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Author: Nadine Payle

HERINNERING VAN DIENS-ONDERBREKING – UNIONDALE KANTORE

Neem asseblief kennis dat geen Dienste vir Bestuurslisensies en Motorvoertuiglisensies op Donderdag, 21 Augustus 2025 by die Uniondale-kantore beskikbaar sal wees nie weens ‘n geskeduleerde kragonderbreking.

Hierdie onderbreking geld slegs vir die Uniondale-kantore. Dienste by ander kantore gaan normaal voort.

Ons vra omverskoning vir enige ongerief.

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REMINDER OF SERVICE INTERRUPTION – UNIONDALE OFFICES

Please note that no Driving Licence and Motor Vehicle Licence services will be available at the Uniondale offices on Thursday, 21 August 2025, due to a scheduled power outage.

This interruption applies only to the Uniondale offices. Services at other locations will continue as normal.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

 

UPDATE- LANDFILL SITE REOPENED

We are pleased to inform you that the mechanical issue has been resolved, and the landfill site is now open.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during the temporary closure.

TEMPORARY LANDFILL SITE CLOSURE

Please be advised that the landfill site is temporarily closed today due to a mechanical breakdown of essential machinery. As a result, there is currently no available dumping space.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience during this time. An update will be provided as soon as operations resume.

Important: We kindly request that no loads be dumped on or near the access roads.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Wateronderbreking – Rietvlei, Uniondale

’n Waterpyp het in Rietvlei, Uniondale gebars. Gevolglik sal die hele gebied vir ongeveer 2 uur sonder water wees.

Munisipale personeel is tans besig om die breek te herstel, en ’n watertenk sal in die gebied rondry om inwoners tydelike van water water voorsien.

Ons vra omverskoning vir die ongerief.

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PUBLIC NOTICE: Water Supply Interruption – Rietvlei, Uniondale
Issued by George Municipality, 18 August 2025

A waterpipe has burst in Rietvlei, Uniondale. As a result, the entire area will experience a water supply interruption for approximately 2 hours.

Municipal staff are on-site attending to the burst, and a water truck will be circulating in the area to provide temporary relief.

We apologise for the inconvenience.

Anti-Fraud and Corruption Awareness Campaign at George Municipality

Standing from left to right are Mr E Ndou (COGTA), Mr E Chauke (SALGA), Cllr Renicia Willemse (Bitou Municipality), Executive Mayor of Knysna Municipality Thando Matika, Cllr Nadia Krige (Mossel Bay Municipality) and Executive Mayor of Oudtshoorn Municipality Ald Johan Allers.
Seated from left to right are Mr M Leaser(Provincial Head of SIU), Brigadier MF Ramahove (Acting Provincial Head- Hawks), George Executive Mayor Jackie von Brandis, Major General Cetyana (Garden Route District Commissioner) and Executive Mayor of Bitou Municipality Jessica Kamkam.

George Municipality is proud to have hosted the Provincial Anti-Fraud and Corruption Awareness Campaign, presented by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI – The Hawks), in partnership with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), and the Office of the Executive Mayor.

The two-day workshop, held at the George City Hall on 28 and 29 July 2025, was the first of its kind in the Garden Route and aimed to strengthen awareness among municipal councillors and officials about the dangers, impact, and consequences of corruption in local government.

The sessions were designed to increase awareness and reinforce the municipality’s commitment to integrity and ethical governance. Presenters shared valuable insights into how fraud and corruption manifest, drawing from real-life case studies to provide practical context. Key topics included the definitions of fraud and corruption, early warning signs, reporting procedures, and the legal protections available to whistle-blowers.

The DPCI emphasised that reducing financial losses, accelerating detection, protecting organisational reputation, and building public trust are central to any effective anti-fraud strategy. Presenters outlined various forms of misconduct such as bribery, misrepresentation, falsified invoices, inflated claims, and theft of municipal assets, and provided clear guidance on how to identify and prevent such activities.

A representative from COGTA highlighted the importance of cultivating an ethical culture within municipalities. This was linked to the recently adopted Code for Ethical Leadership, a framework approved by the George Municipal Council in January 2025. The Code promotes ethical conduct and accountability across all levels of municipal operations.

Ethical governance also extends to protecting municipal systems and data. In this regard, Brigadier Steynberg of the DPCI delivered a key presentation on cybercrime, highlighting the need for strong password protection, device security, and ongoing vigilance. He reminded attendees that scammers exploit human vulnerabilities—including fear, urgency, and trust—to commit fraud. Even well-informed individuals can fall victim, especially when under pressure or lacking digital literacy.

“This workshop demonstrates our commitment to ethical leadership within local government,” said Executive Mayor Alderman Jackie von Brandis. “The word ‘corruption’ has become far too common in public discourse, and it is through proactive engagements such as this that we strengthen our resolve to protect our institutions. By working hand-in-hand with law enforcement, we build a culture of clean, transparent, and accountable governance for all residents of George.”

George Municipality reiterates its zero-tolerance stance towards fraud and corruption and remains steadfast in upholding transparency, accountability, and ethical governance in service of the people of George.

Unplanned water outage Seaview

George Municipality is aware of a water outage in Seaview, Pacaltsdorp. The affected streets are Dahlia, Chrysanthemum, and Amaryllis. Municipal teams are on-site investigating the issue.

A water tanker will roam the affected area. Residents are encouraged to report a water outage to 044 801 9266 until 16:30, and 044 801 6300 after 16:30.
ETR 6-8 hours

Feedback on Erf 243, Wilderness Common

The George Municipality launched an application on 20 August 2024 for the removal of restrictive conditions in Title Deed T59963/1984 relating to Erf 243, Wilderness, better known as the Wilderness Common. This application will ensure that additional restrictions are addressed, preventing the utilization of the land in accordance with the intent for public open spaces as alluded in the George Integrated Zoning Scheme By-Law, 2023.

The prescribed public participation process was conducted from 6 September to 9 October 2024. During this period, numerous comments and objections were received from the Wilderness community, and several engagements were held with the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association (WRRA) and Wilderness and Lakes Environmental Action Forum (WALEAF).

It became evident from the feedback and enquiries that there were significant misinterpretations and misconceptions regarding the intent of the application and the Municipality detected hesitance regarding the removal of conditions from the title deed. Although no change in zoning is proposed, the community held the impression that the restrictive conditions safeguard the property against unlawful utilization and future changes in land use rights.

George Municipality commits to transparency and good governance, and the appropriate response was to revisit the proposal and enter into direct engagement with the community. As a result, the public participation process was extended and a public meeting was called to discuss the alternatives to the original proposal to remove the restrictive conditions, provide clarity regarding the intent, erase misinformation, and to develop understanding of the needs of the community as a whole.

A public meeting was held on 3 July 2025 at 17:30 at the Fairy Knowe Hotel in Wilderness. The meeting was advertised in the George Herald on 19 June 2025, on-site notices were posted, postings at the Wilderness Tourism Office and Spar Liquor Store noticeboards, and hand-delivered notices in the Wilderness central business district on 20 June 2025.

The meeting was attended by approximately 125 residents, and the session was led by Mrs. D. Power, Deputy Director: Development and Environmental Planning, and facilitated by Mr. C. Jacobs, the newly elected WRRA Chairperson.

Mrs. Power provided a detailed overview of the application, explaining the split zoning of Erf 243, Wilderness being ‘Open Space Zone I’ and ‘Transport Zone II’ (public open space and public road), and the permitted uses under the zoning scheme by-law. She addressed the community’s concerns and assured attendees that the intention is not to redevelop the land. Rather, the aim is to align with the zoning to allow for a public park according to the norms applied across the municipal area that remains accessible to all, to serve the community as a whole and respond to the need for community-driven events such as markets, expos, and other public activities, subject to the required approvals.

Mrs. Power emphasized that all events would require approval through the Municipal events committee. The invitation was extended to the local rate payers association to collaborate with the Municipality to ensure that the interests of the Wilderness community is duly addressed when such applications are assessed and to ensure continuous community involvement over the course of evaluating proposals for events.

In response to the initial objections received, the Municipality proposed to amend the restrictive condition instead of removing it entirely. A proposed condition was tabled as an example:
“No camping shall be permitted, and no permanent structures may be erected on the erf, except for ablution facilities, play apparatus, street furniture, engineering infrastructure, and architectural/landscaping features associated with the public open space use.”

The proposal was generally well received by attendees, although some concerns were raised about the inclusion of ablution facilities. It was agreed that further input would be consolidated through the rate payer’s association. The period for comments and objections to the application was extended up until 17 July 2025, affording attendees to respond to the revisions proposed informed by the facts confirmed during the meeting.

Subsequent to the meeting, the George Municipality has received several responses to the application of which some still oppose, and others support the proposal. All comments received will be presented to a Planning Tribunal for consideration by no later than September 2025. Once the Tribunal has resolved, all respondents will be notified of the decision, and the decision will be published on the Municipal webpage for 21 days.

The Municipality thanks the Wilderness community for their participation, their willingness to collaborate and constructive contributions.

Unplanned Water Outage

 

Pipe burst on corner of 4th and Mann Street, Eastern Extension.

Municipal teams are on site attending to the burst.

A standpipe has been placed on the corner of 4th and Mann Street to supply water to residents.

ETR will be advised.

ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING @10H00

 

 

Please join us for the Ordinary Council Meeting today, 31 July 2025, at 10H00 AM.

👉 Click on the link below to access the live stream via our YouTube Account

UNPLANNED POWER OUTAGE

The George Municipality wishes to inform residents of an unplanned power outage currently affecting the Airport Line, Gwaying, and Herolds Bay farms.

An electrician has been dispatched to investigate the cause of the outage, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding.

For urgent electricity-related inquiries, please contact the Electro Technical Department at 044 801 9202 or on WhatsApp Number 067 350 3295, during office hours or 044 801 6300 after hours.

Your signature, their future: Are your kids protected?

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness encourages all parents to be on the lookout for consent forms that will be sent home for your child to receive the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine.

HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer.

The vaccine does not contain any live virus or DNA from the virus so it cannot cause cancer or other HPV-related illnesses. The vaccine does not affect fertility; and it’s also not used to treat HPV infections or diseases caused by HPV, but instead to prevent the development of cancers, as outlined by the World Health Organisation.

To safeguard our children’s health, the HPV vaccination campaign was rolled out in our country in 2014 with more than 350,000 young lives protected since its inception. More than 1 200 schools are visited annually in the Western Cape to administer the vaccine, with strong support from parents and communities to safeguard their children’s futures.
As part of the HPV campaign, the National Department of Health has directed that Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (TDaP) vaccine boosters be administered to all eligible children (both boys and girls).

This campaign aims to boost protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough by offering a TD booster to all Grade 5 learners. It helps prevent outbreaks and supports ongoing school-based vaccination. All that’s needed is a signed consent form.

Round 2: School-based vaccination – what you need to know
The second round of the school-based vaccination campaign will take place from 1 August to 30 September 2025. During this period, our school health teams will visit both public and private schools to provide the following vaccinations:
• HPV vaccine (single dose): Offered to eligible Grade 5, 6, and 7 girls in private schools, with consent.
• Catch-up HPV vaccinations: Girls who missed the HPV vaccine during the first round in February/March will have another opportunity to receive their dose, with consent, at public schools.
• Tdap booster vaccine: Administered to all boys and girls in Grade 5 across public and private schools, with consent.
We have been providing the HPV vaccine to girls in our communities for many years. Make use of this opportunity. Protect your daughter against cervical cancer”, said Tonia Aylward, school health nurse for Mossel Bay sub-district.

What about side effects?

You deserve clear answers to make the best choice for your child. Parents may have questions about safety and what to expect after vaccination. The vaccines administered at our schools and clinics are safe and have been tested. These vaccination campaigns are not new, and we welcome questions from parents and communities.

Like any vaccine, some children might have mild side effects such as some redness, swelling or pain where the injection was given, a mild fever, or feeling a bit tired. These usually go away on their own within a day or two. Serious reactions are very rare. If you’re worried about how your child reacts, please speak to your clinic or doctor.

If you’re unsure, please keep asking questions. Look at reliable sources, speak to healthcare workers in your local clinic, or check the Road to Health booklet for details on vaccines and schedules to make the right choice for your children’s future.

Our children grow fast. Let’s work together keep their protection up to date.

ENDS.

Fire Safety Alert: No Controlled Burns Allowed Today Due to Hot Weather Conditions

Due to the predicted hot weather conditions in George and surrounds today, the public is urged to exercise extreme caution when making fires or discarding cigarettes or matches.
No controlled burns are permitted under these conditions.

Please report any fires or emergency incidents immediately to the Fire Department:
Fire Emergency Only: 044 801 6311
General Emergency: 044 801 6300
TOLL-FREE Disaster Line (24/7): 087 152 9999