George Municipality Municipal Manager Trevor Botha hereby confirms essential services delivery implications for the George Municipal area during the Covid-19 lockdown (midnight 26 March 2020 – midnight 16 April 2020).
GENERAL
All George Municipality administrative offices are closed, but essential services continue as stipulated below.
All after-hours George Municipality emergencies: 044 801 6300
Garden Route Disaster Management emergencies: 044 805 5071 (all hours)
PROTECTION SERVICES
Fire 24-hour emergency services operate as usual.
Fire emergencies only: 044 801 6311
All after-hours emergencies: 044 801 6300
The Traffic Department Office, Driving Licence Department, Motor Vehicle Registration and Vehicle Testing Stations will be closed. Driving Licence and Learner Driving Tests for this period will be postponed and applicants will receive SMS after lockdown to confirm new dates. The municipality awaits confirmation from the Western Cape Department Traffic Department regarding extensions of expiry dates on licences and related matters.
Traffic and Law Enforcement Officers will assist with visible policing and support emergency units as required.
CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES
Delivery of essential water and waste water services continue as usual.
Emergency street repair and stormwater problems caused by intense rainfall will be addressed by standby personnel.
Please report water leaks and burst pipes, sewerage blockages, leaks and spillages and urgent road and stormwater issues to:
044 801 9262/6 (7.45am-4.30pm)
044 801 6300 (after hours)
Contact information for water and sewerage emergencies in Uniondale/Haarlem will be communicated to residents directly.
Estimated response times are 24-48 hours from recorded time of complaint at the above numbers.
Civil Engineering Services administration offices will be closed during lockdown.
ELECTROTECHNICAL SERVICES
George Municipality will make every effort to provide uninterrupted electricity to communities that are legally connected to the network during the lockdown period.
Planned maintenance will be on hold and therefore no planned power outages have been scheduled for this period.
Please report power outages, broken street lights and faulty traffic lights to:
044 801 9222 (7.45am-4.30pm)
044 801 9202
044 801 6300 (after hours)
Contact information for electricity emergencies in Uniondale/Haarlem will be communicated to residents directly.
Estimated response times for low voltage electricity should be within 24 hours from recorded time of complaint at the above numbers, high voltage electricity faults could take longer.
Estimated repair time for street lights are 5-10 working days from recorded time of complaint at the above numbers.
Electrotechnical Services administration offices will be closed during lockdown.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Black bag refuse removal remains as per the usual schedule (please see below).
Blue and green bags will not be collected due to the private service provider being in lockdown.
If possible, please continue to recycle and keep blue bags for collection after lockdown ends, otherwise place in black bags. Please continue to put garden waste into green bags and store at home until end of lockdown.
Refuse removal on public holidays in the lockdown period will be as follows:
10 April Good Friday – refuse will be collected on Thursday 9 April
13 April Family Day – refuse will be collected on Tuesday 14 April
Collections start at 7am and may extend into the night to accommodate the double schedule.
Refuse Removal Days
Monday: Blanco, Riverlea, Heatherpark, Heatherlands, Glen Barrie, Kraaibosch, Groenkloof, Blue Mountain Village, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay
Tuesday: Levallia, Rosemoor, Conville, Protea Park, Parkdene, Ballotsview, Borchards, Lawaaikamp, Thembalethu, Wilderness, Touwsranten, Constantia Kloof
Wednesday: Camphersdrift, Fernridge, Denneoord, Bo-Dorp, Blommekloof, Tweerivieren, Hoogekraal, Hoekwil
Thursday: Dormehlsdrift, George South, Le Grand, Bos en Dal, Groeneweidepark, Sinksabrug, Herold, Geelhoutboom, Eselsjacht, Hansmoeskraal, Jonkershoek, Rooirivierrif, Pacaltsdorp, Rosedale, Waboomskraal
Friday: Glenwood, Loerie Park, Eden, Genevafontein, Denver Park, Bergsig, Eastern Extension
Applicable business: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Report uncollected black bags to 044 801 6300.
Waste dumping at the landfill site will be strictly controlled and only two vehicles allowed on site at any time. Only businesses on the essential services list will be allowed and limited to two loads a day.
Only municipal vehicles, the blue bags service provider and businesses on the essential services list will be allowed into the transfer station and only two vehicles allowed on site at a time and limited to two loads a day.
Street cleaning crews will operate in and around the CBD and entrance roads to the city at selected hours, seven days a week.
Public toilets are closed until further notice as per the national directive.
Illegal dumping will be attended to as per the usual schedule. The municipality appeals to communities to remain safe and not dump illegal waste, which can be hazardous to their health.
Cemeteries are open for funerals only and as per pre-arrangement with the municipality (funeral directors to contact via WhatsApp group), will be restricted to 50 mourners, limited to 30 minutes and mourners required to observe recommended hygiene practices as per Covid-19 guidelines and protocols. No busses allowed. No night vigils allowed anywhere at any time.
Sport facilities are closed, and security remains in place to protect facilities. The municipality has made a facility temporarily available for social welfare purposes.
Social Development
The municipality continues to support 130 municipal soup kitchens. Strict social distancing and hygienic practices apply.
The municipality is working with the Western Cape Department of Social Development to address matters arising with people living on the streets.
Social Development administration offices will be closed during lockdown. Emergency essential social services enquires to Sophie Fanelo 072 693 3488.
Libraries remain closed until further notice.
Community Services administration offices will be closed during lockdown.
CORPORATE SERVICES
Corporate Services administration offices will be closed during lockdown.
Area offices will be closed but urgent essential services in areas during office hours as below and 044 801 6300 after hours.
Blanco: 065 907 6647
Conville: 078 610 9482
Pacaltsdorp: 073 834 2256
Protea Park: 084 097 2471
Rosedale: 073 071 0849
Rosemoor: 083 661 3655
Touwsranten/Wilderness/Kleinkrantz: 078 372 5843
Thembalethu: 082 704 3491
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
For basic services (water and sanitation) emergencies in informal settlements, please phone 044 801 9183 and/or 044 802 2026.
For water leakages (indigent cases), please phone044 801 9453.
For assistance with emergency structures following disaster (fire, flooding etc), please phone 044 802 2029.
Human Settlements administration offices will be closed during lockdown.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
No essential services applicable. George Tourism, Local Economic Development, Building Office, Town Planning and all other administration offices closed during lockdown.
FINANCE
Due to the closure of printing companies during lockdown, printed consumer accounts that would have been posted during the first week of the month will only be posted after lockdown (17 April 2020) – please pay the same amount as per your February 2020 service account. Online accounts via email are not affected and George Municipality Mobile App subscribers can access new statement amounts by 27 March 2020.
No interest will be levied for April 2020. Accounts can be paid via electronic transfer (EFT), and other methods as listed below.
No meter readings will take place for the month of April and estimations will be used to calculate related rates. Meter readings can be emailed to george@ikaparetic.co.za or george2@ikaparetic.co.za
Bank Details for electronic payment
ABSA Bank
Account Name: George Municipality
Account Number: 010 2222 0981
Branch Code: 632005
Reference: your GRG account number
Proof of payment to be sent to payments@george.gov.za
Prepaid Electricity purchases
www.prepaid24.co.za
www.itronenergy.co.za
www.ipay.co.za
The electricity token is automatically sent to the client via sms or email.
Mobile Apps belonging to banks also have pre-paid electricity purchase function.
Email queries to creditcontrol@george.gov.za. Please include the relevant prepaid meter number in correspondence
General enquiries to accounts@george.gov.za
084 830 5882 or 084 769 5635
