Author: Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe

In the photo is the Mayoral Committee which travelled to Touwsranted to engage the community

Rural areas on the outskirts of cities are often overlooked in terms of access to essential services, including municipal information and education. However, George Municipality remains committed to prioritising outreach in these areas.

On Thursday, 19 September, the George Municipality, along with the Mayoral Committee, travelled approximately 30 km east of George to engage with the community of Touwsranten. The outreach aimed to address local concerns and provide residents with an opportunity to engage directly with municipal officials and councillors. The team also visited a local clinic.

Departments involved in the outreach included Human Settlements, Civil Engineering Services, Electrotechnical Services, Corporate Services, and Financial Services. The roads team from the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) also participated, alongside GRDM councillor, Cllr Stag Cronje.

Despite the inclement weather, residents gathered at the community hall to discuss their concerns with councillors and officials. The engagement was successful, and the Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Jackie von Brandis looks forward to further outreach initiatives aimed at connecting rural communities with essential municipal services.

In the photo are speakers and guests from left to right: Cllr Thandiswa Qatana (Programme Director), Cllr Brendon Adams (MMC for Community Safety), Dr Zilla North (WC Department of Health, Khangelani Rhawula (Director: WC Department of Health), Vuyani Mbaqa (Deputy Director: Department of Police Oversight), Ald Jackie von Brandis (Executive Mayor of George), Nkosiyabo Lose (GRDM Project Coordinator), Sergeant Opperman (SAPS), and Lee-Anne Meiring (Senior Manager: Community Safety).

Engagements, information sharing, and safety exhibitions were at the forefront of the George Mayor’s Safety and Security Expo, held on Thursday, 3 October 2024, at the George Civic Centre. The event, aimed at encouraging unity against crime, was attended by Executive Mayor Ald Jackie von Brandis, members of the Executive Mayoral Committee, councillors, and various representatives from the safety and security sector.

Key attendees included officials from the Western Cape Provincial Government, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Correctional Services, Department of Police – Oversight, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, and the Western Cape Liquor Authority community organisations, Community Policing Forums, Community in Blue, Neighbourhood Watch, and residents of George.

In her opening remarks, Mayor von Brandis expressed gratitude for the strong turnout. “I am sincerely thankful for your attendance,” she said. “This Safety and Security Expo emerged from the growing need for collaboration on crime prevention, and I am pleased to see the strong support we’ve received today. As the largest secondary city in our province, we must prioritize safety and tackle crime head-on as a united community.”

Lee-Anne Meiring, Senior Manager for Community Safety at George Municipality, delivered the keynote address, focusing on the local government’s role in community safety, the importance of partnerships, and the municipality’s strategy for safety in George. She emphasized that crime prevention requires collaboration across all sectors. “We believe that no single entity can ensure community safety alone. Our approach is to work across individual, relationship, community, and societal levels to prevent crime and violence.”

Meiring introduced the City’s Strategy for Community Safety, which includes:
• A flexible organisational structure suited to George’s growing needs
• Integration of advanced technology
• Development of an Operational Command Centre
• Improvement of data collection systems
• Strengthening of existing partnerships and creation of new ones

The event also featured presentations from key stakeholders such as the Department of Police – Oversight, SAPS Garden Route, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, GRDM, and the Western Cape Liquor Authority. Topics discussed included:
• Neighbourhood Watch accreditation and responsibilities
• Building sustainable safety partnerships
• The impact of crime on health services and solutions
• District Safety Forum initiatives
• Alcohol’s role in society and Western Cape Liquor Authority’s local operations

Residents had the opportunity to engage during a question-and-answer session, raising concerns about Neighbourhood Watch uniforms, stipends for Community in Blue, and transport assistance for safety volunteers. Councillor Thandiswa Qatana, who was the Programme Director, facilitated this process.

The expo was a collaborative effort between George Municipality, the Western Cape Provincial Government, and GRDM. Mayor von Brandis closed the event with a powerful declaration: “With this expo, I want all of us—residents and councillors alike—to declare: No to crime, no to violence, and no to living in fear!”

Follow the link to the video of the event: https://youtu.be/HsawGqdZQo8

In the photo is the George Community Safety Forum convening its quarterly meeting

The George Community Safety Forum convened its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, 02 October 2024, at the George Municipality Council Chambers—the meeting aimed to bolster safety measures across the city of George through a collaborative, integrated approach.

The MMC for Community Safety in George, Cllr. Brendon Adams officially opened the forum meeting, which Lee-Anne Meiring, senior manager for Community Safety in George, facilitated. Participants were divided into three working groups focusing on key areas vital to the city’s safety strategy: urban design, socio-economic development, and law enforcement.

In attendance were representatives from George Municipality, Garden Route District Municipality, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Social Development (DSD), Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Community in Blue, SANCA Garden Route, Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA), Community Development, Community Policing Forum (CPF) George, CPF Pacaltsdorp, CPF Thembalethu, Smoking and Alcohol Harms Alleviation and Rehabilitation Association (SAHARA), NICDAM, Legally You, POCS, Men’s Sector and local ward committee members.

The collaboration among these diverse entities highlights the Municipality’s commitment to fostering a safer environment for all residents through integrated efforts and community engagement.

In the photo from left to right: Amelia Lombard (Assistant Town Planner), Henriëtte Koch (Senior Manager of Spatial Planning), and Naudica Swanepoel (Senior Town Planner), all from the Section for Town Planning and Environmental Management.

The George Municipality is pleased to announce the bolstering of its Town Planning team with the appointments of three key professionals: a Senior Manager, a Town Planner, and an Assistant Town Planner.

The new team members are:
• Henriëtte Koch, Senior Manager of Spatial Planning, Planning, and Development,
• Naudica Swanepoel, Senior Town Planner, Planning, and Development, and
• Amelia Lombard, Assistant Town Planner, Planning, and Development.

These appointees bring diverse expertise to the Municipality’s Planning and Development division, covering areas such as Capital Investment Planning, Town Planning, and Land Use Management. Their extensive experience will support the Municipality in advancing sustainable and well-planned urban development.

In the photo: Councillors, stakeholders and community at the opening of the Thusong Centre

The Pacaltsdorp Satellite Thusong Service Centre, located at the Old Tourism Information Building on Mission Street, was officially launched on Wednesday, 18 September 2024.

The launch event was attended by the Executive Mayor of George, Ald Jackie von Brandis, along with councillors, stakeholders from various organisations, representatives from government departments that will operate from the new Thusong Centre, local entrepreneurs, community leaders, and members of the Pacaltsdorp community. Officials from the Western Cape Department of Local Government and the George Municipality were also present.

During the opening, Mayor von Brandis expressed her enthusiasm for the new facility: “It’s an absolute privilege to open this centre today. I’m pleased to have the councillors, the community, and all stakeholders here to witness the start of bringing services closer to where they are needed most. Please come and see what the centre offers.”

“The Pacaltsdorp Satellite Thusong Service Centre will host key government services, including the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the Department of Labour, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of Social Development (on a scheduled basis), as well as Community Development Workers (CDW), among others,” Mayor von Brandis added.

Thusong Facilities are defined as one-stop, integrated community centres where residents can access crucial government information, services, and resources. The Thusong Service Centre Programme is designed to bring government services closer to the people, promoting access to opportunities and contributing to improved livelihoods.

The establishment of a Thusong facility in Pacaltsdorp was identified as a key priority in the Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The IDP highlighted a pressing need for such a facility in the community, which has now been addressed by the George Municipality.

The facility’s maintenance is supported by a grant from the Department of Local Government. The George Municipality now has three Thusong Centres, including those in Thembalethu and Waboomskraal. With the addition of the Pacaltsdorp centre, service coverage across the community will be significantly enhanced, with all three centres working to deliver essential services at the grassroots level.

This launch coincides with the Annual Thusong Service Centre Week, taking place from 16 to 20 September 2024 nationwide. The week forms part of Integrated Public Service Month, aimed at emphasizing the critical role of Thusong Service Centres in enhancing community access to services and information about opportunities.

“As the Executive Mayor of this great municipality, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the officials involved in bringing this project to fruition. We call on our residents to safeguard and protect this centre—it belongs to you as much as it belongs to us. With the services offered here and the community’s commitment to its preservation, I am confident that this Thusong Centre will thrive and provide lasting benefits for all,” Mayor von Brandis concluded.

Please Watch the video of the launch: https://youtu.be/-wJJKEZKbR8

#GeorgeMunicipality #ThusongCentre #CommunityDevelopment #Pacaltsdorp

Low water pressure affecting Heather Park, Kingswood, and Golf Park is being addressed

George Municipality is aware of the ongoing low water pressure affecting the Heather Park, Kingswood, and Golf Park areas. Recently, the Municipal water team, in collaboration with Cllr Erika Brown, the Ward Councillor for the area, held a meeting with residents to address these issues and provide updates on the situation.

The low pressure, typically experienced between 07:30 and 11:00, is believed to be caused by a faulty valve in the network and increased water use during this timeframe. According to Tahseen Raiman, Manager of Water Distribution at the Municipality, the low pressure is not due to the installation of pressure management devices in the water network. “There are no pressure management devices installed in Heather Park and surrounding areas,” she clarified.

Efforts are ongoing to restore water pressure to acceptable levels. “George Municipality teams have been inspecting and repairing faulty valves in the Heather Park area. These inspections and repairs on the supply lines feeding Heather Park are ongoing,” Raiman added. “A pressure logger will also be installed in Heather Park to enable continuous pressure monitoring.”

The Municipality remains committed to resolving this issue promptly and will continue to keep residents informed of any progress.

A call on residents to assist in safeguarding officials working in communities

The safety of George Municipality officials attending to after-hours service delivery calls is under serious threat due to a rise in crime-related incidents, intimidation, and the theft of essential municipal equipment. This alarming trend is undermining efforts to provide consistent services across the city, with staff safety becoming a serious concern. The municipality urgently calls on residents to assist in safeguarding officials working in their communities.

The Electrotechnical Services and Civil Engineering Services (CES) departments, which handle critical services such as power and water outages, have reported numerous incidents where staff have faced intimidation, threats, and violence while on duty.

Personnel from the Electrotechnical Services department, responsible for maintaining and restoring power, have been increasingly targeted, particularly during nighttime service calls. High-risk areas have been identified, including Nelson Mandela Boulevard near the Total Garage, Borchards, Conville, Parkdene, and parts of Rosemore. Staff have been subjected to harassment, threats, and even physical attacks while attempting to resolve urgent electrical issues.

To mitigate these risks, the municipality has increased the number of personnel assigned to attend service complaints in these areas. “When working in high-risk areas, we now deploy more staff and additional vehicles. In some cases, we are forced to delay attending to complaints until the next day for safety reasons,” said Daniel Greeff, Acting Director of Electrotechnical Services at the George Municipality. These measures have increased operational costs and delayed response times, but the municipality stresses that staff safety must come first.

The Civil Engineering Services (CES) department has faced similar threats and, in response, has intensified security and crime prevention measures. In addition to water outages, this department frequently accesses pump stations in remote areas to carry out repairs.

“Employees working at pump stations are currently equipped with pepper spray, and some stations have emergency panic buttons linked to armed response,” explained Deon de Jager, Deputy Director of the Civil Engineering Services Directorate. “However, these measures do not fully eliminate the risks, particularly for staff working alone or in areas without security guards.”

Staff attending to emergencies after-hours at the Municipal plants, reservoirs, and/or pump stations, facing the risk of assault or robbery. Areas of particular concern include Pacaltsdorp, Touwsranten, Wilderness Heights, Die Rus, Thembalethu, Kraaibosch, Herolds Bay, and Oubaai. While pump stations are secured with fencing and behind locked gates, they do little to protect staff, particularly at night.

Tahseen Raiman, Manager for Water Distribution, added that her team has identified several areas with heightened risks, including Ryger Park, Golden Valley, Conville, Thembalethu, Borcherds, Maraiskamp, Rosemore, and Protea Park. These areas can be particularly unsafe on weekends. For instance, in Golden Valley, children were recently seen climbing behind a moving water truck, putting both themselves and the driver in danger. In Ryger Park, a team was recently threatened and told they would not be allowed to leave until a leaking pipe was fixed.

While there have been no violent incidents against Water Distribution staff in the past year, there have been instances of infrastructure vandalism. To address these challenges, the municipality has implemented team-based working strategies and prioritizes the most urgent complaints. However, this approach has led to reduced service levels and increased costs for service delivery.

The Senior Manager of Community Safety at George Municipality, Lee-Anne Meiring, confirmed that the Community Safety Division supports the municipality’s service departments in cases such as disconnecting illegal connections. “Our law enforcement standby teams assist after hours when required or requested. We also collaborate with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that extra safety, protection, and policing are provided in the most volatile areas,” Meiring said. “We will not hesitate to take action against these criminal elements.”

George Municipality urges residents to play an active role in ensuring the safety of municipal staff working in their communities. Intimidation, harassment, and attacks on officials not only delay critical services but also endanger the people striving to keep essential services running.

“We need the support of the community to address this serious issue,” said Greeff. “The safety of our personnel is non-negotiable, and we ask all residents to assist us in protecting the very people who are working to improve their living conditions.”

The municipality continues to work on improving safety measures but stresses that community cooperation is key to ensuring that vital services can be delivered without disruption or fear.

Issued on behalf of Sanral.

Western Cape, 12 September 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced that construction works, that have been in progress at the Thembalethu interchange on the N2 at Nelson Mandela Boulevard since May 2022, is nearly complete.

“While construction work is virtually finished, temporary restrictions are still in place on Nelson Mandela Boulevard between the intersections with Tabata and Ngcakani Streets to the south and Vuyani Ncamazana and Main Streets to the north. This is while the installation of the bridge expansion joints is being finalised,” said Petronella Theron, SANRAL Project Manager.

It is anticipated that the temporary restrictions will be removed by Friday 13 September, and double carriageway traffic, both in and out of Thembalethu, should then be possible.

“Once the restrictions have been removed there may still be lane or shoulder restrictions until the end of October. These will be kept to off-peak hours as we are mindful of the impact on mobility,” said Theron.

Furthermore, new streetlights have been installed along the length of Nelson Mandela Boulevard which should aid visibility on this stretch of road.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused. This is however a short-term inconvenience in pursuit of long-term road safety and mobility improvements.