Author: Debra Sauer

GO GEORGE female staff juggling work, family and Covid
Issued 23 Aug 2021

Each August, we celebrate women. We point out their strength, their achievements, their invaluable contributions; in the case of GO GEORGE, often in a so-called “man’s world”.
In August 2020, everybody was still in shock and hoping to beat the virus within a few months. This year, women’s voices sound different. Some talk of hope, of caring, of doing what’s got to be done. Others don’t see light at the end of the tunnel; actually, they don’t see the end of the tunnel.
Unlike previous years when it was interesting and enlightening to sit around a table with a number of female bus drivers, for instance, GO GEORGE now requested feedback from female staff members about their experience of womanhood during the Covid-19 pandemic via a short list of questions.
Most of the women who have responded, work shifts, from as early as 04:30 in the morning, only getting home after 20:00 when they start later. Many are single mothers. Most have a support system for their children’s care, be it a grandmother, neighbour or elder siblings, or husbands when their work hours allow. However, many still need to help children with “lockdown schoolwork” after they get home, on top of daily household duties. Noticeable was how many taught their children who couldn’t attend school for long periods of time, how to carry out essential household chores.
“I just find it sad to tell my children they cannot go play with friends. We try to keep them busy indoors, but it’s not easy, and it’s not good,” one mother said. Without exception, they try to answer their children’s many questions and to keep their hopes up, that life will get better and easier again, that “this too shall pass”.
Many remain positive. “I can’t wait for Covid-19 to get over and done with. I can summarise the past year as me being retrenched by a previous employer, employed again, becoming a promoter of good hygiene, a teacher, infected (asymptomatic), but refusing to get tired, and defined by my desire to be even more!”
Those with younger children struggle from time to time: “2021 is a very hard time for me as I have to leave my kids alone at home because they are doing turns at school and the aftercare is closed due to Covid,” says a mother of two children, aged eight and 12.
Depending on their personal circumstances, some struggle to stay positive. “I don’t see any future anymore, no hope and no dreams. I am worried about my child’s future.”
Apart from one young woman, those interviewed are all mothers, some single, some wives or partners, daughters to their parents, and pillars in their communities.
Stanley Fortuin from George Link says the perseverance and courage to face all the challenges of a bus driver is handled with grace and responsibility by their female drivers. “Although they admit that it is some days harder than others, they still find balance between motherhood, being a wife and their profession. You will seldom hear our ladies complain and we really want to thank every one of them this month, for the incredible contribution they make in their personal lives to their families as well as their vital service to our community.”
“The women working for GO GEORGE are specialists in their respective fields, dedicated workers who keep the wheels of the bus service rolling,” says James Robb, GO GEORGE Manager. “We celebrate, salute and applaud our female staff for their contribution to our service, the way in which they carry out their duties under the most difficult and uncertain circumstances, always going the extra mile. Because every step these days, is a marathon.”
Box:
GO GEORGE asked:
What does it feel like to be a woman in 2021?
• Awesome, challenging, protective yet exciting to be alive.
• Wow, a lot of responsibility, but very happy when I see the appreciation and love in my family’s eyes.
• Sometimes anxious and frustrated by the uncertainty, but then I remember that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
• The love for my child and the need to protect her makes me strong.
• I’m scared for the future of our kids.
• I will always be a rock, no matter what the situation is.

CAPTIONS:
Campions early morning:
The GO GEORGE communication champions start work when it’s still dark and work mostly outdoors, engaging with passengers. Here Dieketseng Mosesane (champions’ supervisor) reminds some learners how to stay safe when using the bus service.
Call Centre agent coming home:
Mandie Bayman is a GO GEORGE Call Centre agent whose early shift starts at 04:30. On such days, four-year-old Raynechia sees her mom for the first time when she welcomes her back home after lunch.

GO GEORGE vroulike personeel balanseer werk, familie en Covid
Uitgereik 23 Aug 2021

Elke jaar in Augustus vier ons vroue. Ons wys op hul krag, hul prestasies, hul waardevolle bydraes; in die geval van GO GEORGE, dikwels in ‘n sogenaamde “manswêreld”.
In Augustus 2020 was almal nog in skok en vol hoop om die virus binne ‘n paar maande te klop. Hierdie jaar klink vroue se stemme anders. Sommige praat van hoop, van omgee, van doen wat gedoen moet word. Ander sien nie lig aan die einde van die tonnel nie; eintlik sien hulle nie die einde van die tonnel nie.
Anders as vorige jare toe dit interessant en insiggewend was om saam met ‘n aantal vroulike busbestuurders om ‘n tafel te sit, het GO GEORGE hierdie jaar via ‘n kort vraelys terugvoer van vroulike personeellede versoek oor hul ervaring van vrouwees tydens die Covid-19-pandemie. vrae.
Die meeste van die vroue wat gereageer het, werk skofte, van so vroeg as 04:30 in die oggend, en kom na 20:00 eers tuis wanneer hulle later in die dag begin. Baie van hulle is enkelmoeders. Die meeste het ‘n ondersteuningstelsel wat hom om hul kinders te versorg, hetsy dit ‘n ouma, buurvrou, ouer broers en susters of hul mans is wanneer hul werksure dit toelaat. Baie moet egter steeds kinders help met “inperking-skoolwerk” nadat hulle by die huis kom, en nog daaglikse huishoudelike pligte ook afhandel. Opvallend was hoeveel van die vroue hul kinders wat vir lang tydperke nie skool kon bywoon nie, geleer het hoe om noodsaaklike huishoudelike take uit te voer.
“Ek vind dit net hartseer om vir my kinders te sê hulle kan nie saam met maats gaan speel nie. Ons probeer om hulle in die huis besig te hou, maar dit is nie maklik nie, en dit is nie goed nie,” het een ma gesê. Sonder uitsondering probeer hulle hul kinders se baie vrae beantwoord en om hul hoop dat die lewe weer beter en makliker sal word, dat “dit ook sal verbygaan” aan die gang te hou.
Baie bly positief. “Ek kan nie wag vir Covid-19 om verby te kom en klaar te kry nie. Ek kan die afgelope jaar opsom as ek wat deur ‘n vorige werkgewer afgelê word, weer in diens geneem word, ‘n promotor van goeie higiëne, ‘n onderwyser, en (asimptomaties) siek word met Covid, maar weier om moeg te word, en steeds gedefinieer word deur my begeerte om selfs meer te wees!”
Diegene met jonger kinders sukkel van tyd tot tyd: “2021 is ‘n baie moeilike tyd vir my, want ek moet my kinders alleen by die huis los omdat hulle beurte maak by die skool en die nasorg is gesluit weens Covid,” sê ‘n ma van twee kinders tussen die ouderdomme van agt en 12.
Afhangende van hul persoonlike omstandighede, sukkel party om positief te bly. “Ek sien geen toekoms meer nie, geen hoop en geen drome nie. Ek is bekommerd oor die toekoms van my kind.”
Afgesien van een jong vrou, is diegene met wie onderhoude gevoer is almal moeders, sommige enkellopend, sommige eggenote of lewensmaats, dogters vir hul ouers en pilare in hul gemeenskappe.
Stanley Fortuin van George Link sê die deursettingsvermoë en moed om al die uitdagings van ‘n busbestuurder die hoof te bied, word met grasie en verantwoordelikheid deur hul vroulike bestuurders hanteer. “Hoewel hulle erken dat dit ‘n paar dae moeiliker is as ander, vind hulle steeds balans tussen moederskap, vrouwees en hul beroep. Jy sal ons dames selde hoor kla en ons wil regtig elkeen van hulle vandeesmaand bedank vir die ongelooflike bydrae in hul persoonlike lewens aan hul families, sowel as hul noodsaaklike diens aan ons gemeenskap.”
“Die vroue wat vir GO GEORGE werk, is spesialiste op hul onderskeie gebiede, toegewyde werkers wat die wiele van die busdiens aan die rol hou,” sê James Robb, GO GEORGE-bestuurder. “Ons vier, salueer en loof ons vroulike personeel vir hul bydrae tot ons diens en die manier waarop hulle hul pligte onder die moeilikste en onsekerste omstandighede uitvoer en altyd die ekstra myl loop. Want deesdae is elke tree ‘n maraton.”

Kassie:
GO GEORGE het gevra:
Hoe voel dit om in 2021 ‘n vrou te wees?
• Wonderlik, uitdagend, beskermend, maar tog opwindend om te lewe.
• Sjoe, baie verantwoordelikheid, maar baie gelukkig wanneer ek die waardering en liefde in my familie se oë sien.
• Soms angstig en gefrustreerd weens die onsekerheid, maar dan onthou ek dat ek alles kan doen deur Christus wat my versterk.
• Die liefde vir my kind en die behoefte om haar te beskerm, maak my sterk.
• Ek is bang vir die toekoms van ons kinders.
• Ek sal altyd ‘n rots wees, maak nie saak wat die situasie is nie.

ONDERSKRIFTE:
Campions early morning:
Die GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeamptes begin werk wanneer dit nog donker is en werk meestal buitenshuis om met passasiers te skakel. Hier herinner Dieketseng Mosesane (passasiersdienstoesighouer) ‘n paar leerders hoe om veilig te bly wanneer hulle die busdiens gebruik.
Call Centre agent coming home:
Mandie Bayman is ‘n GO GEORGE-oproepsentrumagent wie se vroeë skof om 04:30 begin. Op sulke dae sien die vierjarige Raynechia haar ma vir die eerste keer wanneer sy haar ná middagete terug van die werk af verwelkom.

Issued George Municipality, 16 August 2021

Caption: Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk visited the site of the Conville “informal” cricket pitch recently together with the Deputy Mayor, Charlotte Clarke and the Portfolio Councillor for Community Services, Sean Snyman to consider how this is dealt with going forward.

George Municipality is aware of the “informal” cricket pitch established recently in Conville on a piece of open municipal ground. The municipality recognizes that cricket is a favoured sport in this area, as well as the need for such amenities for the children of the area. However, the community needs to take cognizance of the due process that is meant to be followed in such matters. A piece of ground belonging to a government entity cannot be appropriated and changed in any way to suit the purposes of a few residents.
The Community Services Directorate has for a while been looking into establishing a multi-terrain sporting ground for the residents in this neighbourhood which would provide a fully functional and safe sporting terrain for the community i.e an all-terrain pitch which will allow for different types of sport to be played including cricket, 5-a-side soccer and so on.
Ald Van Wyk stressed that communities must follow due process in such instances and participate in ward committee meetings, raising their needs during public participation actions. “These processes are the link between the municipality and our residents, and we need the public to participate to be able to identify the best solution for this field and then take into account what the our residents are saying.
Standing on the field, you realise the risk to residents and their homes. This needs due process, so projects such as these, can be functional and address the needs of the community safely. The state this “informal pitch’ is in now, poses a safety threat to those who play on it as well. If a child were to fall and hurt themselves while playing on it, who would be responsible for this? We need community buy in for a sports terrain as well as a play park.”

Issued George Municipality, 18 August 2021

First: Leonard Giles Eden Surfriders Coach and Robert Pollock, Team Manager.
Second: Leonard Giles at the Vic Bay Quad in Memory of John Pfaff (his best friend).
Third: Leonard Giles surfing at Vic Bay

George Municipality backs the SA Masters Surfing Championships, held at Victoria Bay for the very first time since its inception, taking place from Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd August 2021.

George Municipality’s Community Services Directorate have been hard at work sprucing up Victoria Bay for this prestigious event and a financial contribution has also been provided by the Tourism department.

Eight teams from across South Africa are participating in the event, where surfers compete in seven divisions, ranging in age groups from Over 35s to Over 60s. With decades of competitive surfing under their wetsuits, competitors are more serious than ever.

Surfers have travelled from Nelson Mandela Bay, Cape Town, Durban and KwaZulu-Natal. Buffalo City Surf Riders are the defending Masters Cup Champions.

The 2021 SA Masters Championships is presented under strict Covid-19 protocols by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national governing body for the sport, and is hosted by Eden Surf Riders. SSA is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and the International Surfing Association.

Local surfers have been training under experienced coach, 1982 Springbok and legendary Victoria Bay surfer, Leonard Giles. The district with the highest number of points will win this year’s Masters Cup.

“This is a much-needed boost for Tourism and we recognise the Eden Surf Riders hard work in getting this prestigious event to our shores. Victoria Bay is being recognised more and more by surfers nationally and internationally, and we will continue to support messaging that amplifies our destination as ideal for surfing” says Joan Shaw, George Municipality’s Tourism Manager. Shaw adds, “George wishes our local surfers best of luck. We are rooting for you”.

#GeorgeEvents

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk, along with deputy mayor Charlotte Clarke and a team from the municipality conducted a site visit in Levallia and Lawaaikamp recently where ongoing illegal dumping takes place. During the site visit, the mayor, and the newly appointed Senior Environmental Services manager, Sivuyile Mtila, spoke about ways to reduce or discourage illegal dumping across the municipal area.

The mayor visited the illegal dumping site in Triumph Street, which poses a threat to all residents living in and around the area, according to Mtila. “As a municipality, it is imperative that deterrent or incentivised methods are considered as a means to discourage such behaviour,” Mtila said. Mtila noted that this could assist in alleviating the strain placed on the municipality when it comes to clearing illegal dumping sites. Council will however need to deliberate on this and make a decision on the way forward.

Mayor Van Wyk stated that it is important to have the full cooperation of the entire community when it comes to cleanliness. It is projects like this that require the community and the municipality to join hands so that progress can be made together. One of the illegal dumping site viewed is located just outside the Lawaaikamp Speelgroep ECD in Vuyani Ncamazana Street in Lawaaikamp. This site as with all dumping sites, poses a health risk to all those living in the surrounding areas.

Mtila expressed his frustration as he explained that this is one of the sites that is cleaned on a regular basis, but dumping occurs as often as cleaning does. The mayor addressed those responsible for cleaning this site, thanking them and stressing how important their work is in keeping the residents of these communities all safe.

• ILLEGAL DUMPING
The municipality needs your help to combat illegal dumping:
1. Please spread the news in your community that dumping of waste is dangerous and a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builders rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road).
2. If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators and are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report it to Law Enforcement at 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. You don’t need a photograph of the perpetrator, but it will strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.
3. If you notice dumped waste, please report for collection to 044 802 2900.

Captions:
Vuyani Ncamazana: Mayor Leon van Wyk and Sivuyile Mtila addressing workers at an illegal dumping site in Vuyani Ncamazana Street, Lawaaikamp.

Triumph Street: Ald Leon van Wyk, Councillors and officials from George Municipality during a visit at an illegal dumping site in Triumph Street, Levallia.

Executive Mayor of George, Ald Leon van Wyk, and other councillors visited the Lawaaikamp Speelgroep Early Childhood Development centre in Lawaaikamp recently. The ECD boasts a garden on the premises. Ms. Katriena James, who is a teacher for pupils between the ages of 4 – 5, says they are using this garden to teach skills to the learners and want to possibly getting their parents involved. She says if they can grow their own vegetables, this could also be ploughed back into the ECD.
The ECD also uses leaves as composting materials for the garden.

Even though there are so many positives, Ms. James mentioned that the ECD is not without challenges, the number of pupils in attendance have lessened due to the pandemic. The ECD has also experienced break-ins; in recounting a few incidents, criminals have stolen the swings from the play park and tried to damage the kitchen (this is particularly disturbing as the pupils at this school are fed from the kitchen), cameras have been stolen as well. Another challenge is illegal dumping which occurs just outside of the ECD. Van Wyk said despite the challenges faced, the daily operation of this ECD continue. As a community we need to take our hats off to them.

Garden: The garden at the Lawaaikamp Speelgroep is in the beginning stages.

Visit: Ald Leon van Wyk with councillors and workers from Lawaaikamp Speelgroep during a visit to the early childhood development centre.

Kitchen: Katriena James (with red cap) shows off the kitchen to Cllr Erika Brown (left), Cllr Marlene Barnardt, Mayor Leon van Wyk and employees of George Municipality.

Headline: Traffic officers and administration staff get vaccinated Issued George Municipality, 11 August 2021

Text: George Municipality Traffic officers and administration staff were given the opportunity to get vaccinated at the AFM Church Pacaltsdorp last week Thursday. Two administration officials and 17 traffic officers participated. Vernon Petersen, Acting George Traffic Manager, said that there had been urgent requests from traffic officers across the province to be vaccinated, given that they have to interact with the public on a regular basis, and want to keep themselves as well as the public safe. Petersen said the initiative was taken up on provincial government level and arranged by the local traffic departments.

Traf1: Vernon Petersen, George Acting Traffic Manager, with some of the traffic officers that have been vaccinated.

Traf2: Here Nursing sister, Lucricia Webber from Harry Comay Hospital injects Shelley-Ann Roelfse from George Traffic Services. Vernon Petersen looks on.

Traf3: Here Traffic Officer, Boyisile Baleni, gets his vaccination from Nurse Manager Linda Geweld, Harry Comay Hospital. To the right Vernon Petersen, Traffic Chief, gets his second injection from Micaela Philander, a nursing student from the University of the Western Cape.

The Pophuis Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Parkdene is an essential daycare facility for the children of Parkdene, but unfortunately it suffers severely with constant theft and break-ins. The manager of Pophuis ECD, Anna Solomons, says that despite offering a service to the very children of this community, the centre is constantly targeted.

During the last incident at the centre, fire extinguishers as well as stoves were stolen. The stoves were later returned. The criminals also damaged the water tanks and playground equipment used by the school.
Before COVID–19, the ECD accommodated 105 pupils but since the lockdown measures of the past year, and again this year, the numbers have dwindled to 45 to 60 pupils.
Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk noted that our communities are feeling the effects of COVID–19 which has had a ripple effect. “With the pandemic, comes joblessness which then leads to crime and other social ills rearing its head. Unfortunately, it’s institutions such as these that bear the brunt of crime,” he said.
Van Wyk said ECD facilities play a huge role in the lives of our young ones and one of the biggest challenges to these facilities is COVID–19, which has seen unemployment skyrocket and parents not able to afford to pay the monthly fees any longer.
If any individual and/or business would like to assist the Pophuis ECD, please contact the Community Development Office on 044 802 2000.

Captions:
Pop1: Mayor Leon Van Wyk, Cllr Erika Brown, Pophuis ECD Manager, Anna Solomons, Deputy Mayor Charlotte Clarke, Ward Councillor for Ward 8 (Parkdene area) Cllr Bazil Petrus and Cllr Marlene Barnardt.

Pop2: Anna Solomons, Manager of Pophuis, Mayor Leon Van Wyk and Eva Buffel, teacher with some of the Pophuis pupils.

Pop3: Some of the damaged goods after the break-ins – a water tank, playground slides and other equipment.

Media Release: Cricket SA visits George
Issued George Municipality, 17 August 2021

Back Row: Dr Michele Gratz (Acting Municipal Manager), Alderman van Wyk (Executive Mayor), Graeme Smith (Director of Cricket; Cricket South Africa), Mr Pholetsi Moseki (Interim CEO; Cricket SA), Mr Allen Paulse (Director Community Services; George Municipality) Front Row: Albertus Kennedy (CEO; SWD Cricket), Mr Maurice Ellis (Independent Director; SWD Cricket)

Cricket SA Director and former Protea, Graeme Smith, visited George on Wednesday (11 August 2021) last week to meet with Mayor Leon Van Wyk and Dr Michele Gratz, Acting Municipal Manager, with regard to the possible move of SWD Cricket to George. The outcome of the engagement is that a Multi-Disciplinary Task team will be established together with representatives of SWD Cricket to look at the scope, feasibility and deliverables of such a move including the financial requirements. A report on the findings of the task team will be presented to Council for consideration in due course.