last-news

In the photo above: Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

George Municipality has awarded a construction contract for the upgrade (enlargement) of the raw water suction supply pipe from the intake tower in the Garden Route Dam to the two raw water pumpstations. The work will be completed by July 2024 and will not impact recreational activities around the dam for most of the construction duration including the festive season. There will be a short period of time next year when the contractor will do some upgrading off the approach road to the parking area and the public will be notified timeously when that occurs.

The construction on site has started with delivery of the new 800 mm diameter stainless steel pipes and installation of a crawl beam in the tunnel under the dam wall. The current raw water supply pipe is an aged 600 mm diameter asbestos-cement pipe, which requires upgrading to cater for the additional capacity required in future years. The new pipe will have a capacity of 1200 litres per second, which will be able to supply both pumpstations and allow them to operate simultaneously. The pumpstations will then in future be able to pump up to 100 million litres of raw water per day to the balancing dams and water treatment plants to supply in the medium to long term future potable water demand for George.

During the construction period, involving the removal of the old existing pipe and installation of the new stainless-steel pipe, the raw water supply to the pumpstations will be pushed through an existing adjacent pipe, which will be connected to the pumpstations through a new cross-connection. After completion of the installation of the new stainless steel supply pipe, this existing adjacent pipe will be closed off from the tower intake and pumpstations and be returned to function as a dedicated dam scour pipe. The adjacent pipe can also be used in emergencies. The project also includes other minor upgrades to the access and surrounds of the dam and pumpstations to improve various safety aspects.

Photos:

Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

Workers busy with the crawl beam installation. It is used to remove the 3-meter old pipeline pieces and in turn also used to bring in and move the stainless pipe pieces to where they need to be installed. The installation is permanent and is also being done with safety measures in mind.

Pieces of new stainless-steel pipes transported to the Garden Route Dam and offloaded.

Workers busy with the crawl beam installation. It is used to remove the 3-meter old pipeline pieces and in turn also used to bring in and move the stainless pipe pieces to where they need to be installed. The installation is permanent and is also being done with safety measures in mind.

The Rosemoor route was one of the first to roll out in December 2014. Today, 34 bus routes serve communities all over town over a distance of 145 km.

Celebrating nine years of service to the community of George, there is an extra bounce in the step of all GO GEORGE stakeholders this year, sparked by the long-awaited addition of Thembalethu to the list of communities that can enjoy the service.

Nine years ago on 8 December 2014, the bus service rolled out four routes with 14 beautiful buses that caught the eye and made residents’ hearts beat proudly as the long, shiny bodies drove down the streets of George. Eight months later, 35 minibuses with hydraulic hoists for wheelchairs were added to the fleet. The minibuses were designed and built especially for GO GEORGE and remain the only public service minibuses in South Africa that have this feature.

Today the bus service is operated over 145 km on 34 routes with 54 standard buses, 33 midibuses and 35 minibuses traversing the streets of George and enabling residents to travel to work and school as well as to medical and community services and shops throughout town. A total of 97 buses are operational during peak hours, with a specified number of backup buses and buses undergoing routine maintenance or repairs at the depot.

Gradual roll-out to Thembalethu
The service to Thembalethu is being rolled out gradually to accommodate the traffic challenges on the Thembalethu/N2 bridge. The first route, between Thembalethu and Blanco, was introduced on 5 November and was welcomed with great excitement and gratitude by the residents of Thembalethu. Altogether 30 028 trips were undertaken on this route in November alone.
Announcements about which routes come next will be made when the construction work on the bridge and other factors allow.
“We are very proud of everything we have achieved thus far,” says GO GEORGE Acting Manager, Morné Lakay. “But this year, we are mostly grateful to have rolled out to Thembalethu. Even though we activated only one route, the Thembalethu residents now believe that we are determined to include them in the benefits offered by this affordable, scheduled transport service.”

More people travel by bus
Aside from the expansion to Thembalethu, it is clear that people increasingly choose the bus service as their means of transport.
Last year, GO GEORGE carried 41 581 passengers during Black Friday weekend. This year, the weekend saw 43 998 boardings. The average weekday trips have also increased over the past year, from 17 635 in November 2022 to 19 979 last month – an increase of more than 2 000 trips per day.

“This trend is gratifying since, besides offering benefits to our passengers, public transport also aims to alleviate the impact of toxic exhaust fumes on the environment. When we encourage George residents to make use of the bus service – even if they own a car – we explain this as the environmentally friendly choice,” Lakay said.
For more information about the bus service, the GO GEORGE Call Centre is operational from 05:00 until 20:00, seven days a week, and can be called toll-free on 0800 044 044.

GO GEORGE vier nege jaar diens aan die gemeenskap 

Met die viering van nege jaar se diens aan die gemeenskap van George is daar vanjaar ‘n ekstra huppel in die stap van alle belanghebbendes by GO GEORGE, aangevuur deur die langverwagte byvoeging van Thembalethu op die lys van gemeenskappe wat die voordeel van die busdiens kan geniet.
Nege jaar gelede op 8 Desember 2014 het die busdiens vier roetes uitgerol met 14 pragtige busse wat oë laat rek en harte trots laat klop het wanneer die lang, blink lywe in die strate van George afry. Agt maande later is 35 minibusse met hidrouliese hystoestelle vir rolstoele by die vloot gevoeg. Die minibusse is spesiaal vir GO GEORGE ontwerp en gebou en is steeds die enigste minibusse in openbare diens in Suid-Afrika wat oor hierdie fasiliteit beskik.
Vandag word die busdiens oor 145 km op 34 roetes bedryf met 54 standaardbusse, 33 midibusse en 35 minibusse wat die strate van George deurkruis en inwoners in staat stel om werk en skool toe as ook na mediese- en gemeenskapsdienste en winkels oral in die dorp te ry. Altesame 97 busse is in bedryf tydens spitstye, met ’n bepaalde aantal rugsteunbusse en busse wat roetine-onderhoud of herstelwerk ondergaan in die depot.

Geleidelike uitrol na Thembalethu
Die diens na Thembalethu word geleidelik uitgerol om die verkeersuitdagings op die Thembalethu/N2-brug te akkommodeer. Die eerste roete, tussen Thembalethu en Blanco, is op 5 November geaktiveer en is met groot opgewondenheid en dankbaarheid deur die inwoners van Thembalethu verwelkom. Altesaam 30 028 ritte is net in November op dié roete onderneem.
Aankondigings oor watter roete(s) volgende aan die beurt kom, sal gemaak word wanneer die konstruksiewerk op die brug en ander faktore dit toelaat.

“Ons is baie trots op alles wat ons tot dusver bereik het,” sê GO GEORGE se waarnemende bestuurder, Morné Lakay. “Maar vanjaar is ons grotendeels dankbaar dat ons na Thembalethu kon uitrol. Al het ons net een roete geaktiveer, glo die Thembalethu-inwoners nou dat ons vasbeslote is om hulle in te sluit by die voordele wat hierdie bekostigbare, geskeduleerde vervoerdiens bied.”

Al hoe meer mense ry bus
Afgesien van die uitbreiding na Thembalethu, is dit duidelik dat mense toenemend die busdiens as hul vervoermiddel kies.
Verlede jaar het GO GEORGE 41 581 passasiers tydens Swart Vrydag-naweek vervoer. Vanjaar is daar oor dié naweek 43 998 ritte onderneem. Die gemiddelde ritte per weeksdag het ook die afgelope jaar toegeneem, van 17 635 in November 2022 tot 19 979 verlede maand – ‘n toename van meer as 2 000 ritte per dag.

“Hierdie tendens is verblydend aangesien openbare vervoer – tesame met die voordele aan ons passasiers – ook daarop gemik is om die impak van giftige uitlaatgasse op die omgewing te verlig. Wanneer ons inwoners van George aanmoedig om van die busdiens gebruik te maak – selfs al besit hulle ‘n motor – verduidelik ons dit as die omgewingsvriendelike keuse,” het Lakay gesê.
Vir meer inligting oor die busdiens kan die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum tolvry geskakel word op 0800 044 044, met agente aan diens van 05:00 tot 20:00, sewe dae per week.

ONDERSKRIF:
Die Rosemoor-roete was een van die eerstes wat in Desember 2014 uitgerol is. Vandag is daar 34 busroetes wat gemeenskappe regoor die dorp oor ’n afstand van 145 km bedien.

As we enter our busy holiday period, readers will probably have noticed the preparations being made to ensure that our visitors have a pleasant stay. From the beginning of December, there is a daily season preparedness meeting to ensure that all our services function optimally. Once again, we are enduring loadshedding and doing our best to operate within these constraints. This year beachgoers will notice that we have partnered with the NSRI who will be managing the teams of lifesavers on duty at our beaches.

Over the past couple of weeks, George has been called upon to assist Knysna Municipality where difficulties have been experienced by the municipality in transporting refuse to the regional landfill site and in providing water to households where there have been supply interruptions. This has meant that we have sent in some of our refuse compactors and water tankers to assist a neighbouring municipality.

George takes enormous pride in ensuring that our core services function effectively and that when repairs are necessary, they are undertaken in the fastest possible time with the proviso that the applicable faulty parts can be sourced rapidly.

Readers may be interested to note that the Western Cape Government has recently released the MERO report for 2023-24 for the province which is the Municipal Economic Review and Outlook.
This report follows the Census 2022 report which has revealed that the Western Cape’s population has grown to 7,4 million with the City of Cape Town at 4,8 million people. The substantial increase in population has raised the demand for basic services, housing, education, and health services. George as well as the Province will be addressing these challenges in the coming months. While unemployment has decreased, it is evident that the informal sector is largely responsible for job growth.

In terms of the Gross Domestic Product per Region (“GDPR”), the Cape Metro, George and Drakenstein are the biggest contributors to growth with George growing at an estimated 3,3% in 2022. The GDPR for the Garden Route for 2021 is R57,3 billion with George at R22,8 billion or 40% of the region and 3% of the Province. The 2022 population of George at 294929 is 35,2% of the region’s 838457 persons. As of 2021, there is an indication of 73193 persons being in employment with an estimated job gain of 4650 for 2022.

It is interesting to note that in respect of the regional tourism performance bed-nights occupied in 2022 had recovered to 72,9% (13,32m) for the Cape Metro when compared to pre-Covid-19 in 2019, whereas in the Garden Route, the recovery was at 74,7% (6,8m).

Readers interested in obtaining the full report are welcome to email mayor@george.gov.za

Ald Leon van Wyk
Executive Mayor of George

Above photograph of Veronique Ferndale who will be performing at the Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival.

The George Municipality wishes to confirm that Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival programme will run from 18h00 to 20h00 on Sunday, 10 December 2023, and the line-up of artists will focus on the spirit of Christmas with well-loved Carols.

Map of the road closures at Pacaltsdorp Lights Festival.

The T.B.C group

Zintle Langa

Geraldo Lewis

Accompanied by members of his MAYCO from left back, Cllr Nosicelo Mbete, Cllr Brendan Adams, Mr Bent Nicolajsen (Danish Liberal Democracy Programme), Cllr Johan Stander, Cllr Christiaan Neethling and Cllr Johan Du Toit. Front row Chief Whip Marlene Viljoen, Rebecca Carter Smith, NSRI Lifeguard Operations Manager and Adam Helling, NSRI Lifeguard Area Manager, Ald Van Wyk hoisted the blue flag to cheers.

The Executive Mayor for George, Leon Van Wyk made a quick stop in Herold’s Bay on Friday 1 December to officially hoist the first Blue flag of the season assisted by Bent Nicolajsen, from the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme.

Ald Van Wyk had just finished with a site visit to the George 1 MW Solar Plant and the Outeniqua Wastewater Treatment Works with Mr Nicolajsen. After a pleasant stop in the sunshine at Herold’s Bay, the itinerary continued with a visit to the Denneoord Water Treatment Works and the George Fire Station and Control Room.

The day ended with a visit to Redberry Farm. Mr Bent Nicolajsen is the project manager for the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme, a programme funded by the Danish Government that promotes democracy and coalitions. Mr Nicolajsen made a short visit to George to view some of our infrastructure and to gain a better understanding of George as intermediate city. The Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk was a participant on a recent study tour to Denmark which focussed on energy and coalitions and was led by Mr Nicolajsen.

George Municipality is proud to have received our third consecutive Clean Audit for 2022/23 financial year. Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz noted that a clean audit is based on 3 pillars, namely compliance with legislation, performance outcomes and financial processes. “All of our municipal officials therefore play a role in ensuring that all three aspects are performed to the satisfaction of the Auditor-General.  A special thanks to the CFO and his team and all of our officials for this great team effort. This is George’s 3rd consecutive clean audit, and we strive to maintain this standard going forward”.

Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk extended his congratulations to the Municipal Manager, chief financial officer and the entire team involved in once again achieving the clean audit on behalf of Council. “ We are very proud of the perseverance and tenacity of our team as the accounting treatment and technical interpretations and requirements have become more complex over the past decade, especially so for large municipalities.”

Definitions:
Qualified Opinion – An isolated account/s balance/s or disclosure note may contain material misstatements as indicated in the audit report, but except for the qualification areas highlighted, the financial statements present fairly, or give a true and fair view, of the financial affairs of the municipality.

Unqualified Opinion– Is also known is an unmodified opinion. Unmodified opinions are expressed by the auditor when the auditor concludes that the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. Therefore, the financial statements contain no material misstatements, but some findings may have been raised on either reporting on predetermined objectives or non-compliance with legislation, or both.

Clean Audit – The financial statements are free from material misstatements (in other words, a financially unqualified audit opinion) and there are no material findings on reporting on performance objectives or non-compliance with legislation.

George Municipality has in the past two weeks assisted Hessequa Municipality as well as Knysna Municipality with water-related issues. George Fire Brigade sent our 35,000-liter stainless steel water tanker to Heidelberg last week after they experienced issues with a reservoir that ran dry.

Seen here before departing the Civils Depot are Water Tanker 1 with from left Neville Olyn, Cebisa Mabophe (EPWP) and Simthanda Mjucu

Water was moved from Riversdale to Heidelberg by Fire Officials Johan Troskie and Wilton Oktober who worked throughout the night to finish filling the reservoir. The tanker is fitted with a pump that can extract water from sources and can deliver 2200 litres per minute at 10 Bar. On the road the 18-metre (13-metre tanker pulled by a five-metre truck), 22-wheeler vehicle is an impressive site and requires an advanced EC-driver’s licence for articulated vehicles.

This weekend the fire tanker again managed by Fire Officials Johan Troskie and Wilton Oktober assisted in Knysna following the decommissioning of the Khayalethu Dam which underwent a cleaning operation. Our Civil Engineering Department sent two teams with two water trucks through to assist as well with delivering of water to Knysna communities during the cleaning process.

Tanker 2 manned by from left Shando Abrahams, Lifa Duks (EPWP) and Nonzukiso Ntutela. The two EPWP employees assisted with filling of the tankers but did not go with to Knysna. Regretably all of the George vehicles including the Fire tanker had to withdraw following threats of violence from the Knysna local communities.

George Municipality thanks all of our officials for always going the extra mile when called upon.

George Municipality is pleased to advise that three temporary camping sites (as per graphic attached A, B and C) have been identified for overnight camping at Gwaing River Mouth and Beach from 15  December to 3 January 2024.

This is in addition to the current Caravan Camp site which has twenty stands and the Gwaing Day Camp which allows for ten braai spots but no overnight camping.
Council noted the requirements for additional camping sites at this popular site during the festive season and approved the concession at the Ordinary Council of 30 November 2023.

Prospective campers are expected to pay a deposit to secure their booking on a first come first served basis. The temporary camp sites which allow a maximum of six persons per site, do not have access to electricity, and only the public amenities at the beach area are available to the temporary beach camp sites. Gwaiing River Mouth and Beach falls under the Outeniqua Sensitive Coastal Area and for that reason no additional vegetation can be cleared and each individual tent site will not extend past 30 m2. Campers wishing to use the beach camp sites must adhere to the conditions of the Gwaing Green Coast Award and note that littering and excessive noise is not allowed.

For bookings please contact Celeste Africa via email cpafrica@george.gov.za or 044 802 1622 for an application form.
Cost: R182.85 (50% discount of normal R365.70). Full amount to be paid as soon as invoices are processed.

In the photo, the Portfolio Cllr for Electrotechnical Services Nosicelo Mbete and Mayor Leon van Wyk are switching one of the  high mast lights

In a concerted effort to address safety concerns and combat criminal activities, the George Municipality has successfully installed 30 high mast lights in strategic locations over the past six months. These installations, situated in Thembalethu, Lawaaikamp, Parkdene, and Borchers, aim to improve lighting in high-density areas with historically low to no lighting, ultimately contributing to enhanced community safety.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk commended the Municipal Electrotechnical Services for the installation of the high mast lights saying that the installation of these high mast lights is expected to yield several benefits, including crime prevention and improved Security.

“The enhanced lighting will act as a deterrent to criminal activities, providing communities with increased visibility and the ability to monitor cable theft and vandalism of municipal resources and property.” Mayor van Wyk said. “Adequate lighting significantly reduces safety risks associated with nighttime activities. The high mast lights, with an effective radius of approximately 50 to 60 meters, will contribute to the overall security of the communities.”

The distribution of the high mast lights is as follows:
• Thembalethu: 18 high mast lights distributed across various wards.
• Parkdene: 5 high mast lights.
• Lawaaikamp: 4 high mast lights.
• Borchards: 3 high mast lights.

According to the acting director for Electrotechnical Services, Kobus Wilken, this initiative was made possible through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and a portion came from the George Municipal’s own funding. “The Municipality submitted funding requests to address the critical need for improved lighting and successfully secured approval from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for the installation of the 30 high mast lights. The MIG allocated a total of R17 million, supplemented by an additional R2 million from municipal funding,” Wilken said.

The Portfolio Councillor of the Electrotechnical Services and Fleet, Councillor Nosicelo Mbete urged the public to preserve these important assets. “While celebrating this significant milestone, the Municipality urges the community to play an active role in safeguarding this essential infrastructure against theft and vandalism. The success of these installations relies on the collective effort of residents to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the high mast lights,” Cllr Mbete said.

The Municipality is confident that these installations will contribute to a safer environment and provide residents with the assurance of well-lit public spaces.

Aerial view of Thembalethu Substation

In response to the growing demand for electricity and to enhance reliability in Thembalethu, the construction of the new 66/11 kV 40 MVA electrical substation in the area is well underway. This project, currently one of the largest in the Southern Cape, signifies a major milestone in the City of George’s bulk infrastructure development.

Reacting to the progress made so far, Alderman Leon Van Wyk, Executive Mayor of George, expressed the significance of this initiative. “The construction of the Thembalethu 66kV Substation is a crucial step in ensuring improved electrical supply reliability and providing adequate capacity to support the area’s growth. It is a demonstration of our commitment to facilitating growth and service delivery, attracting investment from both the state and businesses,” Mayor Van Wyk said.

Construction Update

Despite some initial delays, construction progress remains on track, with the project expected to be completed within three years. Key milestones include the completion of the substation building and the installation of most electrical equipment. The 11 kV switchgear panel is in place, and two 66/11 kV, 20 MVA power transformers, along with switchgear and other essential equipment, have been successfully installed. Ongoing work involves the installation of electrical and control cabling.

The substation is adopting the latest, state-of-the-art technology, including an IEC61850 protocol protection scheme for enhanced control and protection within the substation. The DNP3 VER 2 protocol is being utilized for communication between the substation and the control centre, ensuring efficiency with reduced ‘overheads.’ Fibre optic cables are being used extensively for control and protection communication, minimizing the reliance on copper cables. This advanced network enables remote monitoring of alarms, CCTV security, and control of the substation.

The benefits of the New 66KV substation

The acting director of the George Municipality’s Electrotechnical Services Kobus Wilken highlighted the expected benefits of the new substation upon completion at the end of 2023. “The Thembalethu 66kV Substation will not only cater to the immediate needs of the area but will also allow for future expansion. It will provide reliable electricity, additional job opportunities, and improve the overall capacity for growth in Thembalethu and surrounding areas.”

“The load on the adjacent 66 kV substations and electrical networks in Pacaltsdorp and George Industria will be reduced once the new substation takes up the load. This will prolong the available capacity at these substations and electrical networks and provide alternate capacity during system faults. The ring supply to Thembalethu substation will also provide a ring feed and firm supply to SS Protea, the 66 kV substation in Pacaltsdorp and to SS Glenwood, the 66 kV substation that supplies the entire Eastern area of George, including the Garden Route Mall,” Wilken added.

The final cost of the substation, including all associated consultant fees and 15% VAT, is expected to be approximately R77 900,000.00.

Background

The need for a 66kV substation in Thembalethu was identified over 20 years ago, and the current project builds upon the foundation laid by the Ballots Bay 11kV substation. High demand necessitated the expansion of the electrical supply capacity, leading to the establishment of the new Thembalethu 66/11 kV substation. The completion of the initial phase in 2014/15 laid the groundwork for the current project, connecting SS Protea in Pacaltsdorp to Thembalethu and energizing it at 11 kV.

Mayor Van Wyk acknowledged the collaborative efforts and planning involved, saying, “The Thembalethu 66kV Substation is proof of the long-term vision and commitment of the municipality to address the evolving energy needs of our community. This strategic infrastructure investment sets the stage for sustained electrification and growth for years to come.”

During the Voters’ Registration Weekend, it was noticeable that citizens have become more aware of their civic role to ensure that they are correctly registered as voters to participate in the 2024 National/Provincial Elections. Citizens who have moved to George from elsewhere in the country have been positive about our efforts to provide a high standard of service delivery when compared to municipalities outside of the Western Cape.

In engaging citizens, passionate persons spoke about potential dream projects that can lead to a further improvement in living circumstances in George. These projects will require inter alia champions, project teams, benefactors, roles by government and corporates to collaborate to bring these dreams to fruition. Four of these projects are centred around health, education and the environment.

One of our senior citizens would like to see the development of a dedicated children’s hospital facility in George that would be able to offer a comprehensive range of specialist paediatric services similar to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town possibly as an extension of the George Hospital. The biggest need would initially be to secure benefactors for the erection and equipping of such a facility.

The next dream relates to the development of a school of skills that would provide practical schooling for learners focussed and centred on economic sectors requiring the skills learnt. A few years ago, farmers in the Bonnievale district decided to collaborate with the Department of Education in building such a school that focussed on skills that could be utilised for the agricultural sector. The collaboration entailed the donation of building materials and/or labour to build the school with the private sector partnership contributing 60% and the Western Cape Government 40% to the overall costs. The success of this project has resulted in the second such school being constructed in Struisbaai. A potential donor of land has come forward in George with a similar dream for a school of skills to be erected here. Preliminary discussions are already taking place about such a project.

The Garden Route Botanical Gardens is celebrating their 25th anniversary. The trustees have been developing their dream expansion plan to enlarge the footprint of the Gardens. This environmental project provides for development phases to expand the green lung of George thereby protecting the habitat of the rich flora and fauna that already exists in the Gardens and surrounds. Such an expansion will also benefit tourism.

In other engagements, citizens spoke about the importance of growing trees either to provide fruit along the rivers and streams that flow through George’s living areas or along streets.

Potential project champions or benefactors who may be interested are welcome to communicate using the mayor@george.gov.za address.

Alderman Leon van Wyk
Executive Mayor

Georgians and visitors can look forward to the George Lights Festival to dazzle them for the second consecutive year at Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre in Pacaltsdorp.

George Municipality and the Pacaltsdorp Minister’s Fraternal are pleased to jointly announce that the George Lights Festival is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 10th. The Mayor of George, Ald Van Wyk will formally switch on the Christmas lights at the annual festival that ushers in the holiday season and is enjoyable for both locals and tourists. There will be stalls where attendees of the festival can purchase food and various trinkets.

Cllr Dirk Wessels, Portfolio Councillor of Finance and Strategic Services, said the decision to have the George Lights Festival at the Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre was a strategic decision to establish the amphitheatre as one of George’s landmarks by focusing local and visitors’ attention to this area and for the festival to act as an economic driver to the benefit of Pacaltsdorp and its residents. . “It’s the second year that the George Lights Festival is being held at this venue. Unfortunately, we had bad weather last year and we hope for better this year,” Wessels said.  He said that all  stakeholders have held continuous meetings throughout the year and “we are excited to have a collaboration with all involved. All stakeholders were involved with creating a programme for the day to ensure a successful lights festival with a true Christmas theme.”

Lauren Waring, Director: Human Settlements, Planning and Development, said the festival offers an opportunity for the community of George to come together to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. “George Municipality thanks the Pacaltsdorp Minister’s Fraternal for collaborating with the municipality in hosting this event.

The Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre in Pacaltsdorp was built to honour the memory of Chief Dikkop, who was the leader of the Khoi – Khoi, the first inhabitants of Hoogekraal – now known as Pacaltsdorp.”

The amphitheatre is used for community gatherings like the monthly Pacaltsdorp Market Day, and now, the annual George Lights Festival.

Seats are limited, so be sure to get there early. If you have any enquiries, regarding the festival or the booking of stalls or vendors please contact Special Programmes & Project Coordinator for Community Development in the George Municipality, Khanyisile Fortuin or Veronique Ferndale on 044 802 2000.

Traders are invited to trade at the event and showcase their products and services to the festival goers. The application form for stalls at the George Lights Festival is available under application forms at the following link: https://www.george.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Lights-Festival-Application-Vendors1.pdf

The closing date for submissions is 24 November 2023.

Photo:

Officials from George Municipality, Garden Route District Municipality Health Department, Pacaltsdorp Neighbourhood Watch, Pacaltsdorp Minister’s Fraternal at their last in-loco meeting at the Kaptein Dikkop Amphitheatre.

In commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, George Municipality is set to launch a series of impactful events in a Summit that will take place on 24 November 2023 in Uniondale. The summit is aimed at sensitising the community about the impact gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has on the community and victims.

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign is a United Nations campaign, which is held annually from 25 November, an International Day for No Violence Against Women, to 10 December, an International Human Rights Day. Other key commemorative days observed annually during these 16 days include World Aids Day on 1 December and the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on 3 December.

This year marks the 25th anniversary since South Africa initiated the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign. The 16 Days campaign focuses on raising awareness of the devastating impact that GBVF has on women and children, and the social fabric of our society.

The launch of the 16 Days of Activism
According to the George Municipality’s Social Development Services, the different stakeholders will during the launch each get an opportunity to inform the community of their role and the impact they made on minimising/eradicating gender-based violence (GBV). Another highlight during the summit features a GBV victim who will share her story and the effect GBV had on herself and her children. The launch takes place on Friday, 24 November 2023 between 10:00 and 14:00.

March & Programme
The launch is preceded by a March that will take place on Thursday, 23 November 2023 between 10:00 and 14:00 by the Haarlem Community Members of Haarlem and surrounding farms. The aim is to march to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women and children. There will be education and awareness programmes in the Community Hall to educate and sensitize the community.

Educational Programme
On Monday, 27 November 2023 between 10:00 and 13:00, the George Municipality in partnership with Huis Outeniqua will host an Educational Programme at Huis Outeniqua. The programme, which entails education, motivation and life skills is aimed to educate and sensitise juveniles about abuse and their role in society. To teach them life skills and better possibilities for when they are released back into society.

Family Dialogue
A partnership between the George Municipality, South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Social Development (DSD) and Spiritual Dest which seeks to build healthy relationships between children and parents will host a family dialogue in Uniondale on Monday, 4 December 2023 between 10:00 and 14:00. This dialogue is intended to strengthen the relationship between parents and their Children, and for parents to have a better understanding of the challenges the young girls and boys face daily. Also, to document the outcomes and do referrals’ where needed.

Information Awareness Session
On Tuesday, 5 December 2023 between 10:00 and 13:00, the George Municipality and the Gender Forum members will host an information and awareness session in one of the schools in George. The name of the school will be confirmed later. The Information session aims to sensitize the pupils about the issues surrounding them, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, HIV/Aids infection rate under youth and bullying.

GBVF Conville Awareness session
The last event of the 16 Days of Activism series is the GBVF Conville Awareness Session which will take place on Wednesday, 6 December 2023 between 10:010 and 14:00, in the Conville Community Hall. This event is targeted at the Community members to Sensitize the community about GBVF matters. The organisers of this event are the George Municipality and the Gender Forum members; they aim to promote an understanding of the GBVF Pandemic that has been a monster in our communities and provide a support role to the victims and survivors.

For more enquiries about the programme, please contact Ejustley Boshoff, Gender & Disability Co-ordinator, Community Development at 044 801 1778.

On the photo is a solar plant in one of the George Municipality’s facilities

In response to South Africa’s energy crisis, George Municipality is taking proactive steps by implementing photovoltaic (PV) plants, endorsed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), as the most feasible solution. The Municipality aims to further enhance energy resilience and reduce demand through ongoing initiatives.

Alderman Leon van Wyk, the Executive Mayor of George, recently addressed Western Cape Premier Alan Windi’s Digicon which focuses on energy. During the Digicon on Thursday, 16 November 2023, Mayor Van Wyk provided insights into the progressive approach George Municipality is taking in its renewable energy initiatives.

“In the initial phase of our renewable energy efforts,” Mayor Van Wyk said, “we are completing our 1-megawatt (MW) Solar PV Plant and a Solar PV Plant for the Gwaiing Wastewater Treatment Works.” He outlined the upcoming phases, saying, “Our next endeavour is a 9-megawatt Solar PV Installation, requiring the addition of a 20MVA substation, transformers, and switchgear equipment. Technical aspects are being addressed to align with our commitment to sustainable energy solutions.”

The George Municipality has so far installed or is in the process of installing the following PV plants in George:
• 400-kilowatt peak (kWp) PV at the Outeniqua wastewater treatment facility
• 500 kWp at the PV Gwaing Wastewater treatment facility
• 400 kWp PV plant at the Denneoord New Water Works facility
• 20 kWp PV + 40-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery storage for the Electrotechnical Services building
• 4 kWp PV + 10 kWh battery storage for the Tourism building
• 1 kWp PV + 5 kWh battery storage for Schaapkop substation
• 1 MWp solar farm (ERF464 – Municipal land)

According to the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), a project goes through various phases before implementation. It starts with inception, concept, and viability, followed by a design phase which is then procured, and construction commences. Due to funding and process constraints, the Municipality has decided to proceed with the inception, concept and viability stages of various specific projects. This would then pave the road for project implementation.
This includes:
• Large Scale Solar Farm
• Utility-scale Batteries
• Possible Wind Turbines
• Hydro Generation
• Hydrogen Gas Turbines

This study will provide an implementation plan based on the various technologies. The Municipality plans to appoint specialists for the study and conclude it before the end of the financial year.

Looking forward, Mayor Van Wyk shared plans for an additional 30 MW Solar PV and a 100MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BES) to address load-shedding challenges and enhance energy resilience. Acknowledging funding challenges, Mayor Van Wyk noted, “We’ve applied to the National Treasury for support through the Budget Facility for Infrastructure, unfortunately not approved due to current financial constraints. Exploring alternatives, we are considering private sector funding, potentially through an Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.”

He concluded by addressing legislative hurdles, stating that the current Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) restrictions pose challenges in implementing long-term contracts of more than three years needed for such projects. Ongoing collaboration with Provincial Treasury and Western Cape Provincial Government aims to explore amendments to the MFMA, facilitating the realization of large-scale electricity provision projects.”

Mayor Van Wyk emphasized the municipality’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the current electricity crisis, contributing to both local and national energy resilience.

In the photo above, addressing the attendees at the Global Entrepreneurship Network at the George Civic Centre are from left, Ald Leon van Wyk, George Executive Mayor, Cllr Dirk Wessels, Portfolio Councillor for Finance and Strategic Services, Quinton Coetzee, Branch Manager: SEDA in Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts and Dr Kosie Haarhoff, Deputy Director: Strategic Services at George Municipality.

 For the first time in the history of George, George Municipality and other stakeholders are part of 208 countries that hosted a Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEW) Week from 13 – 17 November which provides local entrepreneurs and businesses as far as Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon and Zimbabwe a platform to network and gain invaluable knowledge about trade and the business world.

The event is taking place in the George Civic Centre.

According to Dr Kosie Haarhoff, Deputy Director: Strategic Growth and Economic Development at George Municipality, Global Entrepreneurship Week is an annual flagship initiative of the Global Entrepreneurship Network that aims to foster innovation, empower aspiring entrepreneurs, and facilitate collaboration on a global scale. Seeing the importance of entrepreneurship to global economic advancement and human welfare, in 2008, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation created Global Entrepreneurship Week. Since then, it has grown from a series of events happening only in the U.S. and U.K. to expanding to over 165 countries. Global Entrepreneurship Week empowers entrepreneurs in every county and community around the world- especially those individuals who face structural barriers.

During this year’s programme, participants from diverse backgrounds and industries gather to exchange ideas, learn from seasoned mentors, and engage in hands-on workshops designed to refine their entrepreneurial skills. The event is co-hosted by George Municipality, SUFF (Southern Youth Film Festival) Academy and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development.

Haarhoff said George Municipality is one of the leading municipalities when it comes to the development of entrepreneurs and innovation. The focus of GEW 2023 is to include entrepreneurs who are disabled. Some of the sessions are dedicated to these participants. South Africa celebrates National Disability Rights Awareness Month annually between 3 November and 3 December.

He said, that now, more than ever, George needs innovative thinkers and problem solvers to address complex challenges. By nurturing and developing entrepreneurs, we are not only fostering economic growth but also driving innovation, creating jobs, and paving the way for sustainable development. Entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in shaping the future of industries and driving positive change in communities, Haarhoff said.

The GEW programme addresses topics like red tape reduction, financial literacy, entrepreneurial training aimed towards the youth as well as forex trading.

George Executive Mayor, Ald Leon van Wyk, had the pleasure of welcoming the attendees from as far as Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana and Cameroon to Global Entrepreneurship Week 2023 on behalf of the George Municipality.

Van Wyk said this week is dedicated to honoring the trailblazers and risk-takers who are building the businesses of the future and generating jobs for our community.

Ald van Wyk said we are extremely honoured to host the Global Entrepreneurship Network Week in George at the same time as hundreds of other countries globally are hosting the same event. “We are so excited to have more than 300 entrepreneurs attending this event to learn, network and understand the entrepreneurial spirit. Some came here to gather information on how to access funds for their ventures and businesses and some young entrepreneurs might want to gain knowledge on how to export their product.

“This platform opens all those opportunities and is a meeting place where people can network, share ideas and ultimately help our George economy. At the end of the day, we need businesses to grow, as well as startup businesses to provide income and provide goods and services to fellow citizens. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our emerging businesses,” Van Wyk concluded.

Cllr Dirk Wessels, Portfolio Councillor for Finance and Strategic Services said the hosting of the event is a strategic move from Economic Development in the Municipality to engage with up-and-coming entrepreneurs and identify marketplaces where we can promote products from George and the Garden Route. “We have a wealth of entrepreneurs in George and surrounds that are already conducting highly profitable domestic and international trade. Thus, it was crucial to include foreign traders in addition to other regional participants in order to provide our young and aspiring entrepreneurs with a platform. Entrepreneurs will gain a thorough understanding of how to get their products into the market, particularly on a global scale, by utilising this networking platform,” Wessels said.

Follow the link for video:

https://youtu.be/q99jsIgxvyE

Photos:

An attendee at the event asks a question about financial assistance especially to get a business registered at an afternoon network session with George Mayor, Ald Leon van Wyk.

Attendees put more questions to the panel.

Attendees put more questions to the panel.

Pipe bursts are unfortunately a common occurrence for a number of reasons and can occur due to pressure changes in the network, degradation of pipe due to aging materials, changes in soil conditions, manufacturing defects and poor installation. Once the water network is disturbed, pressure changes can expose further weak areas in the pipe network creating a cascade of failures which are unpredictable.

An analysis of the George water pipe network is updated annually, and end of life pipelines were identified, formalised and presented in a Pipeline Replacement Programme. Apart from the network analysis, George Municipality keeps data on pipe bursts and ongoing maintenance and replacement work is prioritised based on existing data of pipe bursts, the Pipeline Replacement Programme and the available budget.

George Municipality has approximately 920 km of pipeline and due to changing technologies and materials, some of the historic water supply network is not up to standard in terms of pipe diameters, which requires special fittings in the event of pipeline failures. It is not possible to simply replace the entire George Municipality’s water pipe network due to logistical and budget constraints. The estimated cost to replace the identified priority (immediate replacement) pipelines is R 181 642 000 and the estimated cost to replace aging pipelines (number of years left in terms of design specifications) is R 500 000 000 over a twenty-year period.

In the previous Financial Year, the Municipality has spent R62 832 964 (Water Distribution Capital Expenditure 2022/23) on replacing water pipelines, stabilising the water distribution and supply network, and ensuring service delivery for the citizens of George.

The George Municipal Civil Engineering Services departments deals with on average 400 service requests per week ranging from pipe bursts, mainline leaks and no water. Seventy cases of priority work (pipe bursts, mainline leaks and no water) were attended to from 22 September to 25 September 2023 exacerbated by the storm surges that severely damaged the water and sewer infrastructure in Herold’s Bay resulting in repairs costed at over R1 million (excluding road, generator and retaining wall repairs). Teams spent 13 days including after-hours and weekends working to restore water/water pressure to the area.

A major bulk supply pipeline supplying water to the Kraaibosch and Groenkloof areas failed in September 2023 and repairs were complicated by the pipeline being constructed from GRP which required fittings not kept in stock by the municipality. Water was restored completely within two days.

George Municipality relies on citizens to alert us when there are problems with the water supply, and we thank those citizens who provided information and insight to the problems experienced.

FAULT REPORTS: Water leaks, pipe bursts, sewerage: 044 801 9262/6
SWITCHBOARD: 044 801 9111 (7.45am-4.30pm)
GENERAL PUBLIC QUERIES (not emergency related): gmun@george.gov.za
AFTER HOURS AND EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6300

Early on Sunday 5 November, the Go George bus service into Thembalethu was launched with the first bus departing along Nelson Mandela Boulevard at 05h20 on the route through the industrial area to Blanco.

It has taken many years of negotiation to reach this momentous occasion that will now provide residents of Thembalethu with the opportunity to take bus trips according to a scheduled timetable. After the rolling out of the first route, additional routes will follow to provide easy access to destinations such as the provincial hospital, the CBD and the Garden Route Mall. Passenger usage will increase as passengers become familiar with travelling by bus to their destinations. It is expected that Thembalethu commuters will increase the number of Go George passengers by at least 60%. Throughout the world, public transport provides citizens with the access and mobility to commute to work and for other activities thereby reducing traffic congestion. George citizens can now join in this experience.

One of the major challenges for municipalities continues to be the management of data. This requires transitioning from the current methodologies to smart city systems and technology. We are progressively tackling data analysis through the introduction of the necessary technology so that we can better understand, interpret and manage the data. As each of the projects are embarked upon, there are technical and learning hurdles to be overcome. One such project is the utilisation of geographic information systems whereby the technology enables users to identify the land uses and services applicable to all the land within the municipal area.

We have recently celebrated the unveiling of the Leentjiesklip statue that resulted from an initiative of the Wilderness community who identified that touristic value could be added through the legend of how Leentjiesklip beach was named. This project came to fruition as a result of the Adopt-a-Spot Policy that has been approved by Council to enable communities to take responsibility for specific sites. Through this policy, community groups can make an application to the Municipality to be granted permission to beautify and protect portions of municipal land that may otherwise not be cared for regularly. An example would be the planting and care of gardens on spots where illegal dumping could occur.

We have recently received requests from sporting bodies and the Planet Youth project seeking support and assistance in various forms. These requests provide opportunities for the corporate sector to fulfil social responsibility commitments through small projects whereby they can assist with training, the provision of sporting wear or activity programmes for the youth who may not have access to the necessary funding. Interested parties are welcome to contact me to discuss such opportunities on the mayor@george.gov.za email address.

In the above photograph, a youth group from Pacaltsdorp Drug Support busy cleaning Wilderness beach and lagoon area.

George Municipality Community Development section and the Pacaltsdorp Drug Support community organisation treated the youth that is part of the organisation’s aftercare centre on an educational excursion around George that was done over a few days. As part of the educational trip, the group visited the George Train Museum, George Museum and George Botanical Gardens.

The aftercare youngsters visited Sanparks and participated in numerous activities such as canoeing and trail walking. Sanparks officials spoke to the youngsters about the importance of trees, plants, and nature preservation.

On the second day of the excursion, they had an open programme at New Dawn Park Sports Field where each of them brought a friend along. Different stakeholders attended like the George Fire Brigade that held demonstrations on Fire Safety and more.The group also had a cleanup operation and picked up litter along the Wilderness Lagoon and Wilderness Beach.

The Community Project sub-section of George Municipality and Pacaltsdorp Drug Support held an educational programme for their aftercare learners. As part of the educational trip, the group visited the George Train Museum, George Museum and George Botanical Gardens.

The group at the George Botanical Gardens.

This photo was taken at 05:00 on Sunday with Thembalethu’s first bus right in the front, ready for its first trip on the new route.

“I’ll be saving R800 per month by using the bus service from now on.”
“I started early, in the dark, to walk over the bridge to catch a bus. Now I can catch the bus one block from my home!”
“I bought Smart Cards for my children – they don’t have to walk to school in Borcherds anymore!”
“It’s so nice to be transported right into Thembalethu after a day’s hard work…”

These were the comments from passengers who travelled between Thembalethu and Blanco on Monday after GO GEORGE rolled out the first route to this community on Sunday. A total of 1954 passengers boarded buses on Route 18A on this first weekday.

Residents in Thembalethu queued with great anticipation to try out the new route. According to Morné Lakay, Acting Manager of GO GEORGE, it is becoming clear that a huge percentage of the passengers have already been bus users who previously joined the network of routes by either travelling into town by minibus taxi or walking over the N2 bridge to catch a bus in Parkdene.

“Usually, replacing an informal method of public transport with a more formal, scheduled public transport system has its own unique challenges in every community, but many Thembalethu people know the ropes and can even advise or guide their friends and neighbours to use the bus service,” he said.

“Of course, our communication champions are available and ready to help at the Smart Card kiosk and at the bus stops to support the first-timers. New passengers who feel uncertain are most welcome to ask for support on a first trip by phoning our Call Centre and making arrangements,” he added.

More information regarding the use of the system and trip planning can be obtained by phoning the Call Centre toll-free on 0800 044 044, sending an email to info@gogeorge.org.za, or visiting www.gogeorge.org.za or the GO GEORGE Facebook page.

The bus terminus at the Jonga circle in Thembalethu is spacious and accommodates several buses waiting to depart. The buses make their turnaround to town at this circle.

These passengers queueing at the Ngcakani bus stop early on Sunday morning can claim that they were some of the first passengers boarding a GO GEORGE bus inside Thembalethu.

Luxolo Mbelu, Ayanda Nongxaza and Hlumelo Maso all work at Fancourt and can now take the R18A bus straight to their workplace.

The first route rolled out to Thembalethu travels along Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Blanco and back.