press-release

Alderman Leon Van Wyk, Executive Mayor of George Municipality

I recently was privileged to visit Denmark as a member of a Danish-funded renewable energy, local government and coalition government study tour.

This tour provided insights into the Danish planning, determination and ability to execute projects that will be to the benefit of citizens. In one city they are undertaking groundbreaking work by incorporating renewable energy to heat water pipes that circulate through buildings to provide internal heating. The port of Esbjerg is being re-purposed from an oil and gas industry harbour into the staging post for wind-turbine and solar PV energy equipment including the off-shore energy production fields in the North Sea. Energy lessons from the Danes are efficiency and flexibility and the management of energy demand as they transform to renewable energy.
I returned to George where we continue to face debilitating loadshedding thanks to the bad choices that our national government made. In addition, they have now run out of money.

This is the stark difference between the careful planning by the Danes and policy indecision in our country. As a result, our citizens endure rising prices with low prospects of employment. In the Western Cape there is active pursuit of driving service delivery and improvements to infrastructure to ensure sustainable economic activity. George has followed this policy approach and we are beginning to reap the benefits through investment into residential and industrial property development.

The electricity price increase that has been passed on to municipalities and consumers has no doubt affected the cash flows of all our customers making circumstances more difficult. Internally within the municipality, there is ongoing awareness around this burden and the increasingly difficult task of constant care and maintenance of electrical infrastructure that was built to operate 24/7. The management of diesel supplies for the various generators operating our water and waste-water treatment plants have become a logistical nightmare. With the constant uncertainty of which stages of loadshedding will be applicable in the days ahead, this impacts on planning diesel deliveries. At times, rationing of diesel for the vehicle fleet takes place to ensure that critical plant can operate.

At one of our plants where a generator had been installed, I was informed of the practical difficulty of manoeuvring a diesel tanker to fill the tank.
A further challenge is restoring electricity after particularly the 16h00-18h00 or 4h loadsheds when users wish to turn on all their appliances at once. Even though we have already installed advanced telemetry at certain key sub-stations, the senior official who restores the power has to ensure that George remains within its maximum capacity. The Danes advise that as part of introducing renewables, consumers will need to shift their loads, thereby reducing the demand on the system.

On the photo from left: Magmooda Sylvester (Sommer-Net-Ons-ATKV representative), Desmonique Hector (Current Youth Peer Educator), Mrs Loraine Carolus (Pacaltsdorp Primary School -PPS), Jonel Kerspuy (George Municipality)

International Literacy Day (ILD) was celebrated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 08 September 2023, with the reminder that literacy is a basic human right and a necessary foundation for learning. To commemorate the ILD, the George Municipality’s Youth Development Division Section, in association with the Sommer-Net-Ons- ATKV branch, provides support at the Pacaltsdorp Primary School (PPS) to learners to help them read better to have a greater understanding of what they are learning.

This takes place through the supportive role provided by one of the Youth Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Peer Educators to the ATKV at the school. The aim of the programme is to create a love for reading amongst the learners. The Sommer-Net-Ons-ATKV branch trains these young people, for them to provide effective support at the school. Two of the previous Youth EPWP Peer Educators, have been absorbed by PPS, after their contracts as Municipal Youth Peer Educators expired.

International Literacy Day (ILD) celebrations have taken place annually around the world Since 1967, to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.

CAPTION: The Western Cape Minister of Mobility, MEC Ricardo Mackenzie, visited the George Transport Hub last week where the feedback report of the 2022 passenger satisfaction survey was handed over to him by James Robb, Acting Public Transport Oversight Official of the George Municipality. On the photo are, from left, Morné Lakay, Acting Manager of GO GEORGE, James Robb, MEC Ricardo Mackenzie, and adv. Recardo Collins, Director, Land Transport Contracts of the Western Cape Department of Mobility.

A passenger satisfaction survey under the joint auspices of the Western Cape Government Department of Mobility and the Municipality of George will be launched shortly, aiming to determine and measure the overall socio-economic impact of the implementation of the GO GEORGE bus service in George.

Macro-, transport- and socio-economic impact measured

The overall impact will be measured in three main areas, namely macro-economic, transport-economic and socio-economic impact. Several surveys will be carried out over a six-week period, starting during the week of 18 September and ending towards the end of October 2023.

George residents will be approached for feedback by means of the following three surveys:

Passenger travel surveys, which will be carried out at GO GEORGE bus stops across the route network;
Business surveys,g., general businesses, as well as businesses and informal traders at transfer locations around the greater CBD which will be carried out primarily through telephonic and personal interviews;
Special Interest Group surveys (e.g., users with special needs and specific-interest groups), to be carried out primarily through telephonic and personal interviews as well as distribution of electronic questionnaires.

During a recent visit to George, the feedback report of the 2022 survey was handed over to the Western Cape Minister of Mobility, MEC Ricardo Mackenzie.

“I am very proud of GO GEORGE, which is a collaboration between Provincial, National and Local Governments that provides commuters with the world-class mobility service they deserve, right here in the Western Cape,” Mackenzie said. “The results of the 2022 passenger satisfaction survey demonstrate that delivering safe, reliable, and affordable public transport is possible. I thank all the passengers who contributed valuable feedback on how they experience GO GEORGE services and I encourage even greater participation in the 2023 survey. These surveys are a key tool for improving operations with an evidence-based approach so that people can get to work and school safely.”

Surveyors easily identifiable

Surveyors will be wearing GO GEORGE-branded identification cards showing the person’s photo and ID number. An appeal is made to the George community to take 10 minutes out when they are approached and to assist with the valuable feedback only obtainable from those who use the bus service or are in some way impacted by its operations.

For more information or enquiries, the GO GEORGE Call Centre can be phoned on 0800 044 044.

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GO GEORGE-opname om sosio-ekonomiese impak van busdiens te meet

‘n Passasierstevredenheidsopname onder die gesamentlike vaandel van die Wes-Kaapse departement van mobiliteit en die munisipaliteit van George sal binnekort van stapel gestuur word met die doel om die algehele sosio-ekonomiese impak van die implementering van die GO GEORGE-busdiens in George te bepaal en te meet.

Mikro-, vervoer- en sosio-ekonomiese impak gemeet

Die algehele impak sal op drie hoofgebiede gemeet word, naamlik makro-ekonomiese, vervoer-ekonomiese en sosio-ekonomiese impak. Verskeie opnames sal oor ‘n tydperk van ses weke gedoen word, met wegspring gedurende die week van 18 September en afhandeling teen die einde van Oktober 2023.

Inwoners van George sal deur middel van die volgende drie opnames vir terugvoer genader word:

Passasiersopnames, wat by GO GEORGE-bushaltes oor die roetenetwerk heen gedoen sal word;

Besigheidsopnames, byvoorbeeld algemene besighede, sowel as besighede en informele handelaars by oorklimpunte rondom die groter sakekern wat hoofsaaklik deur telefoniese en persoonlike onderhoude uitgevoer sal word;

Spesiale belangegroep-opnames (byvoorbeeld gebruikers met spesiale behoeftes en spesifieke belangegroepe), wat hoofsaaklik deur telefoniese en persoonlike onderhoude sowel as verspreiding van elektroniese vraelyste uitgevoer sal word.

Tydens ‘n onlangse besoek aan George is die terugvoerverslag van die 2022-opname aan die Wes-Kaapse minister van mobiliteit, LUR Ricardo Mackenzie, oorhandig.

“Ek is baie trots op GO GEORGE wat ‘n samewerking tussen provinsiale-, nasionale- en plaaslike regerings is wat pendelaars die wêreldklas vervoerdiens bied wat hulle verdien, hier in die Wes-Kaap,” het Mackenzie gesê. “Die resultate van die 2022-passasierstevredenheidsopname toon dat die lewering van veilige, betroubare en bekostigbare openbare vervoer moontlik is. Ek bedank al die passasiers wat waardevolle terugvoer gegee het oor hoe hulle GO GEORGE-dienste ervaar en ek moedig selfs groter deelname in die 2023-opname aan. Hierdie opnames is ‘n belangrike hulpmiddel om bedrywighede met ‘n bewysgebaseerde benadering te verbeter sodat mense veilig by die werk en skool kan uitkom.”

Navorsingsbeamptes maklik identifiseerbaar

Navorsingsbeamptes sal GO GEORGE-gemerkte identifikasiekaarte dra wat die persoon se foto en ID-nommer toon. ‘n Beroep word op die George-gemeenskap gedoen om 10 minute af te staan wanneer hulle genader word en om te help met die waardevolle terugvoer wat slegs verkry kan word van diegene wat die busdiens gebruik, of op een of ander manier deur sy bedrywighede geraak word.

Vir meer inligting of navrae kan die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 geskakel word.

Liam Tait, a six-year-old grade 1 learner from Holy Cross Primary School, became as far as we could establish, the youngest patron of the George Library, if not George, to publish his first book, _*The Dream of Animals.*_

When asked why he wrote the book, Liam answered that he likes animals. Liam also got a chance to read his book to his classmates at the launch and other patrons.

The youngster, who is only turning 7 in November, wrote the typical entry-level book, as a June holiday project, holidaying with his aunt, Rehelda Williams. Williams was also the one who encouraged Liam to write down his thoughts. She said he specifically used words he could spell and knew.

Liam’s mom, Phyona Tait, smiled from ear to ear with the launch of Liam’s book at George Library during Literacy Month. ”

Phyona Tait said “Liam is our shining light. Thank you to his aunt who encouraged him. Phyona said he used his artwork in the book as well.

“His first words when he saw the book was, I’m an author,” his mom said. “He is also very interested in the sales, she said gleefully.

“We are very proud and blessed to be part of what Liam created. His new interest is gemstones and maybe there is another book on the horizon,” Phyona said.

Liam’s dad, Wendell Tait, passed away from Covid in December 2020. He was a detective at George Saps.

Garelene Muller, Children’s Librarian, Liam is a true inspiration and he’s a beacon of hope to other youngsters. “Through what he’s achieved, others can see nothing is impossible. I always say to the children you can be small but mighty,” Muller said.

The book was self-published and printed by Blending.co.za. It is available on Amazon.com and Kindle.

If you want printed copies, you can phone Phyona Tait on 082 553 0052.

Photograph above:

Liam Tait and his mom, Phyona, hand over copies of his book to George Senior Librarian, Malibongwe Luyenge and his teacher, Sabrina Waters.

Liam lifts his book as proud mom, Phyona Tait (to his right looks on). Next to her is a family member, Rosaline Tait. On the other side of Liam are Zeenat Fortuin, Rehelda Williams (Liam’s aunt in red) and Veronica Tait.

Liam Tait (6) reading from his first published book, _The Dream of Animals_.

Liam Tait (6) reading from his first published book, _The Dream of Animals_.

The cover of the book.

Liam lifts his book as proud mom, Phyona Tait (to his right looks on). Next to her is a family member, Rosaline Tait. On the other side of Liam are Zeenat Fortuin, Rehelda Williams (Liam’s aunt in red) and Veronica Tait.

Everyone attending the book launch at the George Library.

Garelene Muller, Children’s Librarian at George Library with Liam at the launch.

George Municipality received a Budget Facility for Infrastructure Funding (BFI) grant to the value of R1.107 billion from National Treasury in the 2021/22 financial year and the BFI project with its various project components, has shown significant progress and expenditure in the 2022/23 financial years. George Municipality is actively working to keep our economy on the go, by ensuring adequate long-term planning and investment into our resources – that is water, sewerage and electricity.

The full BFI project is planned to be completed by 30 June 2025. George Municipality provides water services to over 243 996 residents from 67 787 households across 28 wards including the coastal areas of Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay and Gwaing in the city of George area. The objectives of the project are to ensure adequate potable water supply to meet the demand of the current population and to provide security for future development, both social and economic, and to reduce pollution of certain main water courses.

Updates on the Potable Water Security and Remedial Works components funded by BFI Grant
The project consists of 12 components, some of which will be executed in more than one construction phase.

Component 7
The rehabilitation of the Old Water Treatment Works, located at 9th Avenue Denneoord will allow for the refurbishment of the 20 Ml/ per day treatment plant.

Status: This component consists of four separate contracts and the tenders were awarded at the beginning of 2022. Construction is under way at the Old Water Treatment Works(Denneoord)  and some condition assessments of the existing infrastructure necessitated design changes at the start of the contract, causing unforeseen delays. The air extraction from the filter galleries was completed and the emergency chlorine scrubbers have been ordered. Both shipments of filter media arrived in 2022 and fence construction has reached completion, with only minor works still outstanding.

The Old Water Treatment Works  Module 1 upgrade has been  completed, with the exception of lamella pack installation. Module 2 is completed and Module 3 is partially completed.  A temporary package water treatment plant was installed and commissioned in mid-December 2022 to facilitate scheduled plant shutdowns to enable work to proceed uninterrupted. This temporary plant also increased the volume of potable water available to meet the peak holiday season demand in December 2022.

Component 8
Refurbishment of the Kaaimans River Pumpstation equipment will include the installation of six (6)  new submersible vortex impeller pumps in the sump, a strainer system and six  new high lift centrifugal pumps and includes the replacement of the electrical control equipment. The Kaaimans Pumpstation discharges into the Garden Route Dam and contributes significantly to the George raw water resource requirements.

Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 16.5 million on 2 June 2023. The manufacturing and shipping of the twelve pumps and associated equipment will take several months, with delivery to site expected in January 2024. The planned commissioning date for the project is May 2024.

Component 9 and 10
The new 14,5 Ml Pacaltsdorp West Reservoir and Pumpstation; 3 Ml Pacaltsdorp East Reservoir, 300 kl Tower and pumpstation will address the inadequate emergency and balancing storage in this suburb.

Status: The detail designs are completed and procurement of a contractor for the construction of the works has commenced. The environmental and town planning processes are well advanced and aligned with the design and procurement timelines. It is planned that these projects will be commissioned in June 2025.

Component 11 and 12
A new pumpstation and control valves will be provided at the existing Thembalethu West Reservoir and Tower; an existing bulk supply pipeline will be upgraded, a new 8 Ml Thembalethu East Reservoir, 1000 kl Tower and Pumpstation will be provided to ensure adequate potable water storage and increase security of potable water supply to Thembalethu, as well as provide capacity to meet future development water demands.

Status:

Thembalethu West Bulk Supply Pipeline Upgrade – The procurement of a contractor has commenced. The planned completion date is June 2024.
Thembalethu West Pumpstation: The detail designs are completed and procurement of a contractor for the construction of the works will commence in due course.
Thembalethu East Reservoir, Tower and Pumpstation: The design of the works is in progress and procurement of a contractor for the construction of the works will commence mid September2023. It is planned that these projects will be commissioned in June 2025.

The Gwaiing Wastewater Treatment Works current upgrade is nearing completion and it involves maximising and upgrading the existing structures’ capacities to increase the design flow capacity from 7.3 megalitres per day to 11 megalitres per day.

The works is located next to the landfill site adjacent to the old airport road, and is already at full capacity. Substantial development has already taken place within the drainage area. The completion for the current phase is expected in October 2023. Proposals for further rapid development in this area are under review, and a process was started in October 2020 to prepare a plan for the incremental upgrade at the Gwaiing Wastewater Treatment Works to cater for current and future development. The provisional capacity extension plan was finalised in 2021 already, and a contractor was appointed in April 2022 for the current Phase 1A for approximately R24 million.

According to Jannie Koegelenberg, Director: Civil Engineering Services, “This current phase will add much needed capacity to address the short-term flow requirements until the next phase of the capacity extension can be implemented.”

He said a master plan for the Gwaiing Wastewater Treatment Works is in process to plan for the incremental expansion of the works to meet the medium term (28Ml/day) and long term (50Ml/day) requirements. This allows the Municipality to plan and budget timeously as demand increases. It is anticipated that the next phase of the upgrading of the works will commence in 2024/25, subject to funding availability.

Photograph above:

New 75kW aerator in operation.

New Motor Control panel to control new equipment at the plant.

On the photo from left: Zahoor Brey (Contractor from Zabs Enterprises), Alderman Leon van Wyk (Executive Mayor of George), Dr Michele Gratz (Municipal Manager), Dawie Adonis (Director of Community Services) and Ruan Espach, (Urban Engineer Consultants Pty).

The George Municipality is taking proactive measures to keep its citizens safe by expanding its Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) building. This week, the Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk, and the Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz, visited the building as the extension and upgrading commences.

With more than 600 cameras spread throughout the city, including Municipal Buildings, criminal activities and potential threats are being monitored to protect municipal property and identify unlawful actions. This expansion is a crucial step towards making George a safer city for all.

Picture 2:
Lauren Louw and Angelo Prins
(Community Services Department)

George Municipality received a Budget Facility for Infrastructure Funding (BFI) grant to the value of R1.107 billion from National Treasury in the 2021/22 financial year and the BFI project with its various project components, has shown significant progress and expenditure in the 2022/23 financial years. George Municipality is actively working to keep our economy on the go, by ensuring adequate long-term planning and investment into our resources – that is water, sewerage and electricity.  The full BFI project is planned to be completed by 30 June 2025.

George Municipality provides water services to over 243 996 residents from 67 787 households across 28 wards including the coastal areas of Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay and Gwaing in the city of George area. The objectives of the project are to ensure adequate potable water supply to meet the demand of the current population and to provide security for future development, both social and economic, and to reduce pollution of certain main water courses.

Updates on the Potable Water Security and Remedial Works components funded by BFI Grant
The project consists of 12 components, some of which will be executed in more than one construction phase.

Component 3
The refurbishment of the existing Sludge Discharge System Phase 1 and 2 at the Eden, Meul and Schaapkop Pumpstations will improve the reliability of the aged pump stations.

Status: Construction of the first phase has reached completion at the Meul and Eden Pump Stations

Phase 1: The first phase of the upgrading and refurbishment of the Meul Sewage Pumpstation was completed in June 2023, including a new standby generator and motor control centre. This is also the case for the new motor control centre at the Eden Sewage Pumpstation.  The Schaapkop Sewage Pumpstation implementation was delayed and the tender for the Phase 1 implementation had to be cancelled.
Phase 2: Civil engineering construction on the Meul Sewage Pumpstation Phase 2 as well as the Eden Pump Station are currently in  the tender stage.  The design process is under way for Schaapkop Pump Station, incorporating both Phases 1 and 2 to be implemented as a single project.

Component 4
The upgrading of the Garden Route Dam Outlet and Supply project includes the replacement of the existing 600 mm diameter raw water pipeline from the intake tower at the Garden Route Dam to the raw water pumpstations, with a new 800 mm diameter stainless steel pipeline to accommodate a higher flowrate in accordance with the future raw water flow requirements.

Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 34.2 million on 26 May 2023. The 800mm diameter Stainless Steel pipes are being manufactured in China and will arrive in SA in December 2023, whereafter the on-site installation will commence in early 2024. The estimated completion date for the project is July 2024.

Component 5
2 x 1250 kVA generators have been installed at the Garden Route Dam raw water pumpstation.  These generators will ensure that during loadshedding or any other power outage, raw water can continue to be pumped uninterrupted to the Water Treatment Works for processing for drinking water supply.
Construction and installation have been completed and the project has been commissioned. The generators automatically start and operate during load-shedding.

Component 6
An additional 40 million litre raw water storage and balancing dam will be constructed, as well as a 340m long 800mm diameter raw water outlet pipeline and an 800mm diameter raw water pump main extension, to secure sufficient raw water storage capacity to supply the 20Ml/day extension to the Water Treatment Works and the existing two treatment plants. The new raw water dam will supplement the existing storage dams that provide raw water to the two water treatment plants.

Status: The preliminary design process considered two alternative positions in order to select the most cost-effective solution. Final designs of the selected position have been completed and procurement of a Contractor to construct the works has commenced. It is planned that this new raw water storage dam will be commissioned in June 2025.

Follow link for update on Components 1 and 2

http://tinyurl.com/3nwbcjjt

This year we are celebrating the theme ‘Tourism for Good’ with inspiring stories of businesses impacting the local hospitality space.  Here are a few:

The Garden Route Botanical Garden (GRBG), a nonprofit and Public Benefit Organisation, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year!  Approximately 16 hectares in size, the garden showcases and conserves the incredible biodiversity of the district. Indigenous forests, wetlands, fynbos, and coastal dunes support a wide variety of plant and animal species, including those which are threatened and endemic.  Scientists and researchers come to the garden to study the ecosystems and species, as well as make use of the herbarium. Educational programs and interpretive materials are offered.  Declared a nature reserve, there are many things to see and enjoy such as hiking, markets, guided tours, and medicinal plant lectures.  There is also a restaurant, parkrun, and indigenous nursery. The garden is a haven for birdwatchers, with numerous bird species calling it home. Bird hides and viewing platforms are available for bird enthusiasts to observe the local avian wildlife.

The Herold Meander is a secluded rural settlement of cultural and historical significance.  From an abandoned and derelict farm, it has been developed into a sustainable Agri-Village.  Environmental, water rights and heritage approvals were obtained to ensure a sustainable farming development, primarily focused on proteas, honeybush tea and sheep. The Honeybush shrub is proudly South African and grows naturally in the Garden Route and Tsitsikamma areas.  The Khoikhoi used honeybush to make medicinal tea.  Slightly sweet and caffeine-free, this herbal tea has high antioxidants and low tannins. The project has resulted in upgrades to the infrastructure, capacity building of workers, repair of historical buildings and the creation of local jobs.  Herold Meander offers honeybush tea tasting, donkey cart rides, fishing, and accommodation facilities on a pre-booking basis.

Empower is a George based NPC and PBO. In December 2022, Empower hosted a crowd-funding campaign, Run It Back.  Through the efforts of 15 volunteers who ran 5kms every day for 8 days, they raised enough funds to purchase 8 generators. Empower gifted the generators according to set criteria, in partnership with the George Business Chamber, to local businesses. 3 out of the 8 generators went to Explore our Hood, the Garden Route Botanical Garden and George Backpackers.

Explore our Hood is a Thembalethu-based tourism business with awesome, authentic township experiences.  George Backpackers offers an affordable overnight accommodation, with dormitories and private rooms.  The hosts speak English, Afrikaans, and German.

Discover more about George, Wilderness and Uniondale tourism offerings and destination stories at visitgeorge.co.za.

George Municipality received a Budget Facility for Infrastructure Funding (BFI) grant to the value of R1.107 billion from National Treasury in the 2021/22 financial year and the BFI project with its various project components, has shown significant progress and expenditure in the 2022/23 financial years.

George Municipality is actively working to keep our economy on the go, by ensuring adequate long-term planning and investment into our resources – that is water, sewerage and electricity. The full BFI project is planned to be completed by 30 June 2025.

George Municipality provides water services to over 243 996 residents from 67 787 households across 28 wards including the coastal areas of Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay and Gwaing in the city of George area. The objectives of the project are to ensure adequate potable water supply to meet the demand of the current population and to provide security for future development, both social and economic, and to reduce pollution of certain main water courses.

Updates on the Potable Water Security and Remedial Works components funded by BFI Grant
The project consists of 12 components, some of which will be executed in more than one construction phase.

Component 1 and 2
The 20 Ml/d extension to the New Water Treatment Works (New WTW) is component 2 of the 12. Component 1 adds the Water Treatment Works residuals treatment facility to the project.

Status: The first contract, valued at R263 million, was awarded for the civil engineering works and construction is continuing on site. The tender for the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation (MEI) works was awarded for R217 million. Component 1and 2 form the largest sub-projects of the overall BFI project.
• Placing of concrete is progressing well and the concrete structures are progressing above ground level. The civil engineering works on the main component currently stands at 54% complete and the most difficult parts of the construction has been completed.
• The construction on the 600m long, 900mm diameter, clear water HDPE pipeline started in late 2022, is currently at 70% completion. The river crossing is ready to commence plus the two tie-ins at the start and end of the pipeline, which will require shut downs of the clear water feed pipeline to the reservoirs.
• The concrete for the three tanks of the dewatering facility for the water treatment residuals process, are complete. This forms part of Component 2 of the BFI project and will reduce the load on the sewage conveyance system and pumpstations, as well as reduce the load on the wastewater treatment processes and the main sludge dewatering facility.
• A number of plant shutdowns are required at the new Water Treatment Works to enable tie-ins on the raw water feed to the plant, the clear water feed from the plant to the reservoirs, valve chamber construction, injection chamber construction and some refurbishment of pipework in the existing new Water Treatment Works. These shutdowns have to be carefully co-ordinated to avoid unnecessary downtime or reduction in water supply to George and also contributes to the reasoning for extended water restrictions due to the inability to supply treated water in larger quantities.
• The civil engineering construction is scheduled for completion at the end of February 2024 and the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation by December 2024

In the contemporary business landscape, the significance of real-time data and transparency has transcended convenience, expanding into the realm of operational optimisation, cost prediction, and the avoidance of unforeseen financial surprises. In light of this, the George Municipality is proud to introduce its Bulk Meter Access Portal. This powerful tool offers a comprehensive view of their electricity consumption, enabling informed decision-making and driving enhanced profitability.

In today’s business world, having up-to-the-minute information is critical to success. That’s why George Municipality is excited to unveil the Bulk Meter Access Portal. This powerful tool helps businesses keep a close eye on their electricity use and make smarter decisions, ultimately boosting profits.

According to Mr. Bongani Mandla, the director of electrotechnical services at George Municipality, this new portal lets businesses, that is our bulk and SSEG customers registered with the municipality, see precisely how much electricity they’re using whenever they want.

“Imagine having a dashboard that shows not only how much electricity is being consumed right now, but also how much was used in the past. This helps companies plan better and avoid surprises in their bills,” says Mandla

This new portal is made possible by Open Access Energy. George Municipality was the first electricity provider in the country to pilot Amptera, Open Access Energy’s freely licensed software solution that automates the reading, processing, and billing of electricity smart meter data.

Easy Access for Property Owners

This portal is designed for property owners in the George Municipality area who use bulk meters. Getting started is a breeze. Just go to https://public.george.gov.za and fill out a short form.

Top-Notch Security

“Making sure your information is safe is a big deal,” says Gerjo Hoffman, Chief-Executive-Officer and co-founder of Open Access Energy, the company that developed this software solution.

“We’ve set up a super strong security system. It’s like the security systems banks use to keep your money safe,” says Hoffman.  When signing up another email will explain next steps to follow.

Seeing Your Electricity Info

Once the unique key has been received and activated, customers can use it to unlock the portal at https://auth.george.gov.za. Inside, they’ll find a bunch of great helpful information. They can see how much electricity they’ve used over time, including right now. They can also check how much their bill will be for the month. If they need info about other meters, they can request that too.

Getting Help Fast

George Municipality wants to make sure everything goes smoothly. If customers have any problems or are not receiving the emails mentioned above, they can contact Derek Baxter on djbaxter@george.gov.za for assistance.

Making Better Choices with Data

In today’s world, knowing your numbers is super important. That’s where the Bulk Meter Access Portal comes in. It gives businesses all the necessary information to use electricity wisely and save money. Instead of just guessing, companies can now make decisions based on actual facts.

End.

On the photo: Job readiness session in Touwsranten

The Special Programs Desk from George Municipality hosted two Career Readiness training sessions aimed to educate members of the public with skills that will better equip them for the job market. The training took place on 22 and 23 August 2023 in Touwsranten (Ward 4) and Lawaaikamp (Ward 7), respectively.

According to Sophia Fanelo the Manager for Community Development in the George Municipality, various skills were shared amongst the attendees such as how to draw up a CV, how to conduct yourself during an interview, how to dress etc. “Although the training was open to the general members of the public, the target group was the vulnerable population within the communities including the LGBTIQ+ Community. This community was specifically targeted since it is often marginalised and discriminated against when it comes to employment opportunities,” Fanelo said.

“Sensitisation also took place to educate and inform the partners which includes local and governmental organisations on the rights and existence of transgender persons. This is also a strategy to bring about change and to champion Legal Gender Recognition within corporate workplaces,” she added.

A follow-up workshop will take place and this session will focus on drawing up a map of historic advocacies and to reflect critically on the present/current systems that are preventing access to Gender Recognition and gender-affirming Healthcare. This initiative will also be rolled out in the other Wards falling under the auspices of George Municipality.

The George Municipality wished to acknowledge the following stakeholders who all played a vital role in the success of the programme which reached about 125 persons during the two days. They are the Department of Labour and Employment, Social Health and Empowerment, ABSA bank, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), George Municipality’s HIV/Aids Subsection and Youth Development.

On the photo from left: Roland Appels (Sub-Contractor from MTDJ Projects), Thabo Yiga (Project Manager: Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), Cllr Nosicelo Mbethe (Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), Daniel Greeff (Deputy Director Electro for Planning & Design in the Electrotechnical Services Directorate), Bongani Mandla (Director of Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality) and Menno Sulsters (Main Contractor from SEM Solutions Pty Ltd).

Exciting news! The Outeniqua Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) in Pacaltsdorp, South of George has just completed the installation of a 400-kilowatt peak (kWp) solar PV system, this is another milestone for the Municipality’s strive for energy resilience.

The energising process was witnessed by Cllr Nosicelo Mbethe, Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services on Wednesday, 30 August 2023. She was accompanied by George Municipality’s Electrotechnical Services team, Bongani Mandla the director of Electrotechnical Services, Daniel Greeff the deputy Electro for Planning & Design and Thabo Yiga the Project Manager.

Demonstrating the Successful energising process was the main contractor Menno Sulsters from SEM Solutions and local sub-contractor Roland Appels from MTDJ Projects who delivered this very exceptional project. The next phase will be the establishment of a Battery Energy Storage System. The official handover of the power plant to the municipality will be announced soon.

Demonstration of From left: Menno Sulsters (Main Contractor from SEM Solutions Pty Ltd), Daniel Greeff (Deputy Director Electro for Planning & Design in the Electrotechnical Services Directorate), Cllr Nosicelo Mbethe (Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), Thabo Yiga (Project Manager: Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), Bongani Mandla (Director of Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), and Roland Appels (Sub-Contractor from MTDJ Projects).

From left: Bongani Mandla (Director of Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), Cllr Nosicelo Mbethe (Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality) Menno Sulsters (Main Contractor from SEM Solutions Pty Ltd), Thabo Yiga (Project Manager: Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), Roland Appels (Sub-Contractor from MTDJ Projects), and Daniel Greeff (Deputy Director Electro for Planning & Design in the Electrotechnical Services Directorate).

On the photo from left: Roland Appels (Sub-Contractor from MTDJ Projects), Thabo Yiga (Project Manager: Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), Cllr Nosicelo Mbethe (Portfolio Councillor for Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality), Daniel Greeff (Deputy Director Electro for Planning & Design in the Electrotechnical Services Directorate), Bongani Mandla (Director of Electrotechnical Services in the George Municipality) and Menno Sulsters (Main Contractor from SEM Solutions Pty Ltd).

Join us today in celebrating our very own dynamic woman from the George Municipality: Fuzisa Nomlala, Plans Examiner

“I am consistently a woman of integrity, kind and supportive. A beautiful personality makes a woman special at every turn, be it at home, work or in society.” Fuzisa said.

Since October 2020 Fuzisa has been working as a Plans Examiner. Her daily duty is to scrutinise and evaluate building plan applications but is also responsible for other Building Control matters including inspections, enforcement and administration.

Fuzisa joined George Municipality in October 2018 as an Assistant Building Control Officer. Academically, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, National Diploma in Building Science and has just completed her Master’s degree in Town and Regional Planning.

Join us today in celebrating our very own dynamic woman from the George Municipality- Janine Wells
Manager: Traffic and Licensing

“Working in a male-dominated environment and still remaining a woman, able to juggle work, family and home, makes me unique as a woman,” Janine said.

Janine manages the Traffic Department which includes traffic law enforcement which is general traffic law enforcement, parking enforcement, training and education for creches, schools, universities, old age homes, pedestrian awareness and any other non-motorised transport mode as well as public transport which includes buses, taxis, scholar transport, freight and speed enforcement.

The Traffic Chief is also in charge of the learner and driving license section, traffic fine management, motor vehicle registration and licensing and vehicle testing.

Janine is responsible for the implementation of all relevant policies, amended legislation, and adherence to relevant municipal legislation including directives received from the National Department of Transport and the Western Cape Government: Mobility Department.

She is responsible for the development of a strategic plan and annually reviews the plan, to provide for new developments.