Author: Nadine Payle

Dep Mayor and Georgie:
George Deputy Mayor, Cllr Raybin Figland and mascot Georgie sent of the athletes with inspiring words of support.

Raven Benny, a wheelchair user for the last 24 years, has missed only one OCC to date. This was after he coincidentally happened to visit the Garden Route during the first race and was faced with closed streets and red flags as he entered town. Awed by the concept, Benny has been bringing groups of wheelchair users to the OCC ever since.

This year, he was intent on using the most affordable, available, safe public transport from KZN to George (using a long-distance bus service) and in and around George. He made email enquiries about the GO GEORGE ticketing system and where to buy cards before they embarked on their journey.

Putting public transport to the test
“It has been a predominantly rewarding experience to have been in a town that has a working accessible public transport system in place,” Benny said. “My friends and I used the past four days to really put accessible public transport to the test and were sadly dissatisfied and disappointed at times at the level of service received from the long-distance carrier.
“However, we are in awe of the efficiency of the GO GEORGE bus service. We appreciated it from the first trip on Friday morning. We had time for six trips in all directions and found it safe and easy to use, accessible to navigate independently and surprisingly affordable. The only time we felt let down, was when we could not top up our cards to load more rides at the recommended vendor. But this was resolved by doing it at the George Transport Hub with the support and guidance of the GO GEORGE Call Centre.

“All the other moments were fun and memorable, and the bus service allowed us to circulate independently throughout the town during our two-day stay. We disembarked from the long-distance bus at the George station and used only GO GEORGE buses for the next two days – to our accommodation, from there to the registration point, to the shops, and even when we forgot our meal tickets on the morning of the event, we sent one of our helpers to go fetch it using GO GEORGE. We have trips left on our cards and will definitely be back to use them!”

Ghana’s champ loves the minibus hoist
Participants from Ghana were equally impressed with the GO GEORGE service as they tested the hydraulic hoist on the GO GEORGE minibus exhibited at the OCC. Star marathon athlete and winner of the 42-km racing cycle category, Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe participated for the fifth time this year and says the OCC is a fixture on his calendar.

“Our club minibus in Ghana is also fitted with a hoist but seeing it on public transport in South Africa is awesome. I look forward to the day we can boast the same kind of universal accessibility on the public buses in my country too,” Nkegbe said.

Capetonians felt safe on the buses
Another regular group of visitors and participants in the 5-km event is the Mandla Sport 4 Change organisation from Cape Town of whom several members tested the minibus hoist. According to Chairperson Vanessa Baadjies, they felt safe to travel with GO GEORGE, having enough space to board in their wheelchairs and being able to strap into the wheelchair bay.

GO GEORGE participation
Eighteen members of the GO GEORGE communications team pulled out all the stops to support participants and visitors, manning an information gazebo next to the demonstration minibus and telling visitors more about the service and its focus on universal accessibility. As always, the mascot Georgie and communication champions were there to cheer on the participants and pose for photos with “fans”. This time, they also participated in the fun go-kart race, making the finish line exhausted but chuffed with themselves.

Peter Sampson on hoist:
Peter Sampson, part of the Mandla Sports 4 Change team from Cape Town, said he felt very safe to travel with GO GEORGE, having enough space to board in his wheelchair and being able to strap into the wheelchair bay.

Raven Benny and Shirnae:
Raven Benny led a team from Kwazulu-Natal, using only public transport to and in George and back home. To accommodate their five wheelchairs on one bus, some of the team members were assisted to sit on the seats while folding up their wheelchairs. With him is Shirnae van Coller from the GO GEORGE Call Centre who guided the group to get to the Transport Hub to top up their cards with trips.

KZN group at bus stop:
This group of wheelchair users from Kwazulu-Natal spent their entire journey and time in George using only public transport. Here they are waiting for a GO GEORGE bus, supported by GO GEORGE communication champions.

Raphael Botsyo Ghana:
Ghana’s star marathon athlete and winner of the 42-km racing cycle category, Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe said he is looking forward to the day they can boast the same kind of universal accessibility on the public buses in his country. He enjoyed the informative demonstration by driver Johndré du Plessis.

Go-kart team:
George Municipality’s Public Transport Oversight Official, James Robb (second from right), wishing the GO GEORGE go-kart team well before they “take on the open road in their first attempt at the coveted title”. The driver in front is Akhona Gxumisa and at the back from left are Tyron Jeyi, Thobile Simelele, Robb and Ryan Manuel.

*******************************************************************
OCC-besoekers beïndruk deur GO GEORGE-funksies
Raven Benny, ‘n rolstoelgebruiker vir die afgelope 24 jaar, het tot dusver net een Outeniqua-rolstoelmarathon (OCC) gemis. Dit was nadat hy toevallig tydens die heel eerste wedren die Tuinroete besoek het en op geslote strate en rooi vlae afgekom het toe hy die dorp binnekom. Met groot waardering vir die konsep bring Benny sedertdien groepe rolstoelgebruikers na die OCC.
Vanjaar was hy van voorneme om die mees bekostigbare, beskikbare, veilige openbare vervoer van KZN na George (met ‘n langafstandbusdiens), en in en om George te gebruik. Hy het per e-pos navraag gedoen oor die GO GEORGE-kaartjiestelsel en waar om kaarte te koop voordat hulle weg is by die huis.

Openbare vervoer getoets
“Dit was grotendeels ‘n bevredigende ervaring om in ‘n dorp te wees wat ‘n werkende, toeganklike openbare vervoerstelsel bedryf,” het Benny gesê. “Ek en my vriende het die afgelope vier dae gebruik om werklik toeganklike openbare vervoer op die proef te stel en was ontevrede en teleurgesteld oor die vlak van diens wat ons op die langafstandbus ontvang het.

“Ons is egter in verwondering oor die doeltreffendheid van die GO GEORGE-busdiens. Ons het dit waardeer vanaf die eerste rit Vrydagoggend. Ons het tyd gehad vir ses ritte in alle rigtings en het dit veilig en maklik gevind om te gebruik, toeganklik om onafhanklik te navigeer, en verrassend bekostigbaar. Die enigste keer dat ons in die steek gelaat gevoel het, was toe ons nie ons kaarte kon aanvul met ritte by die aanbevole verkoper nie. Maar die probleem is opgelos deur ons kaarte by die George-vervoerkern (Transport Hub) te herlaai met die ondersteuning en leiding van die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum.

“Al die ander oomblikke was lekker en onvergeetlik en die busdiens het dit vir ons moontlik gemaak om onafhanklik deur die dorp te beweeg tydens ons verblyf van twee dae. Ons het by die George-stasie van die langafstandbus afgeklim en vir die volgende twee dae slegs GO GEORGE-busse gebruik – na ons verblyf, van daar na die resiesregistrasiepunt, na die winkels, en selfs toe ons die oggend van die marathon ons etekaartjies vergeet het, het ons een van ons helpers gestuur om dit met ’n GO GEORGE-bus te gaan haal. Ons het ritte oor op ons kaarte en kom beslis terug om dit te gebruik!”

Ghana se kampioen hou van minibushyser
Deelnemers van Ghana was ewe beïndruk met die GO GEORGE-diens toe hulle die hidrouliese hyser op die GO GEORGE-minibus wat by die OCC uitgestal is, getoets het.
“Ons klub in Ghana se minibus is ook toegerus met ‘n hyser, maar dit is wonderlik om dit op openbare vervoer in Suid-Afrika te sien. Ek sien uit na die dag wat ons ook met dieselfde soort universele toeganklikheid op die openbare busse in my land kan spog,” het Nkegbe gesê.

Kapenaars voel veilig op die busse
Nog ‘n gereelde groep besoekers en deelnemers aan die 5 km-byeenkoms is die Mandla Sport 4 Change-organisasie van Kaapstad van wie verskeie lede die minibushyser getoets het. Volgens voorsitter Vanessa Baadjies het hulle veilig gevoel om met GO GEORGE te reis, en was daar genoeg ruimte om met gemak op die bus te kom in hul rolstoele en in die rolstoelruimte vas te gespe.

GO GEORGE-deelname
Agtien lede van die GO GEORGE-kommunikasiespan het hul kant gebring om deelnemers en besoekers te ondersteun, ‘n inligtingsgazebo langs die demonstrasie-minibus te beman en besoekers meer oor die diens en die fokus op universele toeganklikheid te vertel. Soos altyd was die gelukbringer Georgie en passasiersdiensbeamptes daar om die deelnemers entoesiasties aan te moedig en saam met “bewonderaars” vir foto’s te poseer. Hierdie keer het hulle ook aan die prettige kaskarwedloop deelgeneem en die wenstreep uitgeput maar hoogs in hul skik gehaal.

Peter Sampson op hyser:
Peter Sampson, deel van die Mandla Sports 4 Change-span van Kaapstad, sê hy voel baie veilig om met GO GEORGE te reis, met genoeg spasie om in sy rolstoel op die bus te kom en in die rolstoelruimte vas te gespe.

Raven Benny en Shirnae:
Raven Benny het ‘n span van KwaZulu-Natal gelei en slegs openbare vervoer na en in George en terug huis toe gebruik. Om hul vyf rolstoele in een bus te akkommodeer, is van die spanlede gehelp om hul rolstoele op te vou en op die bus se sitplekke te sit. Saam met hom is Shirnae van Coller van die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum wat die groep gehelp het om by die Vervoerkern (Hub) uit te kom om hul kaarte met ritte aan te vul.

KZN-groep by bushalte:
Dié groep rolstoelgebruikers van KwaZulu-Natal het hul hele reis en tyd in George deurgebring deur slegs openbare vervoer te gebruik. Hier wag hulle vir ‘n GO GEORGE-bus, bygestaan deur GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeamptes.

Raphael Botsyo Ghana:
Ghana se ster-marathonatleet en wenner van die 42 km-renfietskategorie, Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe, het gesê hy sien uit na die dag waarop hulle met dieselfde soort universele toeganklikheid op die openbare busse in sy land kan spog. Hy het die insiggewende demonstrasie deur die busbestuurder Johndré du Plessis geniet.

Go-kart team:
George-munisipaliteit se toesigbeampte oor openbare vervoer, James Robb (tweede van regs), wens die GO GEORGE-kaskarspan sterkte toe voordat hulle “die oop pad aanpak in hul eerste poging tot die gesogte titel”. Die bestuurder voor is Akhona Gxumisa en agter van links is Tyron Jeyi, Thobile Simelele, Robb en Ryan Manuel.

Dep Mayor and Georgie:
George se onderburgemeester, raadslid Raybin Figland, en gelukbringer Georgie het die atlete met inspirerende woorde by die wegspringplek ondersteun.

Assisting EPWP workers, Cindy Potts, Sue-ne Jacobs and Theresa Snyman was Portfolio Councillor for Community Services: Parks, Refuse and Environment, Theresa Jeyi.

In the final week of Illegal Dumping Awareness Month, our Community Services cleaning teams have collected another 13 100 bags of illegally dumped rubbish bringing the grand total to an astonishing 55 750 bags collected for the month of February. Areas cleared this week include Rosemoor (Beer Street); Blanco (Steepkoppie Street, near the Cemetery, Main Entrance and Golden Valley Street) and five Tyre and Beautification Projects were finalised in Rosedale, Parkdene, Rosemoor and Thembalethu. Municipal Law Enforcement officials have continued patrolling hot spots and issued another R4000 in fines and three warnings. The fine for being caught illegal dumping is R1000.

Tanja Botha (Environmental Health Practitioner) and EPWP workers with the Hazardous Waste collected on Friday 23 February.

The Hazardous Waste Open Day held on Friday 23 February was a resounding success with Microwaves, Vacuum cleaners, TV’s, irons, computers, printers, ink cartridges, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, LED lights, small gas bottles, cell phones, power banks, alarm batteries, A4 batteries, paint, thinners, motor oil, poison, herbicide and pesticide clock radios and radios, CD’s, tape gazettes and medical waste handed in. Please keep an eye on our social media channels for our next Hazardous Waste Open Day due to be held in May 2024.

Law Enforcement Officers Verona Botha and Nicole Smith issuing fines in Rotary Street, Parkdene.

Municipal Manager Dr Michele Gratz extended her thanks and congratulations to the teams who have worked so hard this month to clear the illegal dump hot spots. “We really need cooperation from everyone to keep their communities clean and hope that the tyre beautification projects which encourage the growing of plants will stop people from repeatedly dumping at the same places. There are over 97 illegal dumping hot spots that have been identified by the Directorate Community Services and it is impossible to monitor all of them. We ask the public to assist by not only reporting illegal dumping but also to put their waste into refuse bags and keep them at their house until their refuse collection day.”

Report Illegal Dumping
Help the municipality to curb illegal dumping by spreading the news in your community that the 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). If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators who have dumped illegally and you 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.

Photographed in the Link, George Municipal Main Building are from left George CFO, Riaan Du Plessis; National Treasury, Dr Letsepa Pakkies; Municipal Manager Dr Michele Gratz; Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk; National Treasury, Mandla Gilimani and National Treasury, Sibusiswe Mchani with senior officials from George Municipality and National Treasury standing.

A delegation of National Treasury officials visited George last week for the 2023/24 mid-year budget and performance assessment which focused on the state of services including electricity, waste, and water and sanitation services.

A full day of interactive presentations by each directorate was held on Thursday 22 February. This was followed by site visits on Friday 23 February to the existing 20 Ml/d Water Treatment Works which has been upgraded, the new 20 Ml/d module, a new residual handling facility and the clear water rising main which is in process of being upgraded. The group also visited the Garden Route Dam Pumpstation suction pipe upgrade project and the 1Megawatt Peak (MWp) solar PV plant.

CFO for George, Riaan Du Plessis noted that the Finance Directorate appreciates the opportunity to partner with Nation Treasury in strengthening inter-governmental relations by using engagement such as these to share information and ideas on how we can collectively improve the local government sphere in the Garden Route.

“The session last week provided National Treasury with a valuable opportunity to get a clearer understanding of the practical day-to-day challenges the municipality deals with in ensuring effective service delivery in the current difficult fiscal climate of high interest rates and costs of living. The visit further gives opportunity for National Treasury to visit in person the projects that are funded by the various grants allocated in the Division of Revenue Act,” said Du Plessis.

Civils – 20 Ml/d WTW : Residuals Pumpstation and Settling Tanks

Civils 1 – 20 Ml/d Module 3 and 4 and Existing WTW on Left

Civils 2 – Clearwater Pumpstation – new pumps

Civils 3 – Garden Route Dam Suction Pipework : At pump mains connection chamber – Andre Scheepers, CES Project Manager (BFI) in in the photograph pointing out details to the National Treasury officials.

1 MW Plant: Acting Director Electrotechnical Services, Daniel Greeff with the National Treasury delegation at the 1 Megawatt Peak (MWp) solar PV plant under construction in George.

CAPTION:
This route map indicates the rerouted bus routes and the OCC route that will apply this year.

GO GEORGE will be making temporary changes to certain routes to accommodate the Outeniqua Chair Challenge (OCC) on Saturday 24 February 2024.

With the race village at Carpe Diem School in Lang Street, the impact of this annual event on the bus service is minimal. Below is a summary of the affected routes.

Route 9 Industrial Loop
All scheduled trips on this route, reverse trips included, will operate in the forward direction only, until about 12:30. All stops on the side of the street normally serviced by the reverse route will be closed for the duration of the race.

Route 13 City Loop Forward & Reverse, R18 Parkdene – Blanco and R18A Thembalethu – Blanco
Due to the closure of Union Street between Meade and York Streets until 12:30, these routes will turn right into Meade Street from Union Street, left into Palgrave, left into York, and right into Plattner Blvd to continue as usual. Route 13 Reverse will follow the same rerouting, just in reverse.

Routes 53 Rosemoor and 53B Rosemoor Express
Due to the partial closure of Park Road in front of Blue Mountain, these two routes will travel via Knysna Road when departing from the Garden Route Mall, turn left into St George Road at CTM and right into Park Road to continue the normal route. The same rerouting will apply to trips from town in the direction of the Mall. Park Road should be open by 10:00.

Delays to be expected
Accommodating the start of the 21-km and 42-km races from the starting point in Lang Street, via Hope Street to the airport road circle, there will be delays on all routes passing through the circle, mainly between 07:00 and 07:20.
Due to single-lane traffic from 06:00 along the entire OCC route, from Carpe Diem School to the turning point behind Eden Meander, delays must be expected on all routes, with traffic of-ficers controlling traffic to let athletes pass. York Street from the circle at Unity Park to Churchill Street should be back to normal by 10:00; from Churchill Street to Union Street, single lane traffic will apply until 11:30.

Passengers are advised to take an earlier bus to ensure being on time for work, while GO GEORGE also calls on employers to be understanding and patient, should any workers arrive a little bit late.

For more information, please phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044, or visit the GO GEORGE Facebook page for details.

***************************************************************************************

GO GEORGE herlei busse vir rolstoelmaraton

GO GEORGE sal tydelike veranderings aan sekere roetes aanbring om die Outeniqua-rolstoelmaraton (OCC) op Saterdag 24 Februarie 2024 te akkommodeer.

Met die maratonsentrum by Carpe Diem-skool in Langstraat is die impak van die geleentheid op die busdiens minimaal. Hier onder volg ‘n opsomming van die roetes wat geraak word.

Roete 9 Industrial Loop
Alle geskeduleerde ritte op hierdie roete, omgekeerde (reverse) ritte ingesluit, sal kloksgewys (forward) ry tot 12:00. Alle bushaltes aan die kant van die straat wat normaalweg gediens word deur die omgekeerde roete sal gesluit word vir die duur van die wedloop.

Roete 13 City Loop F & R, R18 Parkdene – Blanco en R18A Thembalethu – Blanco

As gevolg van die sluiting van Uniestraat tussen Meade- en Yorkstraat tot 12:30 sal hierdie roetes uit Uniestraat regs draai in Meadestraat, links in Palgravestraat, links in Yorkstraat, regs in Plattnerboulevard, en van daar af soos gewoonlik voortgaan. Roete 13R sal dieselfde roete omgekeerd volg.

Roetes 53 Rosemoor en 53B Rosemoor Express
As gevolg van die gedeeltelike sluiting van Parkweg voor Blue Mountain sal hierdie twee roetes via Knysnaweg ry wanneer dit van die Garden Route Mall vertrek, links draai in die St Georgeweg by CTM, en regs in Parkweg om die normale roete van daar af voort te sit. Dieselfde herleiding sal geld vir ritte uit die dorp in die rigting van die Mall. Parkweg behoort oopgestel te wees teen 10:00.

Wees vertragings te wagte
Tydens die wegspring van die 21-km en 42-km-wedlope vanaf die beginpunt in Langstraat, via Hopestraat na die lughawepad-sirkel sal vertragings voorkom op alle roetes wat deur die sirkel gaan, veral tussen 07:00 en 07:20.
Enkelbaanverkeer sal vanaf 06:00 geld op die hele OCC-roete, van Carpe Diem-skool tot by die omdraaipunt agter Eden Meander en verkeersbeamptes sal verkeer beheer om atlete te laat verbygaan. Passasiers moet dus vertragings op alle roetes te wagte wees. Yorkstraat vanaf die sirkel by Eenheidspark tot by Churchillstraat behoort teen 10:00 terug te keer na normaal; vanaf Churchillstraat tot by Uniestraat sal enkelbaanverkeer tot 11:30 van toepassing wees.

Passasiers word aangeraai om ‘n vroeër bus te neem om te verseker dat hulle betyds vir werk opdaag, terwyl GO GEORGE ook ‘n beroep op werkgewers doen om begrip en geduld te toon indien enige werkers ‘n bietjie laat kom.

Vir meer inligting, skakel asseblief die GO GEORGE inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044, of besoek die GO GEORGE Facebook-blad vir besonderhede.

Onderskrif:
Hierdie roetekaart toon die herleide busroetes asook die OCC-roete wat vanjaar van toepassing sal wees.