Notice Archive

Eskom load shedding update, Friday, 12 May 2023: Due to lower weekend demand, loadshedding will be reduced to Stage 3 from 05:00 until 16:00 on Saturday. Thereafter, Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on Sunday, followed by Stage 4 loadshedding from 05:00 until 16:00 on Sunday. Stage 6 loadshedding will be implemented thereafter.

Issued by George Municipality Communication in the Office of the Municipal Manager

*George will be affected as follows:*

Friday 12/05/2023

18:00 – 20:30

Saturday 13/05/2023

00:00 – 02:30

08:00 – 10:30

16:00 – 20:30 **

Sunday 14/05/2023

00:00 – 02:30

08:00 – 10:30

16:00 – 20:30 **

Monday 15/05/2023

00:00 – 04:30 **

08:00 – 10:30

16:00 – 18:30

*Uniondale will be affected as follows:*

Friday 12/05/2023

21:00 – 23:30

Saturday 13/05/2023

03:00 – 05:30

11:00 – 13:30

19:00 – 23:30 **

Sunday 14/05/2023

03:00 – 05:30

11:00 – 13:30

19:00 – 23:30 **

Monday 15/05/2023

03:00 – 05:30

11:00 – 13:30

19:00 – 21:30

Public Notice: Please be informed that the Thusong Outreach that was planned for Geelhoutboom area today, 12 May was postponed to Friday, 19 May due to severe weather conditions.

George Municipality apologises for any inconvenience.

• A Thusong outreach will also be held in collaboration with

The Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC) on World No Tobacco Day on the Wednesday, 31 May 2023 at New Dawn Park sport field in Pacaltsdorp.

Time: 10h00 – 14h00

Government delivers the services and information that you need. Visit our Thusong Outreach and Together we can Better your life.

Stakeholders that will be present at the Thusong outreaches are George Municipality Directorates, Home Affairs, SASSA, Department of Labour, Sars, Independent Electoral Commission, Easy Pay, GCIS, Cell C and the Department of Social Development.

PLANNED WATER OUTAGE:  STEINHOFF INDUSTRIAL PARK

THE FOLLOWING AREAS WILL BE AFFECTED : Steinhoff Industrial Park

NOTICE is hereby given that the water supply will be interrupted on FRIDAY 12 May 2023 FROM 13H30 TO 16H30 due to maintenance on the Main Water Supply line.

Should circumstances prevent the work being carried out during the abovementioned period: the work will be done on WEDNESDAY 17 May 2023 FROM 17H00 TO 20H00

Issued by George Municipality

10 May 2023

BEPLANDE WATER ONDERBREKING: STEINHOFF INDUSTRIAL PARK

 DIE VOLGENDE AREAS SAL GERAAK WORD : Steinhoff Industrial Park

KENNISGEWING geskied hiermee dat water toevoer onderbreek sal word op Vrydag 12 Mei 2023 VANAF 13H30 TOT 14H00 weens instandhouding aan die Hoofwatertoevoerlyn

 Sou omstandighede verhoed dat die werk gedoen kan word gedurende bogenoemde periode, sal die werk gedoen word op WOENSDAG 17 Mei 2023 VANAF 17H00 TOT 20H00

Uitgereik deur George Municipality

10 Mei 2023

Current subscribers of the George Municipal App will be notified on the existing App when the current service will be terminated and we ask that you install the new My Smart City – George App to allow for a seamless transition. Details will be provided on how to access the My Smart City-George App and the QR Code will be available on your monthly statements!

The GO LIVE DATE will be communicated – keep an eye on our social media channels for updates.

REMINDER !!

IMPORTANT PREPAID METER SOFTWARE UPDATE (TID Rollover)  – Phase 2 will receive a Token to amend software
Issued George Municipality, 9 May 2023 for immediate release.

The George Municipality has embarked on a pre-paid electricity metering software update for its approximately 50 000 prepaid consumers quite a while back. The  current software will expire in November 2024. This will not only impact George consumers  prepaid meters throughout South Africa. If your meter is not updated before the deadline, you will not be able to recharge your prepaid meter with the new tokens and therefore will not have power.

70% of George Software Updates Completed
George Municipality has already successfully implemented the software update on close to 70% of its prepaid meter base, through the work done by field staff and contractors on-site while doing a meter change, site inspection, and Amp limit roll-out. These teams will continue to go out weekly to do site inspections and Amp limit roll-out.

Final 30% software update will be done by receipt of an extra token
To expedite the software update (TID roll-over) and  in order to ensure no consumer is placed at risk of having a non-working meter, the municipality will implement the next phase  – key change process – of its TID roll-over implementation  plan from March 2023 with the issue of a separate, extra token when you make your next purchase.

Key Change Token

If you did receive a KEY CHANGE Token with your first purchase in March the following is VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE BEFORE you insert the key change:

1. IMPORTANT – DON’T FORGET TO INSERT ALL old or unused tokens BEFORE you enter the KEY CHANGE  token and ONLY then INSERT the newly bought token,
2. The meter will NOT accept your old or unused tokens, once you enter the key change token and no reimbursement can be made on these tokens.
3. The meter will not accept your newly bought token, until the key change token has been inserted.

Verification or Queries – If you receive an extra token and you are unsure what to do?

Customers may phone the George Municipality on 044 801 9222 or Ontec on 044 873 5474 for verification, for response to queries  OR to request that their software is addressed. Please note that all municipal and/or Ontec officials carry identification cards with a photograph and their ID number as well as a copy of a verification letter explaining the purpose for their visit.

For more information on the TID Rollover (software update) please visit the George Municipality’s website to view frequently asked questions (FAQ):

https://www.george.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/TID-ROLLOVER-FAQ-English-Updated-Version-May-2022.pdf

https://www.george.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TID-ROLLOVER-FAQ-MvH-Afrikaans-1.pdf

https://www.george.gov.za/george-doc-categories/documents/media-documents/other-publications/page/2/

TOKEN IDENTIFIER (TID) ROLLOVER  https://www.sts.org.za/tid-rollover SOURCE

The Token Identifier is a 24-bit field, contained in STS compliant tokens, that identifies the date and time of the token generation. It is used to determine if a token has already been used in a payment meter. The TID represents the minutes elapsed since the 1st of January 1993. The incrementing of the 24-bit field means that at some point in time, the TID value will roll over to a zero value.

All STS prepayment meters will be affected by TID roll over on the 24/11/2024. Any tokens generated after this date and utilizing the 24bit TID will be rejected by the meters as being old tokens as the TID value embedded in the token will have reset back to 0.

George Municipality has since last year reviewed a number of existing and/or drafted new by-laws for a number of directorates. The by-laws allow for an individual municipality to regulate the affairs and the services it provides within its area of jurisdiction. The details of by-laws can differ from one municipality to another, and the public is always advised to check their local municipal by-laws which can be found on the relevant municipal website www.george.gov.za.

Public Participation
All of the By-laws have been workshopped with Council to provide all Councillors an opportunity for inputs. A public participation process is then followed which allows members of the public to provide their comments and input. Once the input has been received from the public and addressed, the final by-law then goes back to Council for approval. A municipal by-law may be enforced only after it has been published in the official gazette of the Western Cape Province on request of the local municipality. The promulgated by-law is then uploaded to the municipal website for easy access by the public. Transgression of a by -law is treated the same as a normal law, if you break a by-law, you can be fined or prosecuted. Most transgressions are handled in the George Municipal Court.

STATUS OF BY-LAWS BEING REVIEWED
CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES
NEW Public Transport, Civil Engineering Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places By-law, Civil Engineering Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Water and Sanitation Services By-law, Civil Engineering Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
NEW Stormwater By-law, Civil Engineering Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Water Services By-law (Restrict the use of Water), Civil Engineering Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023

https://www.george.gov.za/george-doc-categories/documents/bylaws-and-regulations/civil-engineering-services/
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DETAILS for CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES
Written comments to the intention of the Municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged: via mail to reach the Director: Civil Engineering Services, P.O. Box 19, George, 6530 before 12 June 2023 ; or via e-mail with subject line “Comment to CES By-laws ” to gvanniekerk@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za
Any person who is unable to write, can submit their input, verbally to the Council’s offices where they will be assisted by a staff member to put their comments in writing. Enquiries can be directed to Mr Jannie Koegelenberg (044 801 9278 ).

FINANCIAL SERVICES
Customer Care, Credit Control and Debt Collection By-law, Financial Services – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Tariff By-law, Financial Services – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Rates By-law, Financial Services – Open for comment until 12 June 2023

https://www.george.gov.za/finance-cat/bylaws-and-regulations/finance-bylaws-and-regualtions/
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DETAILS for FINANCIAL SERVICES
Written comments to the intention of the Municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged at: via mail to Director: Financial Services, P.O. Box 19, George, 6530 before 12 June 2023; or via e-mail with subject line “Financial By-Laws, 2023” to rcoetzee@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za
Any persons who are unable to read or write but wish to participate in the process will be assisted during office hours by appointment with Mr. Renaldo Coetzee at the George Municipality Main Offices, to transcribe their comments / representations. Appointments can be made via telephone at (044) 801 9122.

ELECTROTECHNICAL SERVICES
Electricity Supply By-law, Electrotechnical Services – Open for comment until 12 June 2023

https://www.george.gov.za/george-doc-categories/documents/bylaws-and-regulations/electrotechnical-services/
*PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DETAILS for ELECTROTECHNICAL SERVICES *
Written comments to the intention of the Municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged at:  via mail to reach Mr Edward Nqumse: Electrotechnical Services, P.O. Box 19, George, 6530 before 12 June 2023; or via e-mail with subject line “Comment to Electricity By-laws” to ennqumse@george.gov.za and njikija@george.gov.za as well as copied to post@george.gov.za
Any person who is unable to write, can submit their input, verbally to the Council’s offices where they will be assisted by a staff member to put their comments in writing. Enquiries can be directed to Mr Edward Nqumse (044- 8019218).

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTORATE – COMMUNITY SERVICES (Cleansing, Parks and Recreation, Environmental, Sport)
Cemeteries and Crematoria By-law, Community Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Public Amenities By-law, Community Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Air Quality Management By-law, Community Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Public Nuisances By-law, Community Services Directorate – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Integrated Waste Management By-law, Community Services Directorate – Gazetted 2022
Sporting Facilities By-law, Community Services Directorate – Gazetted 2022

https://www.george.gov.za/george-doc-categories/documents/bylaws-and-regulations/community-services/
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DETAILS for COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTORATE – COMMUNITY SERVICES
Written comments to the intention of the Municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged at:  via mail to reach Mr Sivuyile Mtila, Community Services, P.O. Box 19, George, 6530 before 12 June 2023; or via e-mail with subject line “Comment to Community Services By-laws” to smtila@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za
Any person who is unable to write, can submit their input, verbally to the Council’s offices where they will be assisted by a staff member to put their comments in writing. Enquiries can be directed to Mr Sivuyile Mtila  (044- 802 2900).

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTORATE – COMMUNITY SAFETY SERVICES (Disaster Management Services, Law Enforcement, Traffic Services)
Impounding of Animals By-law, Community Services Directorate/Community Safety – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Keeping of dogs, cats and other animals By-law, Community Services Directorate/Community Safety – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Liquor Trading By-laws, Community Services Directorate/Community Safety – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
Community Fire Safety By-law, Community Services Directorate/Community Safety – Open for comment until 12 June 2023
NEW Remotely Piloted Aircraft By-Law – Community Services Directorate/Community Safety – Open for comment until 12 June 2023

https://www.george.gov.za/george-doc-categories/documents/bylaws-and-regulations/protection-services/
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DETAILS for COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTORATE – COMMUNITY SAFETY SERVICES
Written comments to the intention of the Municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged at:  via mail to reach Ms Lee-Anne Meiring, Community Safety, P.O. Box 19, George, 6530 before 12 June 2023; or via e-mail with subject line “Comment to Community Safety By-laws” to lmeiring@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za
Any person who is unable to write, can submit their input, verbally to the Council’s offices where they will be assisted by a staff member to put their comments in writing. Enquiries can be directed to Ms Lee-Anne Meiring (044- 801 6350).

HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORATE
https://www.george.gov.za/george-doc-categories/documents/bylaws-and-regulations/protection-services/

NEW Building Control By-law, Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate – Open for comment until 12 May 2023
Comments and inputs can be emailed to, Fickerie Toyer phoned in to 044 801 9111 or submitted in person at the George Municipality Ground Floor ,71 York Street, George ,6530. Enquiries to Fickerie Toyer ftoyer@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za

Outdoor Advertising By-law,  Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate – Open for comment until 12 May 2023
Comments and inputs can be emailed to, Fickerie Toyer phoned in to 044 801 9111 or submitted in person at the George Municipality Ground Floor ,71 York Street, George ,6530. Enquiries to Fickerie Toyer ftoyer@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za

Zoning Scheme By-law,  Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate – Open for Comment until 05 June 2023
Comments and inputs can be emailed to, kmeyer@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za phoned in to 044 801 9435 or submitted in person at the George Municipality, 5th Floor, 71 York Street, George, 6530.

Informal Trading By-law, Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate – Open for comment until 05 June 2023
Comments and inputs can be emailed to, khaarhoff@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za  phoned in to 044 801 9148 or submitted in person at the George Municipality Ground Floor ,71 York Street, George ,6530

NEW Unlawful Land Occupation By-law, Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate – Comments Closed 20 April 2023
NEW Problem Premises By-law, Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate – Gazetted December 2022
NEW Special Ratings Area By-law, Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate – Gazetted April 2023
Land Use Planning By-law, Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate   – Gazetted March 2023
Property By-law , Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate   – Gazetted 2022

Water Restrictions Remain in Place 

Percentage storage at new raised dam wall height                         83.7
Rainfall for previous 7 days:                                                              0.5 mm  

(Measured up to and including 8 May 2023)

The co-operation of all users of municipal water is essential and is greatly appreciated.

Follow this link for the detailed Stricter Water Restrictions in English/Afrikaans and Isixhosa.
https://www.george.gov.za/george-doc-categories/public-notices/general/

Contraventions of the Water Restrictions can be reported on 0800 424477.
Report water leaks and burst pipes to 044 801 9262/66 or after hours at 044 801 6300, as soon as you notice them.

REMINDER PUBLIC NOTICE 2: ELECTRICAL TARIFSS (AMP LIMIT) – Phase 3 of Power Limit Adjustment Project to roll out 1 July 2023

PHASE THREE ROLLOUT – POWER LIMIT ADJUSTMENT PROJECT will take place as follows:
From the 1st of July 2023, the municipality will bill consumers based on Installed Capacity of their prepaid meters
• If you have an installed capacity of 60A prepaid meter on your premise you will be billed on 60A in line with the new tariff structure, unless.
o Your meter has been limited through the field team; or
o You have applied for capacity selection via elec.applications@george.gov.za and received a reference.
• All consumers who have applied to the municipality, will be billed based on the selected capacity on the application form.
• All consumers who have already made their selections and field teams have implemented the changes will not be impacted by these changes.
Please apply as soon as possible to avoid paying for installed capacity while requiring a lower capacity. By the end of June 2023, consumers would have had sufficient time to apply for their required capacity. “

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
George Municipality embarked on process to phase in a new electricity tariff structure last year on 1 July last year and which is in line with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved cost of supply study for George as well as the municipal Electricity Pricing Policy. The municipality has been effecting these changes in a variety of ways to limit the impact on our consumers as far as possible.
PHASE ONE ROLLOUT – POWER LIMIT ADJUSTMENT PROJECT – has included to date:
• Consumers were provided with an opportunity to select their Amperage capacity, in line with their household power requirement.
• Consumers who had not yet selected for their capacity (AMPS) by 1 July 2022, were then placed on a capacity selected by the municipality. The capacity selection was based on the consumers historic consumption (12 months prior). The option remains open for these consumers to make a change and select their own capacity.
• George Municipality has sent out field teams to visit residents at home and implement the changes, where for example a resident has applied and chosen a capacity for their house; and/or where no selection was made, and the municipality then applied a capacity based on historic consumption.
• Consumers were also given the opportunity to make a capacity selection while a field team was at their home – so doing to minimise the impact of a Consumer making a choice which then does not work for them and having to get the field team in back to make a change again.
• Communication through various platforms has continued to request consumers to make their selection timeously.

Thousands of Consumers have had the Capacity (AMPS) addressed through either their own selection OR by the municipal capacity selection.
George Municipality has already successfully implemented power limit adjustments on thousands of its prepaid meter base, through the work done by field staff following the applications received from consumers for a specific capacity or by the municipality making the decision for Phase 1 power limit based on historical consumption. The field teams will continue to go out weekly to do Amperage limit roll-out and site inspections on prepaid meters.

What about Consumers who have not yet made a selection?
The consumers who have not made a selection yet or who are not happy with the selection made by the municipality based on historical consumption, are encouraged to do so speedily on the details shared below. The first and most preferred option is always for our consumers to select the capacity they require. Consumers are allowed one opportunity per financial year to make such a change in capacity.

PHASE TWO ROLLOUT – POWER LIMIT ADJUSTMENT PROJECT has taken place as communicated as follows:
From the 1st of April 2023, the municipality applied the following Capacity Selection based on the historic consumption:
• If a consumer had a 12-month average historic monthly consumption of above 400 units (kWh) and below 600 units (kWh), the consumer was placed on a 30A.
• If a consumer had a 12-month average historic monthly consumption of above 600 units (kWh) the consumer was placed on a 40A.
• Indigents consumers were not impacted by this phase, as all indigent consumers are dealt with in line with the Indigent Policy.
• All consumers who have already made their selections were not impacted.

PHASE THREE ROLLOUT – POWER LIMIT ADJUSTMENT PROJECT will take place as follows:
From the 1st of July 2023, the municipality will bill consumers based on Installed Capacity
• If you have an installed capacity of 60A prepaid meter in your premise you will be billed on 60A in line with the new tariff structure, unless.
o Your meter has been limited through the field team; or
o You have applied for capacity selection via elec.applications@george.gov.za and received a reference.
• All consumers who have applied to the municipality, will be billed based on the selected capacity on the application form.
• All consumers who have already made their selections and field teams have implemented the changes will not be impacted by these changes.
Please apply as soon as possible to avoid paying for installed capacity while requiring a lower capacity. By the end of June 2023, consumers would have had sufficient time to apply for their required capacity.

Key Reminders on the applicable Electrical Tariffs are:
• Consumers are only allowed one capacity change per financial year; any additional changes would be subject to tariff for changes.
• Small Domestic and Commercial tariffs (that is Prepaid and conventionally metered Consumers) are linked to the capacity limit of supply they choose.
• Consumers who are willing to manage their loads within a capacity limited to 20 Amps Single Phase are offered a subsidised tariff with no fixed charges.
• All Consumers who require more than 20 Amp capacity are charged a phased-in Cost Reflective Tariff with:
• a Fixed Basic Charge,
• a Capacity Charge depending on the capacity limit of the supply and
• a lower Energy Charge.
• Bulk consumers have all been moved to a Time of Use tariff.
• Small Scale Energy Generators (SSEG) consumers are subject to fixed and Time of Use energy charges. Further information on understanding the potential electricity cost and management of loads, and how to decide about the capacity you can choose will be provided.

Bear this in mind when making your choice:
• Capacity selection by the municipality based on the consumers’ historic consumption was for a financial break-even to reduce the impact on the customer and not necessarily to confirm the capacity required.
• The Municipality cannot determine the optimal capacity required with the available meter data; therefore, consumers must determine what their energy and capacity requirements are.
• The municipality has noted that customers are selecting the capacity as low as possible to reduce cost without understanding the implications. This is evident by the number of upgrades required once a selection is implemented. Please consider your selection carefully.

Do you want to discuss your energy consumption and find out what the best Capacity will be for your needs, phone 044 801 9243, have your Municipal Account Number and Prepaid Meter Number handy OR email your query to elec.applications@george.gov.za