press-release

Alderman Leon van Wyk, Executive Mayor of George

During the past week, I have had the privilege of meeting with various role players to monitor the pulse of the economy in George.

The activities for the six months ended December 2023 for the Planning and Development Directorate report that 112 land use applications were finalised.

At Building Control, the building plans approved in the six months totalled R1403 million relating to 1094 buildings of which business and industrial buildings amount to the value of R347 million. Over this period, occupation certificates to the value of R793 million had been issued.

These statistics provide some insight into the intense level of economic activity taking place in George and the productivity of the municipal team processing these applications.

The Provincial Minister of Mobility, MEC Ricardo Mackenzie visited George so that we could engage with state entities about their readiness to manage the growth experienced in George and the Garden Route. Discussions with the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) were held to check in on their proposed plans to expand George Airport in the coming years to handle the anticipated passenger growth. It was indicated that in 2019 there were no direct flights from the USA to Cape Town airport. At present, there are 13 weekly flights from American cities. This provides an inkling of the increase in international tourism being experienced in the Western Cape.

We also met with Transnet executives to establish their plans for maintaining and operating their infrastructure in and around George and Mossel Bay. Suggestions were made about collaboration that would be to the benefit of tourism, rail freight and the need for movement of fresh fruit and vegetable produce by rail. Transnet has indicated that they are developing new business models that include the issue of concessions to operate trains on the rail network.

These discussions reflect the increasingly important role that local and provincial government now need to play to ensure that state enterprises and departments undertake the tasks required of them to deliver services. The national government and the state enterprises have become increasingly incapable of performing their responsibilities and functions. The work being done by the Western Cape Government in terms of infrastructure development and its Growth for Jobs strategy is therefore critical for economic activity and employment. As the largest municipality outside of the City of Cape Town, we therefore welcome the support we are receiving for the growth in George.

During the week, the regional chapter of the Institute of Municipal Engineers met in George. During my short address to them, I stressed the important work that they are doing to develop and maintain infrastructure growth amidst the growth across the Garden Route.

Alderman Leon van Wyk
Executive of George

The workshop garnered significant interest and provided valuable insights to event organisers.

George Tourism, a division of the George Municipality conducted a highly successful events support and compliance workshop on Friday, 16 February 2024, at the George Municipality’s Conference Hall. The workshop garnered significant interest and provided valuable insights to event organisers on the application processes for event support, both in cash and in-kind. The event saw an impressive turnout, with a full house indicating participants’ keen interest and engagement.

Joan Shaw, Manager of George Tourism, highlighted that the workshop covered various essential topics, including the application procedures for support, relevant By-Laws for permitting and land use, marketing strategies, cleansing services, facility usage guidelines, noise pollution, legal requirements, and the significance of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), particularly in terms of reporting and financial accountability.

Emphasising the Municipality’s commitment to supporting events, Shaw mentioned, “George Municipality allocates approximately R 1 million annually in support of events. We encouraged delegates to focus on quality over quantity in their applications this year. Considering that only a portion of the applicants would receive support, organisers were advised to meticulously present what sets their event apart, its community benefits, job creation, business opportunities, and the Advertising Value Equivalency (AVE) in media coverage, which enhances the city’s profile nationally and internationally.”

Shaw commended her tourism team for putting together an excellent programme. Following its media appearance, the Garden Route District Municipality expressed interest in participating, specifically to address public health and health inspection units, especially concerning events featuring food stalls. Attendees lauded the city’s approach to events and compliance, engaging in informative debates and posing numerous questions about new regulations. Overall, the positive atmosphere and enthusiasm among participants bode well for receiving excellent applications in the upcoming financial year.

Cleaning teams for the George Municipal Community Services Directorate have cleared a total of 16 380 black bags of refuse in 10 working days after declaring February “Illegal Dumping Month* This past week illegal dump sites were cleared in Parkdene (Ballot Street, Hercules Street, Circular Drive, Golf Street, Scorpio Street, Leo Street, Bosvark Street); Borchards (Bruce Street, Spandiel Street, Garcia Street, PW Botha Blv) and Uniondale (Mitchell Lane, Daniels Lane, Cemetry and Informal Settlement).

Beautifying illegal dump sites 
We urge the community to report illegal dumping sites to the Community Services Directorate for clearing on 044 802 2900. But don’t just report it and wait for the municipality to respond. Get involved in your community. The municipality understands the importance of having the full cooperation of the entire community when it comes to cleanliness. Illegal Dumping sites pose a considerable health risk to all those living in the surrounding areas. The municipality spends important resources on constantly clearing the same sites. Tyres have now been used to beautify certain sites and encourage plant growth to stop the communities from repeatedly dumping at the same place. If you want to get involved in clearing, or beautifying and/or maintaining a site already cleared, please contact us on 044 802 2900.

Report Illegal Dumping
Help the municipality to curb illegal dumping by spreading the news in your community that the dumping of waste is dangerous and a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builders’ rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road). If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators who have dumped illegally and you are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report it to Law Enforcement at 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. You don’t need a photograph of the perpetrator, but it will strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.

Hazardous Waste Open Day 
A hazardous waste open day will be held on 23 February in the parking area of the Outeniqua Stadium from 08h00 to 15h00, to allow for safe disposal of dangerous items. The municipality will take motor oil, oil filters, brake fluid, used antifreeze, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries, old TV’s, electronics, tyres, fluorescent tubes, globes, and household medical waste such as needles, old medicine and tablets. The public is requested to bring the items you wish to dispose of in a strong box preferably in their original, labelled containers. Please do not mix the products together. We are unable to take explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials and controlled substances. Enquiries can be made at 044 802 2900.

Hibiscus Street, after clearing and beautification using tyres. 

The George Municipal Community Services Directorate has declared February, Illegal Dumping Month and kicked off on 5 February with a series of clearing and beautifying of illegal dump sites as well as targeted education and awareness around the danger of illegal dumping. Catch our radio discussions around Illegal Dumping on Eden FM today, Monday 12 February at 16h30 and Heartbeat FM on Thursday 15 February at 16h30.

The Touwsranten graveyard; Thembalethu Mayibuye Street, Nelson Mandela Boulevard behind the stadium and Qhawe Street; Lawaaikamp and Borchards (next to Vaal Winkel) and Conville, Fiskaal Street have all been cleared in the first week of February and fixed up. 5 tipper trucks, a JCB, a team of educators and EPWP officials assisted with the cleaning efforts. Households and spaza shops in Parkdene area were visited and pamphlets highlighting the dangers of illegal dumping and how to recycle were handed out in Leo Street, Paradise Street, Buffel Streets and Crane and Polarise Circles.

Further cleanups will take place in Thembalethu, Parkdene, Maraiskamp, Pacaltsdorp, Rosedale, Conville, Rosemoor, Blanco, Touwsranten, Wilderness Heights and Kleinkrantz this month.

We urge the community to report illegal dumping sites to the Community Services Directorate for clearing on 044 802 2900. But don’t just report it and wait for the municipality to respond. Get involved in your community. The municipality understands the importance of having the full cooperation of the entire community when it comes to cleanliness. Illegal Dumping sites pose a considerable health risk to all those living in the surrounding areas. The municipality spends important resources on constantly clearing the same sites. Tyres have now been used to beautify certain sites and encourage plant growth to stop the communities from repeatedly dumping at the same place. If you want to get involved in clearing, or beautifying and/or maintaining a site already cleared, please contact us on 044 802 2900.

Help the municipality to curb illegal dumping by spreading the news in your community that the dumping of waste is dangerous and a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builders’ rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road). If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators who have dumped illegally and you  are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report it to Law Enforcement at 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. You don’t need a photograph of the perpetrator, but it will strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.

A hazardous waste open day will be held on 23 February in the parking area of the Outeniqua Stadium from 08h00 to 15h00, to allow for safe disposal of dangerous items. The municipality will take motor oil, oil filters, brake fluid, used antifreeze, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries, old TV’s, electronics, tyres, fluorescent tubes, globes, and household medical waste such as needles, old medicine and tablets. The public is requested to bring the items you wish to dispose of in a strong box preferably in their original, labelled containers. Please do not mix the products together. We are unable to take explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials and controlled substances.  Enquiries can be made at 044 802 2900.

Qhawe Street, Thembalethu before and after clearing.

CAPTIONS: NMU registration 1:GO GEORGE communication champion Akhona Gxumisa explains the bus routes to Mamvemve Makena.  Mamvemve is a BCom Accounting student from Port Elizabeth.

Despite all the excitement of going to university, becoming part of campus life and finding your way in a strange city can be daunting for first-year students. With this in mind, GO GEORGE hosted an information stall at the assisted registration expo at NMU George Campus to provide bus service information to students, parents and staff.

Although the bus routes haven’t reached the campus yet, students make use of the bus service in and around town to get to shopping centres, medical services, places of worship and recreation or sports facilities. Students coming from rural areas or smaller towns with no public bus services were impressed and pleased to learn about the affordable and scheduled services provided by GO GEORGE.

Any new bus users are invited to phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044 for information about Smart Card and trip purchases and assistance planning their trip. All the necessary system information such as route maps and timetables are also available to download on the website www.gogeorge.org.za.

NMU registration 2: Yibabathi Vetini (second from left) and Sukude Lwando (far right) are two new IT students from Umthata who were excited to learn about the options offered by the bus service. GO GEORGE communication champions Akhona Gxumisa (far left) and Zanele Matiwana enjoyed engaging with the excited new students.

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GO GEORGE-dienste aan nuwe studente bekendgestel

Ten spyte van al die opwinding om universiteit toe te gaan, om deel te word van die kampuslewe en om jou pad in ‘n vreemde stad te vind, kan die ondervinding vir eerstejaarstudente oorweldigend wees. Met die oog hierop het GO GEORGE ‘n inligtingstalletjie by die registrasiebystand-ekspo op die NMU George-kampus aangebied om busdiensinligting aan studente, ouers en personeel te verskaf.

Hoewel die busroetes nog nie die kampus bereik het nie, maak studente van die busdiens in en om die dorp gebruik om by winkelsentrums, mediese dienste, plekke van aanbidding en ontspanning of sportgeriewe uit te kom. Studente wat uit landelike gebiede of kleiner dorpe sonder openbare busdienste kom, was beïndruk en bly om te hoor van die bekostigbare en geskeduleerde dienste wat deur GO GEORGE gelewer word.

Enige nuwe busgebruikers word genooi om die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 te skakel vir inligting oor Slimkaart- en ritaankope en hulp met die beplanning van hul ritte. Al die nodige stelselinligting soos roetekaarte en tydroosters is ook beskikbaar vir aflaai op die webwerf www.gogeorge.org.za.

NMU registrasie 1: GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeampte Akhona Gxumisa verduidelik die busroetes aan Mamvemve Makena.  Mamvemve is ‘n BCom Rek-student van Port Elizabeth.

NMU registrasie 2: Yibabathi Vetini (tweede van links) en Sukude Lwando (heel regs) is twee nuwe IT-studente van Umthata wat opgewonde was om meer te wete te kom oor die opsies wat die busdiens bied. GO GEORGE- passasiersdiensbeamptes Akhona Gxumisa (heel links) en Zanele Matiwana het dit geniet om met die opgewonde nu

George Municipality welcomes Ms. Lauren Josias as the newly appointed Environmental Officer, beginning her tenure on 1 February 2024.

Coming from a robust background in the private sector, Lauren has been involved in project development for accessing funds from the Global Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility for climate change adaptation projects in least developed and developing countries, as well as small island developing states.

Her experience extends to the public sector, serving as an environmental officer for a local municipality in the Western Cape. In this capacity, she managed various responsibilities including the administration of the Outeniqua Sensitive Coastal Area Extension Regulations, coastal management, pollution control and environmental planning.

Lauren holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management from Stellenbosch University and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree. Her research is focused on ecosystem service valuation under the total economic value framework. Complementing her academic achievements, she holds a BTech in Environment Management.

In her role at George Municipality, Lauren is committed to upholding the municipality’s environmental mandates and contributing to its strategic objective of achieving environmental sustainability. Her passion lies in mainstreaming climate adaptation and mitigation efforts into urban planning and agricultural development.

With pride, confidence, and a dedicated spirit of learning, Lauren looks forward to serving the communities of the City of George, Wilderness, and Uniondale.

Ald Leon van Wyk, Executive Mayor of George

In preparation for the National and Provincial Elections to be held later this year, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) held its second voter registration weekend on 3 and 4 February 2024 to enable citizens to register for these important elections. We are grateful that many hundreds of voters arrived to register. Many of these are citizens who have recently relocated to George from other parts of South Africa.

There appears to be a noticeable and welcoming shift among citizens towards an appreciation that the voters can and will determine the policy direction and pathway to success for our country. The almost daily reports and experiences of the ongoing crumbling of state capacity and infrastructure should be a clear signal to all citizens to pay greater attention to the crisis that we are facing.

In a recent article in Business Day, Jabulani Sikhakhane (a previous spokesperson of the National Treasury) lamented that the City of Johannesburg is collapsing with neither a plan nor any intent to save it. He wrote that SA’s largest city has now become a symbol of the country’s economic stagnation and decline. The city’s administrative and technical capacity to manage its affairs has been declining markedly for at least the past decade. The political will is also lacking. Infrastructure projects cannot be implemented without this capacity as well as political will.

Ricardo Hausmann, the director of Harvard’s Growth Lab (who has written the Growth with Inclusion report on SA) has said in a recent interview that other countries in the world have also experienced collapses in their electricity systems, but in each case, the private sector was permitted to provide solutions which they did within 3-5 years. South Africa is the only country where the government has impeded solutions for 15 years.

Our municipality is increasingly dealing on an ongoing basis with blockages and hurdles to finding solutions to a whole range of issues that negatively impact our efforts to plan and implement decisions to foster George’s growth and improvements for the well-being of citizens. Earlier this week, our municipal manager spoke at a high-level municipal finance conference in Johannesburg where she outlined impediments to our efforts to provide alternative energy for George.

The semi-grants to the Western Cape have recognised the efforts being undertaken by many municipalities in the province to strive for good service delivery in contrast to their experiences elsewhere. The work being undertaken by our municipal officials and councillors in their governance role is therefore critical as we chart our way forward to clear the legislative and red tape hurdles delaying our ability to implement progress.

It is refreshing to note that councillors regularly report back on situations where they believe that our response times in addressing complaints and faults are not at the expected standard. This dedication and desire to ensure that high standards are maintained is admirable.

However, it is important too for citizens to recognise the difference between constantly striving for excellence and what happens when that will, and determination do not exist (and we thank all those citizens who express their appreciation). It is this message that needs to be understood and shared by voters if we are to return the country to policies that encourage and drive economic growth, employment, and an improvement in the quality of life.

Alderman Leon van Wyk
Executive Mayor of George

George 35 000 l tanker in Overstrand

George Municipality Fire Services arrived in Overstrand late last night with a major pumper engine, tanker, our 35 000l water tanker and a skid unit BP1 land cruiser to assist in ongoing firefighting efforts that have led to residents evacuations in Pringle Bay. The unpredictable wind has meant that the area could have another two days of possible fires. There are currently four active fire lines in the area.

Early Morning Overstrand

The George team led by Station Commander Santa Sternsdorff include Firefighters, Johan Troskie, Brad Bussack, Louis Julies, Wilton Oktober, Jaendre Bernardo and Junior Firefighter Kenny Johnson. They are in attendance today at Skilpad klip with the weather in their favour and have managed to extinguish the line allocated to them. The team will move to Pringle Bay as soon as they have completed mopping operations. Chief Fire Officer Neels Barnard praised his crew for their willingness to assist.

Skilpad Klip Overstrand

Ald Leon Van Wyk noted that the spirit of co-operation with our fellow municipalities is something that George Municipality prides itself on. He wished all of the George Firefighters well and to take care of themselves.

Photo 1 – 1MW Solar Plant – From left Daniel Greeff (Acting Director of Electrotechnical Services), Cllr Nosicelo Mbete (Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services and Fleet Management), Alderman Leon van Wyk (Executive Mayor of George) and Dr Michele Gratz (Municipal Manager)

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/6Lvy25Yj3TA

Photo 2 – Gwaiing WWTW 500kWp – From left: Alderman Leon van Wyk (Executive Mayor of George), Dr Michele Gratz (Municipal Manager), Daniel Greeff (Acting Director of Electrotechnical Services), Cllr Nosicelo Mbete (Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services and Fleet Management), Thabo Yiga (Project Manager: Electrotechnical Services and Edward Pienaar (Electrical Engineer at RWK Engineering).

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, late last year addressed the Western Cape Premier Alan Windi’s Digicon which focuses on energy, and 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 500 kW Solar PV Plant for the Gwaiing Wastewater Treatment Works.”

He outlined the upcoming phases, saying, “Our next endeavour is a 12-megawatt Solar PV Installation, requiring the addition of a 20MVA substation. 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 was energized on 30 August 2023. Converting the electricity generated to a Rand value shows that George Municipality will be saving just over R1m per year with this plant. It consists of more than 700 PV panels. 8 x 50kW inverters are installed at various locations on the site. The plant can generate in the order of 680 MWh annually. The cost for this plant was R7.8m (VAT Inclusive), including a 24-month Operation and Maintenance period.

• 500 kWp at the PV Gwaiing Wastewater treatment facility is estimated to be completed in April 2024 and will provide a saving of over R1.4m per year. The plant will consist of approximately 910 PV Panels & 5 x 100kW inverters at a total cost of around R8.7m (Inclusive of VAT), including a 24-month Operation and Maintenance period. The plant is expected to generate in the order of 870 MWh per year.

• A solar system of 20 kilo watts peak (kWp) with a 30 kVA hybrid inverter and a 60-kilo watt hour (kWh) battery energy storage has been installed and commissioned at the Electrotechnical Services building. The system comprises of 38 solar panels. The building houses the critical control centre which handles the load management for the town, as well as the remote switching of the network, this system is further integrated to a diesel generator, which is required as further back-up, to ensure that the Control Centre remains fully powered 24/7. The battery technology for both sites is lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) with an average lifespan of 15 years. The projects are co-funded by the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy and the George Municipality.

• A solar system of 3 kilowatts peak with a 5 kVA hybrid inverter and a 10-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery storage has been installed and commissioned at the Blanco Drive-through Motor Vehicle Licence Renewal offices. This system comprises of 6 panels, each with a rating of 500 watts. The solar panels are set to prioritise charging the battery first, and when its full, the panels supply electricity to the building.

• 4 kWp PV + 10 kWh battery storage for the Tourism building operational since August 2023. A solar system comprising of 4 kilowatts peak panels, an 8 kVA hybrid inverter and a 10-kilowatt hour (kWh) was commissioned at the Tourism building. This included a four-vehicle carport structure (which provided shaded parking) on which the panels are mounted.
• 1 MWp solar farm (ERF464 – Municipal land). Converting the electricity generated to a Rand value shows that George Municipality will be saving just over R2.72m per year with this project. The 1 MWp PV Plant is estimated to be completed in March / April 2024 depending on the delivery of the special transformers that were ordered for this project. The plant will consist of approximately 1700 PV Panels & 10 x 110kW inverters at a total cost of around R25m and is expected to generate in the order of 1700 MWh per year. George uses at peak times up to 85MVA. This 1MWp PV Plant is the first phase of Solar PV plants for George that will feed directly into the Municipal grid. The Solar plants being installed in George will provide own generation and reduce Eskom energy consumption. This will also serve as large-scale generation to keep future dispatchable Battery Energy Storage Systems charged and will assist us in achieving our goal of reducing internal electricity costs and increasing sustainability.

• A 300-kilowatt peak (kWp) PV has been installed at the Main Municipal buildings in York Street and commissioned in September 2021. It comprises of 692 panels with five 50 kVA grid tied inverters. It’s purpose s to supply power to the Civic centre building, and export excess to the grid to supply nearby houses. The panels were mounted on carport structures and provides shaded parking to at least 50 vehicles. The cost of the project was R7,4 million (inclusive of VAT), and a 24-month Operation and Maintenance period.

What is next for George Municipality’s energy space?
The environmental authorisation process for the 12MWp PV planned in the industrial area near the N2 is nearing completion. The designs are in the final stages and the procurement process will be completed early in 2024. This plant would cover an area of approximately 10ha and may take up to 18 months to complete due to the complex grid connection which includes a 20MVA 11/66kV Substation. The estimated budget is in the order of R230 million. The municipality is also busy with the final stages of the procurement process for 3 x 1MW BESS installations at the 2 WWTW sites and at the Municipal main building. This would assist with reduction in the diesel costs for generators at the various installations.

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.
These include a large scale Solar Farm, utility-scale Batteries, possible Wind Turbines, Hydro Generation and Hydrogen Gas Turbines. George Municipality has appointed specialists for the study and it is expected to be concluded before the end of this financial year and will provide an implementation plan based on the various technologies.

Future projects and funding
There are 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. However, funding remains a challenge and applications have been made to National Treasury for support through the Budget Facility for Infrastructure, unfortunately not approved due to current financial constraints. Alternatives being explored include sector funding, potentially through an Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.
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. George Municipality remains committed to finding sustainable solutions to the current electricity crisis, contributing to both local and national energy resilience.

What has George Municipality implemented to assist residents during loadshedding?
Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) units at a cost of approximately R3.6 million have been installed at 57 of the main traffic intersections. These units, which are eco-friendly and energy-saving, automatically kick in and operate the traffic lights should the electricity supply be interrupted for any reason for at least 2- 4 hours, before the battery needs recharging.

The municipality has also expanded its solar power initiative for traffic lights, marking the successful installation of solar panels at eight (8) intersections in Pacaltsdorp. This comes on the heels of the initial pilot project in Knysna Road and the Witfontein Road intersection in Blanco. The solar panels are designed to charge batteries and supply excess energy to power traffic lights, contributing to sustainability and reducing the municipality’s carbon footprint. This initiative aligns with George Municipality’s commitment to green processes and resource efficiency.

George Municipality has also out of necessity, installed large generators at a number of our pump stations, sewer pump stations, various Water Treatment Works and Garden Route Dam, to keep water flowing and sewerage pump stations operational during loadshedding. All of the George municipal buildings have had energy-efficient lights installed, as well as over 111 energy-efficient air conditioners.

Over the past few years, a total of 5583 streetlights (Compact Fluorescent Lamps, High-Pressure Sodium and Mercury Vapour) have been replaced by light-emitting diodes (LED) at a cost of R14 501 513 (Municipal and EEDSM Funding). This phased-in approach will continue until we have replaced or retrofitted all streetlights to LED in the upcoming financial years. Not only do the LEDs reduce the amount of energy used, but they also have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance. The funding for this project is mostly sourced from the Energy Efficiency Demand Side Management program (EEDSM) managed by the Department of Mineral & Energy (DMRE).

George Junior City Council extends heartfelt best wishes to all learners in George

The George Junior City Council extends heartfelt best wishes to all learners in George as they embark on a new academic year. Reflecting on the challenges and triumphs of the past year, the Junior City Council acknowledges the resilience and determination of the learners in facing academic, sports, cultural, and spiritual endeavours.

Thomas Smook, Junior Mayor, expressed his congratulations to the learners for their accomplishments, learning curves, and even failures, emphasising that each experience contributes to their growth. “Take on this new year with courage and excitement, aiming to surpass the achievements of the previous year. Embrace the new opportunities that come your way, preparing yourselves for the future while cherishing the present moment,” said Smook.

Smook believes in the untapped potential of the youth, urging them to recognize the vast possibilities within themselves. His message concludes with a wish for all learners to have the very best in the coming year, accompanied by a reminder of the continuous renewal of hope, as “Jesus’s mercies are new every morning”.

As the George Junior City Council encourages learners to face the challenges of the academic year ahead, they emphasise the importance of perseverance, learning, and a positive outlook for a successful and fulfilling educational journey.

Caption: Marius Wannenburg, Garden Route Media, Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk and “Ouma Sarie” aka Moses Williams.

Executive Mayor of George, Leon Van Wyk was honoured to receive a visit from creator of, and actor “Ouma Sarie” aka Moses Williams and Marius Wannenburg, owner of Garden Route Media recently. Ouma Sarie started out as a character in comedian Moses William’s repertoire during lockdown and is based on his grandmother, who was known for “calling a spade a spade” and being hilarious because she was just so downright honest. The idea for the television show started in 2022 and was commissioned by ETV in early 2023. The show which is now the No 1 Afrikaans show on TV with almost 2 million viewers over a weekend is filmed and produced at the Garden Route Media studio in George with local actors and local production staff.

Ald Van Wyk who has officially been invited to visit Ouma Sarie at the production studios soon, noted how the production of this show which continues to grow is expanding economic activity within the creative film sector. “With the Ouma Sarie television series being produced locally, with local actors and production company, this augurs well for the future. The municipality continues to explore how light industry can be attracted to George to provide much needed employment opportunities.”

Marius Wannenburg who has years of experience as a producer, editor and cameraman has a passion for developing people through not only training them but by also creating job opportunities through his company Garden Route Media which he started in 2020. He continues to work hard to attract quality television and film production products to George. “Ouma Sarie was one of those homegrown products that just took off with a three-year signing by ETV in 2023 and the youngsters I trained a few years ago and who had no formal qualifications are now working as fully fledged production crew on this project. We have had 27 30-minute episodes broadcast already and the current viewer figures are at approximately 2 million over a weekend, which is phenomenal for this homegrown production that has clearly struck a chord with the viewers of South Africa.” Marius added that the success of Ouma Sarie is absolutely repeatable, and he thanked George Municipality for the role played in expediting the administration that takes place in the background to approve filming permits.

“Just as George is becoming a highly sought-after destination for events, similarly the filming industry is increasingly choosing George as a destination of choice. In 2021 Council approved a Filming Policy to establish a framework for filming within municipal boundaries. The policy sets out the processes and responsibilities of the municipality to expedite filming authorisations and permitting. Our beautiful City offers a wide variety of location offerings. The natural surrounding from ocean to mountain, forests, rivers, lakes as well as the built environment, are ideal for many different film shoots, from basic social media videos to advertisements, films and drone shots,” said Lauren Waring, George Municipal Director for Planning and Development

Besides the destination offering, George also offers producers with the facilities and service providers required by production companies. George has a strong support base of businesses to the industry, and provides easy access by road or air, to easily bring in any service or equipment that is not currently in George. Film also offers an opportunity for job seekers and SMME’s in the industry to learn and grow the industry in the area and various filmmakers and producers present training and funding opportunities within the municipal area for creative residents of George and surrounds.

Ald Leon van Wyk, Executive Mayor of George

It was pleasing to be able to attend the preliminaries to a planning meeting between the Municipality’s Planning department and a high-level team from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (“DBSA”) who have earmarked Thembalethu for a showcase pilot project to develop economic activity including business processing outsource (“BPO”) capability. The involvement of the DBSA is very welcome in support of the infrastructure upgrades being envisaged for Thembalethu. The focus on the BPO sector latches on to the promising activity in this sector where George has recently been visited by representatives of another international company exploring the outsourcing of services into the Western Cape.

We have also touched base with the team producing the Ouma Sarie TV series that is flighted on ETV. This is the #1 Afrikaans television show across all genres with more than 1,8m viewers per episode. It is produced and filmed in George by a home-grown team with no formal training in television production experience. We congratulate the team on this excellent achievement and look forward to the planned expansion into a fully-fledged film studio adding more employment in this creative sector.

We met with the Provincial Minister of Mobility, MEC Ricardo Mackenzie to discuss the progressive roll-out of the GO GEORGE bus service into Thembalethu and collaborative efforts on engagements to revive rail freight and growing the Air Access program into George. Readers will have noticed media reports about low productivity within the Cape Town port that are delaying both fruit exports and imported goods awaited by retail operations. Pressure is being placed on the National Government to remedy the ineffectiveness of Transnet’s rail service and ports and the resultant costs to the economy. There are benefits to be obtained from Wesgro’s Air Access program with respect to international tourism and air cargo. Air travel packages are already being offered to tourists visiting the Garden Route from Cape Town.

In their recent report on the South African economy, the Harvard Growth Lab referred to the collapse of the state’s capacity to implement and direct policies to drive progress within state departments and enterprises in the country. This critique extended to corruption and preferential procurement resulting in minimal economic growth for the country. These policies have led to the increase in national debt and the cut-back in expenditure that has already affected Provincial education and health budgets, for example.

Census 2022’s confirmation that George’s population was just below 295000 in February 2022 means that the provision of health and education services and infrastructure will require upgrades, placing further pressure on the already constrained Provincial budget. It is evident from recent interactions with the medical and educational fraternity expressing their concerns about being under-capacitated in serving patients and learners. Regarding education, the Province is exploring an innovative approach where the public and private sectors can partner in funding and delivery models that can conform with legal prescripts.

Even though the above services are not within the mandate of local government, we are actively engaging as we attempt to facilitate solutions to unlock opportunities that will benefit the economy and our communities.

In tin the Photo above is Jean-Pierre Rossouw.

George Municipality takes great honour in applauding its Chief Audit Executive, Jean-Pierre Rossouw, for his election as a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIASA) board of directors. IIASA is part of an international network representing the interests of Internal Auditors worldwide. As a part of this international network, the IIASA upholds and supports the fundamental tenets of the profession – the Code of Ethics and the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. The Institute supports the profession by providing a wide range of services dedicated to the education and advancement of internal auditors and dynamically promoting and developing the profession in South Africa.

Dr Michele Gratz, Municipal Manager of George Municipality, commended Rossouw for his election to the Board of Directors and said she could not be prouder to have a senior official of Rossouw’s calibre on her team. Gratz congratulated Rossouw for this prestigious honour.  Rossouw has been serving as the Deputy Governor of the IIASA Western Cape Regional Committee and has now been nominated and elected at the IIASA’s AGM in December 2023 to take the National Office as a member of the Board of Directors of the IIASA. This will allow Rossouw to represent the local government sphere and influence the direction of the internal audit profession at a national level.

“I’m truly honoured to have been nominated and elected as a Member of the IIASA board. I’m looking forward to continuing to add value to the internal audit profession, taking the profession to greater heights and supporting the future of Internal Audit,” Rossouw said.

Herolds Bay team

On Thursday, 18 January 2024, George Municipality’s leadership and management organised a braai to express gratitude to approximately 150 municipal officials and seasonal workers for their hard work and dedication during the recent festive season.

The group, consisting of cleaning staff, NSRI life savers, law enforcement, and general workers, was celebrated by George Mayor, the Municipal Manager, and other councillors for their exceptional efforts. Three appreciation braais were held at Herolds Bay, Victoria Bay, and Wilderness beaches. In a spirit of servanthood, councillors, and the municipal manager personally prepared and served the officials. Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk distributed boerie rolls, and the Chief Whip of the Council served ice cream.

Mayor van Wyk highlighted the importance of servant leadership, saying, “We showed our appreciation to the seasonal workers who worked at our beaches over the last few weeks to ensure a bumper holiday season. I believe in servant leadership. It was great to see fellow councillors treating the staff and manning the braais.”

Each worker received a certificate of appreciation from Mayor van Wyk and the Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz. Contracted seasonal staff, along with permanent officials, played crucial roles in cleaning beaches, ensuring safety for visitors and locals, maintaining facilities, and controlling traffic hotspots to facilitate smooth traffic flow.

Mayor van Wyk commended their outstanding work, emphasising their contribution to attracting tourists, boosting the economy, and ultimately creating jobs. The region experienced a bumper season, providing a significant economic boost, with several community markets reporting strong sales during December.

In the photo above: Elethu Ntazini and Asisebenzele Josias live in Lawaaikamp and travel by bus to Pacaltsdorp Secondary School. GO GEORGE communication champion Janell Gelant helped them understand how different routes can take them to school and home.

Elethu Ntazini en Asisebenzele Josias woon in Lawaaikamp en ry bus na Pacaltsdorp Sekondêre Skool toe. GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeampte Janell Gelant het hulle gehelp om te verstaan hoe verskillende roetes hulle skool toe en huis toe kan neem.

After a successful programme last year, GO GEORGE has embarked on another round of school visits, familiarising grade 8 learners who take the bus to school with their different route options. Senior learners also use this opportunity to learn how to use the network of routes and fixed schedules to their advantage.

School children are an important component of passengers using the GO GEORGE bus service daily.
“Although most know their route to school, those who start high school this year might not be aware of the different routes and transfers available to get them to their new schools,” says Morné Lakay, Acting GO GEORGE Manager. “We see learners waiting at bus stops, hoping to get onto a bus that might already be full by the time it reaches them, while another more convenient route is available on our network that connects the different areas in town.”

A unique map depicting the different options available to school and back home has been created for each school and is being handed out and explained to the young passengers at bus stops near the schools or during group visits to the school. These maps can also be downloaded from the GO GEORGE website at www.gogeorge.org.za/school-routes.
Any schools that would like to request a visit from the GO GEORGE communications team can leave a message at the Call Centre by phoning 0800 044 044. The Call Centre agents are also well-informed and equipped to assist passengers with trip planning.

CAPTIONS:

Jonah Wolhuter and Steven Uithaler are learners at Van Kervel School. GO GEORGE communication champion Ferdie Geduld helped them plan their trips to school and back home.

Theahandre Holland was surprised by the different options of travelling to Outeniqua High School, as explained by GO GEORGE communication champion Khadija Luangula.

Tyron Jeyi, GO GEORGE Community Liaison Officer, explained to the grade 8 learners at Heatherlands High School how the bus system works and how the network of routes allows passengers to travel from any area in town to their destination by transferring between routes.

Ends

AFRIKAANS
GO GEORGE help leerders om die beste roete te beplan

Ná ‘n suksesvolle program verlede jaar het GO GEORGE nog ‘n rondte skoolbesoeke aangepak om graad 8-leerders wat bus ry skool toe vertroud te maak met hul verskillende roete-opsies. Senior leerders gebruik ook hierdie geleentheid om te leer hoe om die netwerk van roetes en vaste skedules tot hul voordeel te gebruik.
Skoolkinders is ‘n belangrike komponent van passasiers wat daagliks van die GO GEORGE-busdiens gebruik maak.
“Hoewel die meeste hul roete skool toe ken, is die leerders wat vanjaar met hoërskool begin dalk nie bewus van die verskillende roetes en oorklimpunte wat beskikbaar is om hulle by hul nuwe skole te kry nie,” sê Morné Lakay, waarnemende GO GEORGE-bestuurder. “Ons sien leerders wat by bushaltes wag en hoop om op ‘n bus te klim wat dalk reeds vol is teen die tyd dat dit hulle bereik, terwyl nog ‘n geriefliker roete op ons netwerk beskikbaar is wat die verskillende areas in die dorp verbind.”
‘n Unieke kaart wat die verskillende opsies skool toe en huis toe uitbeeld, is vir elke skool geskep en word by bushaltes naby die skole of tydens groepbesoeke aan die skool uitgedeel en aan die jong passasiers verduidelik. Hierdie kaarte kan ook afgelaai word vanaf die GO GEORGE-webwerf by www.gogeorge.org.za/school-routes.
Enige skole wat ‘n besoek van die GO GEORGE-kommunikasiespan wil aanvra, kan ‘n boodskap by die inbelsentrum laat deur 0800 044 044 te skakel. Die inbelsentrumagente is ook goed ingelig en toegerus om passasiers met ritbeplanning te help.

BYSKRIFTE:
2.
Jonah Wolhuter en Steven Uithaler is leerders aan die Van Kervel-skool. GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeampte Ferdie Geduld het hulle gehelp om hul ritte skool toe en terug huis toe te beplan.
3.
Theahandre Holland was verras deur die verskillende opsies om met die bus by Hoërskool Outeniqua uit te kom, soos verduidelik deur GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeampte Khadija Luangula.
4.
Tyron Jeyi, GO GEORGE-gemeenskapskakelbeampte, het aan die graad 8-leerders by Hoërskool Heatherlands verduidelik hoe die busstelsel werk en hoe die netwerk van roetes passasiers toelaat om van enige gebied in die dorp na hul bestemming te ry deur tussen roetes oor te klim.

Einde

Alderman Leon van Wyk Executive Mayor of George

George Municipality has issued numerous media releases over the past week about the recent busy and successful tourism season. We had anticipated an influx of visitors as we commenced our season preparedness meetings in late September. This was our third season of daily meetings to ensure planned law enforcement, safety, care and clean beach facilities, management of traffic and creating a welcoming environment for our visitors over the 6-week peak. This programme is now running smoothly with many of these meetings being completed in less than 30 minutes.

The NSRI were excellent in managing the lifeguard program with our incident command vehicle regularly being stationed at Dolphin’s Point to keep a watchful over the entire Wilderness beach with the aid of its cameras and drone. We need to thank the full municipal and support team for their excellent, friendly service and dedication to ensure a safe and well-functioning season.

The managed and safe environment enabled tourism sector providers to conduct their business. While we are still gathering accurate statistics about the season, it is evident that accommodation establishments, restaurants, activity, and other service providers had a successful season. Our domestic visitors came from across the country and stakeholders noted a marked increase in international visitors.

The economy in the 2023 year was relatively tough for most citizens; nevertheless, we have seen shifts towards online business trading and more markets that popped up. It was noticeable how some tourism operators successfully adapted their offerings, being more agile to produce pleasing results relative to other providers.

In tracking air travel movements, it would appear that passenger movement through George Airport compared well with Cape Town’s (positive) passenger arrivals taking into account the relative size differential. Throughout most of the key peak period, there were 12 flights per day landing from Johannesburg with a daily carrying capacity of 1700-1800 visitors arriving in the Garden Route. One airline had 3 aircraft departing from Johannesburg by 07h30 each morning.

As statistics for the recent holiday period become available, analysts will examine whether holidaymakers have preferred visits to the Western Cape in preference to KwaZulu-Natal where pollution has been impacting the quality of seawater. During 2023, it became evident that many municipalities in other parts of the country were struggling to maintain sustainable standards of service delivery.

Since late November, George has received requests to provide assistance to Knysna Municipality on an ad hoc basis to deal with refuse removal and its transfer to landfill facilities and to provide tankers to deliver water to communities where network failures have occurred. Our advice has been that a comprehensive recovery plan needs to be formulated for Knysna and supported by the administration, council and residents to address and remedy these shortfalls.

Early in December, we were pleased to be informed that we had been placed in 7th position nationally in the Blue Drop Water ratings for excellence in water quality and related systems. Over the last few years, George has been re-building its ratings amidst the combination of pipeline breakages and flood-rated damage, water usage that is often exceeding water treatment capacity and the substantial construction underway to expand treatment capacity by 50%. Since 2021, there has been considerable investment in technology as part of the renewal of ageing infrastructure. These efforts will assist us as we constantly strive to improve.

We extend our best wishes to all residents for 2024.

Alderman Leon van Wyk
Executive Mayor of George

In the photo: Bird’s-eye-view of Wilderness beach, with popular paragliders soaring overhead

George experienced a bustling holiday season, particularly from 22 December 2023 to 3 January 2024, with accommodation levels reaching 80% to full occupancy. Shorter stays, around 4 to 5 days, were common, with increased domestic visitors from major cities like Gauteng, Cape Town, and Gqeberha. International visitors also showed growth, pleasing tourism stakeholders. The Local Tourism Bureau, comprising George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism were delighted to receive mostly positive feedback from tourism businesses about how the festive season is going for their businesses.

Reflecting on the recent festive season, Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk expressed satisfaction with George’s tourism performance. “Comparatively, the Garden Route region fared well, aligning with the success seen in Cape Town. Daily flights and passenger numbers reflected similar positive trends, with accommodation levels consistently above 80%, often reaching full capacity,” Mayor van Wyk said.

Mayor van Wyk credited the success to the innovative approaches of participants in the tourism sector and the Municipality’s thorough preparedness for the tourist season. “What we’ve also seen is that those providers who have been able to be adaptive, agile and have novel ideas, have done extremely well. We as the Municipality have also prepared very well for our tourism season and that has certainly helped in giving a pleasurable experience,” he added.

George Tourism conducted a WhatsApp poll with local tourism members, representing restaurants, activities, accommodations, and tour operators. Sixty per cent (60%) of respondents indicated they were busier than last year and 37% said business was similar to last year, with only 3% indicating that business was quieter than the previous season.

The Outeniqua Powervan, a tram-train trip from the Transnet Transport Museum up the Outeniqua Mountains, reported a bumper season. According to Directors Vivia and Charl Marais, they were fully booked from 11 December until this Saturday, 13 January 2024. It has been such a pleasure helping locals and visitors enjoy the history of our rails and the beauty of our mountain. We transported 32% more passengers than last December and unfortunately had to turn many, many more people away due to capacity.

Some outdoor adventure operators reported they generally had a good season but that late December wet days slowed down their numbers. Feedback from restaurants was mixed – with some restaurateurs continuing to do exceptionally well, and others reporting fewer feet and spend per head. A tour and transfers operator remarked that the roads were the busiest they’ve ever experienced, creating delays, and the Garden Route to Cape Town trip was particularly busy, even on the traditionally quieter times like Christmas. Laetitia Kotze, owner of the popular Boerevintage Gift Market at Redberry Farm, said they received a remarkable 44 000 visitors over 15 trading days. Several tourism stakeholders remarked that they were back to pre-Covid figures.

By extracting data from software that aggregates information from top Online Travel Agent (OTA) platforms, the Tourism office reported an average occupancy of 77% across George Municipality from 15 December 2023 until 09 January 2024. The best-performing dates on these OTA platforms, where occupancies exceeded 80%, were from 23 December 2023 until 03 January 2024. Twenty-nine December was the crème de la crème, recording the highest average occupancy for the season – at 88%. More good news followed when it was calculated that the destination’s average occupancy had increased by 5% compared to the same period last year. These statistics exclude trade and direct bookings, and through anecdotal feedback, it seems that accommodation was mostly full.

Domestic tourism is still king, with 47% of visitors to the George municipal area originating from within South Africa. The top 5 domestic source markets were Cape Town, Johannesburg, Centurion, Pretoria and Gqeberha. 43% of December visitors were from an international source market, predominantly travellers from Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The average reservation window for December was 80 days, with an average length of stay of 4 days. There were also 62 more properties recorded in December than the previous year, and 118 more properties in January, across OTA platforms measured.

The OTA data also shows that George slightly outperforms its neighbouring Garden Route towns, as well as Hermanus, in terms of occupancy for December 2023. However, Plett, Knysna and Hermanus have more properties on Airbnb.

George’s Tourism office team were out and about over the festive season, distributing tourism information to travellers to help them find things to do, as well as promotional items. “Thank you to the Outeniqua Family Market, the Africa Skills George Tens Festival, as well as the George Airport for hosting the George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism Info team over the festive season. This was a great service to travellers and the community, who could pick up tourism maps, brochures, and other information conveniently while exploring the area,” says Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager. Tourism info activations also took place at various beaches across the municipal footprint.

“Additionally, a big thank you to our local private sector stakeholders for providing timely feedback. We appreciate your prompt responses in helping us to obtain a sense of what is taking place during the season beyond the accommodation statistics the office subscribes to”, adds Shaw.

The Wilderness Visitor Information Centre opened slightly later at 09:30 and closed at 18:00 while operating from 11:00 until 15:00 on Saturdays and public holidays. For those planning their next vacation, or still on holiday, get in touch with George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism or go to visitgeorge.co.za for more information.

• GEORGE TOURISM 124 York Street, George Central, George, 6529 | +27 44 801 9295 | info@visitgeorge.co.za | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
• WILDERNESS TOURISM 198 George Road, Wilderness, 6560 | +27 44 877 0045 | info@visitwilderness.co.za | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
• UNIONDALE TOURISM Virtual assistance | +27 44 518 0030 | info@visituniondale.co.za | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

The George Municipality looks at the festive season wrap in numbers during the Festive Season period from the beginning of December to 8 January 2024.

BLUE FLAG STATUS

EMERGENCY SERVICES STATISTICS

NON-ALCOHOL CAMPAIGN STATISTICS

FIREWORKS BAN ENFORCEMENT

JOINT TRAFFIC SERVICES

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DELIVERY STATISTICS

While many municipalities across the country closed during the festive period, George Municipality stood out by keeping its offices open, ensuring continuous service delivery to citizens and businesses. The decision to remain open allowed the municipality to respond effectively to various cases and maintain essential services.

STATISTICAL INFORMATION FOR TOWN PLANNING

GO GEORGE OPERATIONS DURING FESTIVE SEASON

Amidst the diligent efforts of emergency personnel, law enforcement agencies, municipal officials, and stakeholders during the festive season, the George Municipality highlights some lighter moments that added a touch of humour and positivity to the bustling period:

• One notable lighter moment was the innovative ways people devised to hide alcohol while visiting the beaches. Alcohol was found smuggled onto the beaches, including hiding it between food, clothing, camping equipment, and on their bodies.
• Seagulls made an unexpected appearance, chasing a drone operated by a member of the public who assisted in spotting six sharks on Saturday.
• Dolphins unexpectedly joined lifeguards in their rescue efforts, swimming alongside them in the waves.
• In an unexpected turn of events during the festive season, law enforcement officials encountered a few spirited individuals running nude in the streets on their way to the midnight swim in Herolds Bay.

The George Municipality expresses hearty appreciation for the recognition of its hard work by the public and visitors. Positive feedback received on various social media platforms from residents, businesses, and visitors includes:

• “These ablutions are beautiful” – a visitor commenting on the public toilets at Leentjiesklip Beach
• “An enormous THANK YOU again to the teams involved for the dedication and hard work that went into making the season feel safe and welcoming. It makes Wilderness a very attractive December destination and a huge benefit to us all.”
• A Facebook Reel featuring a visitor’s positive impressions of the beach, lifeguards, security, and clean facilities. https://www.facebook.com/reel/2174446229585768 Kom maak ‘n draai as jy lus is vir ‘n lekker dag op die strand. Hier is lewensredders en sekuriteit. Die toilette lyk goed en die strand is mooi skoon. Sien juller hier. (English: Come and have a look if you feel like a nice day on the beach. There are lifeguards and security here. The toilets look good and the beach is pretty clean. See you here).

“The municipality is pleased to have achieved its goal of ensuring consistent service delivery during the busy festive period and maintaining the efficient functioning of George,” said Dr. Michele Gratz, the Municipal Manager of George.