Building Old Magistrate House on the corner of Davidson and Arbour Roads caught fire this morning, 20 Monday 2023 at approximately 06:45. Two rooms were damaged. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage, but we can confirm that it is unrelated to shutdown activities. The fire brigade attended to the scene and the fire was put out.
Issued by George Municipality
20 March 2023 @08:15
George will be affected as follows:
Sunday 19/03/2023
None
Monday 20/03/2023
06:00 – 08:30
Tuesday 21/03/2023
04:00 – 05:00
Wednesday 22/03/2023
12:00 – 14:30
20:00 – 22:30
Uniondale will be affected as follows:
Sunday 19/03/2023
None
Monday 20/03/2023
09:00 – 11:30
Tuesday 21/03/2023
16:00 – 17:30
Wednesday 22/03/2023
15:00 – 17:30
23:00 – 01:30
George Municipality would like to reassure all residents that our Disaster Services, Traffic and Law Enforcement departments are on high alert and working closely with Western Cape Disaster Management, Provincial SAPS, POPS, Neighbourhood Watches and other relevant stakeholders involved in safety and security. Contingency plans have been put in place to ensure that service delivery continues as per usual for Monday 20 March 2023.
We request residents remain calm and access our social media sites for regular updates on any issues that might impact their day-to-day business. All municipal offices remain open for services Monday 20 March 2023.
Report any intimidation
Local businesses, organisations or institutions that receive threats of violence or looting to take place on Monday, 20 March 2023, are requested to lay a complaint of intimidation with their nearest police station and inform the Municipality thereof. Any form of violence, looting, damage to property or intimidation is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.
Such threats should be registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) immediately or reported to 0860 142 142 or service@westerncape.gov.za
The municipality does not condone threats of violence, looting and intimidation. We do support the right to gather and protest peacefully.
Use of drones not permitted
George Municipality’s Disaster Management would like to remind the public that the flying of drones in the George Municipal area is strictly prohibited and permission from George Municipality is required. Those who fly drones illegally will be dealt with decisively by law enforcement agencies. The George Airport has a 10km radius of “NO FLY ZONE” under Civil aviation law and recreational drone flying is not permitted.
Please note that even though Professional Drone operators have a “Pilots” license, they must have permission from Civil Aviation Authority to fly within the 10 Km range. as well as permission from the local authority and landowner even outside the no-fly zone. We call on the public not to use drones, especially during the possible planned shutdown on Monday, 20 March 2023 as this will pose a risk to the Airport and the Denneoord Fire Base Landing Strip, and will be a deterrent to the work of the SAPS and the emergency services trying to conduct their duties during this time.
Emergency Numbers
SWITCHBOARD: 044 801 9111 (7.45 am-4.30 pm)
AFTER-HOURS AND EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6300
FIRE EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6311
George Municipality is aware of some voice notes that are in circulation on social media platforms about the planned flying of drones to coincide with the planned EFF shutdown on Monday, 20 March 2023.
The George Municipality’s Disaster Management would like to remind the public that the flying of drones in the George Municipal area is strictly prohibited and permission from George Municipality is required. Those who fly drones illegally will be dealt with decisively by law enforcement agencies.
The George Airport has a 10km radius of “NO FLY ZONE” under Civil Aviation Law and recreational drone flying is not permitted.
Please note that even though Professional Drone operators have a “Pilots” license, they must have permission from Civil Aviation Authority to fly within the 10 Km range, as well as permission from the local authority and landowner, even outside the no-fly zone.
We call on the public not to use drones, especially during the possible planned shutdown on Monday, 20 March 2023 as this will pose a risk to the Airport and will be a deterrent to the work of the SAPS and the emergency services trying to conduct their duties during this time.
Ends.
Load Shedding Stage 3 changed to Stage 2 from 12h00 today the 17 March 2023 until further notice.
George will be affected as follows:
Friday 17/03/2023
14:00 – 16:30
Saturday 18/03/2023
14:00 – 16:30
22:00 – 00:30
Sunday 19/03/2023
22:00 – 00:30
Uniondale will be affected as follows:
Friday 17/03/2023
17:00 – 19:30
Saturday 18/03/2023
17:00 – 19:30
Sunday 19/03/2023
01:00 – 03:30
George Municipality strongly supports the call made by fellow municipalities in the Western Cape – who have urged any of their local businesses, organisations or institutions that receive threats of violence or looting to take place on Monday, 20 March 2023, to lay a complaint of intimidation with their nearest police station and inform the Municipality thereof.
Any form of violence, looting, damage to property or intimidation is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. Such threats should be registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) immediately – whether it is a phone call, email or letter. The municipality does not condone threats of violence, looting and intimidation. We do support the right to gather and protest peacefully.
The George Traffic, Law Enforcement and Fire Services departments remain on alert in collaboration with SAPS, POPS, Neighbourhood Watches and other relevant stakeholders involved in safety and security.
The municipality remains open on Monday 20 March 2023, and municipal service delivery will continue.
SWITCHBOARD: 044 801 9111 (7.45am-4.30pm)
AFTER-HOURS AND EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6300
FIRE EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6311
Stage 3 Loadshedding times for George:
Thursday 16/03/2023
None
Friday 17/03/2023
06:00 – 08:30
14:00 – 16:30
Uniondale will be affected
Stage 3 Loadshedding times for Uniondale:
Thursday 16/03/2023
None
Friday 17/03/2023
01:00 – 03:30
09:00 – 11:30
17:00 – 19:30
George Municipality notes reports of a planned “national shutdown” on Monday 20 March 2023. The municipality does not condone threats of violence, looting and intimidation. We do support the right to gather and protest peacefully.
The George Traffic, Law Enforcement and Fire Services departments are on alert in collaboration with SAPS, POPS, Neighbourhood Watches and other relevant stakeholders involved in safety and security.
The municipality remains open on Monday 20 March 2023, and municipal service delivery will continue.
SWITCHBOARD: 044 801 9111 (7.45am-4.30pm)
AFTER HOURS AND EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6300
FIRE EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6311
PLEASE NOTE!
Shoprite Checkers no longer accepts payments for municipal accounts for George Municipality with immediate effect.
NEW PAYMENT BANNER ON MUNICIPAL WEBSITE MAKES PAYMENT SIMPLE AND EASY
George Municipality has installed a brand new Pay Your Account banner on the municipal website – pay your account with one click! www.george.gov.za
OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONSAccounts can be paid via electronic transfer (EFT – see details below), via Unipay, by clicking on the QR code on your statement, Pick ‘n Pay, Woolworths, BOXER, GAME, SPAR and Pep.
Please take your most recent available account statement with you so that the shop can access the bar code that connects your payment to your GRG account number.
If you do not have a printed account, ensure that you have the 20 digit number written down to provide the teller with.Ratepayers in Uniondale can get hard copies of their accounts and pay at the Uniondale Post Office, Pep Stores and Uniondale Municipal Office, 39 Voortrekker Steet. To register you can email accounts@george.gov.za or phone 044 752 1024 for more information. In Haarlem ratepayers can get hard copies and pay their accounts at the Haarlem Municipal Office, 99 Berg Street, to register you can email accounts@george.gov.za or phone 044 763 1013.
Bank details for electronic payment:
First National Bank (FNB)
Account Type: Public Sector Cheque Account
Account Name: George Municipality
Account Number: 62869623150
Branch Code: 210554
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
Reference: your GRG account number
Proof of payment is to be sent to payments@george.gov.za
UPDATE YOUR DETAILS USING OUR SIMPLE FORM ON OUR WEBSITE
A reminder that accounts are no longer issued by post, they are only emailed to residents. Update your details quickly and simply with our new form, simply click on the Banner Update Your Details on the municipal website www.george.gov.za
Other options to access your Account
OVERDUE DEBT WILL BE RECOVERED THROUGH PREPAID METER SYSTEM
Residents are advised to take note that any overdue debts owing to the municipality, will be recovered through the prepaid electricity meter system, as per the Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy. This means that if you have not paid your account in fulL, when you purchase prepaid electrical units from a vendor, at least 50% of your overdue debt will be paid off by your purchase, and the remaining amount will reflect as pre-paid electricity units.
HOW TO CHECK WHAT YOUR OVERDUE DEBT IS?
If you are not sure what your overdue debt is, please phone in to 044 801 9009/4/17 or 044 801 9135 or 044 801 9518. Provide your GRG account number and contact details (email address, telephone number) with all enquiries. A duplicate statement can also be requested at accounts@george.gov.za. Payment is due by the 15th of the following month.
DUE DATE FOR PAYMENT
Payment is due by the 15th of the following month. If you haven’t received a statement by the 15th, it is suggested you pay an average amount, request an account via email or check your account totals on the George Municipality Mobile Application (App). A duplicate statement can also be requested at accounts@george.gov.za. Please provide your GRG account number on request.
Load Shedding stage 4 will continue until 05:00 15/03/2023.
Load Shedding stage 3 to be implemented from 05:00 15/03/2023 to 16:00 15/03/2023.
Load Shedding stage 4 to be implemented from 16:00 15/03/2023 to 05:00 16/03/2023.
Load Shedding will alternate like this until further notice.
George will be affected as follows:
Tuesday 14/03/2023
16:00 – 18:30
Wednesday 15/03/2023
00:00 – 02:30
16:00 – 18:30
Thursday 16/03/2023
00:00 – 02:30
08:00 – 10:30
16:00 – 18:30
Friday 17/03/2023
06:00 – 08:30
14:00 – 16:30
22:00 – 00:30
Uniondale will be affected as follows:
Tuesday 14/03/2023
19:00 – 21:30
Wednesday 15/03/2023
03:00 – 05:30
19:00 – 21:30
Thursday 16/03/2023
03:00 – 05:30
11:00 – 13:30
19:00 – 21:30
Friday 17/03/2023
1:00 – 03:30
09:00 – 11:30
17:00 – 19:30
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 After-hours 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 that needs to be sorted out.