Author: Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe

In the photo: The George Municipality officially launched Illegal Dumping Awareness Month in Cane Street, Rosedale

The George Municipality officially launched Illegal Dumping Awareness Month in Cane Street, Rosedale (Pacaltsdorp area) on Monday, 3 February 2025. Executive Mayor Ald Jackie von Brandis kicked off the campaign at one of the identified illegal dumping hotspots, reinforcing the Municipality’s commitment to addressing this ongoing challenge.

Throughout February, the Community Services Directorate will lead a dedicated effort to clean and rehabilitate illegal dumping sites while raising awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with illegal dumping through targeted education campaigns.

Mayor von Brandis emphasized the importance of community involvement: “We launched this campaign to drive meaningful change in our communities. To tackle this issue, we have employed Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers to help clean illegal dumping hotspots. However, illegal dumping drains valuable resources and funds that could have been used for community improvements. It is not a job creation opportunity—we urge residents to take ownership of their surroundings and protect these spaces, which could be transformed into parks and recreational areas for our children. Let’s all act responsibly and dispose of waste properly. I also commend the Community Services Department for leading this initiative and wish them success throughout the month.”

The Director of Community Services, Mr Dawie Adonis, announced that R16.34 million has been allocated to the campaign to ensure its sustainability. “This funding covers street cleansing, refuse removal, hiring ward-based coordinators, and running education and awareness campaigns. Our goal is to create long-term change by addressing both the behavioural and systemic factors contributing to illegal dumping.”

Welcoming attendees at the launch, MMC for Community Services, Marchell Kleynhans, stressed the importance of public involvement: “Illegal dumping is not just an environmental problem—it’s a community issue. Sustainable enforcement, coupled with community involvement, is key to the campaign’s success. We need every resident to take responsibility and work towards a cleaner George.”

The campaign will see the municipal area divided into 12 blocks, with 14 coordinators and 310 EPWP workers deployed across George communities. A comprehensive communication strategy—including news articles, radio interviews, advertisements, social media engagement, and educational material distribution—will support the initiative.

Ward 14 Councillor and MMC for Community Development, Melvin Roelse, delivered the vote of thanks, highlighting the far-reaching effects of illegal dumping:

“Illegal dumping negatively impacts public health, the environment, and the overall cleanliness of our city. We urge all residents, businesses, and community groups to join us in this crucial effort. Let’s work together to keep George clean and beautiful—say NO to illegal dumping!”

Watch Executive Mayor Jackie von Brandis during the launch: https://youtu.be/Rwx7xVh16LM

In the photo, George, Wilderness, and Uniondale Tourism interns Viwe Zokufa and Benicia Bergstedt running a tourism info activation at Redberry Farm in December 2024.

George experienced a festive season filled with vibrant events, strong visitor engagement, and remarkable revenue growth in the tourism sector. Extended operating hours, strategic activations, and collaborative partnerships ensured a seamless experience for both domestic and international tourists.

Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager at George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism, remarked, “This festive season exceeded our expectations, reflecting the unwavering appeal of our region and the dedicated efforts of our tourism teams and partners. From bustling markets to full visitor activations, George and its surrounds once again proved to be a premier destination.”

Enhanced Visitor Engagement
To meet the increased demand, the George, Wilderness, and Uniondale Visitor Information Centres extended operating hours during the festive season, providing in-person assistance, maps, brochures, and digital resources. Key statistics include 272 enquiries recorded across centres, with top interest categories about activities and attractions, accommodation, as well as picking up maps and brochures. Promotional materials like the “60+ Things to Do” brochures and maps were distributed widely at accommodations and attractions. A permanent display has also been implemented at the Outeniqua Powervan check-in point, reinforcing the region’s offerings.

Dynamic Activations Across the Region
Tourism activations ran every Saturday at the Outeniqua Family Market (14 December–11 January) and at major events such as the WeBuyCars George Tens, as well as popular attraction Redberry Farm. Visitors had access to brochures, maps, and interactive activities, including a ‘win and spin’ prize wheel.

A Season of Events
The festive calendar was packed with highlights, including:
• Christmas Markets: Boerevintage Market, The Market at the Transnet Transport Museum, and the Outeniqua Christmas Market at the George Museum.
• Holiday Events: Carols by Candlelight at Redberry Farm and the Garden Route Botanical Garden, as well as Uncle George’s Kids’ Christmas Parties and Heartbeat Gospel Sunday.
• Live Music: Performances at Bush Lapa and Fancourt featured top South African artists, including Bok van Blerk and Matthew Mole.
• Sports Events: WeBuyCars George Tens, Finovo Jakkalberry Extreme Gravel/MTB Race, Fancourt 10km Run, Redberry Farm Charity Trail Run, and December Discing.

Occupancy and Revenue Performance
Metrics were gleaned from aggregated data on leading Online Travel Agent (OTA) platforms. This information excludes direct bookings, tourism trade bookings, as well as bookings made on other popular OTA channels not included in the dataset. It, therefore, provides a ‘yardstick’ of what took place at the destination.

Occupancy rates from 11 December 2024 to 12 January 2025 averaged 71%, peaking at 88% on 28 December. Occupancies started climbing from 13 December, with 80% highs from December 24th until January 2nd. From January 12th, occupancies tapered off, dropping to the 40%’s. The ADR shows strong rate performance, increasing by R621,63. The biggest number of check-ins took place in week 50 (1,516 check-ins) and 51 (1,424 check-ins) of the year for 2024, and week 1 of 2025 also showed strong performance (1,403 check-ins).

Festive season key figures include:
• Average occupancy: 71% (1% decrease from the previous season)
• Average daily rate: R2,537.70 (32% increase from the previous season)
• 0-21 Day booking window: The 0–21-day window is a significant number of bookings, illustrating an opportunity for accommodation to capitalise on last minute bookers.
o December: 41%
o January (up until 20 January 2025): 54%

While some January averages are still pending on the aggregated statistics platform, December metrics offer valuable insights:
• December revenue: R51.7 million (28% growth year-on-year)
• Average length of stay: 3.5 days (dropping by half a day from 2023)
• Number of check-ins: 6,086 (897 more than the previous year). The only Garden Route town to exceed George’s number of check-ins was Knysna, with 7,146. Following on George’s heels, Plettenberg Bay had 4,926, Mossel Bay 3,946 and Oudtshoorn 3,030.
• Visitor Insights: Domestic tourists dominated (56%), with a strong international presence (44%). Top source markets included:
o South Africa: Cape Town (41%), Johannesburg (19%)
o International: Germany (15%), UK (7%), USA (6%)

Local Tourism Sector Highlights Mixed Performance
A survey of 18 restaurants revealed that 11 performed better than the previous year, with all Wilderness establishments reporting growth. In contrast, George restaurants faced challenges, citing more conservative customer spending, particularly on wine and liquor. Several new restaurants also opened in the George area in December.

Activity and tour operators fared well overall, with 11 out of 14 reporting improved results. The Outeniqua Powervan saw an unprecedented demand, requiring additional trips to accommodate early bookings. The Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park also had a standout season, with visitor numbers expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels. However, some operators observed tighter budgets among visitors, affecting additional revenue streams.

For more information on George and its greater area, go to: 🌐 visitgeorge.co.za
📱 facebook.com/tourismgeorge
📸 instagram.com/georgetourism_official
🎥 youtube.com/@georgewildernessuniondaleza

George Municipality Appoints Michael Rhode as New Director for Electrotechnical Services

George Municipality is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael J Rhode as the new Director for Electrotechnical Services, effective 1 January 2025. With over 20 years of experience in managing electrical distribution and energy engineering operations within utility environments in Local Government, Michael brings a wealth of expertise to the role. He also possesses experience in water, sewerage, roads, stormwater engineering, and waste management.

Michael has worked in various municipalities across the Western Cape. Before joining George Municipality, he served as the Director of Technical Services at Knysna Municipality from June 2013 to December 2024. During his tenure, he managed the Technical Services Directorate, overseeing water, sewerage, roads, stormwater, traffic, and facilities engineering activities. He was also instrumental in dealing with the Knysna fire disaster during his tenure there

His extensive experience includes similar roles at the City of Cape Town, Drakenstein, Stellenbosch and Bitou municipalities. Michael is no stranger to George Municipality, having previously served as the Director of Electrical Engineering Services from 2003 to 2007.

Michael’s expertise is backed by a B. Eng (Elec) degree from Stellenbosch University. His diverse skill set and leadership experience position him as a key asset in advancing George Municipality’s electrotechnical infrastructure development and service delivery goals.

The Municipality extends its warmest welcome to Michael J Rhode and looks forward to his contributions to the community.