Author: Nadine Payle

NO LIFEGUARDS ON THE BEACHES from 7 April 2026
Issued by George Municipality, 24 June 2026

As of 7 April 2026, until 30 November 2026, the public is advised that there will be no lifeguards deployed at any of the beaches.

Beaches and swimming pools that fall under the George Municipality’s jurisdiction
Wilderness Main Beach
Wilderness Lagoon
Wilderness Steps
Wilderness Lientjiesklip
Victoria Bay Beach
Gwaing River Mouth Beach and Day Camp

Herold’s Bay Beach and Tidal Pool
Conville Municipal Swimming Pool
Uniondale Municipal Swimming Pool
Essential phone numbers to keep close.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 23 at Wilderness Beach supports the municipality. The NSRI can be reached on 082 990 5955.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
GEORGE
Toll-Free Disaster Management (24/07) 0800 424 477
Fire Emergencies (24/7) 044 801 6311
After Hours 044 801 6300

How can people keep themselves safe and protected on the beach and in the water?

•Learning to swim is the best defence against drowning. Teach children to swim at an early age. Children who are not taught when they are very young tend to avoid swim instruction as they age, probably due to embarrassment. Swimming instruction is a crucial step in protecting children from injury or death.

•Do not swim while under the influence of Alcohol or heavy sedation medication.

•Swim with a buddy. Many drownings involve single swimmers. When you swim with a buddy if one of you has a problem the other may be able to help, including signalling for assistance from others. At least have someone onshore watching you.

* Use sunscreen and drink water: Everyone loves a sunny day, but exposure to the sun affects your body. Without sunscreen, you can be seriously burned. The sun’s rays can also cause life-long skin damage and skin cancer. To protect yourself always choose “broad spectrum” sunscreen rated from 15 to 50 SPF, or clothing that covers your skin, and reapply sunscreen regularly throughout the day. The sun can also dehydrate you quickly. Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol, which contributes to dehydration.

* Keep the Beach and Water Clean. Nobody likes to see the beach or water littered with trash. Even in places where beach cleaning services pick up trash daily, it may linger on the beach for hours, causing an unsightly mess and threatening the health of birds and animals. Broken glass also poses a great risk of injury to beach users. Do your part. Pick up after yourself and even others. Everyone will appreciate you for it.

* Learn Rip Current Safety. 80% of rescues at ocean beaches are caused by rip currents. These currents are formed by surf and gravity because once surf pushes water up the slope of the beach, gravity pulls it back. This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore. Some people mistakenly call this an undertow, but there is no undercurrent, just an offshore current. If you are caught in a rip current, don’t fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will bring you to safety.

* Enter Water Feet First. Serious, lifelong injuries, including paraplegia, occur every year due to diving headfirst into unknown water and striking the bottom. Bodysurfing can result in a serious neck injury when the swimmer’s neck strikes the bottom. Check for depth and obstructions before diving, then go in feet first the first time; and use caution while bodysurfing, always extending a hand ahead of you. Be careful even at the swimming pool.

* Wear a Life Jacket when on Watercrafts. Some 80% of fatalities associated with boating accidents are from drowning. Most involve people who never expected to end up in the water but fell overboard or ended up in the water when the boat sank. Children are particularly at risk and should wear life jackets whenever they are aboard boats.

PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS
As of 8 April 2026, until 30 November 2026, the municipal public swimming pools will be CLOSED.

For enquiries/bookings: Conville Swimming Pool on 044 801 9488

For enquiries/Bookings: Uniondale Swimming Pool on 044-8019020 / 044 7521024 (Uniondale Office)

Contact persons: Mr J Bruinders Email: jbruinders@george.gov.za – Senior Clerk Sport Development OR
Ms LY Botha Email lybotha@george.gov.za – Sport Development Officer

George jobseekers can now access free bus travel to pursue employment opportunities

The Western Cape Government’s Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme has officially been expanded to George, providing unemployed residents with free public transport to help them access job interviews and other employment-related opportunities.

The programme, which has successfully supported thousands of jobseekers in the Cape Metro over the past two years, is now being rolled out in George through a partnership between the Western Cape Mobility Department, GO GEORGE Bus Service and George Municipality.
Although formal launch events previously planned for George had to be postponed due to severe weather conditions, the programme is already available and residents can begin registering immediately.

A community launch and registration drive will take place on 25 and 26 June 2026 to formally introduce the programme to residents and provide assistance with registration.

The Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme aims to reduce one of the biggest barriers facing unemployed residents – the cost of transport when searching for work. Encouragingly, several George residents have already begun registering for the programme following initial communication about the rollout, demonstrating the demand for support that helps jobseekers access opportunities.

Eligible jobseekers who register for the programme receive a GO GEORGE smart card pre-loaded with six free bus trips that can be used on GO GEORGE routes between 09:00 and 15:00 on weekdays. The voucher can be used for travel to job interviews, and employment-related appointments that support job seeking.

Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku, said the expansion of the programme to George demonstrates the province’s commitment to helping residents access opportunities. ” A jobseeker should be able to go to an interview without worrying about transport costs, attend training or skills assessments without extra pressure on their household budget, and take up opportunities knowing transport will not stand in their way.

Through the expansion of this initiative, we are helping unemployed residents access interviews, training opportunities and other employment-related activities. We encourage all eligible residents to register and make use of this support as they pursue opportunities to improve their lives and support their families,” said Minister Sileku.

Director for Land Transport Safety Projects, Melvin Arendse, who leads the Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme, said the initiative has already shown positive results in other parts of the province, “We have seen the difference that access to affordable transport can make for jobseekers. By removing some of the financial burden associated with travelling to interviews and employment opportunities, we are helping people stay active in their job search. We encourage unemployed residents in George to register and make full use of the six free trips available through the programme.”

How to register
Unemployed residents can register online on the portal:
https://gettingyoutowork.westerncape.gov.za/

Applicants should:
* Select “Jobseeker Registration” on the portal.
* Select “GO GEORGE” as their transport provider.
* Complete the registration process by following the prompts.
Once registration is complete, applicants will receive an SMS confirming their registration.

They can then visit a Smart Card kiosk with their South African ID to collect their card. The card will be pre-loaded with the Jobseeker Travel Voucher, providing six free trips on GO GEORGE bus routes.

The Western Cape Government, GO GEORGE and George Municipality encourage unemployed residents in George to register and make use of the programme to access employment opportunities and support their job-seeking journey.

For more information about the programme in George, visit Getting YOU to Work webpage by clicking the link
https://tinyurl.com/mwtsjxf3.

To register, visit the online portal https://gettingyoutowork.westerncape.gov.za/

George Municipality hereby notifies residents that data collection for the compilation and maintenance of the General Valuation Roll and supplementary valuation rolls, will be implemented across the greater George area from mid-April 2026. This process includes the collection of property data and street view imagery for approximately 50 000 properties and forms a critical part of determining property values for municipal rating purposes.

The appointed service provider, DDP Property Valuers Pty (Ltd) will be conducting:
* Site visits to properties,
* Driving through neighbourhoods,
* Capturing street-facing photographs only using mobile applications and related technology,
* Residents are advised that photographs will be limited to external, street-facing views only and that No access to private homes is required unless arranged by appointment,
* Inspections may take place between 07:30 and 19:00, excluding Sundays and Public Holidays,
* Data collection will take place across multiple areas.
* DDP Property Valuers will make contact with businesses and residents via email and telephonically as the appointed municipal service provider.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING INDENTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION
* Fieldworkers will carry official identification cards at all times.
* They will not wear branded clothing, but will be able to identify themselves on request.
* An official municipal authorisation letter with relevant contact numbers will be available on request to support this process.
* Residents are encouraged to request identification if unsure and/or contact the numbers provided below.

ACCESS TO ESTATES AND COMPLEXES
Residents, body corporates, and management of security estates and gated complexes are kindly requested to cooperate and facilitate access to authorised data collection teams. This is a municipal process applicable to all properties, including those within estates. The Municipality will engage directly with estate management structures; however, cooperation at security access points is essential to ensure the successful completion of this process.

Areas to be visited include Herolds Bay, Le Grand, Residential Estates in George, Pacaltsdorp and Blanco, Langvlei Dunes, Wilderness, George, Thembalethu, Victoria Bay, Hoekwil, Uniondale and surrounding small farms.

CONTACT DETAILS FOR VERIFICATION AND/OR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES
Municipal officials A Scheepers or J Smith on 044 801 9111 / 9109 for any queries or to verify fieldworkers 07:45 – 16:30, Monday to Friday.
George Municipality appreciates the community’s cooperation and assistance in facilitating this important process.

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George Munisipaliteit stel inwoners hiermee in kennis dat data-insameling vir die samestelling en instandhouding van die Algemene Waardasierol en aanvullende waardasierolle vanaf middel April 2026 regoor die groter George-gebied sal plaasvind. Hierdie proses sluit die insameling van eiendomsdata en straatbeelde vir ongeveer 50 000 eiendomme in en vorm ‘n kritieke deel van die bepaling van eiendomswaardes vir munisipale waardasiedoeleindes.

Die aangestelde diensverskaffer, DDP Property Valuers Pty (Ltd), sal die volgende doen:
* Terreinbesoeke aan eiendomme;
* Deur woonbuurte ry om eiendomsdata in te samel;
* Slegs straatfoto’s neem met behulp van mobiele toepassings en verwante tegnologie;
* Inwoners word daarop gewys dat foto’s beperk sal wees tot eksterne straatbeelde en dat geen toegang tot privaat wonings vereis sal word nie, tensy dit vooraf per afspraak gereël is;
* Inspeksies kan plaasvind tussen 07:30 en 19:00, uitgesluit Sondae en openbare vakansiedae;
* Data-insameling sal in verskeie gebiede plaasvind; en
* DDP Property Valuers sal per e-pos en telefonies met besighede en inwoners in verbinding tree as die aangestelde munisipale diensverskaffer.

BELANGRIKE INLIGTING OOR IDENTIFIKASIE EN VERIFIKASIE
* Veldwerkers sal te alle tye amptelike identifikasiekaarte dra;
* Hulle sal nie noodwendig gemerkte of handelsmerkklere dra nie, maar sal hulself op versoek kan identifiseer; en
* ‘n Amptelike munisipale magtigingsbrief met relevante kontaknommers sal op versoek beskikbaar wees om hierdie proses te ondersteun.
* Inwoners word aangemoedig om identifikasie aan te vra indien hulle onseker is en/of die nommers hieronder te kontak.

TOEGANG TOT LANDGOEDERE EN KOMPLEKSE
Inwoners, regspersone en die bestuur van sekuriteitslandgoedere en omheinde komplekse word vriendelik versoek om saam te werk en toegang tot gemagtigde data-insamelingspanne te fasiliteer. Dit is ‘n munisipale proses wat op alle eiendomme van toepassing is, insluitend dié binne sekuriteitslandgoedere en omheinde komplekse. Die Munisipaliteit sal direk met landgoedbestuurstrukture skakel; samewerking by sekuriteitstoegangspunte is egter noodsaaklik om die suksesvolle voltooiing van hierdie proses te verseker.
Gebiede wat besoek sal word, sluit onder meer Heroldsbaai, Le Grand, residensiële landgoedere in George, Pacaltsdorp, Blanco, Langvlei Dunes, Wilderness, George, Thembalethu, Victoriabaai, Hoekwil, Uniondale en omliggende klein plase in.

KONTAKBESONDERHEDE VIR VERIFIKASIE- EN/OF IDENTIFIKASIEDOELEINDES
Kontak munisipale amptenare A. Scheepers of J. Smith by 044 801 9111 / 9109 vir enige navrae of om veldwerkers te verifieer.

Kantoorure: 07:45–16:30, Maandag tot Vrydag.
George Munisipaliteit waardeer die gemeenskap se samewerking en bystand om hierdie belangrike proses te fasiliteer.

This video explains the roles of private and municipal town planners in South Africa and how they contribute to shaping communities. It describes private town planners as consultants who assist property owners and developers with planning applications, compliance requirements, and communication with municipalities to help projects move forward.

In contrast, municipal town planners work for local government and are responsible for assessing development applications, ensuring compliance with planning policies and by-laws, and guiding the long-term growth of towns and cities in the public interest.

The video highlights that while their responsibilities differ, both professions work together to promote sustainable, well-planned, and functional communities

Access more information on our municipal website: https://www.george.gov.za/planning-development/ 

For enquiries or to submit ideas 044 801 9477 | cpetersen@george.gov.za

The Electrical Service Application form must be completed for all requests relating to:
* New electricity connections
* Service upgrades or downgrades
* Tariff changes
* Conversion from credit to prepaid metering
* Temporary connections or disconnections
* Other electrical service requirements

The application form can also be downloaded here:
https://www.george.gov.za/george-document/service-application-form-utility-services/

Please ensure that all required supporting documents are attached, including proof of property ownership, a copy of the applicant’s ID, approved building plans (where applicable), and the latest municipal account statement.

Completed application forms, together with the required supporting documents, may be submitted via email to nvnqumse@george.gov.za or delivered to, Brick Road, George Industrial, George, for further processing.

2026 marks the fourth year that the George Business Chamber, in partnership with ACSA, George Herald, Algoa FM, Nelson Mandela University (George Campus), AHI Western Cape, SANParks, BusinessFit360, Envestpro, and AP Business Coaching and Consulting, will be implementing the 2026 Entrepreneur Programme.

The Entrepreneur is a business accelerator programme that aims to identify entrepreneurial gems in George and the greater Garden Route and develop and support them to sustainable levels of growth. The 2026 Programme will run over a period of 10 weeks, during which competition finalists will be exposed to intensive business modelling through both tuition and practical application.

The 2026 competition aims to attract the best SME talent in our region, and 20 finalist SMEs will be selected to participate in the competition, with the top three winners receiving a total of R75 000 in prizes.

Apart from the business development funding and marketing collateral received by entrepreneurs, the competition provides an opportunity for finalists to gain critical business skills, receive mentorship and training, and prepare a comprehensive business plan that will enable them to grow and develop their businesses. Finalists will also receive mentorship from a selection of mentors representing a wide range of sectors and professions who will support the George Business Chamber in the programme’s roll-out.
Any registered business that has been operating in George or the greater Garden Route for more than a year and has an annual turnover of less than R6 million may enter. More details are available on the attached entry form, and entries must reach the Project Manager before 10 July 2026 to be eligible.

Download Entrepreneur 2026 Entry Form here
https://www.george.gov.za/george-document/the-entrepreneur-2026-entry-form-george-edition-fillable-form/

📌 Apply before 10 July 2026:
Scan and email your application to entrepreneur@georgechamber.co.za
OR
Drop off at George Business Chamber Offices, Room 111, 1st Floor, 101 York Street (corner of York & Langenhoven St), George.

For more information, contact Mr Paul Hoffman:
📞 entrepreneur@georgechamber.co.za

Please be advised that the municipal landfill site remains closed today due to adverse weather conditions.

Recent rainfall has resulted in wet and slippery conditions on the access road, creating a safety risk for vehicles and pedestrians using the facility. Conditions have not yet improved sufficiently to allow for the safe reopening of the site.

The landfill site will reopen as soon as conditions improve and it is safe to do so.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience, understanding and cooperation.

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REFUSE REMOVAL OPERATIONS SUSPENDED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS

All refuse removal operations have been suspended today due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions being experienced across the municipal area.

The decision has been taken in the interest of the safety of municipal staff and to prevent damage to vehicles and equipment operating in difficult conditions.

Refuse collection services will resume as soon as weather conditions permit.

A catch-up programme will be implemented to address the backlog, and residents and businesses will be informed of revised collection schedules once arrangements have been finalised.

Residents are kindly requested to retain their refuse on their properties until further notice and to refrain from placing additional refuse bags on sidewalks where they may obstruct stormwater systems or be washed into drainage channels.

Please note that CAPITEC Bank clients may experience issues with payment to George Municipality via EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer).
CAPITEC Bank has recently corrected/updated their Public Recipients, therefore all CAPITEC account holders need to update their beneficiary status for George Municipality.

Please follow these steps to update George Municipality as a beneficiary:
1) Delete your current George Municipality beneficiary.
2) Create a new George Municipality beneficiary:
• search for George Municipality as the Institution name and click select,
• continue filling in the required information until the transaction is complete.

Should you require any assistance in updating George Municipality as a beneficiary, please feel free to contact our Finance offices on 044 801 9111/9002/9081.

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CAPITEC Bank-kliënte neem kennis!
Let asseblief daarop dat CAPITEC Bank-kliënte probleme ondervind met betaling aan George Munisipaliteit via EFT (Elektroniese Fondsoordrag).
CAPITEC Bank het onlangs hul Openbare Ontvangers reggestel/bygewerk, daarom moet alle CAPITEC -rekeninghouers hul begunstigdestatus vir George Munisipaliteit regstel.

Volg asb hierdie stappe om George-munisipaliteit as begunstigde reg te stel:

1) Skrap jou huidige George Munisipaliteit begunstigde.
2) Skep ‘n nuwe George Munisipaliteit begunstigde:
• soek na George Munisipaliteit as Instansie se naam en selekteer/kies,
• gaan voort met die invul van vereiste inligting totdat die transaksie voltooi is.

Indien u enige hulp benodig met die opdatering van George Munisipaliteit as begunstigde, kontak gerus ons Finansiële Dienste kantore by (044) 801 9111/9002/9081.

Please be advised that the service provider responsible for the servicing of the fire alarm system at the Main Building in York Street will be performing maintenance on the system today.

During the maintenance period, the fire alarm system may be activated intermittently. Staff and visitors are therefore requested not to be alarmed should the fire alarms sound at the Main Building in York Street until further notice.

We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.

Please be advised that the service provider responsible for the servicing of the fire alarm system at the Main Building in York Street will be performing maintenance on the system today.

During the maintenance period, the fire alarm system may be activated intermittently. Staff and visitors are therefore requested not to be alarmed should the fire alarms sound at the Main Building in York Street until further notice.

We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.

George Municipality warns residents and prepaid electricity users to remain vigilant against scammers advertising “cheap electricity units” on WhatsApp and social media platforms.
Fraudsters are currently circulating messages claiming to sell prepaid electricity units at unrealistic prices. These messages often advertise bulk electricity units for significantly reduced amounts and request payment via WhatsApp or private banking arrangements.

Examples of the fraudulent offers include:
* R350 – 1650 units
* R500 – 2500 units
* R600 – 3500 units
* R700 – 4500 units
* R800 – 5500 units
* R1000 – 7500 units
* R1500 – 10500 units
* R2000 – 12500 units

The scammers claim to provide electricity for all meter types, including:
* Eskom
* Conlog
* Municipal meters
* Citiq Prepaid
* MeterMate

Residents do not engage with these offers or make any payments to individuals advertising discounted electricity units via WhatsApp, SMS, social media, or phone calls.

Important to note:
* George Municipality does not sell electricity units via WhatsApp or social media.
* Electricity purchases must only be made through registered and authorised vendors or official municipal channels. See link for a full list of vendors: https://www.george.gov.za/financial-services/accounts/prepaid-electrical-meter/

* The Municipality will never request payment into private bank accounts for electricity purchases.
* Unrealistically cheap electricity unit offers are fraudulent and may result in financial loss or illegal token generation.
* Sharing meter numbers or personal information with scammers may compromise

Free Basic Water Allowance
Every residential account gets 6 kℓ of free water per month, this equates to (6kℓ x 12 months) = 72kℓ per year.
To make billing fair, and accurate the free water is now applied per day:
This means your free allowance depends on the number of days between meter readings, not just a fixed 6 kℓ per reading.

Examples
• 29-day reading: 29 × 0.197 kℓ ≈ 5.7 kℓ free
• 32-day reading: 32 × 0.197 kℓ ≈ 6.3 kℓ free
Small amounts on your bill (e.g., R2–R5) simply reflect water used above the free allowance.
• No extra charges
• No loss of free water
• Billing is now accurate and fair

System Estimates Reversal
When your meter reading is estimated and an actual reading is later obtained the system will automatically reverse all estimated charges from the date of the last estimate and recalculate your water consumption using the per-day method.

In this case, the system will reverse the December and January estimates and recalculate your total consumption from 15/10/2025 to 19/01/2026.

If we estimated that you used 44 (22+22) kilolitres, but the real reading later shows you actually used 62 kilolitres between the previous and current reading dates:
· The estimate is reversed.
· The system recalculates the period based on the actual 62 kilolitres.
· The difference appears on your next bill.
Previously, this correction was done manually via back-end journals. The new system automates it, making your billing more accurate, transparent, and fair.

Additional Information:
Customers may receive a statement that reflects water charges in line with the current tariff structure:
• George Emergency Level 3 tariffs: Up until 11 May 2026
• Haarlem and Uniondale Emergency Level 3 tariffs: Up until 11 May 2026

Please note that the Municipality is currently on Normal Water Tariffs effective from 12 May 2026.

Billing Implications
Residents and consumers are advised that the lifting of the Level 3 Emergency Water Tariffs may not result in a substantial reduction in the municipal water charges reflected on the May 2026 accounts. This is due to the fact that a number of meter reading routes had already been closed and processed prior to the effective implementation date of 12 May 2026.

Consequently, portions of the May 2026 billing cycle were still calculated in accordance with the previ-ously approved emergency water tariffs. Consumers are therefore expected to observe a more signifi-cant reduction in the water tariffs charged on accounts issued during the June 2026 billing cycle, when the revised tariffs will be fully incorporated across all billing routes.

Read the May 2026 edition of the George Municipal Newspaper online for the latest municipal news, community projects and important information affecting residents across George.

📖 View the newspaper here:

https://tinyurl.com/2shseytt

George Municipality would like to sincerely thank residents and the broader community for their patience, understanding, and support following the recent storm surge and its impact on the town.

A special word of appreciation is extended to all residents, volunteers, community organisations, and stakeholders who came out on Saturday, 16 May, to assist with the clean-up efforts across the town. Your willingness to give your time and contribute towards restoring our community reflects a strong spirit of unity and civic responsibility, and your efforts are greatly valued and appreciated.
Municipal teams are continuing with the removal of hazardous and overhanging trees, as well as the clearing of storm-related debris across affected areas. The Municipality would like to assure the public that all areas where municipal trees have fallen will be attended to. Tree removal operations will continue according to the scheduled programme, subject to weather conditions and operational considerations.

Ongoing Clean-up Operations and Waste Disposal Appeal
The Municipality further appeals to residents to refrain from disposing of garden refuse and other waste on municipal pavements and in public spaces. Residents are encouraged to continue making use of the designated landfill facilities and to follow the established waste disposal procedures to assist in maintaining a clean and safe environment for all.
George Municipality thanks all residents for their ongoing cooperation and support as restoration efforts continue.

The table below outlines the planned programme for the removal of trees and storm-related debris across the affected areas.