today we acknowledge not only their accomplishments, but also the example they set for all of us in public service. I thank Ald du Toit and Ald Stander for their continued devotion to George and congratulate them on this significant and well-deserved honour.”

GARDEN ROUTE DAM LEVEL – 25 November 2025, George Municipality

Percentage storage at new raised dam wall height 50,98 %
Rainfall for the previous days: 12 mm (Measured from 18 – 24 November 2025)

Please see the link to 2B water restrictions implemented as of 1 May 2024: http://tinyurl.com/3439h4n7
The cooperation of all users of municipal water is essential and is greatly appreciated.

IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW ERP SYSTEM AND UPDATED CUSTOMER ACCOUNT STATEMENTS

George Municipality is pleased to inform all residents and account holders that we have successfully implemented a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This forms part of our commitment to modernising municipal systems, improving efficiency, and ensuring more reliable billing and customer services.

  1. New Monthly Debtor Account Statements

From this month onward, all municipal debtor accounts will be emailed to customers directly from the new ERP system. As a result, the layout and format of your monthly statement will look different from the previous version. All billing information remains accurate and compliant with municipal financial regulations.

In addition to the emailed statement, customers will also receive an SMS containing a secure link to view and download their monthly account statement.

  1. Old and New Account Numbers Displayed

During the transition period, your municipal statement will show both:

  • Your old account number, and
  • Your new account number, generated by the new ERP system.

This dual display is intended to assist customers with a smooth transition.

 Use of Old Account Numbers Until 30 June 2026

The old account number may still be used as a payment reference until 30 June 2026.

  • If you make an EFT payment using your old account number, the new system will still recognise it and correctly allocate your payment.
  • After 30 June 2026, George Municipality will fully transition to the new account numbers, and customers will be required to use the new number for all payments and correspondence.

URGENT PUBLIC NOTICE: WATER SUPPLY CHALLENGES IN WILDERNESS AREA

Dear Residents of Wilderness,

George Municipality is aware and is attending to the water disruptions in the Wilderness area. Over the past day and a half, our technical teams have been working tirelessly to identify and resolve the issue affecting the water network in Wilderness.

What we have done so far:
• We located and replaced several faulty components, including a valve that was faulty that we suspected was the problem.
• This resulted in the system partially restored to normal. Unfortunately, this did not fully resolve the issue.

Current situation:
• The problem still exists within the network, therefore we are actively investigating other potential issues along the network.
• Due to the complex nature of the network and many pipes running through difficult terrain (including dense bush areas), pinpointing the exact location of the fault is challenging.
• We have also observed air trapped in the pipeline which have been addressed.

Impact on residents and businesses:
• Some guesthouses/businesses and residents may experience intermittent or no water supply until the issue is resolved.
• We understand the full effect of this and ask for your patience and understanding during this time.

Next steps:
• All our resources are attending to resolving this outage.
• We do not yet have an estimated time of repair (ETR), but we will communicate immediately as soon as we identify the problem.
We appreciate your cooperation, and we sincerely apologise for the ongoing disruptions to the water supply. We view the situation seriously. We will keep you informed as more information becomes available. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

PUBLIC NOTICE: Preventing Drowning Tragedies

 

Stay safe around water this festive season by following these practical drowning prevention strategies: 

  • Learn life-saving skills, including the basics of swimming and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 
  • Know who to call in an emergency.  
  • Fence ponds, pools and water storage: Install a four-sided isolation fence at least 1.2m high with a self-closing and self-latching gate to control access to bodies of water. 
  • Be on the lookout. Drownings happen quickly and quietly. Never leave children to supervise each other. A responsible adult must always watch out for children near a pool, Jacuzzi, or natural body of water. 
  • Stay within arm’s length of children under four around water. 
  • Don’t drink or be distracted by work, phone calls, technology, or anything else that may absorb your attention when watching children. 
  • Fit a pool net immediately after swimming and replace it every time. 
  • Don’t rely on armbands, floating toys, inner tubes, or devices to keep children safe. 
  • Teach children to swim, but never leave them unsupervised around water. 
  • Consider installing alarms. Various water alarms, such as a floating pool alarm or external security beams, can be installed to add to the precautions of fencing and supervision. 
  • Beware of drains. Children must be kept away from pool or Jacuzzi drains as hair or limbs could become trapped in the suction. 
  • Toilets, bathtubs, water features, fish tanks, pet water bowls and buckets. Children can drown wherever there is access to water, and a baby can drown in just 2.5cm of water. 

 

EMERGENCY NUMBERS: 

  • After-Hours and Emergencies: 044 801 6300 
  • Toll-Free Disaster Number: 087 152 9999 
  • NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute): 082 990 5955 ǀ 087 094 9774 

 

Stay alert and make water safety a priority to prevent drowning tragedies. 

GEORGE FESTIVAL 2025_ TRAILS & TUNES

Experience the outdoors with Trails & Tunes! Join the Trail Run on 14 December, plus MTB and a Cross Hike with live music on 16 December. Fresh air, great vibes, and support for local trails — don’t miss it!
Explore the full line-up of events, activities, and entertainment by accessing the programme via the link: https://tinyurl.com/45dvp5d8   and follow official George Municipality and WC DCAS social media channels.