Author: Debra Sauer

With the new academic year starting next week, parents’ transport schedules will take on the regular frenzy of dropping off and picking up their children at school. Parents of learners who use the GO GEORGE bus service to get to school are encouraged to help their children get equipped in time.

It is important to get a GO GEORGE Smart Card, load enough trips before schools start, and not wait until they have no trips left before topping up again. The Smart Card should be treated with the same care as any bank card or cash; if it gets lost, trips on the card cannot be refunded or transferred to a new card.

Check expiry date on card

Learners who already have Smart Cards should check the expiry date on the front of the card.

Similar to bank cards, GO GEORGE Smart Cards expire every five years.  A batch of cards expired at the end of December 2023. Those with expired cards should buy a new card (R35) before schools start or use another existing card in their possession that is still valid. Trips can be transferred from an expired card to a new or valid existing card.

Smart Cards can be bought at any of the GO GEORGE Smart Card kiosks at the Transport Hub in Cradock Street, Blanco Triangle, Garden Route Mall and Nelson Mandela Boulevard in Thembalethu. Two mobile kiosks are scheduled to rotate service between the Protea terminus in Pacaltsdorp, the Eve bus stop in Rosedale, Cheap Foods in Nelson Mandela Boulevard near the entrance to Parkdene, and the Jonga circle in Thembalethu. Feel free to phone the Call Centre on 0800 044 044 for the exact mobile kiosk location at a specific time.

School route maps

GO GEORGE communication champions will be present at the bus stops near high schools during the first few weeks of the school term to hand out route maps and inform learners about the different routes to school. Unique maps depicting the different options available to school and back home have been created for each school. These maps can also be downloaded from the GO GEORGE website by visiting www.gogeorge.org.za/school-routes.

Learners are advised to discuss the best boarding time, route and transfers with the champions. In most cases, there will be different options to avoid full buses during peak times.

To request an on-site visit and direct engagement from GO GEORGE, schools are welcome to phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044 or send an email to info@gogeorge.org.za.

CAPTION:

Taking the bus to school is a safe and reliable mode of transport for learners.

AFRIKAANS:

MAAK GEREED OM VEILIG BUS TE RY SKOOL TOE

Met die nuwe akademiese jaar wat volgende week afskop, begin ouers se uitdaging met dol vervoerskedules om hul kinders by die skool af te laai en op te tel. Ouers van leerders wat van die GO GEORGE-busdiens gebruik maak om by die skool uit te kom, word aangemoedig om hul kinders te help om betyds alles hiervoor gereed te kry.

Dit is belangrik om ‘n GO GEORGE-slimkaart te kry en genoeg ritte te laai voordat skole begin, en nie te wag totdat leerders geen ritte oor het voordat hulle weer herlaai nie. Die Slimkaart moet met dieselfde sorg as enige bankkaart of kontant hanteer word; as dit wegraak, kan ritte op die kaart nie terugbetaal of na ‘n nuwe kaart oorgedra word nie.

Hou vervaldatum op kaart dop

Leerders wat reeds slimkaarte het, moet die vervaldatum voor op die kaart nagaan. Soortgelyk aan bankkaarte, verval GO GEORGE-slimkaarte elke vyf jaar.  ‘n Bondel kaarte het einde Desember 2023 verval. Diegene met kaarte wat verval het, moet ‘n nuwe kaart (R35) koop voordat skole begin of ‘n ander bestaande kaart in hul besit wat steeds geldig is, gebruik. Ritte kan van ‘n vervalle kaart na ‘n nuwe of geldige bestaande kaart oorgedra word.

Slimkaarte kan by enige van die GO GEORGE-slimkaartkiosks by die vervoerkern in Cradockstraat, Blanco-driehoek, Garden Route Mall en in Nelson Mandela-boulevard in Thembalethu gekoop word. Twee mobiele kiosks gaan dienste roteer tussen die Protea-terminus in Pacaltsdorp, die Eve-bushalte in Rosedale, Cheap Foods in Nelson Mandela Boulevard naby die ingang van Parkdene, en die Jonga-sirkel in Thembalethu. Skakel gerus die inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 vir die presiese ligging van die mobiele kiosks op ‘n spesifieke tydstip.

Skoolroetekaarte

Go GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeamptes sal gedurende die eerste paar weke van die skoolkwartaal by die bushaltes naby skole wees om leerders in te lig oor die verskillende roetes skool toe. Unieke kaarte wat die verskillende opsies skool toe en terug huis toe uitbeeld, is vir elke skool geskep. Hierdie kaarte kan ook afgelaai word vanaf die GO GEORGE-webwerf deur www.gogeorge.org.za/school-routes te besoek.

Leerders word aangeraai om die beste opklimtyd, roete en oorklimhaltes met die passasiersdiensbeamptes te bespreek. In die meeste gevalle sal daar verskeie opsies wees om vol busse tydens spitstyd te vermy.

Om ‘n besoek op die skoolterrein en direkte skakeling met die leerders aan te vra, is skole welkom om die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 te skakel of ‘n e-pos na info@gogeorge.org.za te stuur.

BYSKRIF:

Busvervoer is ’n veilige en betroubare manier vir leerders om by te skool te kom.

In the photograph above are Zelda Barnard from Stop Trafficking, Brian Faul from SAHARA and Estelle Fredericks from George Municipality on Christmas day during the Christmas Drive.

On Christmas day members from the People Living on the Streets Forum (PLOTS) with the help of Zelda Barnard from Stop Trafficking and Brian Faul from SAHARA and Estelle Fredericks from George Municipality distributed much-needed food, sanitary packs and snack parcels to the homeless population all over George.

According to Fredericks, this initiative has become an annual tradition to have a Christmas drive. Fredericks said rendering services and giving hope to each and every vulnerable homeless person on Christmas day and spreading goodwill to those less fortunate than ourselves gives them as the givers much joy.

She said the aim is to give people back their dignity and reduce the number of people living on the streets.

The packages delivered to people living on the streets this Christmas.

By now the holiday season is well underway and we trust that visitors to George are thoroughly enjoying themselves as they select from the 60 plus activities available to them. On checking daily scheduled air traffic into George, it is evident that there are almost the equivalent of nine Boeing 737 flights flying in from Johannesburg. It is also noticeable that additional markets have opened this season to display their wares to visitors and locals. The entrepreneurs entering this space are applauded as it opens opportunities for crafters to offer quality products increasing employment.

We recently did a briefing to the tourism stakeholder sector as part of the preparedness for their role in accommodating, feeding and providing activities. All of our municipal services will be extremely active on beaches and at events to assist in providing a safe and peaceful holiday for our visitors. We thank all working teams and volunteers who offer their time and services for the thousands of visitors to our region.

Many visitors may be impressed with the municipal services that are offered in George in comparison to the dysfunctionalities found elsewhere around the country. This achievement flows from a relationship of trust and respect between the political leadership and the administration.

We expect our teams to deliver services at a high standard while also encouraging them to constantly seek better solutions. As a result, this work ethic has driven initiatives to seek improvements and innovations. One such example is how our water team strives to improve the management of water quality and thereby better our rankings. A similar ethos exists across all the other services whether it relates to the time it takes to approve building plans through to the work being done by fire and emergency services and even to increasing collection rates for outstanding debtors. Just recently, the project engineers managing the capital projects proudly announced that they had passed R500 million mark in spending on the R1,2 billion water and waste-water infrastructure project. In terms of total capital and operating expenditure among the 19 intermediate cities in the country, George now ranks at number 11 with an average budgeted weekly expenditure of R78 million for the 2023/24 financial year.

We trust that the pride and work ethic that is demonstrated by the George municipal teams will serve as hope to encourage citizens elsewhere in South Africa to work together to achieve collaboration to strive for better service standards and the maintenance of infrastructure.

We extend best wishes to all our citizens and visitors for an enjoyable festive season as they celebrate Christmas and the New Year with family and friends. Please remain safe on the beaches, during activities and while travelling.

In the photo above, Elmine Vorster, initiator of the programme, “Make your Mark” with an installation on Virginia Woolf by local artist, Arleen Duff, behind her.

George Library recently celebrated locals who made their mark and the boundaries of literature alone were transcended, and the emphasis was on harmonious interaction between the literary text and visual art.

According to Elmine Vorster, George librarian, “Make YOUR Mark 2023” explored the interplay between literary text and visual art, emphasizing how these mediums can enhance and inspire each other.

Workshops and demonstrations were held to showcase the creative process and highlighted the fusion of words and visual material. Two creative writing workshops were presented by Michele Damstra in the reading area of the library. A poetry workshop was presented by Dr. Mike Hagemann and several “Found” poems were created and will be on display in the library in the new year.

Archie Swanson, South African poet, discussed his poems and photography with Wolfgang Schreuder, bookshop owner of ‘Blue Forest”.  A local Artist, Thanduxolo Juta, displayed sculptures of sport heroes and people from different cultures.Children from “Classical Conversations”, create a timeline with their creative posters and displayed it in the foyer. Koos Meyer, a local writer, wrote on his laptop in the foyer and donated his first published book to the library. Ina Meyer, a local award- winning quilter, displayed her quilt: “The book thief” in the library.

Hannes Visser, an AVBOB poetry winner, delivered a copy of his debut novel to George Library.

Vorster said, “Make your Mark” has inspired sustainable initiatives, including ALICE for Adults” meetings held monthly at the George library over the past year and a half. These meetings bring the community together for continued creative exploration and connection.

The last meeting of ALICE for Adults was devoted to the book of curator artist, Lien Botha, “Vin”. This art novel with a link to a website, led to an interactive experience: A rabbit hole of information on books from the library collection and artists from far and near. People from the community received a chapter from the book to use as inspiration for installations displayed in the library.

Vorster said engaging the creative mind with words and visual expression lead to personal growth and community enrichment.

She said the significance of community involvement must be underlined, our library served as a platform for community creativity and collaboration and “Make YOUR Mark” was  an opportunity for everyone to share their unique gifts and contribute to our vibrant cultural landscape.

The George Library has served as a catalyst for creativity, learning and community engagement, “Make YOUR Mark” showcased the power of community collaboration and the library’s pivotal role in fostering creative connections. Vorster said “our mission was accomplished – a space was provided where individuals could explore their artistic potential and connected with others who share a passion for creativity. A public library served to be so many things for so many individuals from our diverse community.

Marietha Smid at her watercolour painting depicting the motto in the book: a quotation from Lewis Carroll’s book: “Alice in wonderland”.

Karin Haremse explaining the bronze sculpture of the boat.

 A poem by Colleen Venter on chapter eight.

As we approach the end of another year, I want to take a moment to usher in the festive season ahead. For many of us, the holidays are a time when we gather together with our loved ones and celebrate the joys of life. It is a time of year where we reminisce on the days and months gone by, a time of year where we look back on the things that we are most thankful for.

During this time of joy and festivities, we must also remember those who are less fortunate and may not have the privilege to celebrate in the way that we are able to. Let us invoke the spirit of the season we are celebrating, open our hearts and share the festive cheer by lending a helping hand to those who need it the most and in any way that we can. I would like to encourage all our citizens to take this moment to try and effect positive change and impact in any way within our communities and our surrounding areas. Let’s spread the festive spirit and cheer wherever we can.

As the Executive Mayor of George Municipality, I would like to extend a hearty welcome to each and every visitor to our beautiful area. While I encourage you to explore everything that our city has to offer, I would also like to implore our visitors and residence to adhere to the protocols that we have put in place to ensure the safety of all our frequenters.  Be safe on our roads, at our beaches and swimming pools and have the most enjoyable time with your friends and loved ones.

To our Christian residents and visitors, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas as you observe the birth (y) our Lord and Saviour.  Have a blessed and safe festive season.

Season’s greetings to you all.

Alderman Leon Van Wyk

Executive Mayor: George Municipality

Burgemeester Feesseisoenboodskap

Soos ons die einde van nóg ‘n jaar nader, wil ek ‘n oomblik neem om die feestyd wat voorlê in te lui. Vir baie van ons is die vakansie ‘n tyd wanneer ons saam met ons geliefdes bymekaarkom en die vreugdes van die lewe vier. Dit is ‘n tyd van die jaar waar ons terugdink aan die dae en maande wat verby is, ‘n tyd van die jaar waar ons terugkyk op die dinge waarvoor ons die meeste dankbaar is.

Gedurende hierdie tyd van vreugde en feesvieringe moet ons ook diegene onthou wat minderbevoorreg is en dalk nie die voorreg het om fees te vier op die manier wat ons kan nie. Kom ons maak ons ​​harte oop in die gees van die seisoen en deel die feestelike vrolikheid deur ‘n helpende hand uit te reik aan diegene wat dit die nodigste het, en op enige manier wat ons kan. Ek wil graag al ons burgers aanmoedig om hierdie oomblik te gebruik om positiewe verandering en impak te bring op enige manier binne ons gemeenskappe en in ons omliggende gebiede te probeer bewerkstellig. Kom ons versprei die feesgees en vrolikheid waar ons ook al kan.

As die Uitvoerende Burgemeester van George Munisipaliteit wil ek elke besoeker verwelkom in ons pragtige gebied. Terwyl ek jou aanmoedig om alles te verken wat ons stad bied, wil ek ook ons ​​besoekers en inwoners versoek om by bywette en wetgewing te hou wat ons ingestel het om die veiligheid van al ons besoekers te verseker. Wees veilig op ons paaie, by ons strande en swembaddens en geniet die lekkerste tyd saam met jou vriende en geliefdes.

Aan ons Christen-inwoners en besoekers wil ek julle almal ‘n baie Geseënde Kersfees toewens terwyl julle die geboorte van ons Here en Verlosser vier. Geniet ‘n geseënde en veilige feesseisoen.

Seisoengroete aan julle almal.

Raadsheer Leon Van Wyk

Uitvoerende Burgemeester: George Munisipaliteit