Ensuring a safe 2021 festive season

GEORGE NEWS - George Mayor Leon van Wyk announced on Tuesday 26 October that for the 2021 festive season, safety and service delivery will be key focuses for the municipal administration of George.

To ensure a smooth festive season, a multi-disciplinary season committee will have daily online meetings from Mondays to Fridays to discuss all problems being experienced and to find immediate and reasonable solutions where possible.

The season committee will start on 1 December and continue operations till mid-January 2022.

All municipal departments and role players, including the police, George Tourism and other tourism-related role players, SANParks, NSRI, lifeguard representatives and more, will be represented in the daily meetings to help ensure not only optimal service delivery during the festive season, but also the safety of residents and visitors to George and surrounds.

Topics will include lifesavers, parking issues, safety, service delivery in terms of refuse collection, water and electricity, traffic and management of beaches.

Open over festive season

The municipal offices will remain open throughout the festive season, operating Mondays to Fridays from 07:45 to 16:30, apart from weekends and the following public holidays:

16 December - offices are closed.
27 December - offices are closed.

Please note that Covid-19 regulations apply and offices will clearly indicate the number of persons allowed inside at any given time. Where possible, the public is encouraged to continue using the online services.

All essential services will be provided during this time. The municipal call centre will be operational and all service delivery matters can be reported on the municipal app, 044 801 9111 or admin@george.gov.za. Emergencies must be reported to 044 801 6300 and fire to 044 801 6311.

Lifeguards

Lifeguards will be deployed daily at Gwaiing Beach, Herold's Bay, Victoria Bay, Wilderness Leentjiesklip and Wilderness Salina's on a full-time basis from 1 December 2021 to 31 January 2022.

Traffic

George Traffic Services will actively patrol all municipal areas in collaboration with provincial traffic services over the festive season with regular roadblocks to be set up at various strategic points in and around George. We appeal to motorists and road users to always obey all road and traffic rules and to exercise patience during peak traffic, especially during the busy holiday period.

An additional 30 pointsmen/women will be addressing congested traffic intersections from 1 December to 31 January to ease traffic flow.

A street cleaner in York Street.

Beach monitors and law enforcement

George Municipality will strictly enforce the ban on alcohol on our beaches. The George law enforcement officers will be augmented by at least 30 beach monitors who will start service as of the second week of December to assist with beach patrols and bag checks.

We encourage all beachgoers to assist our officials in ensuring that their day at the beach is a safe and pleasant experience. Neighbourhood watches, community police forums as well as the police also work closely with the municipality in regard to community safety.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on the beach at the beach areas under the control of the George Municipality, which include Herold's Bay, Gwaiing River Mouth, Victoria Bay and Wilderness Leentjiesklip beach. However, dogs are allowed on the sidewalks of these beach areas providing they are on a leash.

Wilderness Beach from the estuary onwards falls under the control of SANParks, which has an infographic which clearly demarcates where dogs are allowed and where not. In terms of the municipal by-law, no dog or other animal may be in any public street or public space (any open public space that the public has access to that falls under the George municipal jurisdiction), unless on a leash and under control. This includes parks, sport fields, beachfronts (not on the sand) and sidewalks.

Fireworks

Due to the high fire risk, there is a general ban on the setting off, selling and possession of fireworks, fire-crackers, flares, paper lanterns and other such paraphernalia in the George municipal area. Fines of R300 may apply and all fireworks will be confiscated. Please report fireworks to law enforcement on 044 801 6350/6300 and fires to 044 801 6311.

Refuse collection

Collection of black, blue and green bags will continue throughout the festive season including public holidays. The CBD cleaning crews will work throughout, with an extension of their hours as and when required.

As in previous years, an additional Saturday refuse collection service for businesses (restaurants) will start on 1 December and end on 1 January 2022.