George Herald
Heritage set in stone
The historic Klipkerk in Pacaltsdorp officially reopened earlier this month after an extensive restoration process aimed at preserving this valuable heritage landmark for future generations. As the oldest church building on the Garden Route and the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
WARNING Water under pressure
George’s population has surged by 52% in just 11 years, putting mounting pressure on the city’s water resources. The municipality is now looking beyond the Garden Route Dam towards groundwater, water reuse and additional storage to secure future...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
More foster homes needed
Behind the closed doors of homes where children are unsafe, there are little lives waiting for somewhere they can feel protected, wanted and loved. George Child and Family Welfare is urgently appealing to residents to open their homes to vulnerable...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Baby Alexander tips scale at 5.23kg
Adél Steenkamp from Knysna knew she was expecting a baby boy who might be on the bigger side, but nothing could have prepared her and her husband, Arrie, for the 5.23kg baby they welcomed at Mediclinic George on 26 August. When Alexander was born at...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
STREET CRISIS DEEPENS
An ordinary walk through the George CBD turned frightening for award-winning journalist Michelle Pienaar - and it highlighted a growing concern among CBD businesses and residents. Harassment, intimidation, theft and people sleeping outside businesses...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
School sport takes centre stage
From hockey and netball to rugby and chess, local schools went head to head in a weekend packed with competition, camaraderie and sporting action. Turn to pages 14 to 17 for our special school sport coverage and a selection of the weekend’s best action...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
No jail time for Sharoline’s death
A year after the 26-year-old Sharoline Daters was fatally stabbed, her grieving father is left to live with a loss no sentence can undo and a court decision that means the woman convicted of the death of his only child will not go to prison. “I am not...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Zizi fights for her dream
A 17-year-old kickboxer from Kleinkrantz who fought her way onto the South African team will not get the chance to represent her country after some visa appointment delays dashed the team’s hopes of competing at the world championships in the United...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Giant challenge for tiny lives
Most people would struggle to climb George Peak once. But next month, local ultra-distance athlete Thembinkosi Sojola will attempt something that might be one of the toughest challenges ever tackled in the Garden Route. He plans to climb George Peak...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Long-term plan under way for old magistrate’s house
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has indicated that a long-term solution involving a possible sports centre is being considered for Erf 658, the property of the vandalised former magistrate’s house. According to DPWI...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
20-year land limbo
The looming 13km western bypass project has left the landowners in the western outskirts of George in landuse limbo for 20 years, prompting Blanco landowners Greg and Hayley Waters’ daughter, Caitlyn JacksonWaters, to launch a petition on behalf of the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New strategy to tackle roaming horses
After years of complaints and accidents involving horses on the N2, the George Municipality is changing course. Council has approved plans to appoint a specialised service provider to impound roaming livestock and upgrade the municipal pound, shifting...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
The fight will go on!
Despite Tuesday 30 June remaining largely calm in George, local members of the anti-migrant organisation March and March say they will continue their protests until their demands are met. The police remain on high alert and are monitoring the situation...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fear and doubt ahead of 30 June
“I just want my children to be safe” Foreign nationals are quietly packing their belongings, employers are navigating around replacing their workers, and the police across South Africa are preparing for any potential unrest as the tensions over...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Comrades gold for Bosman
His Comrades debut earned local running star Lloyd Bosman (38) a coveted gold medal and a hero’s welcome home. Read the article by Marguerite van Ginkel on page 2.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Employers in the firing line
Undocumented workers and the employers who hire them are in the spotlight following the arrest of several delivery drivers in George’s CBD during a joint law enforcement operation on Tuesday 9 June. The operation was aimed at identifying undocumented...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
R1 million car deal in limbo
A Mossel Bay businessman who thought he was days away from taking delivery of a brand-new Kia Carnival of over R1m is still without his vehicle - after the funds intended for the purchase were allegedly paid into a Kia George salesperson’s personal...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Tight exam roster under scrutiny
Hoërskool Outeniqua principal Christo Vorster has appealed directly to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to urgently revise the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam timetable, warning that as it stands, some learners could be forced to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Gale-force chaos
George has endured one of the harshest spells of winter weather in recent years, as torrential rain, flooding and gale-force winds battered the city throughout the past two weeks. Schools were evacuated on Monday due to the extreme winds, and several...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Deluge hits George
Relentless downpours lashed the George municipal area from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday and are predicted to carry on into today, Thursday 7 May, unleashing widespread flooding, damage and disruption across the region. Rivers swelled, informal...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
We need more ambulances
A seven-year-old Thembalethu boy’s life was cut short in a tragic accident, which has left his family grieving and raised serious questions about emergency response times in the area. Amid the heartbreak of losing their son, his father, Mzwandile...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
George 215 years strong
From a small drostdy* proclaimed in 1811 to one of the fastest-growing towns along the Garden Route, George’s journey is a story of resilience, growth and community. The town was proclaimed by the Earl of Caledon on 23 April 1811 and named after King...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
The longlining effect
Reports of suspicious vessels operating off Herold’s Bay at night have raised concern among the residents. Although the authorities have identified these vessels as legally operating squid vessels, the sighting ignited a renewed debate about demersal...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Blind runner gets dream drive
It is not every South African who has the opportunity to experience a ride in a Tesla Cybertruck. But for George resident Carl de Campos, who is blind, this cherished dream has actually become a reality. This is a story of heart-warming community...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Housing likely on old croc farm
The availability of affordable housing in town may get a boost following a George Council decision on Thursday 26 March to approve a recommendation for the development of the crocodile farm land in York Street, Erf 30400. According to a report...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Eden athletes shine on national stage
Eden’s young track and field athletes lit up Green Point Stadium in Cape Town from 21 to 22 March, storming to a second-place finish at the SA Junior Championships. Representing the Western Cape, the team finished second overall with an impressive 68...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SHOCKER: Fuel price hikes
A weakening rand and surging global oil prices are driving South Africa towards another fuel price shock, as petrol is set to skyrocket by about R4 in April, and diesel by more than R7. Economists warn the ripple effect will hit everything from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Masters swimmers dive into action
The Conville public swimming pool is buzzing with excitement this week as it hosts the 41st SA Masters National Swimming Championships. This major event on the national swimming calendar kicked off yesterday, Wednesday 11 March, and will run through to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Staff at a crossroads
As the deadline for the provincial takeover of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Roads Department approaches, staff anxiety is reaching a tipping point. With the official transfer date set for 1 April, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over its...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
George’s 7th wonder: The Bloudam
Tucked away and off the grid, the Bloudam has become a magnet for teenagers and thrill-seekers chasing cliff jumps and secret braai spots. But behind its reputation as one of George’s finest swimming holes lie growing concerns over safety, muggings and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FMD vaccines critical
Urgency for procuring foot-andmouth disease vaccines for the Garden Route, the heart of the country’s dairy industry, is mounting as more potential cases, including one on a George farm, were identified within a week of the outbreak on the index farm...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FMD threat escalates
The farmers in Outeniqualand are facing increasing uncertainty and anxiety following the outbreak of footand-mouth disease (FMD) on the district’s doorstep. The threat of the disease spreading is adding to the pressure from the ongoing drought they...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Unsafe rides to school
Overloaded minibus taxis, unroadworthy vehicles and drivers operating without permits were among the serious safety violations uncovered during the learner transport inspections conducted in and around George this week. George Herald observed the...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Herold’s hero honoured
A lifelong dream became a national reality for Warrant Officer Wendy Lee (51) of the Herold Satellite Police Station on Monday 26 January when she was named the woman of the year at the police’s national Excellence Awards in Bloemfontein. Born in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Battle for George
Two by-elections took place in George yesterday, 21 January, following heated and aggressive campaigns by political parties marked by allegations of intimidation and crimen injuria. The stakes were underlined by the arrival of two national...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Excellence from Class of ’25
The Eden and Central Karoo Education District performed exceptionally well, achieving an overall pass rate of 89.1%, which ranks among the highest in the province. “As a district, we are right up there,” said District Director Jewel Jonkers as he...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Devastation after firestorm
“The Mossel Bay wildfires were fuelled by extremely strong winds and moved through the area like a cheetah across the veld. Homes were reduced to rubble and the residents were left with nothing.” These were the observations of a local firefighter who...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Happy holidays!
The Christmas lights all down Oewer Street in Denneoord, switched on on Saturday 6 December, continue to be a seasonal hit, bringing that unmistakable holiday spirit to George. This week the street was alive with excitement as families came to enjoy...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Make every drop count
The agricultural sector in the George District is in crisis as a result of the ongoing drought, and the City Council has introduced tighter water restrictions with punitive tariffs to suppress Georgians’ excessive water consumption. Pressure on the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
George leads with drunk driving
George Police Precinct has entered the festive season under a dark cloud as it now has the highest number of drunk driving arrests in the Western Cape, recording a shocking 142 cases between July and September this year. This places the city first in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A thirsty week for Wilderness
The tourism-dependent Wilderness was plunged into crisis, with large parts of the village all the way through to Kleinkrantz left dry for more than a week after the taps had run empty late last week. As households queued for water and guest houses...
Read Full Story (Page 3)
FF Plus throws DA a lifebuoy
With these words, Adv Gert van Niekerk of the FF Plus defused a tough question from a journalist during a press conference in front of the George City Hall on Tuesday 18 November, when the new multi-party coalition between the DA, the FF Plus and the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New beginning for Voëlklip
A tract of 300ha of land at Voëlklip, Herold’s Bay, has been bought by a family with a vision to convert it into a private nature reserve. According to a media statement issued by Resolve Communications, Fynbos Eiendomme, a Stellenbosch-based company,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Tow truck truce after punches fly
A fistfight between two local tow truck operators on an accident scene in the Kaaimans Pass on Sunday 2 November has once again exposed the fierce rivalry within the local towing industry. A video that has gone viral shows Werner Herselman of Star...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Kwaggas win big in Paarl
It was a weekend to remember for Hoërskool Outeniqua, who stamped down their authority at the Curro Podium South in Paarl, one of the Western Cape’s premier youth athletics showcases. More than 1 400 young athletes gathered at the Dal Josafat...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Heroes pull couple from burning car
An elderly couple are glad to be alive after their car was engulfed in flames following an accident near the Maalgate Bridge on the N2 between the Glentana turn-off and George on Tuesday 21 October. The couple were travelling to George when the woman,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
HEROES & children share the fun
The gruelling three-day test of strength, endurance and teamwork drew hundreds of firefighters from across South Africa.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Back on track!
The return of the Outeniqua ChooTjoe steam train, which was officially announced on Monday, will not just be the revival of a beloved heritage attraction, but a major economic boost for the entire region. So says George Tourism Manager Joan Shaw in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Hoping for rain
Regular visitors to the Garden Route Dam are witnessing with concern the gradual but consistent receding of the water level from the spillway. The storage percentage as of 29 September is 65.7 %, down from 71.9% at the beginning of the month. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Final whistle for Bevin Fortuin
This week all Georgians united in mourning, but also in gratitude, for the life of our very own Bevin Fortuin - a beloved son of Blanco, former Springbok, coach and role model to generations of young rugby players. A memorial service for Fortuin will...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
His heart beats on in someone else’s chest
Somewhere in the country, a heart that once belonged to the 34-year-old Jason Morris from Pacaltsdorp is still beating - keeping another person alive. For his grieving family, that thought brings a measure of comfort during a time of unbearable...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Alien invasives deemed a fire risk
The crisis situation in which the Garden Route finds itself with our landscape increasingly changing for the worse due to invasive alien plants (IAPs), and the wildfire risk it poses, is to be tackled through a first-of-its-kind platform involving...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
George Herald
came out tops, named the best paid community newspaper in the country. In fact, all five of Group Editors’ newspapers were ranked among the top 10 nationwide, with Suid-Kaap Forum taking the runner-up spot. The others are Knysna-Plett Herald (fifth),...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DARK DAYS FOR SWD RUGBY
SWD rugby was rocked this past weekend by two separate, unrelated incidents that left the rugby community reeling. On Thursday 14 August, the much-loved and respected head coach of Crusaders, Stanley Kruger (55), tragically died in a collision between...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pacs horses a ‘ticking time bomb’
The deadly threat of freeroaming horses on the N2 and in Pacaltsdorp’s residential streets has reached breaking point. Another collision this week left a horse dead, a young driver injured, and residents accusing the municipality of failing to enforce...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
An ocean of tears
“We are still in a daze. It is unreal. Nothing makes sense.” The state of shock, disbelief and grief experienced by Suné Erasmus’ (22) parents reflects the emotions of everyone who knew and loved her, including the entire swimming community of George...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ruben’s death leaves Oakdale reeling
It was a sombre return to Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale in Riversdale on Tuesday 22 July, as the school reopened for the third term - everyone in mourning. The Oakdale community is grieving the tragic loss of Grade 10 learner Ruben Bezuidenhout (16) from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Seal you later, Columbo!
of lazing on the beach, Columbo has said his farewells to Vic Bay. After a record 41-day stay, Columbo, by now likely the most photographed elephant seal in the ocean, has bade Vic Bay: “So long, and thanks for all the fish!” The 500kg immature male...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Racehorse, rower & runner George greats make history
From river to road to racetrack, three remarkable athletes with ties to George have made their mark in South African sporting history. At 85, George’s Jannie Malherbe has become the first person to complete the Berg River Canoe Marathon 52 times,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Van Rooyen top of the POPs
After more than four decades of unwavering service, one the Southern Cape’s most respected law enforcement officers, Warrant Officer Cornelius van Rooyen, has officially retired, closing the chapter on a remarkable 41-year policing career. Van Rooyen,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
The future of athletics right on track
George’s long-awaited R40m tartan track is officially open and with it, a bold new era for sport on the Garden Route. Gayton McKenzie himself, National Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, came to unveil the plaque. Declared a World Athletics Class 2...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
TikTok teacher goes viral
Pacaltsdorp Primary teacher Edmondo van der Berg is capturing hearts and memories, one TikTok at a time. Together with his learners, they have made memories that will last a lifetime. Here Amber-Lee Messiahs (13) share one of those moments with Van der...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Delays in settlement upgrades blamed
A devastating fire swept through Zone 8 in Thembalethu on Friday 6 June, destroying a reported 46 informal homes and leaving about 70 residents displaced. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported, as most residents were still at work when...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sandman shares Big 5 message
Beach-goers at Wilderness and Herold’s Bay did a double take last week when lifelike sand sculptures of a white rhino and elephant appeared on the shoreline. Crafted in exquisite detail by Cape Town-based artist Innocent Zungu, these artworks aren’t...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Girl (10) found in filthy caravan
It took a search party of more than 30 people about one night to find a kidnapped and raped child (10) in a filthy caravan on a farm behind the George showgrounds. The disturbing incident shocked the community to the core, while the victim’s family,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
BIG cat, BIG scan, BIG moment
History was made in George on Monday night, 19 May, when Zamba, a young lion cub from the Outeniqua Game Reserve, was wheeled into Garden Route Radiology for an after-hours MRI scan - the first of its kind at this facility. Staff and vets stood by as...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mario Lombard a young farmer of the year finalist
The air is fresh and cool, the morning sun glistens on the leaves of row upon row of avocado trees, and in the distance, the Outeniqua Mountains stretch across the horizon. At the shed on Summer 16, a farm in the Herold’s Bay area, farm manager Mario...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Broken concrete, broken lives
One year later and families are still in the dark. An emotionally charged memorial service was held at the George Municipal Hall on Tuesday 6 May, less than 100m away from where a multi-storey apartment building under construction at 75 Victoria Street...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Ashley’s Thai prison sentence reduced
Facing the soul-destroying prospect of spending her entire life in a Thai jail, Ashley Oosthuizen (26) from George has now been given her life back. At the very least, most of it. Bubbly, blonde Ashley’s sentence has officially been reduced from 33.4...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Takeover: GRDM loses road control
An investigation by the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure reveals several possible irregularities in the finance section of the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) roads department. “There is prima facie evidence of mismanagement and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Wilderness wows for Kwêla crown
SMS ‘WILDERNESS’ to 33157 (R1.50 per SMS, max 30 votes per cellphone) before voting closes on Friday 18 April at 12:00. Let’s show South Africa the vibrant spirit and stunning beauty of Wilderness! Send proof of your vote via WhatsApp to 063 693 1200...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Simelane reveals George flaws
Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane did not beat about the bush yesterday when she said the investigation into the George building collapse on 6 May 2024 revealed that the construction at 75 Victoria Street had in fact started before George...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
39 000
Local artist Zane Pretorius transformed ordinary nuts into an extraordinary sculpture. His latest masterpiece, a stunning metal elephant crafted from 39 000 nuts, now stands proudly at Dynarc House on the corner of Courtenay and Meade Street in George....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mayor’s Good moves
As part of the coalition negotiations, Good was offered the planning and development portfolio. The announcement is set to be made today, 27 March.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Tragic end for beloved accordion player
Minutes before his death on Monday morning, Dr Lukas du Preez left his home in high spirits to fetch his domestic worker at the nearby Sasol garage. His new love interest waited on his return home with freshly baked muffins and coffee, but it was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘DRASTIC STEPS NEEDED’
Following multiple vehicle accidents on the Garden Route Mall traffic intersection, with the latest being a fatal crash on Saturday and another collision on Monday, there has been a public outcry for authorities to take urgent steps to make the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)