Author: Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe

Mr Godfrey Louw, Municipal Manager

The George Municipality is proud to announce the appointment of Mr Godfrey Louw as the new Municipal Manager, effective 15 April 2025. His term will extend until a year after the next local government elections in 2026.

Mr Louw, a highly experienced and respected public administrator, brings nearly 35 years of local government experience, with over 15 years in senior management roles. His extensive background spans various leadership and administrative positions in municipalities across the country, most recently serving as Acting Municipal Manager of George since October 2024.

He holds an Honours Degree in Public Administration, a Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law, and a Municipal Minimum Competency (MMC) qualification, a combination that provides both academic depth and practical expertise in governance and labour-related matters.

His previous appointments include:
• Acting Municipal Manager: George Municipality (2024–2025)
• Acting Deputy Director: Human Resources, George Municipality (2021)
• Municipal Manager: Eden District Municipality (2008–2017)
• Municipal Manager: Berg Rivier Municipality (2007–2008)

Earlier in his career, Mr Louw also held various roles in Saldanha Bay, Kouga, Uitenhage (Kariega), and within the former House of Representatives Administration.

Executive Mayor Ald Jackie von Brandis welcomed the appointment: “Mr Louw has already demonstrated outstanding leadership, steering the municipality with a steady hand since taking over in an acting capacity. His appointment brings continuity, stability, and an incredible wealth of institutional knowledge to the role. We have full confidence in his ability to take George forward with integrity, professionalism, and a firm commitment to responsive and people-centred governance.”

Mr Louw’s leadership is expected to further enhance service delivery, strengthen administrative systems, and support the municipality’s strategic development agenda.

In the photo: Various exhibitors on the GR&KK stand at WTMA 2025 along with the Garden Route District Mayor

Cape Town, South Africa – 16 April 2025 — George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism – the official tourism bureau of George Municipality, proudly participated in the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2025, held from 9 to 11 April at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Representing the region as part of the Garden Route and Klein Karoo stand, the team joined forces with surrounding Garden Route towns and tourism exhibitors to promote the destination to a global audience of travel professionals.

WTM Africa is a premier international travel trade event that connects tourism buyers and sellers from across the globe. This year, George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism engaged in over 30 high-level meetings with international buyers, including tour operators, travel agents, and wholesalers from the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, United States, Nigeria, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Brazil, and South Africa.

“Participating in WTM Africa offers us valuable insights into emerging travel trends and buyer expectations from across different markets,” said Sharon House, Senior Tourism Officer for George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism. “It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase the diverse experiences our region offers and to connect buyers with the right local businesses. We also support them with professional media content to help sell the destination more effectively.”

In celebration of the destination’s new brand, buyers received specially curated “George, naturally” gift bags filled with destination maps and brochures. The event also offered an invaluable opportunity to reconnect with buyers who had previously attended familiarisation (FAM) trips to the region, strengthening existing relationships and fostering future collaborations.

Local tourism enterprises added strength to the region’s presence at the show. The Wilderness Hotel and Redberry Farm exhibited on the shared stand, while Views Boutique Hotel and Spa and Oakhurst Farm Cottages participated independently, further showcasing the diversity of George’s tourism offerings. The stand also featured George’s immersive 360-degree VR experiences, allowing buyers to virtually explore the region’s highlights.

The Garden Route District Municipality played a pivotal role in the success of the stand, contributing significantly to the stand fees and enabling subsidised participation. The stand, coordinated by a regional committee made up of tourism office representatives, offered affordable participation packages starting from R26,000. With features such as individual exhibitor desks, a meeting diary, custom branding, lockable storage space and activation slots, the stand once again sold out well ahead of the event.

A highlight of this year’s event was the visit by the Garden Route District Executive Mayor Ald. Andrew Stroebel, who officially welcomed exhibitors and lent support to this longstanding marketing initiative.

George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism remains committed to positioning the region as a top-tier travel destination, and WTM Africa continues to serve as a vital travel trade platform for connecting with global partners and promoting tourism growth.

In the photo: Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing effective Thursday, 17 April 2025

In line with the adoption of modern technology, the George Municipality is pleased to announce the implementation of Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing (CLLT) at the George Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), effective Thursday, 17 April 2025.

The new system replaces the traditional handwritten learner’s licence test with a fully computerised version, offering enhanced accuracy, efficiency, and security. Conducted in real time, the system eliminates several risks associated with the manual process, including potential corruption and long waiting times for results.

The Executive Mayor of George, Ald. Jackie von Brandis welcomed the advancement, saying: “We are proud to introduce computerised learner’s licence testing at our Driving Licence Testing Centre. This innovative step allows applicants to take the test in any of South Africa’s 11 official languages, creating a more inclusive, accurate, and user-friendly experience. By minimising administrative errors and promoting fairness, we are ensuring that only qualified and deserving individuals are issued learner’s licences.”

Key Features of the CLLT System:
• Randomised Questions: Questions are drawn randomly from a national database, making it impossible for applicants to predict the test content.
• Immediate Results: Learners receive their results instantly upon completing the test, significantly reducing waiting times.
• Multilingual Support: Tests can be taken in any of South Africa’s 11 official languages, making the process more inclusive.

Impact on Appointments:
Due to the installation of the new CLLT equipment, classroom capacity has been reduced from 20 to 15 applicants per session. As a result, some existing appointments will be rescheduled. The George DLTC will contact affected applicants directly to arrange alternative dates. If you are not contacted, your scheduled appointment remains unchanged.

Please note that:
• The criteria to apply for a learner’s licence remain unchanged and are available on the George Municipality’s website.
• Oral learners’ licence testing will not be affected by the transition to CLLT.
• Applicants who require reading and writing assistance must still meet the department’s approval criteria.

For study materials, including road signs, rules of the road, and vehicle controls, please visit: https://www.natis.gov.za

The George Municipality remains committed to delivering efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly services through innovation.

In the photo from left are Cllr Thandiswa Qatana (Phakamani Makhosikazi Movement), Bernelee Wonderlik (Social Worker at Social Health and Empowerment), Ms Heliza Mentoor (Director, Department of Health Garden Route District), Reese O’Connor (Human Rights Violations Coordinator at Social Health and Empowerment), Mr Khangelani Rawuza (Deputy Director, Violence Prevention Unit), Colonel Lionel Kennedy (George SAPS), Khanyisile Fortuin (Regional Leader for LGBTQI Sector).

As part of the closing activities for Human Rights Month, the George Municipality—together with civil society organisations and other key stakeholders—joined residents in a Human Rights March to raise awareness about the significance of Human Rights Day and the values it upholds.

The march, which took place on Wednesday, 26 March 2025, highlighted several pressing issues, including:

• Access to quality healthcare services
• Addressing systemic corruption
• Improving the response to gender-based violence
• Strengthening accountability for human rights
• Upholding the principles of equality, dignity, and respect for all

Marchers gathered at the GO GEORGE Hub in Cradock Street between 10:00 and 12:00, where they voiced a collective call for a more just, inclusive, and equitable society.

Reese O’Connor, the Human Rights Violations Coordinator at Social Health and Empowerment, and Khanyisile Fortuin of the George Municipality’s Special Programmes—who also serves as Regional Leader for the LGBTQI Sector under the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)—handed over a memorandum to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Health. Colonel Lionel Kennedy received the memorandum on behalf of SAPS.

These initiatives reflect the Municipality’s ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of human rights, civic engagement, and social justice in the George community.

In the photo from from left: Sivuyile Mtila (Senior Manager for Environmental Services at George Mu-nicipality), Cllr Monique Simmers (MMC for Refuse, Environmental and Parks), Ald. Jackie von Brandis (Executive Mayor of George), Cllr Therasa Jeyi (Ward 16 & Chief Whip of Council) and Dawie Adonis (Director of Community Services at George Municipality).

As part of its commitment to keeping George clean and free from illegal dumping, the George Municipality has officially launched a citywide rollout of waste skips across various wards. The launch, held on Friday, 28 March 2025, marked the installation of three skips at New Dawn Park Primary School (Ward 16), Main Road in Rosedale (Ward 14) and Chrystal Avenue, Blanco (Ward 1). This initiative follows the successful Illegal Dumping Awareness Campaign in February, during which the municipality declared the month as Illegal Dumping Awareness Month.

The launch was attended by Executive Mayor Ald. Jackie von Brandis, along with MMC for Re-fuse, Environmental and Parks, Cllr Monique Simmers, and three ward councillors: Cllr The-rasa Jeyi (Ward 16 & Chief Whip of Council, Cllr Melvin Roelfse (Ward 14 & MMC for Communi-ty Services – Community Services – Social Development, Sport, Libraries & Customer Care) and Cllr Jean Safers (Ward 1 & MMC for Human Settlements).

Mayor von Brandis commended the Community Services team for their efforts in maintaining a cleaner city. She announced that 34 skips are currently being (will be deployed across) de-ployed across George, with plans to install (with plans to procure) additional skips in the next financial year.

She also acknowledged the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA)—a national gov-ernment entity under the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA)—for contributing five (5) of the 34 skips. MISA plays a critical role in enhancing mu-nicipal infrastructure for improved service delivery as part of the Back-to-Basics Strategy.

In her opening address, Chief Whip Cllr Jeyi expressed her excitement about the initiative:
“I’m delighted to see this project come to life. These skips will provide a legal and accessible way for residents to dispose of waste, keeping our wards clean and free of illegal dumping.” MMC Monique Simmers emphasised the community’s role in maintaining the cleanliness of their surroundings: “These skips are in the communities for the benefit of the communities. We urge all residents to use them responsibly,” she said.

About the Waste Skips
Refuse skips—also known as skip bins —are large containers designed for temporary waste storage and efficient removal of various types of waste, including household waste, construc-tion debris and commercial refuse

The Director of Community Services at George Municipality, Dawie Adonis, provided insight into the skip project, emphasizing its role in promoting responsible waste disposal and main-taining cleaner neighbourhoods. He highlighted that the placement of skips in strategic loca-tions would offer residents a convenient and legal alternative to illegal dumping, ultimately improving the overall hygiene and aesthetics of the city.

Senior Manager for Environmental Services, Sivuyile Mtila, reassured residents that regular black, blue, and green bag waste collection services will continue as usual. He clarified that the skips are not a replacement for this service but an additional measure to combat illegal dumping.

Mayor von Brandis urged residents to take care of the skips: “We request the community to make proper use of these skips by disposing of waste inside them, not outside—to ensure their effectiveness in keeping our city clean.” This initiative forms part of the municipality’s ongoing efforts to improve waste management and maintain a clean, healthy environment for all residents.

In the photo from left to right: Melvin Roelfse (MMC for Social Development, Sport, libraries and customer care), Nosicelo Mbethe (MMC for Human Resources), Monique Simmers (MMC for Community Services: Refuse, Environment and Parks), Iona Kritzinger (MMC for Financial and Strategic Services), Jean Safers (MMC for Human Settlements), Brown Johson (Deputy Executive Mayor), Minister Tertius Simmers (Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure), Godfrey Louw (Acting Municipal Manager), Jackie von Brandis (Executive Mayor), and Theresa Jeyi (Council Whip).

The Western Cape Minister for Infrastructure, Tertius Simmers, together with Executive Mayor Alderman Jackie von Brandis, officially conducted a sod-turning ceremony today, 24 March 2025, at Erf 325 near Pacaltsdorp. This milestone marks the start of construction on 30 units for military veterans, with work set to begin in March 2025.

The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure is overseeing the project and coordinating the official soil-turning ceremony. The event was attended by members of the Mayoral Committee, Acting Municipal Manager Godfrey Louw, senior officials from both the Department of Infrastructure and George Municipality, as well as representatives of military veterans.

This development highlights the commitment of both the municipality and the provincial government to providing inclusive housing solutions for vulnerable communities.