press-release

Issued by George Municipality 22 March 2023 for immediate release

The George Municipality was selected by the Western Cape Provincial Treasury to pilot the implementation of Agile Auditing in local municipalities.

The project will entail appointing a service provider to conduct awareness and coaching workshops with the Internal Audit Activity, Executive Management, and the Audit Committee on the concepts of agile auditing and test its application at George Municipality. This will ensure that the stakeholders are provided with adequate tools, techniques, and support to fully implement Agile Auditing methodologies that can be utilised in the strategic planning, engagement planning, fieldwork, and reporting phases of internal audit.

The internal audit profession is evolving, accelerating the pace to provide real-time assurance. The George Municipality in partnership with the Provincial Treasury supports the continuous improvement of municipal internal audit activities and is therefore exploring the practicalities of applying agile auditing in small internal audit activities, as in the municipal environment.  With the roll out of the Agile Auditing project the municipality envisages an improved efficiency of the internal audit functions, real time assurance provided to all stakeholders, team effectiveness and an overall close interaction between internal audit functions and management.

Mr JP Rossouw (Chief Audit Executive) indicated that he is very excited about the pilot project, if implemented successfully, George will be one of the first local municipalities to implement an Agile Auditing approach. This is an innovative and forward-thinking auditing process, to ensure that the Internal Audit Department adds value and meet the expectations of its stakeholders.

Caption: JP Rossouw, Chief Audit Executive at George Municipality.

The George Municipality in partnership with National Treasury initiated the Thembalethu Node 1 Development Project to create a vibrant sustainable community node in Thembalethu, which can attract new investment into the area and stimulate downstream economic activity.

The ward councillor of Thembalethu and Ward Committee for Ward 13 branded the precinct as “Ilisolethu”, meaning “Our eye” and supported a possible brand logo for the area.  The nodal area lies along Nelson Mandela Boulevard and includes the area referred to as the Thembalethu Central Business District (CBD).  Several workshops with councillors, the ward committee, municipal departments, and key stakeholders were held to identify potential projects and receive feedback.

“The node will be an asset of which the entire community can be proud,” says the Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk. “This will transform the neighbourhood and be a catalyst for future growth.”

The planning for “Ilisolethu” has reached a stage where detailed plans for project implementation are being prepared. These include:

• An investment plan which includes a selection of possible project- and investment partners;
• A development plan which will place the identified projects on-site in an integrated manner and includes an analysis of the required engineering and road infrastructure to support a pedestrian-friendly Nelson Mandela Boulevard and an integrated node; and
• An area management strategy which will set the scene to mobilize the positive participation of all the role-players and ensure that the node will be managed sustainably.

Mayor van Wyk says the George Municipality has secured funding from the National Treasury through the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Programme to initiate the technical investigation stage of the project. The objective is to facilitate inclusionary economic opportunities, create high-quality public spaces and link funders to catalytic projects which will benefit the lives of the residents of Thembalethu.

A service provider was appointed in September 2022 following a tender process. Since then, consultation, surveys and technical work have been conducted, which will result in plans and strategies for “Ilisolethu” to be presented to Council.

“We are greatly encouraged by the positive feedback we have received from community structures, and for the leadership of the Ward Councillor Simphiwe Toto and his Ward Committee,” says Ms Lauren Waring, Director for Human Settlements, Planning and Development in the George Municipality. “There is significant interest in the project and the feedback and further engagements will help us to refine the proposals for ‘Ilisolethu’.”

The first draft plans will be finalized by the end of March 2023, upon which further input will be invited.  This will take us closer to confirmation of the processes we must follow toward project implementation. The draft proposals, timeframes and cost will be presented to Council once the project elements have been defined. This project will enable the George Council to forge partnerships with state and private benefactors and activate an area management structure that will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the project plan.

“This is a ground-breaking initiative which will be a valuable community asset and benefit to the entire region,” says Ms Waring.

Iliso Lethu Before

Iliso Lethu After

ENDS.

The National Treasury, accompanied by the representatives from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Neighbourhood Development Partnership Programme and Provincial Treasury visited the George Municipality on a two-day programme as part of the Mid-Year Budget and Performance Assessment for Municipalities.

The George Municipality in these engagements was represented by the Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, Portfolio Councillor for Financial and Strategic Services Dirk Wessels, Municipal Manager for George Dr Michele Gratz, the Chief Financial Officer Riaan du Plessis, the directors of the George Municipality, some senior managers, and managers.

“Twice a year we have engagements with the National Treasury that assess and review our finances. We are one of the privileged intermediate cities in the country that are a non-delegated Municipality, in other words, we report directly to the national Treasury,” said Mayor van Wyk. “Our engagements with them are always valuable as we can discuss our infrastructure needs, various financing needs and the biggest challenges we face, the load shedding and electricity. We, therefore, value these engagements enormously and it is then we have that opportunity to engage directly with them and bring the major challenges that we face as Municipalities to their attention.”

On Thursday, 16 March 2023, which was day one of the two days, the George Municipality presented the following to the delegation:

• Current Institutional Arrangements
• Municipal standard chart of accounts (mSCOA) implementation
• Financial performance for 2021/2022, 2022/2023 Mid-Year and the 2022/2023 Adjustments budget proposals
• Financial Governance and
• Performance as per the 2021/2022 annual report and the 2022/2023 Mid-Year performance assessment report.

On day 2, Friday, 17 March 2023, the delegation visited Infrastructure projects from the Municipality’s Electrotechnical Services Departments and Civil Engineering. One of the sites they visited, is the new 66/11 kV 40 MVA electrical substation which is currently under construction in Thembalethu. This substation is set to be amongst the largest of its kind in the Southern Cape, and a major bulk infrastructure milestone for the city of George. It will improve reliability and provide an adequate capacity of electrical supply to the area, alleviate the load on the substations that are currently supplying Thembalethu and will serve as an important catalyst for investment funding from both the state and business.

Another site the delegation visited was the 20 Ml/d extensions to the New Water Treatment Works (New WTW). George Municipality received a Budget Facility for Infrastructure Funding (BFI) grant to the value of R1.107 billion from the National Treasury in the 2021/22 financial year. The BFI project with its various components has shown significant progress and expenditure to date in the 2022/23 financial year. George Municipality is actively working to keep our economy on the go – by ensuring adequate long-term planning and investment in our resources – that is water, sewerage, and electricity.

The National Treasury expressed its overall impression of their visit to George Municipality.  “We are here to conduct the Mid-Year visit with the Municipality. We are very impressed with the municipality’s handling of its finances. One of the good things that other Municipalities are struggling with is paying creditors, but George Municipality has consistently shown its ability to pay its creditors. The Municipality is on a sustainable path; one of the other things that the municipality is doing well is the appropriateness to cushion their communities and businesses through load shedding by fast-tracking the implementation of the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) projects,” said Mandla Gilimani, director in the National Treasury who is responsible for George Municipality.

Gilimani also praised the Municipality for its well-maintained infrastructure. “Service delivery is clearly visible with well looked after roads network and cleanliness of the town. This will go a long way in attracting investments into the city.” The Auditor-General advised late last year that George Municipality achieved a clean audit for 2021/22, this, according to the Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz is “a testament to the hard work being put in by the administration to continuously improve service delivery whilst also maintaining the highest quality in our administrative processes”.

Ends.

CAPTION:

Sitting in front from left: Riaan du Plessis (Chief Financial Officer of George Municipality), Dr Michele Gratz (George Municipal Manager), Alderman Leon van Wyk (Executive Mayor of George), Councillor Dirk Wessels (Portfolio Councillor for Financial & Strategic Services from the George Municipality) and Mandla Gilimani (Director from National Treasury responsible for George Municipality)

At the back: Senior officials from Georg e Municipality, National Treasury, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Neighbourhood Development Partnership Programme and Provincial Treasury.

Executive Mayor of George, Ald Leon van Wyk welcomes the National Treasury visit delegation

Day 1 of the 2-day National Treasury programme of Mid-Year Budget and Performance Assessment for George Municipality.

The delegation visited was the 20 Mld extensions to the New Water Treatment Works

The delegation visited the new 6611 kV 40 MVA electrical substation which is currently under construction in Thembalethu

It’s story time at George Libraries
George libraries are looking forward to celebrating library week from the 20th until the 26th of March 2023. The theme for this year is Libraries – telling powerful stories.

The art of storytelling is as old as humankind itself. Irrespective of the type of story, whether it is fiction, biographical, dramatic, poetic, oral or in writing, each one of us has a story to tell. These stories transfer knowledge and traditions, put the spotlight on unsung heroes, and uplift, educate and inspire people. Since the days gone by, libraries have been central in collecting, preserving, storing, promoting, and encouraging millions of people to become aware of and enjoy these stories with the aim to understand how other people think, operate and live.

The 4IR has shifted the landscape and how we tell these stories which have contributed to global knowledge, memory, and communication. Despite the challenges that libraries are facing, libraries have persevered and continue to add to the good stories that they tell. George Libraries are opening its doors for a week of fun and laughter, drama and entertainment, as we invite all our communities to enjoy Library Week with us. Our library staff understand the power and effect stories have and plays in the lives of people.

George Library has already made plans to visit and share powerful stories at the following venues:
Below is the itinerary for George Public Library:
• Carpe Diem school on the 22nd of March at 11:00 am- 12:00 pm
• On the 23rd of March, at George preparatory at 11:00
• and Friday the 24th of March at Olympia

Come join us for a poetry workshop on 21 March 2023 on World Poetry Day (time: 18h00 until 20h00)

More Library Week Activities – 20-26 March 2023
Blanco Library

20 March 2023
• Activity Children from Kretzenshoop primary read out of a selection of children’s storybooks.
• Golden oldies and the community are welcome for tea and refreshments

22 March 2023
Board games face painting by 6 – 10-year primary children

23 March 2023
• Golden oldies and the public will be invited to listen to an informative session on social issues in the community by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
• Story hour at Born to Win for Library Week.
24 March 2023
• Worldbuilding and Spelling competition by grade 5 students.

Conville Library
Visits Primary Schools to promote telling your own story competition.

Pacaltsdorp – Library week program
Mystery book competition during library week
• Covered Book paper a short review will be subtracted from the book and the patron will be asked to read the book and return it on 22/03/2023 to win library related prize.
• Math Olympiad recruiting of 9 students – 3 of each School in Pacaltsdorp
• All learners in grade 7- The programme will run over a 4-week period (orientation of program will be in library week.

Thembalethu Library
Library week from 20 – 23 March 2023

20 March 2023
• Launch
• Registration – Write your own story
• Save water Presentation – 11H00 – 13H00
22 March 2023
• Take the High schools to Robben Island (They will be visiting the library with their outreach program. /History of Thembalethu by Mr Castro Leholo

23 March 2023
• Services rendered by Library – for Crèche Teachers in Thembalethu

24 March 23
• Story hour -11H00 – 12H00
• Story reading competition 14H00 – 16H00
• Official opening of the Library of the Blind at Thembalethu Library

Ends.

Over the past week, I have been impressed by the important roles that many of our citizens play in their attempts to improve the lives of others.

I was invited to the closing ceremony of an inter-provincial bowls tournament that had been held in George with 200 competitors from across the country. I immediately noticed the buzz of excitement on my arrival which indicated a successful event had come to its conclusion. Elsewhere, motorbike riders and 100 Harley Davidsons were gathering at their venue for the weekend. In recent weeks we have welcomed golfers, old cars, swimmers and shortly there will be school sporting teams spending time in George.

The organisers of these events deserve praise for the planning and holding of these events. Much enterprise and effort goes into ensuring that these events take place as they showcase what George is all about. Each of these events attract “tourism rands” into economic activities across the local economy. Our tourists spend money on accommodation, transport, food, beverages, discretionary goods and services, that then results in employment and resultant benefits for our citizens. Let us hope that our municipal services and friendly hospitality also leaves a good impression on our visitors who will spread the word when they return home. We want to encourage all events and activities that will keep attracting tourists to George.

We thank our NSRI team, lifesavers and safety teams who constantly keep our visitors safe while swimming at our beaches. All accommodation establishments and hosts of tourists should gently remind our visitors to avoid rip currents along our beaches and to only swim within designated safe swimming areas. Follow this link for easily accessible information that can be printed for display https://www.george.gov.za/planning-development/local-economic-development/tourism/safety-for-visitors/

We should also remember our municipal staff who play their role in making George attractive and liveable. A week ago we received adverse warnings for heavy rain. In anticipation, municipal teams went out to clear stormwater drains and areas where flooding could occur. Fortunately, the expected flooding did not materialise.

We often experience blocked sewer drains and lines that result in spillages, also into streams. Other than roots and vegetation that infiltrate these lines, blockages often occur because of citizens dumping towels, cloths, carpets and other objects into sewerage systems. We need our citizens to discourage others who cause this damage and to report incidents.

In many areas, we receive complaints about cable theft and vandalism that occurs during loadshedding under cover of darkness, with streetlights and infrastructure having been vandalised. Thank you to those citizens, including the neighbourhood watch teams who patrol our areas to help prevent crime, and who report these incidents. We thank the many citizens who assist and contribute to soup kitchens and homeless shelters thereby helping others who are less fortunate.

Celebrating the first 2000 Smart Ultrasonic Water Meters to be installed are from left Dhasi Naidoo, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer Ontec Systems; Charles Jackson, Senior Manager Operations Ontec Systems; Deon De Jager, Deputy Director Water and Sanitation, Civil Engineering Services;  Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk; Jacobus Lane, Assistant Supervisor Water Networks, Civil Engineering Services; Browen Johnson, Portfolio Councillor Civil Engineering Services; Pieter  Erasmus, Associate Specialist, Zutari,; Petrus van Heerden, Regional Manager Africa Kamstrup; Ithriam Leukes, Business Development Manager Ontec Systems; Sumeshin Naidoo, CEO Sigfox South Africa; Mark Wearing, Operations Coordinator Ontec Systems; Niel Van Der Westhuizen, Civil Technologist, Zutari and Riaan van Jaarsveld, Business Development Manager Ontec Systems.

Striving towards the goal of becoming a Smart City the George Municipality has embarked on an initiative to drastically improve customer service delivery and revenue collection while reducing the overall revenue and non-revenue associated with water losses. New smart ultrasonic water meters will be installed throughout George over a period of three to four years.

The first 2000 meters are expected to be installed by early April this year and the initial areas include Blanco, Heather park, Dormehlsdrift and George South. Approximately 10 000 meters will be installed initially with an engineering consultant firm (Zutari) appointed to assist with the process and certify each smart water meter following installation.

Council agreed on a strategy to address ageing infrastructure and this included addressing water leaks and meter readings. The tender for the project was awarded to Ontec Systems  and will allow for the new, Kamstrup ultrasonic SMART water meters to be installed by replacing the existing meter, and at the same time provides an opportunity for various issues to be addressed by  plumbing teams as they do the installations. Homeowners will be contacted by the installation teams should there be any issues regarding access to the existing meter in terms of its location.

The SMART meters are not pre-paid water meters and will not disconnect consumer’s water supply. Actual live consumption data is sent via a radio signal to the service provider Sigfox South Africa and the municipality can access the Ontec Pyxis Platform webpage with the live data per meter. Chief Strategy Officer for Ontec, Dhasi Naidoo says “these SMART water meters enable a multitude of benefits for both George Municipality and it’s citizens by automating its meter reading and billing cycle, providing daily consumption monitoring, trend analysis, leak and burst alarm notifications for consumers to better control and manage their water consumption. It will also enable George Municipality with additional operational capabilities for faster reaction to water losses and holistic water usage management.” The technology enables the municipality to construct a complete overview of water production, distributed and consumed to accurately identify and remedy leakages to limit water losses.

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk applauded the use of new technology to simplify municipal processes at a meet and greet yesterday, 14 March 2023, with the full team of service providers linked to this ambitious project. “We are banking on this new meter to simplify the process of meter reading and to increase accuracy. Considering water is our most precious and scarce resource, these Smart Water meters can add immense value in terms of water theft and abuse management through early IT notifications and alerts, and with no moving parts have an expected 15-year constant accuracy lifespan. George continues to lead by example with this project and it is one more step towards achieving the goal of George being a Smart City.”

Challenges experienced by the George Municipality in the past with the original meters include unreliable billing data, infrequent and inconsistent account invoices and delivery, extended collection cycles and debit accumulation, inaccurate reporting of household’s consumption, vandalism, no access, excessive leaking and wastages, and the reporting process for faulty water meters and account queries will become a thing of the past.

As a resident you benefit from this technology as well – you can receive daily water meter readings of your actual household water consumption directly on your cellphone giving you the ability to monitor and control your households water consumption. The early leak alarm warning saves on water waste and the accompanying financial penalties as you can set your usage threshold on a daily and monthly basis to prevent any billing surprises. The near real-time consumption allows you to understand exactly where and when you are using water.

As the resident you will receive high usage warnings via SMS and Email enabling you to act immediately. Residents will have access to the My George Home Page http://george.ontec.co.za track their own daily water consumption, respond to leakage alerts and manage multiple meters in one space.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk during his visit to the Workers Collection Point (WCP) on Tuesday, 14 March 2023 pleaded to employers in George and to people looking for employment to fully utilise this facility that was established for private individuals and businesses to utilise it as a central point for those who wish to employ temporary workers and for job seekers to avail themselves for employment opportunities.

The Municipality wants to emphasize that the Workers Collection Point, which is situated on Industrial Street, in George Industrial, is the only authorised place for job seekers and for pick-up of job seekers. The WCP is staffed by officials from the George Municipality’s Economic Development Department. What makes the WCP reliable and safe for both job seekers and employers it is run professionally with the registration of job seekers capturing their personal information such as their names, identification documents and address as well as details of the employers to ensure adequate management of the whole process.

Executive Mayor Leon van Wyk meets job seekers at the Workers’ Collection Point during his visit.

Mayor van Wyk visited the centre to ascertain its functionality after it has been closed temporarily last year. The Municipality was unfortunately compelled to temporarily close the Workers Collection Point (WCP) in August 2022 due to ongoing safety challenges and concern for the well-being of the staff. Following a risk assessment that was conducted and addressed at the facility, the George Municipality is happy to announce that the workers’ collection point services have resumed since February this year. However, the Municipality notice that there has been a low number of both job seekers and especially the employers.

Alderman van Wyk appeals to the community of George to make use of this facility. “We are busy re-launching the whole Workers Collection Point program, so in other words, we’ve got workers who come to this point and are looking for work. They may well be painters they may well be in the construction industry; they could be drivers; they could be general workers.”

We appeal to employers not to look around for workers, but to come to the Workers Collection Point; it’s fully operational, and professionally run. Companies and businesses who are looking for workers that they might need on a temporary basis can come and collect them and come and select them,” Ald van Wyk added.

Ongeziwe Mthongwana (Local Economic Development official), Alderman Leon van Wyk (Executive Mayor of George), Portfolio Councillor Dirk Wessels (Financial & Strategic Services), Dr Kosie Haarhoff (Deputy Director for Strategic Growth and Development and Kelvin Abrahams (Local Economic Development Official). 

“We are also busy building a profile; a little CV of each of these workers and we hope to include this on our municipal app and also to try and get a check on how everybody has worked at the end of the day so that we can start building a more permanent career for each of these people. So, we would love our citizens and our businesses and our companies to join us and participate in this scheme so that we can make sure that our citizens have work thank you.”

George Municipality has successfully run the facility for more than five years and has proved to be a huge success. In the past, many of the work seekers have secured longer-term work (e.g., 2-week contracts) and several permanent positions have also materialised.  The demand for skilled labour (e.g., bricklayers and carpenters) often outweighed the supply of these skills at the facility.

It’s a thumbs-up for the Workers Collection Point as it is the only authorised place for job seekers and for pick-up of job seekers. Mayor van Wyk, Councillor Dirk Wessels and Local Economic Development officials meet the job seekers at the Workers Collection Point.

The WCP is situated at 12 Industrial Street, George Industrial and operates between 07:45 and 15:00, Monday to Friday. It is staffed by the following two officials from the Planning and Development Department

Kevin Abrahams, Email: kabrahams@george.gov.za  and Ongeziwe Mthongwana, Email: omthongwana@george.gov.za For enquiries, please phone the office on 044 801 9173.

ENDS.

George Municipal Tourism Manager, Joan Shaw, attended Meetings Africa 2023 from 27 February to 2 March 2023 at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg. Business meetings were pre-arranged with more than 30 buyers and business event organisers, over three days where George, Wilderness and Uniondale were positioned as the perfect destination to host small, medium, and large business events.

This is part of the strategy that George Tourism has adopted since the Covid pandemic, to attract more business through groups and events, and this has paid off as George’s recovery has been phenomenal to date, with many events taking place every month.

Joan met event and conference organisers, as well as tour operators that deal in both group and leisure travellers in the foreign individual travel (FIT) markets, and although the objective was to focus on the Garden Route’s Traditional markets of Germany and the United Kingdom, appointments with George were sought after by buyers from more than 10 counties including the United States of America, France, Turkey, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Russia. The keen interest from the United States can be ascribed to the direct flights from that continent now flying to Cape Town.

Joan Shaw said “Meetings Africa exists to provide a platform for exhibitors to showcase their offerings to International and local buyers, African associations, and corporate planners. It is a formidable platform to meet face-to-face with the most influential buyers in the world, and to be part of South Africa and ultimately George’s tourism and economic growth.”

Meetings Africa, owned by South African Tourism, serves as the primary platform to enable the growth of the business events industry on the continent. George attended on the Wesgro platform, making it more cost-effective for the destination to participate.

Joan Shaw said “Meetings Africa exists to provide a platform for exhibitors to showcase their offerings to International and local buyers, African associations, and corporate planners. It is a formidable platform to meet face-to-face with the most influential buyers in the world, and to be part of South Africa and ultimately George’s tourism and economic growth.”

Ends.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk was a panellist at the Western Cape Premier Alan Winde’s weekly Digicon on Thursday, 9 March 2023 to feature and discuss the Municipality’s plans for becoming energy resilient and other related initiatives.

This was Premier Winde’s second digital media briefing of a string of upcoming weekly briefings on energy-related issues and George was the first municipality invited to address Digicon. A special focus this week was on the George Municipality’s energy projects. Mayor van Wyk was accompanied by the Municipal Manager of George, Dr Michele Gratz and the George Municipality’s Director for Electrotechnical Services, Mr Bongani Mandla.

Mayor van Wyk spoke about the Municipal intentions on Energy efficiency and demand management through reduction of own consumption, Self-generation (Municipal and private) Small scale energy wheeling, enabling Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) and restructuring of tariffs.

“We are extremely proud to have had the opportunity, as George Municipality to be able to present on the Digicon that was hosted by the Premier of the Western Cape,” said Mayor van Wyk. “It is important that local municipalities do look and see what they can do to assist their citizens in fighting off the effects of load-shedding, and these are major effects on all municipalities and we are very glad that we’ve been able to share work that we are doing in combatting this issue, and let’s all work together to see what we can do to sort out this problem and the challenges the lie ahead.”

Premier Winde also expressed his appreciation of the George Municipality’s willingness to share its energy plans. “I would like to thank George Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Leon Van Wyk, for joining our #EnergyDigicon today. I am committed to ensuring that the Western Cape Government works tirelessly to mitigate the devastating effects of rolling blackouts in our province.

For a recording of the latest Digicon, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/live/SpBdggu90d0?feature=share

Ends.

Flood wrap of the weekend

Issued by George Municipality on 7 March 2023 for immediate release

Due to the George Municipality’s preparedness and a contingency plan consisting of integrated multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary services within the organisation, we were well prepared for the heavy rainfall and flooding expected  in George and Uniondale areas over the past weekend following the South African Weather Services Level 6 warning received on Friday 3 March.  George in general measured approximately 60 mm of rain from Friday, 3 March until Sunday, 5 March. The Municipality implemented measures aimed at disaster prevention, mitigation, and response, after receiving the predicted heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms from Saturday night to Monday morning.

Uniondale and Haarlem

In Uniondale, 65mm of rainfall was measured from Saturday until Sunday and about 68 mm of rainfall in Haarlem on the same days. Uniondale and Haarlem areas had the most damage with the newly upgraded Uniondale Fire Station that was almost completely flooded despite preventative preparations. Trenches and sandbags were used to attempt to prevent flooding but to no avail. The volume of the downpour was simply too much for the measures that were in place.

A farm in the Kammanassie area was cut off from access due to the Kammanassie River flooding. The resident was unable to pick up an urgent emergency consignment of medication for an epileptic patient and the George Fire Department assisted with the matter due to the emergency. A 4×4 vehicle was used to cross the flooded river and after some water had subsided as well.  Several roads were damaged in Haarlem and after the flooding a number of the stormwater drains need to be cleared of debris and which officials have started with.

The roads in Uniondale are extensively damaged by the storm that happened on Sunday, 5 March 2023. The road that was most adversely affected is Uitvlught road as well as Cemetery Road, Laetitia Avenue, Wehmeyer Street, Albert Street, Cathcart Street, Rose Street, Aberdeen Street, Buitenkant Street, Berg Street and Parlement Street. Some stormwater issues were experienced where large amounts of gravel washed into people’s driveways and properties. Officials have started by clearing rocks, stones and sand off the roads.

In Uniondale,  40 callouts were made for formal and informal housing with regard to the supply of gunplas and flood damage, with another 40 callouts in Haarlem. After these families were assisted with most flooding issues and glunplas it was not necessary to evacuate any of their premises.

Preparations in Advance

Our Civil Engineering Stormwater teams checked and cleared roughly 100 drains along 21 Streets in George areas from Friday afternoon till 22h00 and again on Saturday from 08h00 to 22h00. Three teams were put in place to check hotspot areas where flooding problems have occurred previously.  During the storm on Sunday, only four complaints came in of people needing assistance with catch pits.

The Disaster management department had to bring in two additional staff members to assist with the call volumes at the Call Centre. Our disaster and fire brigade officials monitored areas such as Hope Street and other areas around George. Sanparks breached the Touwsriver mouth at 15h30 on Monday afternoon. The Corporate Services Directorate had halls on standby to be used if people needed to be evacuated but this wasn’t necessary.

The George Traffic Services remained on standby for the duration of the storm and at least three vehicle accidents were reported on Provincial Roads. Two motor vehicle accidents were reported to the Fire Department on Sunday in Outeniqua Pass and one accident in Kaaimans Pass. The Fire Department received only 7 calls in the George area for assistance with sandbags at residential properties.

Our Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate cut gunplas on Friday in preparation for delivery on Saturday and Sunday. Gunplas was delivered to applicants on Saturday for them to place on their roofs in preparation for Sunday’s rain. More critical areas were serviced on Sunday. A total of 138 pieces of gunplas were delivered over the weekend in George,including Uniondale and Haarlem. Pre-preparation and delivery of gunplas before the inclement weather assisted immensely as the teams could attend to the most critical complaints received from the Fire Department. The Directorate continued with the delivery of gunplas after the storm. The Directorate’s maintenance section assisted 14 Rosemoor Units for the Aged with roof leaks and gunplas as well as 10 units where water was leaking through the doors.

George Municipal Manager, Dr. Michele Gratz, had huge praise and thanks to all the officials for their commitment to managing this potential disaster. “I think we did well and our preparations helped in many respects,” Gratz said. She thanked the teams for responding very quickly to potential issues and putting in long hours of hard work. George Executive Mayor Ald Leon van Wyk echoed the many thanks to all the staff and especially the teams on the ground. He said the preparations were excellent and he’s excited about the rainfall that we’ve had.

Video of the Touw Rivermouth being breached.

Our teams cleared the the roads and stormwater drains in Uniondale during the flooding.

Flooding at the Uniondale fire station that was recently refurbished.

Members from the George Fire brigade delivered emergency medicine with a 4×4 vehicle to a farm that was cut off due to the Kammanassie River that was in flood.

Debris lying in the road at Uniondale Poort after the storm.

Stormwater teams drive through Magnolia Street, Groeneweide Park to check and clear stormwater drains.

Check ups was done wat Moeggehuur and Moeggeploeg to make sure people’s homes were not flooded and if they needed gunplas.

Stormwater teams cleared stormwater drains all around George since Friday to be prepaped for any flooding.

In preparation for the roll-out of the GO GEORGE bus service to Thembalethu, test drives through the area are currently taking place, supported and monitored by local law enforcement agencies, including the SA Police Service and the traffic department.

During these drives, undertaken in different sizes of GO GEORGE buses, the real time it takes to complete the various proposed routes by bus will be established and checked against the proposed timetables.

GO GEORGE-TOETSRITTE DEUR THEMBALETHU

Toetsritte ter voorbereiding van die uitrol van die GO GEORGE-busdiens na Thembalethu vind tans in die gebied plaas, ondersteun en gemonitor deur plaaslike wetstoepassingsagentskappe, insluitend die SA Polisiediens en die verkeersdepartement.

Tydens hierdie ritte wat in verskillende groottes GO GEORGE-busse onderneem word, sal die werklike tyd wat dit neem om die verskillende voorgestelde roetes per bus te voltooi, vasgestel en aan die hand van die voorgestelde roosters nagegaan word.

The George Municipality has prepared a contingency plan consisting of integrated multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary services within the George Municipality including Uniondale, to respond and implement measures aimed at disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response, to the predicted heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms from Saturday night to Monday morning.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a weather warning of severe thunderstorms on Sunday, 05 March 2023 from 00h00 to 23h59. “Orange Level 6 warning for Severe Thunderstorms resulting in heavy downpours, strong damaging winds and flash flooding leading to damage to infrastructure are expected in the Overberg and Garden Route districts on Sunday,” SAWS announced.

Affected areas are: Bitou, Cape Agulhas, George, Hessequa, Kannaland, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Overstrand, Swellendam and Theewaterskloof. The George Municipality disaster management, Community Services, Planning and Human Settlements, traffic Services, Civil Engineering and Technical Services are on high alert to respond to heavy downpours and severe thunderstorms. The SAWS forecast the rainfall accumulation of 70-100mm and strong and gusty winds (50-60 km/h, gusting 70-80km), excessive lighting and large amounts of small hail (1-2 in diameter) can be expected in the mentioned districts.

The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk has meanwhile contacted Eskom to request a possible relief from load shedding during the night, as part of George Municipality’s preparations for the expected heavy rainstorm later on Saturday, into Sunday and Monday morning. “Load shedding has a great potential to affect work by emergency services and citizens living in vulnerable areas and circumstances. We trust that ESKOM will provide exemption from loadshedding during the night should the situation warrants it.” Mayor van Wyk said.

The Municipality appeals to residents to be alert and cautious. If possible, stay off the roads. Remain indoors and away from metal objects. If on the road avoid flooded areas and rivers, be ready to move to higher ground if necessary. Remember to keep pets safe. Watch the George Municipal social media pages, website and local media for updated information.

Important contact detail for emergencies:

Switchboard: 801 9111 (7.45 am-4.30 pm)
AFTER-HOURS AND EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6300
FIRE EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6311

Fire and Rescue: 044 801 6311 or 044 801 6300
Law Enforcement: 044 801 6350/89

UNIONDALE
Fire: 044 752 1225
Switchboard and fault reporting: 044 752 1024

Ends.

Following the bombing of a GO GEORGE bus this past week, George Municipality and the Western Cape Government have resolved to combine resources in offering a financial reward to help bring the perpetrators to book.

George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, strongly condemned the incident in Pacaltsdorp where a petrol bomb was thrown into a bus carrying passengers. Final figures confirm that 11 passengers have been taken to hospital by ambulance – eight of them have been treated for burn wounds of whom two have been admitted to hospital. The SA Police Service is investigating the incident.

“We are abhorred at the atrocious act and want to see those responsible meet the full brunt of the law,” Van Wyk said. “We need the cooperation of the community to come forward with any information that could lead to the conviction of these persons. We cannot and will not allow this type of action to jeopardise the safety of our residents and the operations of our much needed public bus service.”

People with information regarding the attack should phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044. Call Centre agents will notify the designated person(s) to return the call and take down information which will be treated with the utmost confidence. Take note that only information that leads to conviction will be considered for the reward.

Ends.

PERSVERKLARING: BELONING AANGEBIED VIR INLIGTING OOR BUS-BOMGOOIERS

Ná die bomaanval op ‘n GO GEORGE-bus die afgelope week het George-munisipaliteit en die Wes-Kaapse regering besluit om hulpbronne te kombineer om ‘n finansiële beloning aan te bied om die oortreders aan die pen te laat ry.

George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk, het die voorval in Pacaltsdorp waar ‘n petrolbom in ‘n bus met passasiers gegooi is, ten sterkste veroordeel. Finale syfers bevestig dat 11 passasiers per ambulans hospitaal toe geneem is – agt van hulle is vir brandwonde behandel van wie twee opgeneem is in die hospitaal. Die SA Polisiediens ondersoek die voorval.

“Ons verafsku die gruwelike daad en wil sien dat diegene wat verantwoordelik is, met die volle impak van die reg kennis maak,” het Van Wyk gesê. “Ons het die samewerking van die gemeenskap nodig om na vore te kom met enige inligting wat tot die skuldigbevinding van hierdie persone kan lei. Ons kan en sal nie toelaat dat hierdie tipe optrede die veiligheid van ons inwoners en die bedrywighede van ons broodnodige openbare busdiens in gevaar stel nie.”

Mense met inligting oor die aanval moet die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 skakel. Die agente sal die aangewese persoon in kennis stel om die oproep te beantwoord en inligting af te neem wat met die grootste vertroulikheid hanteer sal word. Let daarop dat slegs inligting wat tot skuldigbevinding lei, vir die beloning oorweeg sal word.

Einde.

George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, accompanied by James Robb, Acting Public Transport Oversight Official of the Municipality, paid a visit to the two patients still hospitalised after Wednesday’s petrol bomb attack on a GO GEORGE bus in Pacaltsdorp.

During the visit at the George Hospital on Friday afternoon, they also had the opportunity to speak to some family members of the victims, who were most appreciative of the courtesy and interest shown. The Mayor expressed the Municipality’s compassion and the commitment of the GO GEORGE team to stay in constant contact with the families.

“It is apparent that the patients who we visited are still traumatised and suffering from shock following this senseless criminal attack on innocent passengers going about their daily business of using the Go George bus service to commute to work,” he said.

Shortly after the visit, the female patient was transported by air ambulance to a Cape Town hospital to receive treatment at a specialist burn unit.

Call for affected persons to come forward

Robb reiterated the call for persons affected in any way by the incident to phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044 and leave their names and contact details.

“The crisis team will make contact with such persons, whether they had been injured, suffered from shock or witnessed the incident, and arrange for counselling where needed,” he said.

Several organisations and individuals have already reached out to offer support. Robb invites organisations or members of the community who would also like to express their solidarity and care in some way, to phone the Call Centre or send an email to info@gogeorge.org.za so that all the kind efforts can be coordinated to make a real difference where needed.

CAPTION:

George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk (left), and James Robb, Acting Public Transport Oversight Official of the Municipality, outside George Hospital after their visit to some of the victims of Wednesday’s petrol bomb attack on a GO GEORGE bus.

PERSVERKLARING: GEORGE-BURGEMEESTER BESOEK BUSBOMSLAGOFFER IN HOSPITAAL

George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk, vergesel van James Robb, die munisipaliteit se waarnemende toesigbeampte oor openbare vervoer, het ‘n besoek gebring aan die twee pasiënte wat steeds in die hospitaal is ná Woensdag se petrolbomaanval op ‘n GO GEORGE-bus in Pacaltsdorp.

Tydens die besoek Vrydagmiddag by die George-hospitaal het hulle ook die geleentheid gehad om met ‘n paar familielede van die slagoffers te praat, wat die hoflikheidsbesoek en belangstelling baie waardeer het. Die burgemeester het die munisipaliteit se meelewing en die toewyding van die GO GEORGE-span om voortdurend in kontak met die families te bly, bevestig.

“Dit is duidelik dat die pasiënte wat ons besoek het, steeds getraumatiseerd is en aan skok ly ná hierdie sinnelose kriminele aanval op onskuldige passasiers wat hul daaglikse roetine volg om die GO GEORGE-busdiens te gebruik om werk toe te ry,” het hy gesê.

Die vroulike pasiënt is kort ná die besoek per lugambulans na ‘n Kaapstadse hospitaal vervoer om behandeling by ‘n spesialisbrandeenheid te ontvang.

Beroep op geraakte persone om na vore te kom

Robb het die oproep herhaal dat persone wat op enige manier deur die voorval geraak is, die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 moet skakel en hul name en kontakbesonderhede moet laat.

“Die krisisspan sal kontak maak met sulke persone, hetsy hulle beseer is, aan skok ly of die voorval aanskou het, en reël vir berading waar nodig,” het hy gesê.

Verskeie organisasies en individue het reeds uitgereik om ondersteuning aa te bied. Robb nooi organisasies of lede van die gemeenskap wat ook graag hul solidariteit en omgee op een of ander manier wil betoon, om die inbelsentrum te skakel of ‘n e-pos aan info@gogeorge.org.za te stuur sodat al die pogings gekoördineer kan word om ‘n daadwerklike verskil te maak waar nodig.

ONDERSKRIF:

George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk (links), en James Robb, waarnemende toesigbeampte van openbare vervoer van die munisipaliteit, buite die George-hospitaal ná hul besoek aan van die slagoffers van Woensdag se petrolbomaanval op ‘n GO GEORGE-bus.

CALL FOR PERSONS AFFECTED BY BOMBING OF BUS TO COME FORWARD
3 March 2023

GO GEORGE is calling upon persons affected in any way by the petrol bomb attack on a bus in Pacaltsdorp on the 1st of March, to phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044 and leave their names and contact details. We would like to contact you, whether you had been injured, suffered from shock or witnessed the incident, and arrange for counselling where needed.

BEROEP OP PERSONE WAT GERAAK IS DEUR DIE BOMAANVAL OP GO GEORGE-BUS OM NA VORE TE KOM
3 Maart 2023

GO GEORGE doen ‘n beroep op persone wat op enige manier geraak is deur die petrolbomaanval op ‘n bus in Pacaltsdorp op 1 Maart, om die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 te skakel en hul name en kontakbesonderhede te laat. Ons wil u kontak, of u beseer is, aan skok ly of die voorval gesien gebeur het, en reël vir berading waar nodig.