Author: Debra Sauer

George Municipality embraces World Food Day

George Municipality embraced the concept of World Food Day recently by providing 150 homeless persons with a meal.  Chronic hunger is a reality, especially among the homeless.

The Municipality that forms part of the People living on the Street (Plots)Forum wanted to do something special for the homeless because of hunger. World Food Day is celebrated across the world on 16 October.

According to Janine Edwards from Social Development at George Municipality, people living on the streets often go for days without food and when food is available, it is not always nutritious. To make the programme successful, the PLOTS Forum received donations of food items and wishes to thank all sponsors involved.

Programmes such as this one to reach out to the homeless, are  made possible by the public. George Municipality appeals to Georgians and visitors to become a part of the solution of People living on the Streets by rather giving donations to organisations such as the George Night Shelter or Kidstop, instead of giving money or handouts to adults or children begging at streets intersections, as this has increasingly become a concern.

According to Estelle Fredericks from the Municipality Social Development department, there has been an increase in new arrivals of People living on the streets following the Covid lockdown period and exacerbated by the current economic situation. She said that giving such persons money or handouts on the streets, will only encourage them to keep living on the streets and has negative long-term effects.

The PLOTS (People Living on The Streets) forum was established in 2018 by George Municipality to holistically address the many factors associated with homeless people. The forum includes representatives from George Municipal Social Development Services, the South African Police Service (SAPS), Kid Stop (focuses on children living on the Streets), People Against Substance Abuse (PASA), Smoking & Alcohol Harms Alleviation & Rehabilitation Association (SAHARA), Christian Rehabilitation Ministries to the Homeless of George (Cremhog)  and the National Departments of Social Development and Health.

The PLOTS Forum aims to eradicate the issue of homelessness. Night outreaches take place to quantify the number of persons currently living on the streets and these surveys also serve as a tool to identify the needs of the individuals, and to assess how they can be assisted going forward.

George Municipality continues to provide clothing and toiletries to persons living on the street. The toiletries include soap, facecloths, toothpaste, toothbrushes, roll-on and sanitary pads. The municipality maintains a clothing bank where residents of George donate clothing for this purpose. Many of the homeless ask for clothing or toiletries to be presentable and a register is kept for this purpose. It would really assist the Municipality if more residents could donate clothing and toiletries for this purpose as no funding is available for this purpose.

The Municipal Social Development division runs a job seekers programme where we motivate the homeless to seek jobs, even if it is in the informal market. The department assists with the drawing up of CV`s and registering of the homeless on the EPWP database for job opportunities. Through other stakeholders, reunification services are also planned for those individuals who indicate that they want to reunite with their families. The issue of homelessness is a vast challenge and assistance from all spheres is needed to address the issue properly.

Living on the streets is not a crime and therefore these people cannot be arrested or moved without their consent. Our Social Development and Law Enforcement department’s mandate is limited as the bulk of the functions to assist people living on the streets, falls under SAPS and the National Department of Social Development.

George Residents, Business Owners and organisations, who want to help the homeless and or submit innovative ideas on how to help the homeless are invited to join the PLOTS monthly meeting. You can contact Estelle Fredericks on 044 802 2000, ext 2015 during office hours for more information.

The public may also contact these organisations: Freddy Trout, PASA (People Against Substance Abuse) on 068 487 4848, Jonathan Gelderbloem, YFC Kidstop on 044 874 2624/044 875 1794, Department of Social Services on 044 814 1920 or Andre Olivier from Cremhog on andre.olivier1962@gmail.com

In the mayoral speech to Council on 27 October 2022, I reflected on the work being undertaken to improve lives of citizens across the whole of George. Examples of some of these projects are mentioned below.

During this year we are budgeting R5,6m of our own funds for the electrification of informal settlements, significantly higher than in previous years with R1m already spent in Thembalethu with a further R2,1m having been spent on streetlights, substations and other upgrades. The construction of the Thembalethu 66/11kV substation has started with R13m spent to date.

Spending on roads upgrades in Thembalethu have amounted to R43,5m while the R10m road upgrade in Dellville Park commences in February 2023. Similar upgrades, repairs to streets and a stormwater canal are being undertaken in Uniondale and Haarlem.

We are currently planning or implementing water and sanitation projects to the value of R168m in Thembalethu with R137m to be spent in Pacaltsdorp in the near future.

Through the Social Development section, we contribute R3,4m annually to 126 soup kitchens to feed almost 53 000 vulnerable and hungry residents while we also support over 500 food gardens in the community. We also assist our vulnerable members of society through a clothing bank and a youth summit on economic development.

Turning to sport, the long-awaited upgrade of the Rosemore tartan track is due to commence soon with netball courts in Rosemore and Pacaltsdorp to be upgraded ahead of the World Cup next year. A vlakkie cricket league has been successfully introduced providing another dimension to recreation.

As part of the increasing focus on improving safety and security for communities, equipment and containers have been bought for various Neighbourhood Watches. Additional CCTV cameras are being introduced in Pacaltsdorp, Eden Park, Blanco, Rosemore, Borchards, Parkdene, Thembalethu and the CBD.

Consultants are working on the planning for the Neighbourhood Development Planning Grant funded node in Thembalethu with similar work underway for the Pacaltsdorp SMME node and the Ossie Urban Industrial development.

The Feasibility Report for the Crocodile Farm Social Housing project of 400 housing units has been finalised and will shortly be tabled in Council.

Engagements have been hosted for informal trading, skills development and training opportunities, including: How to Pitch, Business Skills, Business Etiquette, How to submit tenders.

Work has been done on a funding proposal for a three-year incubator for SMME’s along with the roll out of various entrepreneurship programs, emerging developer and contractor training, with guidelines to be tabled shortly for the implementation of mobile businesses (e.g. food trucks).

Each of our wards will soon undertake small projects to the value of R1,4m.

These snapshots provide some insight into the many unheralded ongoing projects being undertaken in this financial year.

MEDIA RELEASE: Youth Stakeholders Forum Established

The Youth Development section of George Municipality held a Youth Summit recently with various stakeholders from within the George Municipal area to take the youth agenda forward and a Youth Stakeholder’s Forum has been established. In future, the forum will provide the necessary platform for networking, growth and stronger partnerships.

A Youth Directory has been developed and will remain a working document as details of more organisations will be added. Jonel Kerspuy, Coordinator of the Youth Development section at the Municipality invites more organisations, that are working with young people, to make contact with them at (044) 802 2000.

Discussions took place under the following Commissions: Education/ Training and Skills Development, Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, Health and well-being, Social Cohesion and National well-being, Sport and Recreation, Media and Arts and Government Services.

Various stakeholders were in attendance, with Councillors Melvin Roelfse, Thandiswa Qatana and Marais Kruger giving messages of support at the George Civic Centre where the summit was held. Dr Zille North from the Department of Health informed the plenary about the Planet Youth programme, with support provided by the Department of Social Development and Education. The Various stakeholders were able to share the valuable work that they are doing within the community of George. In the photo are some of the stakeholders attending the summit.

George Municipality in collaboration with other stakeholders held Youth Skills Transfer Workshops

The Youth Development section of George Municipality arranges Youth Skills Transfer Workshops to equip young people, with the skills and knowledge to become employable and or start their own businesses.

According to Jonel Kerspuy, Coordinator of the Youth Office section at George Municipality, these workshops are rolled out by the Youth Development office in collaboration with the Pacaltsdorp Community Business Association, Inkcubeko Youth and Science Centre with the assistance of the following facilitators Sylvia Ncazelo, Noxolile Tshandu and Pam Lesibanie. These partners provide venues and skills transfer sessions, which include beading, upcycling of recyclable goods, sewing, knitting and crocheting. A skills transfer programme is planned for Uniondale  next year and youngsters will be taught how to make goods out of leather.

Kerspuy says basic business training and mentoring have been provided to previous groups of youngsters, as well as a market to sell some of their products. The same training will be done with the current group. The sessions also provide a platform where valuable life skills, leadership development, career guidance, job readiness, mentoring and other sessions are offered to the youth in attendance.

“The programme addresses youth entrepreneurship, whilst at the same time bridging the generational and skills gap”, said Kerspuy.

Captions:

Youthskills: Luwayda Trantraal from the Pacaltsdorp Community Business Association (in the middle with blue dress) and Pam Lesibanie retired from SAPS and an entrepreneur (in the middle with pink) and to the far right is Jonel Kerspuy, Coordinator of the Youth Development section at George Municipality with some of the youngsters attending a skills transfer session.

Youthskills1: Noxolile Tshandu (facilitator in pink jersey busy with beading) and Sylvia Ncazelo ( facilitator with the white top) from Inkcubeko Youth and Science Centre busy with a beading programme in Thembalethu with the youth.

Youthskills2: An example of the beading is done.

Youthskills3: Pam Lesibanie does arts and crafts with the youth in teaching them skills they can use to make products and sell them.

Youthskills4: Some of the recycled wood is used to make welcoming frames for homes or decorations.

George Municipality is sensitive to the problems our residents experience because of the baboon population in the northern areas of town, but it is also important that all stakeholders should work together to find solutions to this complex situation. Residents need to learn to co-exist with the baboons, as we as humans have encroached on the natural habitat of the primates.

According to primatologist Dave Gaynor, baboons have been in the fynbos ecosystem for millions of years and have been a major population in terms of biomass. He noted in an article on Showme Plettenberg Bay, “One can confidently say that if they are removed, it is 100 percent sure to affect the fynbos. Baboons play a significant role in plant dispersal and reproduction”. The primates also keep scorpions, snakes and rats out of the areas that they roam.

Research done in Pringle Bay by Erin Guth in 2005 showed exactly that. It is clear that baboons play an important role in the ecosystem and that we need them to forage in the fynbos. However, the residential areas and villages can be a tempting alternative with the possibility of high-calorie foods. For example, just half a loaf of brown bread is equal to four hours of foraging in the fynbos for a female baboon, making up her daily nutritional supplement.

There is no option but to deter them as much as possible, because baboons will not be captured, relocated, or put down unless there is reasonable cause for this. Translocations and elimination of problem animals have sometimes yielded satisfying short-term results but rarely solved the problem. This will still not solve any problem as a male leader will just be replaced by another rival.

Further, aggressive responses to problem animals (i.e. shooting, threatening) often result in transferring the problem to neighbours. It has also been reported to increase aggressive behaviours from wildlife towards humans (and between humans), worsening the situation.

It is therefore of vital importance that all involved must keep the baboons from consuming human food by denying them access to refuse and using baboon-proof bins. Residents can even go further and baboon-proof their homes so they don’t raid fridges. When it comes to gardens, preserve the fynbos and cage as far as possible from vegetable gardens and fruit trees. And never feed the baboons directly.

According to Dr Chloe Guerbois, Nelson Mandela University, Sustainability Research Unit, who led a team of researchers in gaining some insights for the development of appropriate management options for human-baboon conflicts in George. She said although the experience of the negative impact by some residents should not be underplayed, the baboon situation in George is not yet as bad as in other towns. Guerbois also warns that it is now the time to act as the costs could still be kept low both for humans and baboons.

Dr Guerbois’ research found that the appointment of three wildlife monitors by the George Municipality in September 2015 certainly resulted in reducing the number of baboon incidents in 2016.

Up to 60 residents from Denneoord and Eden were interviewed and almost 90% of these people have experienced baboon encounters near their residence at least once. The baboons were mostly rummaging through refuse bags, searching for food, and passing through private property. Refuse bags were the primary target and fruit trees.

Dr. Guerbois’s recommendation is proactive collaborative solutions such as improved waste management and adapted farming and gardening practices at the edge of the urban areas for long-term options to ease human-baboon co-existence.

“The baboon issue is a real social dilemma and not (only) a financial one as it requires both personal and cooperative engagements for sometimes intangible, indirect, or delayed benefits. It is a deep transformation process which does not only apply to the baboon issue but to the global climate and biodiversity crisis,” Guerbois said.

George Municipality and CapeNature are in regular discussion with all stakeholders regarding baboon management, especially in mountainous areas or in the northern parts of George where these animals tend to raid properties for food. George Municipality Law Enforcement Officers patrol the various troops in the Blanco, Denneoord, Genevafontein, Saasveld, Victoria Bay, and Wilderness areas.

Amended Refuse Collection Times for affected areas in Blanco, Denneoord, Genevafontein, Saasveld, Victoria Bay and Wilderness

As a new measure to assist residents in the Blanco, Denneoord, Genevafontein, Saasveld, Victoria Bay and Wilderness areas who are affected by baboons, arrangements have been put in place to ensure that refuse removal will take place first in these areas, on their SPECIFIC REMOVAL DAYS from Monday to Friday.

Mayor Leon van Wyk said: “We as a Municipality set out the timelines with start and end time commitments for refuse collection that we will strive to meet 95% of the time and make sure that crews understand this. The refuse trucks will also use the most optimal routes to follow in the suburbs so that the baboons do not get the message of delays before the public receives them.”

For this to work, residents of these areas are requested to PLEASE put their sealed refuse bags out between 07h00 and 08h00 (the time is dependent on whether residents have to leave their premises or are staying at home. If the residents are at home, they can put the refuse out by 07h30, if not, and they must leave earlier, they can put it out by 07h00 ONLY ON their day of collection.

George Municipal refuse collection takes place within scheduled times and the change of routes within the highlighted areas already starts at 08h00 on the SPECIFIED REFUSE REMOVAL DAY. The measures taken will be subject to operational matters and we will endeavour to meet our commitment to sustainable, efficient services.

REFUSE REMOVAL DAYS
MONDAY: Blanco, Victoria Bay
TUESDAY: Wilderness
WEDNESDAY: Denneoord

THURSDAY: Wilderness Heights
FRIDAY: Genevafontein

What else can you do?
Living and holidaying in the natural surroundings of the Garden Route means sharing space with wildlife such as baboons and monkeys. When winter sets in and natural food sources become scarcer, baboons and monkeys are more likely to forage in residential areas.

Please review the standard tips around the handling of refuse, food and other tips.

While George Municipality and CapeNature assist with some aspects of baboon management, residents and visitors can assist greatly by reducing access to potential food sources:

• Keep your dustbins closed, sliding doors bolted and windows and doors shut, especially when leaving the house and/or when troops are in the vicinity.
• If you want to keep windows open, install burglar bars with gaps smaller than 8 cm.
• Do not leave pet food outside.
• Do not feed wild birds and animals on the property, as this often attracts baboons.
• Do not plant fruit trees, or vegetable gardens or make compost heaps unless they can be caged in or surrounded by electric fencing.

For mitigating measures to be most effective, all residents in baboon-visited neighbourhoods should make a concerted effort to ensure there is no easy access to food – as baboons are more likely to move on if there is nothing for them to eat.

Residents suspecting that a particular baboon or troop is a significant problem are encouraged to photograph and record incidents of destructive and dangerous behaviour, as well as any details of distinguishing features that would make identification of problem baboons easier. Such information can be emailed to the address below. If proven data of a particular problem individual exisst, baboon management measures may include euthanasia as a last resort.

George Municipality Baboon Management: 044 801 6350 (office hours) and 044 801 6300 (after hours) and sprins@george.gov.za

For advice on mitigating measures contact CapeNature Conservation Services on 044 802 5300 or https://www.capenature.co.za/

Youth Stakeholders Forum Established
Issued George Mun, 19 October 2022 for immediate release

The Youth Development section of George Municipality held a Youth Summit recently with various stakeholders from within the George Municipal area to take the youth agenda forward and a Youth Stakeholder’s Forum has been established. In future, the forum will provide the necessary platform for networking, growth and stronger partnerships.

A Youth Directory has been developed and will remain a working document as details of more organisations will be added. Jonel Kerspuy, Coordinator of the Youth Development section at the Municipality invites more organisations, that are working with young people, to make contact with them at (044) 802 2000.

Discussions took place under the following Commissions: Education/ Training and Skills Development, Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, Health and well-being, Social Cohesion and National well-being, Sport and Recreation, Media and Arts and Government Services.

Various stakeholders were in attendance, with Councillors Melvin Roelfse, Thandiswa Qatana and Marais Kruger giving messages of support at the George Civic Centre where the summit was held. Dr Zille North from the Department of Health informed the plenary about the Planet Youth programme, with support provided by the Department of Social Development and Education. The Various stakeholders were able to share the valuable work that they are doing within the community of George. In the photo are some of the stakeholders attending the summit.