GEORGE NEWS - A new civilian association, We Are George, is on a membership drive to recruit businesses and residents to help preserve our superb way of life. We Are George has partnered with the George Business Chamber and their vision is to join hands with locals to uplift and improve our communities.
Mikaila Hendrikz, a representative of We Are George, asks that all citizens unite to steer George in the right direction before the situation snowballs and careens out of control. "We have a huge problem with criminal elements in George posing as car guards and beggars. These criminals elicit money from unsuspecting motorists, which they then spend on drugs and other unsavoury activities.
Just last week I saw a so-called car guard smoking Tik and the next moment he jumped up and wangled money from an unsuspecting woman and her daughter. This influences business in the CBD and impacts on general safety." She says she realises not all car guards are criminals, but believes the car guard industry should be formalised and monitored.
Street Eyes
Oakhurst Insurance, a member of We Are George, has come to the party and has 24/7 security on the block between Cathedral Street and the George Museum at the top of York. A Street Eyes Security guard is always on duty and according to Hendrikz there has been a marked decline in hostile incidents.
"The self-appointed car guards do not like being watched and monitored, and three have already moved off. We have also put up signs asking people not to pay the guards. We encourage all the businesses to unite to make our lovely town safe again. If the businesses in one block club together to appoint a private security guard, it becomes affordable. Let's do it for our clients and George as a whole."
Unity Park
We Are George is planning to reclaim Unity Park for family entertainment and will soon be redoing the name with mosaic.
"We want to erect an outside gym to encourage people to exercise and to use the park. It is such a beautiful spot for picnics and concerts. When upright citizens make use of facilities, the bad elements and addicts stay away," says Hendrikz.
In the past year, several violent incidents were reported amongst the street dwellers in upper York Street, resulting in at least two deaths.
Hendrikz urges everyone - especially business people - to be proactive. "The police can only do so much and their role is reactive rather than preventative. Citizens have to be proactive to ensure our wonderful city stays wonderful. We all want to live here because of the natural beauty and relative safety. Let's work together to make it even safer and more beautiful."
During the Sands Road clean-up are, from left: Barry Botha (Street Eyes Security), Lucy Rautenbach and Nikki Vakis (Wilderness residents), Donald Goldfain (WRRA chairman), Caroline Hall, (WRRA member) and Phumla Nyathikazi (SanParks ranger).
The George Municipality is supporting We Are George and has given their Unity Park plans the thumbs-up.
Sands Road clean-up
The We Are George team is also active in Wilderness. On Tuesday last week they cleaned the area around Sands Road with the help of Street Eyes Security, SanParks, the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association (WRRA) as well as some locals. It was evident that vagrants live in the surrounding bushes and one had even erected a complete tree house.
Signage near the Oakhurst Insurance George Arts Theatre asking motorists not to tip the illegal car guards.
We Are George appeals to the municipality and Transnet to clear away the overgrown bushes along the old disused railway line as it is the perfect hiding place for criminals.
For more information about We Are George, contact Mikaila Hendrikz at mikaila@badgerins.co.za.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
