SALGA Western Capes Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) engages West Coast District Municipalities in Saldanha Bay

Show Voice Options The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Western Capes Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) met with West Coast District municipalities in Saldanha Bay on Wednesday, 16 October 2024. The engagement with the West Coast municipalities marks the fourth in a series, following previous meetings with the Central Karoo municipalities, the Garden Route municipalities and the Overberg municipalities. Ald. Donovan Joubert, Chairperson of SALGA Western Cape, opened the gathering by highlighting the importance of consistent interaction to effectively address these local government issues. "SALGA PECs engagement with member municipalities serves as a vital platform for in-depth conversations about the significant issues impacting municipalities and their communities. This interaction also presents an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing dialogue between SALGA and its members, facilitating the identification and resolution of existing gaps and deficiencies in local governance," Ald. Joubert further said. The SALGA Western Capes PECs engagement with the West Coast focused on discussing critical challenges faced by municipalities, including land invasions, unlawful land occupation, landfill management, solid waste issues, backyard dwellers and the continued impact of loadshedding and unemployment. These discussions aim to address these pressing issues and explore potential solutions and interventions to strengthen local government. The West Coast district includes the local municipalities of Bergrivier, Cederberg, Matzikama, Saldanha Bay and Swartland. Mr. Ryan Groenewald, a representative of Saldanha Bay Municipality, addressed the issue of backyard dwellers within the municipality, explaining that backyard dwellers are households living in small structures on residential properties. He highlighted that many people moved to the area expecting economic opportunities that, unfortunately, did not materialise as anticipated. This population growth has put pressure on housing availability and human settlements in the municipality. Mr. Groenewald pointed out that addressing the challenge of backyard dwellers is complex, as housing is a function of the Western Cape Provincial Government, not the municipality. He emphasised that managing informal housing effectively in Saldanha Bay requires a comprehensive strategy that integrates regulation, infrastructure development, community involvement and social support. "Addressing this challenge demands a collaborative approach that takes into account the regions diverse demographics and economic realities," he said. In response to this need, the municipality approved a Backyard Dweller Strategy in October 2018, which was later revised in the 2023/24 financial year. Several factors impact the viability of backyard dwellings, including economic considerations - where homeowners can earn rental income; and demographic shifts, as growing household sizes create a demand for more efficient use of existing residential properties. Other municipalities on the West Coast echoed similar concerns. The Bergrivier Municipality highlighted discrepancies between the number of people reported living in the area and the figures provided by StatsSA. This difference creates challenges in planning and resource allocation. Another key issue raised was ensuring that people living in backyard dwellings have access to essential services. Bergrivier Municipality, for instance, permits up to two backyard structures per erf, aiming to accommodate informal housing while maintaining access to municipal services. The Cederberg Municipality emphasised the need to formalise backyard dwellings by introducing prepaid meters, ensuring that essential services are provided. However, they acknowledged the challenges in delivering these services effectively. One issue they raised was the impact of the indigent household bill, which increases the income threshold for assistance, leading to higher tariffs and monthly bills for some residents. There is also concern about homeowners renting to illegal immigrants, potentially facilitating unlawful activities. Swartland Municipality shared that they have been engaging with backyard dwellers to better understand the challenges they face. They are currently exploring the possibility of establishing service points to address these issues. While they receive an equitable share of government funding, they are focusing on using these resources strategically. The municipality is also reviewing their housing pipeline to prioritise social housing and other affordable housing opportunities. In discussing unemployment, the Cederberg Municipality mentioned that, just as nationally, unemployment remains a significant challenge in the Cederberg Municipal area. However, there are strategies in place to create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth. These include fostering partnerships between the municipality and the private sector, investing in education and skills development, and creating a supportive environment for business growth. Cederberg Municipality shared that the unemployment rate in the area dropped from 11.2% in 2021 to 10.6% in 2022. Despite the formal sector shedding 859 jobs, the informal sector emerged as a vital source of employment. This contributed to an increase in the labour force participation rate from 61.4% in 2021 to 63.9% in 2022, and an improvement in the labour absorption rate (employment-to-population ratio), which rose from 54.5% to 57.2%, the highest in the West Coast District. Agriculture remains a key employer in the municipality, with perennial crop production (7,475 jobs) and mixed farming (2,476 jobs) leading formal employment. Manufacturing is the second-largest sector, contributing 18.6% to the regions GDPR. Although the manufacturing industry in Cederberg is diverse, it relies heavily on fishing and farming activities. Mr. Chris Kochs presentation focused on the development of a regional waste site located about 10km from Vanrhynsdorp, designed to serve the Cederberg and Matzikama areas, with construction that began in January 2024. He noted that the project is in line with the 2001 Waste Disposal Strategy, which provides municipalities with seven options for waste management. A Waste Management License, issued on 10 March 2014, mandated that construction must start by March 2024. Mr. Koch also highlighted the challenges faced by the Cederberg Municipality, particularly the difficulties in constructing a transfer station near the N7, as well as ongoing investigations into an e-waste facility. The discussions also highlighted Bergrivier Municipalitys need for greater community involvement, awareness campaigns and the establishment of buyback units for recyclables. Cederberg Municipality emphasised the need for additional funding to support their waste disposal initiatives. Mr Joggie Scholtz, the Municipal Manager of Swartland Municipality, addressed the ongoing challenges and impacts of land invasion and unlawful land occupation. With 16,769 pending housing applications, the municipality primarily struggles with these issues in Malmesbury. The invaders typically fall into two groups: younger individuals seeking to bypass the housing queue and older residents who have long lived in backyard dwellings. Monitoring these activities is tricky, especially since structures are often erected overnight or on weekends. To combat this, the municipality enforces a land invasion policy and has a law enforcement unit. Good relationships with neighbouring municipalities are crucial for assistance. An example of best practice is the formalisation of the Sibanye informal settlement, where individual services are provided per structure to recover costs. Community participation and regular engagement are essential. Concerns were raised about the longstanding issue of land invasion and the lack of significant progress. Municipalities are tasked with housing provision without service level agreements and need to consider guiding land invasions towards suitable land for service provision. Adv. Hanlie Linde, the Municipal Manager of Bergrivier Municipality, detailed the municipalitys proactive approach to mitigating the challenges posed by loadshedding. The municipality implemented a comprehensive strategy to ensure the security and operational continuity of essential services, particularly at critical infrastructure points such as municipal offices and water treatment facilities. This strategy includes the installation of alarms, surveillance cameras, reinforced fencing and energy-efficient LED floodlights to maintain security. Additionally, the municipality installed fixed generators at key sites, complemented by mobile generators for use in more remote areas to ensure continuous operations during power outages. On the renewable energy front, Bergrivier Municipality has aligned itself with broader national efforts to transition towards sustainable energy solutions. They joined forces with SALGA through the SALGA-DMRE-GIZ programme, which is aimed at enhancing local governments capacity to integrate renewable energy solutions. Furthermore, they received support from Sustainable Energy Africa for policy and documentation. These steps reflect Bergriviers commitment to both safeguarding essential services during loadshedding and promoting a long-term shift towards sustainable energy use. In conclusion, Mr. Khalil Mullagie, SALGA Western Capes Director of Operations, expressed that SALGAs objective is to thoroughly understand the status of the issues discussed during these engagements. By gaining these insights, SALGA intends to escalate these matters to the appropriate structures to ensure they are effectively addressed. Additionally, where possible, SALGA will also lobby and advocate for the necessary changes and support to resolve these issues and promote growth and improvement within the municipalities.