GEORGE NEWS - The high Census 2022 population figure for George, 294 929, has caught the city fathers by surprise even though they suspected that the statistics used for George were outdated.

Since the previous census in 2011 the population (then counted at 193 672) grew by just over 100 000 people or 52%. 

George Mayor Leon van Wyk told George Herald, "For more than five years, we had suspected that the population statistics for George were outdated and understated based on the 2011 figure and the low annual increases attributed to George. Internally we had often spoken of the possibility of 250 000 - 260 000 as more accurate. "

The population figure of 294 929 and 85 931 households as in February 2022 therefore came as a bit of a surprise initially. We are internalising this figure as being a more accurate representation of our population."

He said in terms of population, George is now the biggest municipality in the Western Cape outside of the City of Cape Town.

"The Census 2022 figures indicate that our population has grown at 4,1% per annum since 2011, which appears to be the highest growth rate among the 19 intermediate cities in South Africa." 

It has now passed Drakenstein to become the biggest intermediate city in the Western Cape. The number of households grew from 53 549 to 85 931.

Van Wyk said in light of this, the municipal management team has already begun to re-calibrate the needs of George as a fast-growing city.

Coloured group biggest in George

According to the census figures, the coloured population is the biggest group in George at 44,4%, the black African group is second largest (35%) and whites third (18,4%) followed by "other" groups (1,8%) and Indian/Asian people (0,4%).

The working age population (15 to 64 years) makes up 68,9% of the population (compared with 67,3% in 2011), young children (0 to 14 years) 22,9% (compared with 26,3% in 2011) and the elderly (65+ years) 8,2% (6,4% in 2011).

The average household size is 3,4 (slightly down from 3,6 in 2011).

According to the census figures, the coloured population is the biggest group in George at 44,4%, the black African group is second largest (35%) and whites third (18,4%) followed by "other" groups (1,8%) and Indian/Asian people (0,4%).

Garden Route population

The Garden Route population now stands at 838 457, up by 46% from 574 265 in 2011.

Mossel Bay is the second largest town with 140 075 residents, Oudtshoorn third largest (138 257), followed by Knysna (96 055), Hessequa (71 918), Bitou (65 240) and Kannaland (31 986).

Employment needed

Speaking at a function last week, the mayor said with the vast number of people moving into George, employment opportunities are needed and he welcomed EXL South Africa that has opened offices in George. 

"We are the first non-major city in the world where they have put up an office. They want to be at about 600 employees by the first quarter of next year. Hopefully we can attract more of that type of business into George as we start diversifying our economy. We have also seen a vast amount of agricultural development and farmers are moving into higher value per hectare type of produce. We have a lot of export produce."

He said the population growth has led to a shortage of school space. All the government schools are overfull and the municipality is constantly working with the Western Cape Education Department to see how new schooling facilities can be fast-tracked.

The municipality is also looking at ways to build out the tourism industry since Covid. 

"We need to keep on nurturing and maintaining the environment that we live in. In whatever we do to build this economy, we have to be totally aware of our environment."

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