Done waiting – now we have a bus!
The official launch of GO GEORGE’s new Route 20 service between Uniondale, Haarlem and George on Sunday, 1 November 2026, marked the culmination of years of planning, collaboration and community engagement aimed at improving mobility for residents of the region’s rural communities that fall under the George Municipality.
The route, which commenced operations on Friday, 30 October 2026, provides a scheduled public transport service linking Uniondale, Haarlem and several rural communities along the route with George.
The launch event, held at the Uniondale Community Hall, was attended by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku, George Executive Mayor Browen Johnson, GO GEORGE Manager Morné Lakay, community leaders and residents.
Guests were welcomed with performances by local riel dancers from the Dirk Boshoff Primary School in Uniondale before proceeding to the nearby bus stop for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, officially marking the introduction of the service.
Speaking at the event, Premier Alan Winde said expanding public transport to rural communities means expanding economic opportunities. “Building a job creation ecosystem is not done in isolation. It requires investment into things such as public transport which will link up residents with opportunities. This will help ensure that economic growth is inclusive. The launch of GO GEORGE’s new Route 20 service is an important step in improving access to employment, education and essential services for communities in these areas.”
Minister Isaac Sileku said bringing the GO GEORGE bus service to Uniondale and Haarlem means more residents can access affordable and reliable transport to get to work, school, healthcare and other important services. “We want residents in our smaller towns and rural areas to have the same access to public transport and opportunities as everyone else. We have listened to the community, and we will continue working with residents from Uniondale, Haarlem, Avontuur, Noll and the surrounding settlements to make sure this service meets their needs. We encourage everyone to make use of the service and share their feedback.”
George Executive Mayor Browen Johnson said the route represents an important milestone for the municipality. “When we say, ‘listen, act, deliver’, we mean exactly that. The introduction of this bus service is a direct response to the needs and requests expressed by our communities. It is about far more than launching another bus route. It is about bringing services closer to people, expanding access to opportunities, and making daily life a little easier for the residents we serve.
In the two weeks leading up to the launch, GO GEORGE’s communications team spent extensive time in Uniondale, Haarlem and surrounding communities, visiting neighbourhoods, schools, workplaces, farms and villages to share information about the new service. The team engaged directly with residents on how to use a scheduled public transport service, answered questions and gathered valuable feedback, which was relayed to planning and operational teams to assist with final preparations for the route.
GO GEORGE Manager Morné Lakay says the conversations they have had with residents over the past few weeks have demonstrated both the need for and enthusiasm for this service. “We look forward to continued engagement with the communities we serve as we refine and grow Route 20 over time,” Lakay said.
The first passengers travelled on the service on Friday morning, arriving at the George Transport Hub shortly after 08:00. One passenger remarked that she “couldn’t wait to taste GO GEORGE”, while another said that evening that, on her way home, she became so engrossed in listening to a juicy conversation on the bus that she willingly missed her stop just to hear how it ended. The real sense of camaraderie and community on board the buses is typical of a rural community where people know one another, and are now celebrating together the far more affordable, scheduled and safe public transport service that GO GEORGE provides.
More information about the Uniondale/Haarlem service is available on the Uniondale and Haarlem page, or by phoning GO GEORGE Customer Care on 0800 044 044.
