Author: Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe

Water losses are common challenges for municipalities in South Africa, with pressure management being considered one of the most beneficial, important, and cost-effective leakage management activities, the George Municipality’s Civil Engineering Services (CES) directorate has embarked on a pressure management study a move to reduce water losses and to enhance revenue.

“Most pipe bursts occur not only because of high pressure but rather due to ongoing pressure fluctuations forcing the pipes to continuously expand and contract, resulting in stress fractures,” says Deon de Jager a deputy director in the George Municipality’s CES directorate. Pressure builds up during night flows when demand is low, causing pipe failures (normally between 10pm and 4am).

“A pressure zone is defined as the area bounded by both a lower and upper elevation, all of which receive water from a given hydraulic grade line (HGL) or pressure from a set water surface.”

The CES directorate is, according to de Jager in the process of finalizing the pressure management study. Meanwhile, the department also installed and connected 60 smart bulk water meters to our Telemetry and SACADA system during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years.  This is an ongoing effort as the Directorate`s main goal is to convert the Municipal current water network into a smart water network.

“Currently, we have 18 pressure management zones in our water reticulation network. CES is planning to create an additional 60 new pressure management zones.  From December 2021 CES started logging all pipe bursts in our network and populating the data into our IMQS water master plan.”

“Normal water distribution systems are designed to withstand pressures varying between 24 meters and 90 meters (meaning 2.4 bars minimum and 9 bars maximum).   Most of the pipe failures occur during night flows when the water demand is low, and there is a build-up of pressure in the networks. Most of the areas experiencing regular pipe bursts/failures are situated above the 90m pressure contour.”

It must be realized that water reticulation network leakages during night flows are much higher due to elevated pressure.  Controlling the critical areas will enhance the potable water in hand, this is revenue enhancement.

“CES is making plans to address these critically affected areas by creating pressure management zones and controlling the high-pressure areas during night flows.  The proposed upgrades will cost the council about R35 million. Even though the project has not yet been funded, it has been on the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) wish list of projects for possible funding, pending the study’s conclusion,” concluded.

Ends.

The innovative Drive-through service implemented by the George Municiality opens to the public on 7^th November 2022. An unused municipal building has been upgraded and converted into a brand-new Motor Vehicle and Registration (MVR) satellite office which opened to bulk dealers this week.

Cllr Charlotte Clarke, Portfolio Councillor for Community Safety is thrilled that the facility is due to open to the public and said that it will assist in relieving the pressure on our officials and will aid to improve service delivery. “George wants to move with the times with the new drive-through service and we have heeded calls from the public to increase our capacity,” Clarke said.

The Blanco MVR office will handle bulk services at the inside counters, and the drive-through service will only be for customers to renew up to a maximum of two Motor Vehicle Licence’s at a time.

The public must please note that no assistance can be given to anyone with a LATE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENCE OR WITHOUT A NOTICE NUMBER / MVL2 NOTICE at the Drive-through.

The Blanco offices will unfortunately not be able to provide assistance during any periods of LOADSHEDDING until a generator is installed at the premises in early January 2023.

Please see details below for how to renew your Motor Vehicle Licence using the drive-through service.

Blanco Satellite Office

9 George Street, Blanco

Open weekdays 8am-3pm, except Wednesdays closed at 2pm due to compulsory training.

Drive Through Services

1. ONLY Motor Vehicle Licence Renewals can be done at the Drive-through window. (All other transactions must be handled at the Hibernia Street premises.)
2. An official on site will guide vehicles and proceedings at the drive-through in the initial stages.
3. Please have your MVL2 printout or notice number ready. You cannot be assisted without this documentation. (Please note the Road Traffic Management Corporation
   (RTMC) no longer allows you to print a copy of your MVL2 from E-Natis.)
4. Late Motor Vehicle Licence renewals can not be processed at the Drive-through.
5. Please note a maximum of two licenses can be processed per visit, per person.
6. No cash payments will be accepted, payment is via card on
7. You must as a vehicle owner, REGISTER on E-Natis in order to receive a notification of the expiry of your Motor Vehicle Licence.

This is how you register on E-Natis:
Start by registering a profile online at https://online.natis.gov.za/#/  Choose between registering as a business or individual.

1. Enter the following details for Individual: Identification type, Identification number, Initials and Surname.
2. Enter the following details for businesses: Business/Company details – Identification type, Identification number, Company name. Proxy details – Identification type, Identification number, Initials, Surname.
3. Please enter the CAW number of any of the vehicles registered in your name/company name in order to register and then proceed to the next step.
4. Enter your latest cellphone number and E-mail address accurately, along with your chosen Username and password and click on NEXT.
5. You or your company are now registered on the online E-Natis system and will receive your Electronic MVL2 via E-mail or Notice number via SMS, a month in advance of your motor vehicle license expiry date. (Please note the Road Traffic Management Corporation
   (RTMC) no longer allows you to print a copy of your MVL2 from E-Natis.)
6. The amount for the renewal of your vehicle will be on the MVL2 Notice along with all your motor vehicle particulars.
7. If you have previously registered on E-Natis, please ensure that your most recent E-mail address and cell phone number is updated in order to receive notification of your license expiry.
8. Once you receive either an MVL2 notice via E-mail or Notice number via SMS, you may present this to the licensing office for your renewal.
9. Please note that OVERDUE licenses may not be renewed with the MVL2 and Notice number. A green ALV form is required to renew OVERDUE  licenses and cases where the Owner/Company  did not receive any of these notifications.

Bulk Motor Vehicle Registration Counters

Two Bulk Dealer MVR Counters are located inside the Blanco premises.

Motor Vehicle Registration and Licencing

Hibernia Street (next to train station) 044 801 9310 or 044 801 9311 or mvr@george.gov.za
(License renewals, registrations, duplicate registration certificates, permits etc)

Open to public weekdays 8am-3pm, except Wednesdays closed at 2pm due to compulsory training.

This period marks the beginning of a new phase in your academic career – you are starting your final examinations. Despite all the challenges that you have faced in these past two years as a result of the pandemic, you have made a series of choices that brought you to where you are today, and we have never been prouder.

You have commenced with what is now the most important exam in your scholastic career, this may result in some trepidation, but this is Normal – all adults experienced this. This should not discourage you – please approach this next chapter with the determination and focus that you have shown throughout your many years of schooling. You are now faced with some more choices that will determine your future. Choose success, choose to be triumphant over every hurdle you will encounter. Make that decision every single time you prepare and every single time you pick up a pen to write that exam.

It will be good to keep calm during the exams. Stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize – to achieve great results that will open doors for you and shape your entire future.

To the Matric class of 2022, this is your moment. Use the time you have been given to prepare, wisely. You have the backing, well wishes, thoughts and prayers of the entire George municipal area behind you. Do not be discouraged, face this challenge, and conquer it.

Good luck to all of you, make us all proud,

Your Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk

Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk, accompanied by the Portfolio Councillor for Civil Engineering Services: Capital Projects & BFI, Jacqulique Von Brandis, visited the recently completed upgrading of Airway Road.

“We would like to thank the public for their patience and consideration in allowing the contractor to finalise the required work,” said Mayor van Wyk. “These infrastructure rehabilitation projects are important in terms of the maintenance of our roads, improving safety and extending the useful life of municipal infrastructure.”

According to Ricus Fivaz, Manager for Land Development at the George Municipality’s Civil Engineering Services Directorate, this rehabilitation project was prioritized in terms of the Road Pavement Management System, and the implementation of the construction was accelerated when funding became available to execute this priority upgrade.  

The work comprised the rehabilitation of 685m of Airway Road and entailed the milling of the existing bituminous surface layers and gravel base layers, whereafter a new cold in-situ recycled subbase layer, new bituminous base and surface layers were constructed. In the process, several kerbs and existing services were also replaced.  In addition, the entry and exit radii and associated layer works of three roundabouts, between Meent Street and Plattner Boulevard, in Heather Park were improved to allow for better traffic flow and safety.

TABATA STREETS UPGRADES

Phase 1 of the upgrading and improvement of Tabata Street was completed at the beginning of 2022, and phase 2 commenced in June 2022 and is set for completion in January to early February 2023.  The current work on phase 2 is progressing very well and the Municipality would like to use this opportunity to thank the community of Thembalethu (especially zones 12, 13 & 15) and all role players for their cooperation, patience, and support.

Once completed the improvements to this main arterial through Zones 12, 13 and 15 will most certainly improve the experience of road users, pedestrians, and the lives of residents.  The Municipality has applied for additional grant funding to complete the upgrading of Tabata Street up to the Tabata Street/Nelson Mandela Boulevard southern intersection. This will most probably be implemented in two phases, subject to the securing of the required funding.

GOLF STREET

Unfortunately, the equally important upgrading of Golf Street has been delayed due to a lack of available funding but is currently the highest priority on the list of roads for upgrading are concerned. Should the Municipality’s application for additional grant funding be successful this project will proceed to construction as soon as possible. In the interim various minor and temporary improvements are implemented on an ongoing basis to ensure a determined level of service is maintained

Please watch Mayor van Wyk’s visit to Airway Road: https://youtu.be/KsgNXBJ3uJE

The Meul sewage pump station, one of George’s most critical pump stations, which has in recent years experienced frequent and costly breakdowns that threaten the integrity of the sewage system it serves and the surrounding environment, is currently being upgraded.

According to the George Municipality’s Civil Engineering Services (CES) Department, the current upgrade will provide more energy-efficient pumps with higher capacity that meet future flow needs, as well as provide additional reliability by adding an emergency power generator to keep the installation operational during load shedding, amongst other critical upgrades. This upgrade comprises three main components: civil engineering construction, mechanical refurbishment and upgrading, and a new electrical and control installation.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk was accompanied by the Portfolio Councillor for the Civil Engineering Services: Capital Projects & BFI, Jacqulique Von Brandis recently visited the site to see the progress that has been made so far.

“We have come to visit one of the three pump stations in George, the Meul pump station. The work that is being carried out is more than refurbishing, it’s a total rebuild of this pump station,” said Mayor van Wyk. “These pump stations are 1975 vintages and they have reached the end of their life span; hence we welcome the rehabilitation and rebuilding that is now taking place. Thanks to the National Treasury’s Budget Facility Infrastructure (BFI) award to George last year which makes this upgrade a reality.”

The contract value for the phase 1 upgrade is approximately R31.67 million and this first phase of the upgrade is expected to be completed in the next 12 months. The CES department further confirmed that civil construction is underway while the contractor already possesses the procured generator and pumps. The pump station requires refurbishment to rehabilitate the current equipment as well as upgrading to provide sufficient capacity.

“The civil engineering upgrades entail repairs to the pump station that includes the refurbishment of the internal of the pump station, a new Motor Control Centre (MCC) room, a generator room and permanent backup generator, and a new valve chamber to the rising main and sump modifications,” said Gerard de Swardt, a project manager in the Civil Engineering Services directorate.

The mechanical component includes new pumps, pipework, valves, screens and equipment, while the electrical upgrade comprises electronic and instrumentation refurbishment and new bulk electrical works, a new motor control centre, a permanent standby generator, instrumentation and related cables.

Phase 2 of the upgrade will follow shortly after the completion of the phase one contract and will include mechanical equipment at the inlet works to remove screenings and grit automatically, and the replacement of a portion of the rising main. Site access and security will also be improved as part of the upgrade.

To Watch the Executive Mayor’s visit to the Meul Sewage Pump Station, please follow this link: https://youtu.be/3MVDtj3t9ig

ENDS.

Load Shedding has become a regular occurrence in South Africa. Apart from its negative effect of power outages, it has an enormous impact on consumers and businesses as it is more likely to cause damage to appliances brought on by power surges and dips.

When the Load Shedding stages increase, so do the frequency of the rotational power cuts, which in turn results in an increased risk of damage to sensitive electronic items due to power surges, fire, and criminal vandalism.

REDUCE NUISANCE TRIPPING

George Municipality strongly encourages residents to reduce the risk and occurrence of nuisance tripping by switching off equipment such as geysers, television decoders, microwave ovens, and swimming pool filters BEFORE a scheduled Load-shedding takes place. Also take care to shut down all electronic equipment such as computers and laptops, unplug cell phone chargers and leave one light on to indicate the return of the supply. The strong surge of power coming back can easily damage sensitive electronic equipment.

Nuisance tripping is another issue that sometimes occurs as the technical staff are in the process of restoring the power supply. This is when the power supply is restored to an area and fails to come back on in some parts. When the electrical connection is restored by Eskom, the start-up load on a transformer might exceed the capacity of the network, causing the circuit breaker to trip. We are only able to reset the circuit breaker once the peak load is reduced.

DAMAGE TO ELECTRICITY NETWORKS

Continuous bouts of load shedding are affecting our electricity networks, especially from stages 4 and above. While our normal peak usage is at 85 MVA, this can shoot up to 110 MVA when the power is returned after load shedding which negatively impacts on the network. This results in trips or faults occurring which require our maintenance teams to effect repairs often during the night.

DANGERS OF FIRE

George has recently experienced fires at domestic and business premises that could possibly be associated with periods of load shedding. Additional care and safety measures should therefore be taken with appliances connected to the circuits.
Fire Safety Equipment requirements, please contact 044 801 6300.

• Building Control can be contacted on 044 801 9176 with any queries about structural integrity, hazardous materials and a valid Certificate of Occupation.
• Electrical related compliance please contact 044 801 9222.

Apart from load shedding, the George Municipality continues to assure residents and businesses that the service departments are constantly busy dealing with repairs, maintenance and laudably getting to planned preventative maintenance.

Recently there have been queries about whether sufficient maintenance was being done to our infrastructure. Residents can be assured that the service departments are constantly busy dealing with repairs, maintenance and laudably getting to planned preventative maintenance.

A few weeks ago, a communique went out about the progress being made on upgrading the bulk sewer mains in Wards 11 and 15 in Thembalethu that will allow for the decommissioning of an old sewer pump station while also catering for increased capacity and future housing developments. In the past week, while planned maintenance was being undertaken on a water pipeline in Zone 9, Thembalethu, an unexpected problem occurred while working in difficult conditions resulting in the repair becoming complex and residents experiencing a shortage of water. These are but two examples of work that takes place daily across George.

There is a planned strategy to deal with the maintenance of our electricity networks whereby high-impact equipment has received attention over the past year, with work progressively moving to the medium voltage networks for protection and preventative maintenance. Scheduled maintenance outages are regularly taking place in various parts of George to deal with identified defects.

Continuous bouts of load shedding are affecting our electricity networks, especially from stages 4 and above. While our normal peak usage is at 85 MVA, this can shoot up to 110 MVA when the power is returned after load shedding which negatively impacts on the network. This results in trips or faults occurring requiring maintenance teams to effect repairs often during the night.

Our communications to customers have highlighted the need to switch off appliances during load shedding and only to switch on progressively thereafter to minimise the load factor referred to and damage to installations. We have recently experienced fires at domestic and business premises that appear to be associated with periods of load shedding. Additional care and safety measures should therefore be taken with appliances connected to the circuits.

Recent news reports refer to challenges with water supplies being experienced in the Gauteng cities. Over the past two years, our focus has been to ensure that improvements to and maintenance of infrastructure receive attention. On an ongoing basis, we will be continuing to assess the risks, make forward plans and increase access to data for decision-making purposes.

As our electricity supply woes continue, we are meeting regularly to explore ways in which we can accelerate access to renewable energy sources to provide relief to our business and domestic consumers. We are fully aware of the tough conditions being experienced by businesses that are trying to maintain operation and production levels. Research is ongoing to find technical and financial solutions that will comply with the legal framework within which we operate.

Alderman L van Wyk

Executive Mayor of George

The George Municipality is pleased to announce that the Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DFFE) which is responsible for protecting, conserving, and improving the country’s environment and natural resources, has recently approved just over R 18 million for the establishment of an integrated waste management solution for George.

This funding will be steered towards the construction of the composting facility over a multiyear time frame (22/23, 23/24). The composting facility project was approved in line with the National Government’s Operation Phakisa, an initiative that was designed to fast-track the implementation of solutions to critical development issues. Operation Phakisa is an innovative and pioneering approach to translating detailed plans into concrete results through dedicated delivery and collaboration. “Phakisa” means “hurry up” in Sesotho and the application of this methodology highlights the government’s urgency to deliver.  It plays a crucial role in accelerating the delivery of some of the development priorities.

According to the acting director for the George Municipality’s Community Services, Sivuyile Mtila, this project consists of the construction of platform 1 which includes access roads, platform 2, a Retention Pond, Ancillary infrastructure, a new dry recycling facility, upgrades to the transfer station, project Management and administration, design and supervision of construction works and upgrades to the transfer station

“The project is not listed on the George Municipality’s budget but is managed by the DFFE,” said Mtila. “This means that the department will also undertake the supply chain management process in collaboration with the George Municipality, to source a suitably qualified consulting engineering firm in accordance with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) conditions of contract for plant and design-build and engineering works as the contractor for the design-build of an integrated waste management facility inclusive of a composting facility, dry recyclables facility and ancillary infrastructure.”

Ends.

The George Municipality’s sports team that participated in the Garden Route Sport and Recreation Day on the 30 of September in Riversdale, came back victorious as the team grabbed two gold medals.

The two gold medalists are Grant November for golf and Randy Wesso for table tennis. The netball also went through to the semi-finals and won 9/7. The George netball team was supposed to play in the finals, but the game did not take place due to logistics. However, based on the goal average, the George Municipal netball team was the top team.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk congratulated the team for their success. “We are thrilled to hear that you went out there and represented George Municipality. When you left George, you told me that you would make us proud, and I am thrilled that you made this a reality. Congratulations to the officials who attained Gold and to our netball team who reached the final. Well done to all competitors. you have made us proud!”

The Garden Route Sport and Recreation Day is an annual sports event that is hosted by Sport and Recreation Services of the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport involving government officials in the various districts of the province as well as in the metropole to try their hand at soccer, mini-cricket, volleyball, tug of war, chess, athletics, and many other codes. The George Municipality has always been part of the Garden Route Sport and Recreation Day, formerly known as the “Better Together Games” since its inception in 2007 and successfully brought back gold, silver and bronze medallions and gone through to the final games.

Ends.