Update

GEORGE NEWS - 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 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 Directorate

The following by-laws pertaining to the Civil Engineering Services Directorate are currently open for comment until 12 June. They can be viewed HERE.

• NEW Public Transport by-law
• Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places by-law
• Water and Sanitation Services by-law
• NEW Stormwater by-law
• Water Services by-law (restrict the use of water)

Pubic participation details

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 on 044 801 9278.

Financial Services Directorate

The following by-laws pertaining to the Financial Services Directorate are currently open for comment until 12 June. They can be viewed HERE.

• Customer Care, Credit Control and Debt Collection by-law
• Tariff by-law
• Rates by-law,

Public participation details

Written comments to the intention of the municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged via mail to Director: Financial Services, PO 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 on 044 801 9122.

Electrotechnical services

The Electricity Supply by-law is open for comment until 12 June. It can be viewed HERE.

Public participation details

Written comments to the intention of the municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged via mail to reach Mr Edward Nqumse: Electrotechnical Services, PO Box 19, George, 6530 before 12 June; 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 on 044 8019218.

Community Services Directorate (Cleansing, Parks and Recreation, Environmental, Sport)

The following by-laws pertaining to the Community Services Directorate are currently open for comment until 12 June. They can be viewed HERE.

• Cemeteries and Crematoria by-law
• Public Amenities by-law
• Air Quality Management by-law
• Public Nuisances by-law

The following reviewed by-laws have been Gazetted in 2022:

• Integrated Waste Management by-law
• Sporting Facilities by-law

Public participation details

Written comments to the intention of the municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged via mail to reach Mr Sivuyile Mtila, Community Services, PO Box 19, George, 6530 before 12 June; 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 at 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 on 044 802 2900.

Community Services Directorate – Community Safety Services (Disaster Management Services, Law Enforcement, Traffic Services)

The following by-laws pertaining to the Community Services Directorate - Community Safety Services are currently open for comment until 12 June. They can be viewed HERE.

• Impounding of Animals by-law
• Keeping of dogs, cats and other animals by-law
• Liquor Trading by-laws
• Community Fire Safety by-law
• NEW Remotely Piloted Aircraft by-law

Public participation details

Written comments to the intention of the municipality as outlined above, if any, must be lodged via mail to reach Ms Lee-Anne Meiring, Community Safety, PO Box 19, George, 6530 before 12 June; 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 on 044 801 6350.

Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate

The current statuses of by-laws pertaining to the Human Settlements, Planning and Development Directorate are set out below. The by-laws can be viewed HERE. 

The public participation details and deadline for comments for each by-law is provided with its listing.

• NEW Building Control by-law - Open for comment until 12 May

Comments and inputs can be phoned in to Fickerie Toyer on 044 801 9111 or submitted in person at the George Municipality Ground Floor, 71 York Street, George ,6530. Enquiries can be emailed to Fickerie Toyer at ftoyer@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za

• Outdoor Advertising by-law - Open for comment until 12 May

Comments, inputs and enquiries can be emailed to Fickerie Toyer at ftoyer@george.gov.za and copied to post@george.gov.za, phoned in to 044 801 9111 or submitted in person at the George Municipality Ground Floor, 71 York Street, George, 6530.

• Zoning Scheme by-law - Open for Comment until 5 June

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 - Open for comment until 5 June

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- Comments closed on 20 April
• NEW Problem Premises by-law - Gazetted December 2022
• NEW Special Ratings Area by-law - Gazetted April 2023
• Land Use Planning by-law – Gazetted March 2023
• Property by-law - Gazetted in 2022

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