TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT 40 MAJOR ROADS INTERSECTIONS ARE NOW POWERED DURING TIMES OF POWER OUTAGES

George Municipality Media
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TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT 40 MAJOR ROADS INTERSECTIONS ARE NOW POWERED DURING TIMES OF POWER OUTAGES

Forty (40) major road intersections in George are free from Eskom’s load shedding, planned and unplanned power outages and the traffic flow continues seamlessly. Thanks to the installation of the Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) units that energising the traffic lights during outages.

The Electro-Technical Services team has successfully completed phase 1 of the UPS installation project. The installed UPS which amounted to R2.5 million, makes use of batteries that are charged via our electrical supply. The UPS which is eco-friendly and energy saving, automatically kicks in and operates the traffic lights should the electrical supply be interrupted for any reason with an average duration of 4 hours, before the battery needs recharging.

“This is certainly a game changer at the major traffic intersections in George during peak hour loadshedding. The UPS housing is IP65 rated which allows it to be water and dust proof,” said the Executive Mayor Ald Leon van Wyk. “The measure is one of several sustainable energy solutions the municipality is introducing to reduce the impacts associated with loadshedding, including traffic congestion and human resources such as traffic pointsmen.”

The Director for Electro-Technical Services, Mr Bongani Mandla commended the relatively small traffic lights team, who with a specialised skills set and commitment to service delivery address ongoing faults and maintenance at all traffic light intersections in the George area.

More UPS are to be installed in the remining traffic lights in the coming in the 2022-2023 financial year.

Meet the Cape Flats mom steering kids away from gangs and towards food gardens

Herman Pienaar
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Meet the Cape Flats mom steering kids away from gangs and towards food gardens
Luke Daniel from Business Insider published this amazing article of a woman making a huge difference in her community. It is well worth the read. Link to article – Read original article here Please head over to the original article and like it.A small patch of once-barren land behind a high school in Hanover Park has been transformed into an urban oasis, where community members learn to grow their own food with limited resources and space.The Cape Flats, with its sandy and wind-swept terrain, lies away from the fertile grounds in the shade of Table Mountain. Its parched nature and placement were exploited by apartheid’s Group Areas Act, which forcefully relocated communities to the outskirts of the city, reserving developed urban areas for the white minority.Hanover Park, like most Cape Flats neighbourhoods, still bears the scars of the oppressive apartheid regime. Rows of red-roofed housing projects overlooking grey concrete courts line the streets. Two-tone brown face brick walls reflect the ground below.But the path around Mount View High School leads to an explosion of green. Stretched shade cloth hangs above plants. Tomatoes, bell peppers, and spinach rise from the soil contained within repurposed planks. A grow tent exposes the silhouette of seedlings.This is the work of Renshia Manuel, a single mother of four who’s lived in Hanover Park for the past 13 years.Her affinity for food gardening started long before, when, during the school holidays, she’d spend time with family among the farming communities near Robertson and Piketberg.“We had the freedom to work on the farms during the holidays. We’d either be harvesting or pruning, depending on the season,” Manuel tells Business Insider SA. “That’s where my love of gardening, especially food gardening, was cultivated.”
Cape Flats Hanover Park food garden keeping kids a
GrowBox food garden, Mount View High School in Hanover Park (Photograph: Luke Daniel / Business Insider South Africa)
Manuel’s love of gardening eventually took a backseat to work and parenting. That was until around 2014, when, unemployed, she turned back to gardening as a means of putting food on the table for her family.“I was unemployed, and I couldn’t find work. It was purely out of desperation that I started a food garden, and that would literally be our supper,” says Manuel.In rediscovering her green thumbs, Manuel’s entrepreneurial spirit was activated, and she applied for a spot in YouthStart, a start-up programme that aims to develop business skills. She had initially aimed to open a nursery in Hanover Park but was encouraged to “find her niche” and ended up winning third place at the 2016 Youth Start Entrepreneurial Challenge.
Cape Flats Hanover Park food garden keeping kids a
GrowBox grow tent behind Mount View High School in Hanover Park (Photograph: Luke Daniel / Business Insider South Africa)
That was the starting point for GrowBox, a portable wooden box designed by Manuel as a solution for people living in cramped conditions to grow their own vegetables. GrowBox, the product, soon grew into a fully-fledged business, aided by Manuel’s participation in the Red Bull Amaphiko Academy and now as a FURTHER fellow connecting with other young entrepreneurs.With dreams of expanding the business beyond just the boxes, Manuel managed to partner with Mount View High School and secure a piece of land to act as an outdoor showroom of urban food gardening solutions.“The principal [of Mount View High School] loved the idea because he envisioned a greener space within Hanover Park for the learners to be in,” says Manuel.“It’s important that we start shifting the mindset about where food comes from and how to grow food and get the kids excited about growing food.”
Cape Flats Hanover Park food garden keeping kids a
Renshia Manuel, CEO and founder of GrowBox, in front of donated used tyres now used to grow vegetables (Photograph: Luke Daniel / Business Insider South Africa)
Today, the planter boxes themselves are still Manuel’s biggest sellers, but she also runs food gardening workshops, sells her own produce, and offers food-scaping services. During lockdown, she also hosted market days, with members of the community selling homemade goods at stalls as a way of making money amid the cash crunch presented by the pandemic.And while sustaining the business side of GrowBox is important, the food garden behind Mount View High School has a deeper social purpose. While the stigma around Hanover Park, mostly about gang violence, dissuades potential customers from collecting produce from the food garden, says Manuel, it’s perfectly placed to provide the community’s youth with a positive and creative outlet.“I know gardening is therapeutic, and it does relieve stress,” says Manuel.“I’m the chairlady of the primary school’s SGB. Often there are disciplinary cases of kids using substances, or they have anger issues. I have had learners here [at the food garden] who were on disciplinary suspension, and I let them work in the garden. They do planting [and they’re] very eager.”“We need more of this. Let’s see how we can get kids being with the plants, with nature and just calm their spirit because there’s a lot of anger and aggression in our communities. Kids are facing the most, and they don’t have an outlet. They are forced to be strong at an early age, and they have a lot of barriers, and I think they need a healthy, holistic space like this. And that’s what I’m trying to work towards.”
Cape Flats Hanover Park food garden keeping kids a
GrowBox food garden, Mount View High School in Hanover Park (Photograph: Luke Daniel / Business Insider South Africa)
Manuel hopes to set up similar gardens, even if at a smaller scale, at schools across Hanover Park.But GrowBox’s expansion plans have faced some serious hurdles. After a boom during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, when people spent more time at home and became more interested in gardening, Manuel’s vehicle, used to deliver produce and planter boxes and collect supplies, caught fire almost exactly a year ago.This, coupled with no help from Hanover Park’s ward councillor, has put the brakes on Manuel’s plans and threatens the sustainability of her own business. GrowBox has turned to a crowdfunding campaign, started on 15 June, to secure money for a vehicle.“The reason we’re doing this campaign is to get back on the road, literally, so we can do what we love.“[With a vehicle] we can expand on what we’re doing, getting our service offerings to other schools, broadening our community reach, [and] adding more workshops [even] in different communities.”This article is published by Luke Daniel on Business Insider. Link to article – Read original article here

No more masks

Herman Pienaar
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No more masks
It is official! On Tuesday 22 June 2022, Health Minister Joe Phaala repealed all Covid regulations.Dit beteken, geen maskers en ook geen beperkings op saamtrekke.

2022 Opel Mokka

Johann van Tonder
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2022 Opel Mokka
Met Opel wat deesdae in die Stellantis groep blyplek gevind het, is die 2022 Mokka ‘n welkome toevoeging tot hul modelreeks vir die Suid Afrikaanse mark. Soos met omtrent al die nuwe modelle in die Stellantis stal, het ook die 2022 Mokka ‘n gedaanteverwisseling ondergaan. Die nuweling is die 2de generasie Mokka en met die vorige model wat as ‘n produk van General Motors wêreldwyd meer as een miljoen eenhede verkoop het, het die 2022 Mokka groot skoene om vol te staan.

Die 2022 Opel Mokka word gebou op Stellantis se PSA EMP1 platform wat ook diens doen in verskeie modelle van Opel, Peugeot en Citroen. Die nuweling bied ’n moderne ontwerp, pragtige neus en bakwerk met skerp en sterk aksentlyne wat in geheel beskou, vir ‘n treffende voorkoms sorg. Die nuwe Mokka gaan verseker een van die meer gewilde kopies wees onder die talle stoftrappers in sy marksegment. Mededingers sluit in Peugeot se pragtige 2008, Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Toyota Corolla Cross om maar ‘n paar te noem. Daar is ook nog die Volkswagen T-Cross en selfs Haval se Jolion. So die kompetisie is kwaai en kieskeurige kopers word bederf om uit talle opsies te kies wat hul voorkeure en beursies die beste pas.

Die Puretch 1,2liter 3-silinder turbo petrolenjin is vanuit die Stellantis se parte stoor en dien ook as kragbron in die nuwe Opel Corsa, asook die Peugeot 208 en 2008 modelle. Opel se hand kan gesien word in die veerstelsel en dinamika, terwyl die 8-spoed outomatiese ratkas ook met die komplimente van Opel kom. Hierdie outokas is ‘n juweel en kom ook met ratspane agter die stuur toegerus. Aandrywing is deur die voorwiele. Die enjin lewer ‘n stewige 96kW en 230Nm se piekkragte vir baie goeie verrigting. Volgens Opel se amptelike syfers is die 2022 Mokka se brandstofverbruik 6,1L/100km wanneer gemeet word in ‘n gekombineerde siklus van stadsverkeer en ooppad ry.

Stellantis in Suid Afrika het die 2022 Opel Mokka in twee modelle plaaslik beskikbaar gestel, naamlik ‘n intree “Elegance” en die topmodel “GS Line”. Die intree Elegance is verbasend goed toegerus en kom standaard met ondermeer ‘n 7” raakskerm vir die klank-, vermaak- en inligtingstelsels wat ook met Apple CarPlay en Android Auto aanpasbaar is. Die 7” digitale instrumentpaneel agter die stuurwiel bied aan die bestuurder omtrent alle nutfunksie-inligting met die druk van ‘n skakelaar op die netjies ontwerpte sportstuurwiel. Die Elegance beskik ook oor outomatiese klimaatbeheer, spoedbeheer en elektriesbeheerde vensters en kantspieëls terwyl die sitplekke met materiaal beklee is. ‘n Pluspunt vir die koue winters is dat die voorste sitplekke ook ‘n funksie het om te verhit. Die topmodel GS Line kry daarenteen ‘n 10” raakskerm vir die infotainment en ‘n 12” digitale instrumentepaneel vir die bestuurder. Die bekleedsel is leer en die voorste sitplekke bied funksies om te kan verhit asook masseer.Die GS Line kom ook standaard toegerus met die Matrix LED intelligente hoofligte, asook ‘n omvattende stel passiewe en aktiewe veiligheidstelsels waaronder aanpasbare spoedbeheer, ‘n vooraf waarskuwing om mootlike botsings te vermy asook ‘n baanhou-funksie. Die kajuit is ruim, maar spasie vir die agterste passasiers kan beknop raak vir 6 voet-plussers. Andersins vertoon die kajuit effe futuristies, modern en aangenaam luuks. Die instrumentasie is effe na die bestuurder gedraai en bied goeie ergonomie, maar die instrumentasie en verskillende programme om die inligting en funksies te bereik, kon meer intuitief wees. Tydens die media bekendstelling in die pragtige Kaap, kon ons bietjie in stadsverkeer ry, maar ook lang ente pad deur die Boland en Swartland. Die nuwe Mocca se enjin en 8-spoed ratkas is pekfekte pasmaats en sorg vir heerlike verrigting op die ooppad. Deur die vinnige swiepe en draaie was ons beïndruk met goeie dinamika, greep en balans. Die 3-slinder enjintjie klink en voel heerlik lewendig en as ons in Sport modus die ratspane agter die stuur gebruik het om ratte te verwissel, was dit soomloos en vinnig. Die Mokka se balans en paddinamika was in geheel goed. Die nuwe Mokka bied 3-ritmodusse deur sy ratkas naamlik, Eco, Normaal en Sport. Ons het die Sport modus verkies, maar vir die beste brandstofverbruik sal jy Eco moet kies. Ritgehalte is verbasend goed en so ook die lae vlakke van pad- en windgeraas teen togsnelhede, ten spyte van ons topmodel se 17” sierwiele met lae profiel bande.Die 2022 Opel Mokka vertoon treffend van buite (veral in die pragtige nuwe “Matcha”-groen bakkleur) en binne. Die hoë vlakke van standaard toerustingis sal baie van die jonger generasie beïndruk en aanspoor om te koop. Nie net is die nuweling ‘n reuse verbetering op die ou model nie, maar bied ook veel meer in terme van verrigting, afwerking en ontwerp met die groot pluspunt van ‘n veel beter enjin en brandstofverbruik. Die nuwe Mokka kompeteer teen baie goeie opponente in sy marksegment, maar behoort sy man in elke opsig te kan staan.Elke nuwe Opel Mokka word verkoop met ‘n 4jaar/60 000 km diensplan, asook ‘n 3jaar/120 000 km waarborg ingesluit by die koopprys.Mokka Elegance R469,900Mokka GS Line R519,900This article appeared in Ed.86 of Ultimate Drive.   

George Municipality under pressure with extreme weather and fires

George Municipality Media
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George Municipality under pressure with extreme weather and fires
George Municipality experienced a whirlwind of complaints and callouts last week following some extreme weather conditions in the Southern Cape. Extreme berg wind conditions from Tuesday 17th May contributed to intensifying a veldfire in Hansmoeskraal that was attended to by Garden Route District Firefighters with George Fire Brigade assisting through till Thursday morning when it was finally contained and the 7mm of rainfall recorded at the Denneoord Airbase, cooled everything down.Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk this week thanked all officials for their efforts in bringing fires under control and dealing with disruptive power outages where repair teams worked long hours to clear vegetation and re-connect lines. “I was touched once again by the positive comments for the work of our communications team, our fire-fighters and electrical teams. We take pride in having employees (on an ongoing basis we also need to remember our water, sewer, refuse, stormwater teams and others) who are dedicated in keeping our services functioning at a high standard, as well as the privateers who pitch in or are contracted to assist,” said Ald Van Wyk.George Fire and Disaster Services On Wednesday 18 May, the George Fire Department received a total of twenty-seven calls which included three structure fires, including a 3-bedroom house in Denneoord which was extensively damaged. Two informal structures were completely destroyed in Lawaaikamp.A total of twenty-three calls for Veld and bush fires came in for areas including Hansmoeskraal, Groenkloof, Saasveld Road, Garden Route Dam, Kraaibosch Estate, Glentana, New Dawn Park, Zone 1 Thembalethu, Pacaltsdorp, and Ring Road. The Hansmoeskraal fire, the Saasveld Fire (which included Groenkloof, Saasveld Road and Garden Route Dam) and the Denneoord house fire came in all at the same time. Resources were stretched to the maximum and aerial support was called in to assist with the Saasveld fire. Helicopter operations were however limited at one point due to high wind speeds. Savannah Helicopters were able to provide support for a good hour and 10 minutes before being grounded late afternoon of Wednesday due to poor visibility.Wind gusts of up to 40 km/h together with temperatures of up to 30 degrees were recorded on Wednesday afternoon at the Denneoord Airbase. Adding to the strain on resources was a motor vehicle accident with luckily no injuries recorded. Our Social Service division provided mattresses, blankets and food parcels to four families who lost their structures in fires from 17 – 21 May.Power outages and loadshedding The electrotechnical division had their hands full dealing with 11 high voltage power outages located in the Wilderness area alone, and another 18 in areas such as Hoekwil, Pinedew, Herold’s Bay, Garden Route Dam, Saasveld and Kraaibosch. 238 low voltage complaints were dealt with during the three-day period. Some of these outages were caused by trees that fell on lines, while others were in difficult terrains requiring extreme caution from the teams. In addition to the weather-related power outages, ESKOM called Stage 2 Loadshedding for the 17 – 20 May but George was fortunate not to be affected. George Municipality is obliged to adhere to the ESKOM Loadshedding Schedule as received and cannot make amendments or give concessions to certain areas. Director for Electrotechnical Services, Bongani Mandla, thanked his officials for focusing on addressing the key issues to restore electrical supply under such difficult circumstances.Damaged trees Parks and Recreation a division of Community Services attended to 15 callouts on 18th May. Seven of these were urgent where trees had fallen onto roads and were obstructing traffic in Denneoord and Blanco and were dealt with immediately despite the inclement weather conditions. The remaining trees were either felled or broken branches were pruned back on Thursday, with teams working throughout George collecting broken branches.Water, Sewer and streets Our Civil Engineering teams attended to 143 sewer network callouts, 76 water network callouts and 14 complaints with regards to streets during the three-day period.

Water Restrictions for George – garden watering times amende

George Municipality Media
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Water Restrictions for George – garden watering times amende
George Municipality has taken into consideration the approach of the winter months with sun setting earlier and light fading, and accordingly amended the times during which gardens can be watered by hand-held garden hose, in terms of the existing Water Restrictions in place. As of 1 May to 31 August, gardens may be watered by hand from 17h00 – 19h00.The current water restrictions were implemented in January 2022 and are similar to those found in paragraph 2B of the George Municipal Drought Management Policy. An emergency as contemplated in Section 2(4)(b) of the Water Services By-law to limit or restrict the use of water currently exists in George as the water treatment works cannot meet the current potable water demand.George Municipality has over the past year reported to the public that the consumption of drinking or potable water per day in George, is currently high compared to the amount of raw water that is being purified by our water treatment works.DRINKING WATER DEMAND IS UP The Annual Average Daily Demand for drinking water has averaged at 32 Ml per day and the current water treatment works output per day is about 38Ml. This is produced jointly on a daily basis by the Old Water Treatment Works and the New Water Treatment Works which are both operating at full capacity.BUT THE GARDEN ROUTE DAM IS FULL? Residents should note that although the GARDEN ROUTE DAM LEVEL remains almost full, this is RAW WATER storage and not POTABLE or DRINKING WATER supply. The raw water needs to be treated at the George Old and New Water Treatment Facilities before it goes to the main potable water storage reservoirs for distribution into the reticulation system. The current water demand is higher than the production rate at these facilities.FORWARD PLANNING Forward planning is in place and the remedial and capacity (20Ml) extension projects funded by the Budget Facility for Infrastructure funding (BFI grant) will extend the water treatment capacity for George and will be implemented in two phases over three years. The construction for the 20Ml Water Treatment Works has started and will continue over the next few years. The overall funding required to ensure potable water security in the George system is R1.197 billion and the funding will be provided over the next forty (40) months for the full phases of the Potable Water Security and Remedial Works projects. There are currently 12 sub-components in various stages of procurement and implementation.In 2021 it was determined that South Africans use 235 litres of potable water per person daily as per the Water Resources Commission. Following the implementation of Water Restrictions in George earlier this year and based on the 2011 STATSA population figure for George at 210 000, the daily consumption of drinking water for the average Georgian is equal to approximately 167 l per day. This shows that the public are responding to the Water Restrictions and using less drinking water. This is commendable and we thank everyone for their combined efforts. We do however have to remind the general public that the restrictions will remain in place until the new Water Treatment Works can be commissioned.George Municipality has also applied for R238m in disaster funding for remedial work required to repair our water and sewer infrastructure damaged during the floods of November/ December 2021. The Municipality is still awaiting the outcome of the application.The right of access to basic water supply and sanitation is a basic right for all communities and it is the responsibility of the George Municipality as the Water Services Institution to take reasonable measures to ensure these rights. Water Restrictions in George are therefore in place to reduce use of drinking water to ensure that the Municipality can fulfill this mandate.The immediate measures to be adhered to are as follows:
  1. The mechanical irrigation of gardens is prohibited.
  2. Gardens may be watered by means of hand-held garden hose only, from 1 May to 31 August between 17:00 to 19:00 and from 01 September to 30 April between 19:00 to 21:00:Mondays and Thursdays for even-numbered households ONLY Tuesdays and Fridays for uneven numbered households ONLY.
  3. The irrigation or watering of all sports fields is prohibited. Exemption from restrictions in the following instances only: golf course greens, bowling greens, and cricket pitches which may only be watered between 19:00 and 21:00.
  4. The washing of vehicles with a garden hose, except by a commercial enterprise whose business it is to wash cars, is prohibited;
  5. The cleaning of ANY area using water is prohibited;
  6. The filling of swimming pools is prohibited.
  7. Where own water from a borehole or reservoir is used, the appropriate notice shall be displayed on the premises, e.g. “OWN WATER”.
Contraventions of the Water Restrictions can be reported on 0800 424477 and will be followed up by George Municipal Law Enforcement. Any person who contravenes these restrictions is guilty of an offence and is, upon conviction, liable to a fine as published in the annual tariffs list, or six months imprisonment.In terms of Section 5 of the By-law, any person may apply in writing for the exemption from the provision of any notice published in terms of the By-law, and the Council may grant an exemption and impose conditions in respect of such an application. The Policy grants permission to the Directorate Civil Engineering Services to approve applications for exemptions.Applications for exemptions are to be submitted to the Directorate: Civil Engineering Services for approval. Once approved, a written exemption shall be provided, and individual applications assessed.Report all water leaks to our Civil Engineering Department on 044 801 9262/66

George Nostalgie: Francois Germishuys

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George Nostalgie: Francois Germishuys
Opgedra aan: Francois Germishuys11 April laat middag kom ‘n boodskap deur van Francois, “Hi, is jy ok? Hoe voel jy?” ek antwoord hom en sê “operasie was ‘n sukses, ek voel net moeg en bietjie seer, Francois skryf vir my ‘n storie asb”. Nie lank nie en hy stuur vir my ‘n storie. Hy vra my om een te skryf en ek het belowe ek sou, maar daardie geleentheid het nooit gekom nie. Francois hier is jou storie nou en ek eer jou my vriend.My storie: Die legende Francois GermishuysAs ek ‘n sagte diep mens kan beskryf is dit Francois, sy liefde vir mense en natuur, sy liefde en passie vir motorsport, vliegtuie en fotografie, sy stil wees en verlore raak in skryf kuns en musiek. Ek luister na mense en wat hy vir hulle beteken het en almal het gesê sy barmhartigheid, nederigheid en menslikheid. As jy hulp of insperasie nodig gehad het was daar net een oproep en hy was altyd gewillig om te help waar hy kon. Hy was trots op sy werk, sy talente en gawes en hy het elkeen van dit gebruik tot die beste van sy vermoӫ, hy wou sy kennis en wysheid met mense deel om hulle te help.Hy het gespog oor sy vrou en seun, liefdes dade wat hy vir haar gedoen het, soos om vir haar die bed op te maak en haar nagkleertjies opgevou onder haar kussing neer te sit. Ek het altyd so na hom geluister en gedink “Francois jy is waarlik ‘n roman vir jou vrou”, hy het sy opegewondenheid gedeel as sy fotos van die Stockcars of trou fotos in die George Herald beland het.Francois het ook ‘n baie stil en diep kant gehad, hy kon in die kleinste dingetjie die mooiste sien, waneer ons saam gewerk het aan ‘n projek het dit soms gelyk of hy verlore raak in sy eie wêreld met soveel vrede. Ek onthou as hy my trou fotos gewys het dan was daar altyd ‘n natuur foto iewers in, in my trou fotos was daar fotos van dolfyne, ‘n vreemde persoon se poedel hond, seemeeue en die vol maan. Dan was daar sy skryf kuns, ek was altyd nuuskierig oor sy skryf, waar het hy sy karakters gaan uit haal en hoe hy die storie lyn kon skep, daar was altyd humor betrokke. Dan was daar soms die diep droom skryf waar ‘n mens so verlore kon raak, waar hy hierdie ou wêreld so besonders laat lyk het met soveel hoop liefde en passie.Sy liefde vir motorsport en vliegtuie, ek het eendag verby die lughawe gery en daar het sy kar gestaan oorkant die pad, ek stop om te hoor of alles okay is. Hier sit hy en aanskou hoe die vliegtuie op stuig en land. Ek wat self uit die lugvaard industrie kom het ook ‘n passie vir die groot vlieg monstertjies, so ek het verstaan hoekom hy dit gedoen het, en besef toe dat dit vir hom is soos om by ‘n motorsport byeenkoms te sit. Natuurlik was sy grootste liefde “George motorklub” as daar ‘n byeenkoms was, was hy die fotograaf op die baan en jy kon die aksie en passie in sy fotos beleef.As daar een ding is van hom wat vir my uit gestaan het was dit sy menslikheid en ondersteuning. Een jaar met die landbouskou het ek “Love George” help bemark. Ek gaan toe na hom toe met ‘n hand vol “Love George” stickers en vra of hy my kan help by die stockcars. ‘n Halfuur later kom hy na my toe met soveel opgewondenheid en gee vir my die nuus. Elke stockcar het ‘n “Love George” sticker op hy het gereӫl dat ek pouse die skare kan toe spreek oor die “Love George” app. Toe ek begin het om my getuienis te deel was hy die grootste ondersteuner. Toe my artikel uit gekom het in “Joy Magazine” het hy gery van supermark tot supermark opsoek na ‘n boek, en ek moes die artikel teken. Toe my boek “Lodene” vrygestel was, het hy daarop aangedring om ‘n getekende boek te ontvang. En so kan ek aanhou met hoe hy ‘n mens geondersteun het, stories wat ek die laaste paar dae gehoor het van ander vriende. Hy het nooit iets terug verwag nie, maar as jy ‘n droom gehad het was hy daar en het in ‘n mens geglo.As ek kyk na Francios dan sien ek ‘n man wat elke passie en liefde uit geleef het, en hy wou gehad het elke mens moet dit kan doen. Jou drome ‘n realiteit maak. Hy het altyd tyd gemaak vir sy vrou, familie en vriende en wou elke oomblik met elkeen deel.Dit is my storie van ‘n vriend wat bietjie kennis en wysheid in my lewetjie kom saai het, sonder verwagtings en sonder voorwaardes, hy was net daar vir almal.Francios, Hey hey jy, Dankie vir die deeltjie wat jy in my lewe was, dankie vir jou ondersteuining, omgee en baie geduld. Die wêreld gaan verseker ‘n bietjie valer wees sonder jou. Jy het my baie geleer en was ‘n mentor. Die sagtheid van jou mensewees het in jou oӫ weerspieӫl. Jou al gese jy beteken baie vir baie mense, sien jy nou? Francios, jy word klaar gemis! Dankie vir alles!Dene

Honda Transalp – Bekostigbare avontuur!

Johann van Tonder
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Honda Transalp – Bekostigbare avontuur!

Die afgelope jare het ‘n ontploffing in die dubbeldoel motorfiets mark gesien. Oor naweke sien jy hulle ry, die manne op die groot motorfietse vol stof, op pad na ‘n nuwe horison, ‘n nuwe avontuur.

Ons bly in ‘n pragtige land wat net wag om verken te word, maar hoe gemaak as jy nie ‘n tweede verband op jou huis wil neem om een van die R300 000 ysterperde te koop nie? Alles is nie verlore nie, daar is wel maniere om hierdie avontuur-leefstyl te betree – teen ‘n fraksie van die prys.

Honda se Transalp is jare reeds ‘n bekende gesig op ons paaie. Honda het die Transalp in 1987 reeds bekend gestel. Die eerste prototipe in 1985 was ‘n 500cc veldfiets, maar teen die tyd wat die eerste modelle die teer getref het was die Transalp ‘n padwaardige veeldoeler. Oor die jare is daar aan die model bietjie verander en verbeter, drom brieke het plek gemaak vir skyf remme, maar dis basies dieselfde enjin wat van die eerste 600cc modelle tot die latere 700cc modelle diens doen. Dis ‘n betroubare en beproefde enjin en daar is verskeie voorbeelde van Transalps met meer as 100 000 probleemvrye kilometers. Ek persoonlik het ‘n TransAlp met 160 000km op die klok gesien.

Die Transalp staan uit as ‘n veelsydige dubbeldoeler juis omdat hy tuis is in soveel toepassings, of dit nou stofpad-toer, ontbytritte of stadspendel is. Die V-twee silinder enjin loop seepglad in vergelyking met die meer gefokusde een-silinder verlfietse en die Transalp skrik ook nie om ‘n passasier op te laai nie. As middelgewig toerfiets is die Transalp ‘n mylvreter van formaat. ‘n Top snelheid van by die 180km/h beteken dat jy nie sukkel om verby te steek nie en boonop is die fiets met sy regop sitposisie en sagte saal besonder gemaklik op die langer ritte.

Die XL650V model Transalp was verkoop tussen 2000 en 2008, waarna dit vervang is deur die XL700V. Die nuwer 700 het gekom met petrol inspuiting en ABS remme. Hy was ook bietjie vinniger en ligter op brandstof. Die 650 se 21-duim voorwiel het egter plek gemaak vir ‘n 19-dium, so as jy regtig rowwe terrein aanpak is daar ‘n saak te maak vir die 650 model, maar in wese is die fietse dieselfde betroubare pakket.

Die groot TransAlp trekpleister is egter die prys. Hierdie betroubare fietse kan vir ‘n winskoop opgetel word. Verwag om so rondom R40 000 te betaal vir ‘n 650 Transalp en ongeveer R50 000 vir ‘n 700 model. Daar is pryse so laag as R30 000 as die fiets hoë kilometers begin kry, terwyl lae kilometer modelle jou tot R60 000 uit die sak kan jaag. In baie gevalle kry jy nog ‘n hoop bybehore op die koop toe. ‘n Absolute winskoop in ag genome dat selfs klein kapasiteit motorfietse deesdae by die R100 000 kos!

Jy kan dus die avontuur-fiets leefstyl toetree op ‘n beproefde motorfiets teen ‘n baie billike prys en as jy moontlik later die fiets wil verkoop behoort jy ook nie veel te verloor nie. Dis mos nou ‘n winskoop. Jou droom om die land se stofpaaie plat te ry op ‘n ysterperd is dalk nie so ver buite bereik as wat jy gedink het nie.

MAYOR VAN WYK IS PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE COMPOSTING FACILITY CONSTRUCTION

George Municipality Media
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MAYOR VAN WYK IS PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE COMPOSTING FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
The Executive Mayor of George Ald Leon van Wyk, during his recent site visit to the construction site of the new composting facility, expressed his satisfaction with the progress made so far. The George Municipality commenced with the establishment of a compost facility in the 2019/2020 financial year. “Today, we have come to inspect the progress made on the first platform of the new composting facility,” said Mayor van Wyk during his visit on Wednesday, 11 May 2022. “I would like to commend the team from Community Services who have taken the initiative to establish and initiate this project and made the progress we have seen here today. I would also like to thank the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers on-site for their invaluable input in making this project a success.” In June 2021, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries promulgated Norms and Standards for the Treatment of Organic Waste. In terms of these norms, compost facilities must meet certain standards, and one of them is that the final platform layer works must contain a concrete platform or include a clay layer within its layer structure. Mayor van Wyk confirmed that this construction is in line with the norms and standards for the Treatment of Organic Waste. “Effectively, builder’s rubble is used to fill the ground to the desired level whereafter a layer of clay is laid on top, and the working surface will consist of a wearing course material classified as G5, according to Committee of Land Transport Officials (COLTO) specifications. The idea is that the green bags that are collected from residents every week will go into a source which will make up compost. Eventually, we are going to add garden refuse, kitchen waste and sludge from the sewerage works to create the compost. This is all to reduce the amount of refuse going into landfill sites in the municipal area.”“Work is already underway to expand the size of the platform for future use. We are also introducing a green bag levy so that our residents can become part of the solution in dealing with our refuse and maintaining the critical environmental balance that we, as citizens of George, are custodians of. The levy will provide the funding to launch this project and to make a success of George becoming a Green City,” Ald van Wyk added. The Municipality’s Department of Community Services assured that the Municipality will finalise the construction of phase 1 of platform A of the composting in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years. “Phase 2 of platform A is also underway, and the public is requested to divert and dispose of builders’ rubble at the Gwaing waste disposal facility to assist the municipality in finalising phase 2 of platform A,” said Sivuyile Mtila, senior manager for environmental services at the George Municipality. “An attenuation pond will be constructed in the 2022/2023 financial year to treat and store stormwater runoff. Platform A will only be able to accommodate 76% of the George Municipality’s green waste. However, once platform B is built, all green waste will be accommodated. The maximum number of windrows that platform A can accommodate is 13. This equals a maximum volume of 2 486 m3. The average volume of compost produced for 6 weeks is 243 m3,” said Mtila. The municipality urges the public to dispose of all builders’ rubble at the Gwaing landfill site instead of dumping illegally, as the material is required to complete the construction of the compost facility.“We also urge the community to use the three-bag system to the benefit of reducing the landfill footprint. All three bags must be placed out on the same day on the designated refuse collection day,” Mtila added. The municipality intends to operate the compost facility from 01 July 2023. 17 May 2022 Issued by George Municipality

Engagements with the public to take the Integrated Development Plan forward

George Municipality Media
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Engagements with the public to take the Integrated Development Plan forward
The IDP and Budget Office held several engagements with the different ward committees last week. The purpose of the IDP and Budget engagements is to engage with communities on the key service delivery issues and the budget allocation for the budget .The Municipal System Act; 2000 prescribes that all municipalities develop an Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The IDP is a single inclusive plan of a municipality. The plan links, integrates and co-ordinates service delivery. The IDP is formulated in order to ensure that integrated service delivery and development goals are achieved in a municipality.  In terms of legislation a municipality is supposed to develop a new IDP every five years. However, due to the impact of Covid-19 the Local Government Elections for 2021 were delayed.  Municipalities thus did not have enough time to develop a new five year IDP. In terms of the Systems Act Municipalities are allowed to adopt its predecessor’s IDP with or without amendments.  The George Municipality decided to adopt the IDP of its predecessor and the new IDP process for the new term of office of council will commence in August 2022. The Municipality however has set out a plan to engage with communities to solicit their inputs for the budget for the new financial year.The draft budget reflects key policy decisions and priorities, rates increases and indicates where money will be spent on programmes and services. It is important to note that only ward committees were engaged for this round of public participation. And the final meeting for this round will be held on 19 May 2022 in Pacaltsdorp Community Hall at 18h00. However, a comprehensive public participation process will commence in August 2022 for the new IDP.  Communities and organisations will be given an opportunity to provide inputs for the new  four- year IDP.Issued by George Mun 17 May 2022 for immediate release
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