Author: Debra Sauer

In the photo above: Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

George Municipality has awarded a construction contract for the upgrade (enlargement) of the raw water suction supply pipe from the intake tower in the Garden Route Dam to the two raw water pumpstations. The work will be completed by July 2024 and will not impact recreational activities around the dam for most of the construction duration including the festive season. There will be a short period of time next year when the contractor will do some upgrading off the approach road to the parking area and the public will be notified timeously when that occurs.

The construction on site has started with delivery of the new 800 mm diameter stainless steel pipes and installation of a crawl beam in the tunnel under the dam wall. The current raw water supply pipe is an aged 600 mm diameter asbestos-cement pipe, which requires upgrading to cater for the additional capacity required in future years. The new pipe will have a capacity of 1200 litres per second, which will be able to supply both pumpstations and allow them to operate simultaneously. The pumpstations will then in future be able to pump up to 100 million litres of raw water per day to the balancing dams and water treatment plants to supply in the medium to long term future potable water demand for George.

During the construction period, involving the removal of the old existing pipe and installation of the new stainless-steel pipe, the raw water supply to the pumpstations will be pushed through an existing adjacent pipe, which will be connected to the pumpstations through a new cross-connection. After completion of the installation of the new stainless steel supply pipe, this existing adjacent pipe will be closed off from the tower intake and pumpstations and be returned to function as a dedicated dam scour pipe. The adjacent pipe can also be used in emergencies. The project also includes other minor upgrades to the access and surrounds of the dam and pumpstations to improve various safety aspects.

Photos:

Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

Workers busy with the crawl beam installation. It is used to remove the 3-meter old pipeline pieces and in turn also used to bring in and move the stainless pipe pieces to where they need to be installed. The installation is permanent and is also being done with safety measures in mind.

Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

Workers busy with the crawl beam installation. It is used to remove the 3-meter old pipeline pieces and in turn also used to bring in and move the stainless pipe pieces to where they need to be installed. The installation is permanent and is also being done with safety measures in mind.

Above photograph of Veronique Ferndale who will be performing at the Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival.

The George Municipality wishes to confirm that Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival programme will run from 18h00 to 20h00 on Sunday, 10 December 2023, and the line-up of artists will focus on the spirit of Christmas with well-loved Carols.

Map of the road closures at Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival.

The T.B.C group

Zintle Langa

Geraldo Lewis

Georgians and visitors can look forward to the George Lights Festival to dazzle them for the second consecutive year at Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre in Pacaltsdorp.

George Municipality and the Pacaltsdorp Minister’s Fraternal are pleased to jointly announce that the George Lights Festival is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 10th. The Mayor of George, Ald Van Wyk will formally switch on the Christmas lights at the annual festival that ushers in the holiday season and is enjoyable for both locals and tourists. There will be stalls where attendees of the festival can purchase food and various trinkets.

Cllr Dirk Wessels, Portfolio Councillor of Finance and Strategic Services, said the decision to have the George Lights Festival at the Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre was a strategic decision to establish the amphitheatre as one of George’s landmarks by focusing local and visitors’ attention to this area and for the festival to act as an economic driver to the benefit of Pacaltsdorp and its residents. . “It’s the second year that the George Lights Festival is being held at this venue. Unfortunately, we had bad weather last year and we hope for better this year,” Wessels said.  He said that all  stakeholders have held continuous meetings throughout the year and “we are excited to have a collaboration with all involved. All stakeholders were involved with creating a programme for the day to ensure a successful lights festival with a true Christmas theme.”

Lauren Waring, Director: Human Settlements, Planning and Development, said the festival offers an opportunity for the community of George to come together to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. “George Municipality thanks the Pacaltsdorp Minister’s Fraternal for collaborating with the municipality in hosting this event.

The Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre in Pacaltsdorp was built to honour the memory of Chief Dikkop, who was the leader of the Khoi – Khoi, the first inhabitants of Hoogekraal – now known as Pacaltsdorp.”

The amphitheatre is used for community gatherings like the monthly Pacaltsdorp Market Day, and now, the annual George Lights Festival.

Seats are limited, so be sure to get there early. If you have any enquiries, regarding the festival or the booking of stalls or vendors please contact Special Programmes & Project Coordinator for Community Development in the George Municipality, Khanyisile Fortuin or Veronique Ferndale on 044 802 2000.

Traders are invited to trade at the event and showcase their products and services to the festival goers. The application form for stalls at the George Lights Festival is available under application forms at the following link: https://www.george.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Lights-Festival-Application-Vendors1.pdf

The closing date for submissions is 24 November 2023.

Photo:

Officials from George Municipality, Garden Route District Municipality Health Department, Pacaltsdorp Neighbourhood Watch, Pacaltsdorp Minister’s Fraternal at their last in-loco meeting at the Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre.

In the photo above, addressing the attendees at the Global Entrepreneurship Network at the George Civic Centre are from left, Ald Leon van Wyk, George Executive Mayor, Cllr Dirk Wessels, Portfolio Councillor for Finance and Strategic Services, Quinton Coetzee, Branch Manager: SEDA in Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts and Dr Kosie Haarhoff, Deputy Director: Strategic Services at George Municipality.

 For the first time in the history of George, George Municipality and other stakeholders are part of 208 countries that hosted a Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEW) Week from 13 – 17 November which provides local entrepreneurs and businesses as far as Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon and Zimbabwe a platform to network and gain invaluable knowledge about trade and the business world.

The event is taking place in the George Civic Centre.

According to Dr Kosie Haarhoff, Deputy Director: Strategic Growth and Economic Development at George Municipality, Global Entrepreneurship Week is an annual flagship initiative of the Global Entrepreneurship Network that aims to foster innovation, empower aspiring entrepreneurs, and facilitate collaboration on a global scale. Seeing the importance of entrepreneurship to global economic advancement and human welfare, in 2008, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation created Global Entrepreneurship Week. Since then, it has grown from a series of events happening only in the U.S. and U.K. to expanding to over 165 countries. Global Entrepreneurship Week empowers entrepreneurs in every county and community around the world- especially those individuals who face structural barriers.

During this year’s programme, participants from diverse backgrounds and industries gather to exchange ideas, learn from seasoned mentors, and engage in hands-on workshops designed to refine their entrepreneurial skills. The event is co-hosted by George Municipality, SUFF (Southern Youth Film Festival) Academy and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development.

Haarhoff said George Municipality is one of the leading municipalities when it comes to the development of entrepreneurs and innovation. The focus of GEW 2023 is to include entrepreneurs who are disabled. Some of the sessions are dedicated to these participants. South Africa celebrates National Disability Rights Awareness Month annually between 3 November and 3 December.

He said, that now, more than ever, George needs innovative thinkers and problem solvers to address complex challenges. By nurturing and developing entrepreneurs, we are not only fostering economic growth but also driving innovation, creating jobs, and paving the way for sustainable development. Entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in shaping the future of industries and driving positive change in communities, Haarhoff said.

The GEW programme addresses topics like red tape reduction, financial literacy, entrepreneurial training aimed towards the youth as well as forex trading.

George Executive Mayor, Ald Leon van Wyk, had the pleasure of welcoming the attendees from as far as Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana and Cameroon to Global Entrepreneurship Week 2023 on behalf of the George Municipality.

Van Wyk said this week is dedicated to honoring the trailblazers and risk-takers who are building the businesses of the future and generating jobs for our community.

Ald van Wyk said we are extremely honoured to host the Global Entrepreneurship Network Week in George at the same time as hundreds of other countries globally are hosting the same event. “We are so excited to have more than 300 entrepreneurs attending this event to learn, network and understand the entrepreneurial spirit. Some came here to gather information on how to access funds for their ventures and businesses and some young entrepreneurs might want to gain knowledge on how to export their product.

“This platform opens all those opportunities and is a meeting place where people can network, share ideas and ultimately help our George economy. At the end of the day, we need businesses to grow, as well as startup businesses to provide income and provide goods and services to fellow citizens. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our emerging businesses,” Van Wyk concluded.

Cllr Dirk Wessels, Portfolio Councillor for Finance and Strategic Services said the hosting of the event is a strategic move from Economic Development in the Municipality to engage with up-and-coming entrepreneurs and identify marketplaces where we can promote products from George and the Garden Route. “We have a wealth of entrepreneurs in George and surrounds that are already conducting highly profitable domestic and international trade. Thus, it was crucial to include foreign traders in addition to other regional participants in order to provide our young and aspiring entrepreneurs with a platform. Entrepreneurs will gain a thorough understanding of how to get their products into the market, particularly on a global scale, by utilising this networking platform,” Wessels said.

Follow the link for video:

https://youtu.be/q99jsIgxvyE

Photos:

An attendee at the event asks a question about financial assistance especially to get a business registered at an afternoon network session with George Mayor, Ald Leon van Wyk.

Attendees put more questions to the panel.

Attendees put more questions to the panel.

Early on Sunday 5 November, the Go George bus service into Thembalethu was launched with the first bus departing along Nelson Mandela Boulevard at 05h20 on the route through the industrial area to Blanco.

It has taken many years of negotiation to reach this momentous occasion that will now provide residents of Thembalethu with the opportunity to take bus trips according to a scheduled timetable. After the rolling out of the first route, additional routes will follow to provide easy access to destinations such as the provincial hospital, the CBD and the Garden Route Mall. Passenger usage will increase as passengers become familiar with travelling by bus to their destinations. It is expected that Thembalethu commuters will increase the number of Go George passengers by at least 60%. Throughout the world, public transport provides citizens with the access and mobility to commute to work and for other activities thereby reducing traffic congestion. George citizens can now join in this experience.

One of the major challenges for municipalities continues to be the management of data. This requires transitioning from the current methodologies to smart city systems and technology. We are progressively tackling data analysis through the introduction of the necessary technology so that we can better understand, interpret and manage the data. As each of the projects are embarked upon, there are technical and learning hurdles to be overcome. One such project is the utilisation of geographic information systems whereby the technology enables users to identify the land uses and services applicable to all the land within the municipal area.

We have recently celebrated the unveiling of the Leentjiesklip statue that resulted from an initiative of the Wilderness community who identified that touristic value could be added through the legend of how Leentjiesklip beach was named. This project came to fruition as a result of the Adopt-a-Spot Policy that has been approved by Council to enable communities to take responsibility for specific sites. Through this policy, community groups can make an application to the Municipality to be granted permission to beautify and protect portions of municipal land that may otherwise not be cared for regularly. An example would be the planting and care of gardens on spots where illegal dumping could occur.

We have recently received requests from sporting bodies and the Planet Youth project seeking support and assistance in various forms. These requests provide opportunities for the corporate sector to fulfil social responsibility commitments through small projects whereby they can assist with training, the provision of sporting wear or activity programmes for the youth who may not have access to the necessary funding. Interested parties are welcome to contact me to discuss such opportunities on the mayor@george.gov.za email address.

In the above photograph, a youth group from Pacaltsdorp Drug Support busy cleaning Wilderness beach and lagoon area.

George Municipality Community Development section and the Pacaltsdorp Drug Support community organisation treated the youth that is part of the organisation’s aftercare centre on an educational excursion around George that was done over a few days. As part of the educational trip, the group visited the George Train Museum, George Museum and George Botanical Gardens.

The aftercare youngsters visited Sanparks and participated in numerous activities such as canoeing and trail walking. Sanparks officials spoke to the youngsters about the importance of trees, plants, and nature preservation.

On the second day of the excursion, they had an open programme at New Dawn Park Sports Field where each of them brought a friend along. Different stakeholders attended like the George Fire Brigade that held demonstrations on Fire Safety and more.The group also had a cleanup operation and picked up litter along the Wilderness Lagoon and Wilderness Beach.

The Community Project sub-section of George Municipality and Pacaltsdorp Drug Support held an educational programme for their aftercare learners. As part of the educational trip, the group visited the George Train Museum, George Museum and George Botanical Gardens.

The group at the George Botanical Gardens.

This photo was taken at 05:00 on Sunday with Thembalethu’s first bus right in the front, ready for its first trip on the new route.

“I’ll be saving R800 per month by using the bus service from now on.”
“I started early, in the dark, to walk over the bridge to catch a bus. Now I can catch the bus one block from my home!”
“I bought Smart Cards for my children – they don’t have to walk to school in Borcherds anymore!”
“It’s so nice to be transported right into Thembalethu after a day’s hard work…”

These were the comments from passengers who travelled between Thembalethu and Blanco on Monday after GO GEORGE rolled out the first route to this community on Sunday. A total of 1954 passengers boarded buses on Route 18A on this first weekday.

Residents in Thembalethu queued with great anticipation to try out the new route. According to Morné Lakay, Acting Manager of GO GEORGE, it is becoming clear that a huge percentage of the passengers have already been bus users who previously joined the network of routes by either travelling into town by minibus taxi or walking over the N2 bridge to catch a bus in Parkdene.

“Usually, replacing an informal method of public transport with a more formal, scheduled public transport system has its own unique challenges in every community, but many Thembalethu people know the ropes and can even advise or guide their friends and neighbours to use the bus service,” he said.

“Of course, our communication champions are available and ready to help at the Smart Card kiosk and at the bus stops to support the first-timers. New passengers who feel uncertain are most welcome to ask for support on a first trip by phoning our Call Centre and making arrangements,” he added.

More information regarding the use of the system and trip planning can be obtained by phoning the Call Centre toll-free on 0800 044 044, sending an email to info@gogeorge.org.za, or visiting www.gogeorge.org.za or the GO GEORGE Facebook page.

The bus terminus at the Jonga circle in Thembalethu is spacious and accommodates several buses waiting to depart. The buses make their turnaround to town at this circle.

These passengers queueing at the Ngcakani bus stop early on Sunday morning can claim that they were some of the first passengers boarding a GO GEORGE bus inside Thembalethu.

Luxolo Mbelu, Ayanda Nongxaza and Hlumelo Maso all work at Fancourt and can now take the R18A bus straight to their workplace.

The first route rolled out to Thembalethu travels along Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Blanco and back.