Notices

URGENT WEATHER WARNING – 19 June @ 08h35

LEVEL 5 Warning for Damaging Waves has been issued by South African Weather Services up to and including 20 June.

George Disaster Services urges residential areas of Victoria Bay and Herold’s Bay to note that high tide is scheduled for 16h30 this afternoon, and with prevailing wind direction and expected wind speeds at that time there is a danger of wave damage.

Please put necessary precautions in place.

Emergency Services 044 801 6300

Issued George Municipality

PLANNED INTERRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: PORTION OF BLANCO

THE FOLLOWING AREAS WILL BE AFFECTED:
PORTION OF BLANCO
COENIE APPEL STREET

NOTICE is hereby given that the electricity supply will be interrupted on THURSDAY 22 JUNE 2023 FROM 09H00 TO 17H00 for the purpose of doing alterations to the electrical mains. Consumers are warned to treat the installation as being live for the full duration as the supply may be resumed at any time within the notified period.

Should circumstances prevent the work being carried out during the abovementioned period; the work will be done on FRIDAY 23 JUNE 2023 FROM 09H00 TO 17H00.

Issued by George Municipality
19 June 2023

*

PLANNED ONDERBREKING VAN DIE ELEKTRIESE TOEVOER: GEDEELTE VAN BLANCO

DIE VOLGENDE AREAS SAL GERAAK WORD:
GEDEELTE VAN BLANCO
COENIE APPEL STRAAT

KENNISGEWING geskied hiermee dat die elektriese toevoer onderbreek sal word op DONDERDAG 22 JUNIE 2023 VANAF 09H00 TOT 17H00 met die doel om veranderings aan elektriese hoofleidings te maak. Klante word gewaarsku om die installasie as lewendig te beskou vir die volle periode aangesien die toevoer enige tyd gedurende die periode aangeskakel mag word.

Sou omstandighede verhoed dat die werk gedoen kan word gedurende bogenoemde periode, sal die werk gedoen word op VRYDAG 23 JUNIE 2023 VANAF 09H00 TOT 17H00.

Issued by George Municipality
19 June 2023

George will be affected as follows:
Monday 19/06/2023
22:00 – 00:30

Tuesday 20/06/2023
22:00 – 00:30

Wednesday 21/06/2023
None

Thursday 22/06/2023
20:00 – 22:30

Friday 23/06/2023
20:00 – 22:30

Saturday 24/06/2023
20:00 – 22:30

Sunday 25/06/2023
None

Uniondale will be affected as follows:
Monday 19/06/2023
17:00 – 19:30

Tuesday 20/06/2023
None

Wednesday 21/06/2023
16:00 – 17:30

Thursday 22/06/2023
16:00 – 17:30
23:00 – 00:30

Friday 23/06/2023
16:00 – 17:30
23:00 – 00:30

Saturday 24/06/2023
23:00 – 00:30

Sunday 25/06/2023
None

SWITCHING ON AFTER LOADSHEDDING – Not all areas will be switched back on at the same time!
Residents of George must please note that with the extended load-shedding, our Electrotechnical Directorate is no longer able to switch the entire city back on at the same time. Our daily notifiable demand from ESKOM has historically been set at 85MVA and on average George would use between 60 and 80MVA, although the municipality must pay ESKOM for 85MVA.

If the power is returned simultaneously to all areas when load-shedding ends, this creates a massive spike or surge in power with all geysers, freezers/fridges/batteries etc drawing power at the same time. With the extended four-hour load-shedding, the spikes for George are consistently reaching 105 – 112 MVA.

Areas will be switched on in sections, on rotation after Load-shedding
Eskom has indicated that unless George can reduce the spikes, they will increase our notifiable demand to the highest actual usage level which will in turn increase the purchase cost to the municipality. Consumers are requested to use electricity very sparingly when power returns after load-shedding (especially a 4-hour slot). The municipality will now in rotation, switch the power on in sections. This means if for example the load-shedding slot is scheduled from 20h00 – 22h30, there is a chance that your area may only come on at 22h45 or 23h00.

Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after Load-shedding
Consumers are therefore urged to turn off high-usage equipment and where possible to not switch on appliances such as stoves and kettles for at least 30 minutes after load shedding. This will reduce the risk of overload tripping on the network and reduce our current high MVA spikes.

Reporting power outages
Please do not phone the Afterhours number or the Electrotechnical Department to report that you have no power immediately after Loadshedding is scheduled to be lifted. Please be aware of the rotational switching on and wait at least 30 minutes before reporting no power. The directorate will be aware if there has been a possible substation trip which needs to be sorted out.

George Disaster Services urges all members of the public (cyclists/hikers/runners/walkers) to stay away from pine plantations and forested areas in and around George until further notice. The extreme weather conditions – high winds and heavy rains – have led to a high number of trees falling.

In some instances fallen trees are lying across upright trees and the wind storms are causing branches to break etc. Falling branches, mud, etc have made areas dangerous and no-go zones. Further rainfall is expected later today.

Issued George Municipality

The public is invited to attend the Garden Route Pride Walk/March on Saturday, 17 June 2023 at St Mark’s Square at 12:00 pm. The Executive Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Raybin Figland will do the official opening and welcoming of the March.

According to organisers, the Garden Route Pride Walk/March is a highlight event. The March will take place on York Street in the George CBD, with the gathering point at St Mark’s Square at 12 pm, and the march will commence at 1 pm, down York Street providing an opportunity for the community to come together and advocate for inclusivity. The March will end at Shenanigans Pub, where the Pride after-party will take place. The public is invited to support and join this event.

For more information contact Jonathan Fortuin, the organiser of the pride festival on 061 624 7431 or 044 802 2000. https://www.george.gov.za/garden-route-pride-festival-14-17-june-2023/

Issued by George Municipality, 15 June 2023

Alien invasive plants destroy biodiversity. Biodiversity is the link between all organisms on earth, binding all into interdependent ecosystems.  

Municipal Plant of the Month –Canna: Canna indica (Indian Shot).  Listed as a Category 1b invader and habitat transformer.  It must be removed and destroyed.  Any form of trade or planting is strictly prohibited.  Hybrid cultivars are excluded from the category.

In the Garden Route C.indica is a common sight. Wherever garden refuse that includes canna stems and rhizomes is casually tipped ‘over the side’ onto vacant land we see these plants establishing themselves with the greatest of ease.

Identification: The plants are perennial with erect, un-branched, leafy shoots 1 – 2 met. tall. The leaves are large, narrowly ovate to elliptic and sheath the stems. Foliage range in colour from green to purple-bronze. The flowers are attractive and colourful but non-fragrant and quite small in comparison to those of the large showy hybrids. C.indica’s flowers are usually red or orange above and yellow below. Flowering time is generally from September to April and in some regions throughout the year. The fruits are green, spiny, three-valved capsules. It multiplies readily from rhizomes and forms large clumps, invading stream banks, moist sites, forests, and plantation edges.

Control: No herbicide is currently registered and physical removal and destruction of the plant material is the most practical solution. Kaput, if applied to the cut stem at the rhizome level, will weaken the rhizome. Rhizomes need to be shredded, desiccated, or rotted before throwing onto the compost heap.

References:  www.invasives.org.za: www.sanbi.org: https://www.george.gov.za/notices/public-notice-alien-invasive-plants/  (search under COMMUNITY SERVICES and NEWS tabs.

ENDS.

The following areas are affected by power outages due to inclement weather.

Witfontein
Rondebossie
275 Whites Road, Wilderness Heights
Strydom Line
Bosplaas
Witfontein Road, Levallia
Portion of Tabata, Zone 9

Electricians have been dispatched. ETR will be provided after 08h30.

I*Kindly report power outages to:*
044 801 9222 (07h45 – 16h30)
044 801 9202/9258 (07h45 – 16h30)
WhatsApp Number 067 350 3295 (07h45 – 16h30)
Uniondale: 044 752 1024 (7.45am-4.30pm)

Emergency /After Hours 044 801 6300

Issued George Municipality

Due to the consistent available generation capacity, loadshedding will continue to be suspended from midnight until 16:00 tomorrow. Thereafter, Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 until midnight. This will be repeated daily until further notice.

George will be affected as follows:
Thursday 15/06/2023
16:00 – 18:30

Friday 16/06/2023
None

Saturday 17/06/2023
None

Sunday 18/06/2023
22:00 – 00:30

Uniondale will be affected as follows:
Wednesday 14/06/2023
19:00 – 21:30

Thursday 15/06/2023
19:00 – 21:30

Friday 16/06/2023
None

Saturday 17/06/2023
17:00 – 19:30

Sunday 18/06/2023
17:00 – 19:30

Consumers are reminded to use electricity sparingly after power returns.
Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after Load shedding. Consumers are urged to turn off high-usage equipment and where possible to not switch on appliances such as stoves and kettles for at least 30 minutes after load shedding. This will reduce the risk of overload tripping on the network and reduce our current high MVA spikes.

Reporting power outages
Please do not phone the afterhours number or the Electrotechnical Department to report that you have no power immediately after load shedding is scheduled to be lifted. Please be aware of the rotational switching on and wait at least 30 minutes before reporting no power. The directorate will be aware if there has been a possible substation trip which needs to be sorted out.

Receive Eskom loadshedding notifications by downloading the free EskomSePush app from Google Play Store at https://sepush.co.za/

UPDATE: ELECTROTECHNICAL SERVICES ATTENDING TO POWER OUTAGES IN PARTS OF GEORGE
Issued by George Municipality, 14 June 2023 @16:30

Due to the storm, parts of George have been experiencing unplanned power outages since this morning.

AREAS THAT ARE STILL EXPERIENCING POWER OUTAGES

Plover/Hillwood Streets (These streets should be finished before load shedding)
The fire department is at the FM Tower line with the cutting of trees.
Tienmylaan
7 Passes
Bosplaas

The contractor just got the material and repairs will continue.

Kindly report power outages to:
044 801 9222 (07h45 – 16h30)
044 801 9202/9258 (07h45 – 16h30)
WhatsApp Number 067 350 3295 (07h45 – 16h30)
Uniondale: 044 752 1024 (7.45am-4.30pm)

Emergency /After Hours 044 801 6300