Colourful posters have been put up at transfer points and kiosks all over town to remind passengers of the huge milestone: 10 years of service to the people of George!
As the sun rises on December 8, 2024, GO GEORGE marks a milestone moment – 10 years of proudly serving the people of George with safe, reliable, and affordable public transport. This decade of dedication, supported by the National Department of Transport, Western Cape Provincial Government and George Municipality, is a testament to what is possible when communities and authorities work together to improve lives.
Reflecting on the journey, it’s clear that GO GEORGE has become more than just a bus service. It has transformed into a lifeline for thousands of residents who rely on it daily to commute to work, schools, healthcare facilities, and more. From its humble beginnings, launching three routes with 12 buses in 2014, the service has expanded significantly, now transporting almost 20 000 passengers per weekday with a fleet of 133 buses, over a network of 33 routes and 465 km.
Klaas Loff (78) from Pacaltsdorp has been using the GO GEORGE service from the very beginning. He was the lucky recipient of a GO GEORGE birthday goodie bag on one the birthday buses on Monday. GO GEORGE communication champions are creating excitement on different routes every day this week.
Milestones that moved GO GEORGE forward
Over the past decade, GO GEORGE has celebrated numerous achievements, each contributing to its reputation as a model public transport system in South Africa. Key highlights include:
Passenger-centred innovations: The introduction of accessible buses and infrastructure for passengers with disabilities, continuous service enhancements based on community feedback, and user-friendly trip planning features using cutting-edge technology.
Sustainability in motion: Initiatives to minimise the environmental impact, including a modern fleet designed to reduce emissions.
Economic impact: Creation of hundreds of jobs within the system and through infrastructure upgrades, as well as indirect opportunities through improved access to education and employment.
Rising above challenges
The past decade has not been without hurdles. The early years were marked by intensive negotiations to integrate informal operators into the system, a process that required patience, collaboration, and resilience.
2017 and 2018 saw the bus service being deployed instantly to help evacuate people from threatened areas during the devastating fires in Knysna and George respectively – some of the most rewarding experiences in the existence of the GO GEORGE service with staff being on standby day and night and saying “yes, I’ll go” without thinking twice.
Tshaka Thanduxolo was one of the drivers taking the buses to the streets of George on 8 December 2014. Tshaka was awarded the title of George Link Driver of the Year on Monday, after a challenging track competition between 99 participants last week. Tshaka is one of 19 drivers who has been with the company since the beginning.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic tested the system’s adaptability, prompting swift adjustments to prioritise health and safety while maintaining essential services. GO GEORGE lost several staff members to the pandemic – brave champions who will never be forgotten.
Not forgetting the shocking incidents that occurred in March 2023 when criminals hurled two petrol bombs into a GO GEORGE bus, injuring some passengers and causing severe trauma to all involved, as well as August 2015 when violent protest action saw five GO GEORGE buses set alight. Despite these challenges, GO GEORGE has emerged stronger, thanks to unwavering support from all stakeholders and the community it serves.
Looking ahead
As GO GEORGE embarks on its second decade, the vision remains clear: to continue improving mobility for all, deepening its impact on the community, and driving regional development. Plans are in place to extend routes, embrace cutting-edge technology, and further integrate green initiatives.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate 10 years of serving this vibrant community,” says Morné Lakay, GO GEORGE Manager. “This milestone belongs to every passenger, staff member, and partner who has been part of our journey. Together, we’ve shown what a community-focused public transport system can achieve.”
Join the celebration
The anniversary festivities for the public will include lots of fun on special birthday buses during the week running up to the birthday, an outdoor radio broadcast at the Transport Hub in the CBD on Saturday, 7 December, and photo opportunities with the GO GEORGE mascots, Georgie and Smartie at the George Lights Festival later that afternoon.
A decade of progress, connection, and growth will be celebrated. With GO GEORGE, the journey never stops!
For more information, phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044, visit www.gogeorge.org.za, send an email to info@gogeorge.org.za, or follow the GO GEORGE Facebook page.
Jeanette Constance form Pacaltsdorp was on the right bus at the right moment to receive a GO GEORGE birthday goodie bag. She’s been a passenger since the roll-out of the first routes. GO GEORGE communication champions are creating excitement on different routes every day this week.
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GO GEORGE vier ‘n dekade van diens aan gemeenskap
Wanneer die son op 8 Desember 2024 opkom, breek ‘n mylpaaloomblik vir GO GEORGE aan – 10 jaar van trotse verskaffing van veilige, betroubare en bekostigbare openbare vervoer aan die inwoners van George. Hierdie dekade van toewyding, ondersteun deur die Nasionale Departement van Vervoer, Wes-Kaap Provinsiale Regering en George Munisipaliteit, is ‘n bewys van wat moontlik is wanneer gemeenskappe en owerhede saamwerk om lewens te verbeter.
Wanneer teruggedink word aan die reis tot hier, is dit duidelik dat GO GEORGE meer as net ‘n busdiens geword het. Dit het verander in ‘n reddingsboei vir duisende inwoners wat daagliks daarop staatmaak om na werk, skole, gesondheidsorgfasiliteite en ander bestemmings te pendel. Sedert sy nederige begin met die bekendstelling van drie roetes met 12 busse in 2014, het die diens aansienlik uitgebrei en vervoer nou byna 20 000 passasiers per weeksdag met ‘n vloot van 133 busse, oor ‘n netwerk van 33 roetes en 465 km.
Mylpale van vordering
Oor die afgelope dekade het GO GEORGE talle prestasies gevier wat elkeen bygedra het tot sy reputasie as ‘n model-openbarevervoerstelsel in Suid-Afrika. Belangrike hoogtepunte sluit in:
Passasiersgesentreerde innovering: Die bekendstelling van toeganklike busse en infrastruktuur vir passasiers met gestremdhede, deurlopende diensverbeterings gebaseer op gemeenskapsterugvoer, en gebruikersvriendelike ritbeplanningsfunksies met behulp van die nuutste tegnologie.
Volhoubaarheid: Inisiatiewe om die omgewingsimpak te verminder, insluitend ‘n moderne vloot wat ontwerp is om skadelike gasuitlatings te verminder.
Ekonomiese impak: Skepping van honderde werksgeleenthede binne die stelsel en deur infrastruktuuropgraderings, sowel as indirekte geleenthede deur verbeterde toegang tot onderwys en indiensneming.
Styg uit bo uitdagings.
Die afgelope dekade was nie sonder struikelblokke nie. Die vroeë jare is gekenmerk deur intensiewe onderhandelinge om informele operateurs in die stelsel te integreer, ‘n proses wat geduld, samewerking en veerkragtigheid vereis het.
In 2017 en 2018 is die busdiens onmiddellik ontplooi om mense uit bedreigde gebiede te help ontruim tydens die verwoestende brande in onderskeidelik Knysna en George – van die mees bevredigende ervarings in die bestaan van die GO GEORGE-diens met personeel wat dag en nag op bystand was en gesê het “ja, ek sal gaan” sonder om twee keer te dink.
In 2020 het die COVID-19-pandemie die stelsel se aanpasbaarheid getoets met vinnige aanpassings om gesondheid en veiligheid te prioritiseer terwyl noodsaaklike dienste steeds gehandhaaf word. GO GEORGE het verskeie personeellede aan die pandemie afgestaan – dapper kampioene wat nooit vergeet sal word nie.
Daar was ook twee skokkende voorvalle: in Maart 2023 het misdadigers twee petrolbomme in ‘n GO GEORGE-bus gegooi wat etlike passasiers beseer het en ernstige trauma vir alle betrokkenes veroorsaak het, en in Augustus 2015 is vyf GO GEORGE-busse aan die brand gesteek tydens gewelddadige protesaksie.
Ten spyte van hierdie uitdagings het GO GEORGE sterker na vore getree danksy die onwrikbare ondersteuning van alle belanghebbendes en die gemeenskap wat dit bedien.
Die pad vorentoe
Terwyl GO GEORGE sy tweede dekade aanpak, bly die visie duidelik: om voort te gaan om mobiliteit vir almal te verbeter, die impak daarvan op die gemeenskap te verdiep en streeksontwikkeling te dryf. Planne is in plek om roetes uit te brei en die nuutste tegnologie en groen inisiatiewe verder te integreer.
“Ons is ongelooflik trots om 10 jaar van diens aan hierdie lewendige gemeenskap te vier,” sê Morné Lakay, GO GEORGE-bestuurder. “Hierdie mylpaal behoort aan elke passasier, personeellid en vennoot wat deel was van ons reis. Saam het ons gewys wat ‘n gemeenskapsgerigte openbare vervoerstelsel kan bereik.”
Sluit aan by die viering
Die herdenkingsfeeste vir die publiek sal gedurende die week voor die verjaardag baie pret op spesiale verjaardagbusse insluit, ‘n buitelugradio-uitsending by die vervoerkern (Transport Hub) in die middedorp op Saterdag, 7 Desember, en fotogeleenthede saam met die GO GEORGE-gelukbringers, Georgie en Smartie by die George-liggiesfees later die middag.
‘n Dekade van vooruitgang, verbintenis en groei sal gevier word. Met GO GEORGE hou die reis nooit op nie!
Vir meer inligting, skakel die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044, besoek www.gogeorge.org.za, stuur ‘n e-pos aan info@gogeorge.org.za, of volg die GO GEORGE Facebook-bladsy.
Klaas Loff (78) van Pacaltsdorp gebruik al van die begin af die GO GEORGE-diens. Hy was Maandag die gelukkige ontvanger van ‘n GO GEORGE-verjaardagspakkie op een van die verjaardagbusse. GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeamptes skep hierdie week elke dag opwinding op verskillende roetes.
Tshaka Thanduxolo was een van die bestuurders wat op 8 Desember 2014 die busse aan George se strate bekendgestel het. Tshaka is Maandag bekroon met die titel George Link Drywer van die Jaar ná ‘n uitdagende baankompetisie tussen 99 deelnemers verlede week. Tshaka is een van 19 bestuurders wat van die begin af by die maatskappy is.
Jeanette Constance van Pacaltsdorp was op die regte oomblik op die regte bus om ‘n GO GEORGE-verjaardagpakkie te ontvang. Sy is ‘n passasier sedert die bekendstelling van die eerste roetes. GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeamptes skep hierdie week elke dag opwinding op verskillende roetes.
Kleurvolle plakkate is by oorklimpunte en kiosks regoor die dorp opgerig om passasiers te herinner aan die groot mylpaal: 10 jaar van diens
Werkers by winkelsentrums wat later ure werk gedurende Desember verwelkom die later busritte aan die einde van hul werksdag
Santa Sternsdorff, Station Commander, presenting the George Fire Department’s rescue and recovery efforts during the Victoria Street Building Collapse.
Executive Mayor Jackie von Brandis and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa, presenting George Fire Chief Neels Barnard with a Certificate of Recognition.
There is an issue with the Uniondale Water Treatment Works.