We have become aware of an alarming increase in fraudulent activities involving scammers posing as employees of Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) in the West Coast area. These individuals are misleading people by advertising fake services through local social media platforms, such as Facebook.  In October 2024, a person attempted to apply for a new driving licence using a fraudulent Temporary Driving Licence, which was detected by the Natis System. This person was arrested, and a case was opened at South African Police Service (SAPS) in Vredenburg.

This scam continues to target unsuspecting members of the public, with recent reports, including one from a woman who was scammed just recently. As a result, further investigations have been initiated to address this growing concern.

How to Protect Yourself:

1. Always visit an official, municipal Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC) to book your learner’s or driving licence test. Confirm the booking with the DLTC directly.
2. Beware of online offers or advertisements that seem too good to be true. Fraudsters often use social media to deceive the public.
3. Report any suspicious activity immediately to the authorities such as your nearest municipal Traffic Department.

Important Licensing Information:

• Learner’s Licence:
• Valid for 24 months and cannot be extended. It allows you to drive only when supervised by a licensed driver.
• If the vehicle requires a professional driving permit, the supervising driver must hold a valid professional driving permit.

Learner’s Licence Categories:

• Code 1: Motorcycles (up to 125cc)
• Code 2: Motor vehicles (up to 3,500kg)
• Code 3: Vehicles over 3,500kg

Applying for a Learner’s Licence:

1. Visit the nearest DLTC to book a test and confirm your booking.
2. Required documents: ID, two black-and-white ID photos, booking fee of R68.00, proof of address, and if applicable, an affidavit confirming your address.

Driving Licence Categories:

• Code A1: Motorcycle (up to 125cc)
• Code A: Motorcycle (over 125cc)
• Code B: Light motor vehicles (up to 3,500kg)
• Code C1, C, EC1, EC: Heavy motor vehicles

Applying for a Driving Licence:

1. Visit the DLTC with your learner’s licence, ID, photographs, and proof of address.
2. Fees:
• Booking: R135.00 (light motor vehicle category) and R200.00 (heavy motor vehicle category)
• Issuing fee after passing: R140.00

Do not fall for fraudulent schemes. Always go through official channels when applying for or renewing your driving licence.

The municipality has after careful consideration, in consultation with relevant stakeholders made the decision to cancel the appointment of the Contractor on the Laingville 309 Phase 1 project due to the contractor’s failure to meet the required performance standards. This decision follows an extensive review of the project’s progress and the contractor’s inability to meet agreed-upon deadlines and other key deliverables.

Despite repeated efforts to resolve these issues through meetings, progress evaluations, and corrective action plans, the contractor’s performance has not improved sufficiently to guarantee the timely and successful completion of the housing project by December 2024. The priority of the municipality remains to deliver safe, affordable, and high-quality housing to the community, and it has become clear that continuing with the current contractor would not allow us to achieve these goals.

We want to assure the public and all stakeholders that we are taking immediate steps to assess alternative solutions to commence with the project and complete the current and other phases as a matter of urgency. The municipality and relevant roleplayers are already exploring options to re-advertise the tender for the project to appoint a competent qualified contractor who can meet the standards and timelines expected of such a significant development. We remain committed to ensuring that the project will proceed smoothly with minimal disruption to the community.

We understand the disappointment that the termination of the services may have caused to those who have been looking forward to the completion of the project, and we appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to resolve this matter swiftly. We are committed to keeping the public informed as we move forward.

For further inquiries, please contact: N Qolo or R Groenewald on 022 701 6934 or Ryan.Groenewald@sbm.gov.za or Neliswa.Qolo@sbm.gov.za

The Trekoskraal coastal admiralty reserve, stretching from Long Beach to Gonnemanskraal/Swartriet area between Jacobsbaai and Paternoster, is officially designated for limited recreational activities. This area, renowned for its stunning natural beauty, is surrounded by a farming community and includes sand dunes adjacent to privately owned properties.

Despite the area’s appeal, the Trekoskraal reserve has not been demarcated by the Saldanha Bay Municipality as a camping site, however the beach at Trekoskraal is regarded as a public amenity and therefore people can enjoy the beach for limited activities such as swimming and day-hiking. The operations at Trekoskraal are currently enforced under the Saldanha Bay Municipal by-law in relation to Public Amenities. Unauthorised activities such as informal camping, driving on the beach and dunes, and vandalism of nearby farmers’ roads, gates, fences, and infrastructure have been reported. These actions are illegal and pose a significant threat to both the environment and private property.

The Saldanha Bay Municipality, in accordance with national regulations and local bylaws, strictly prohibits overnight camping. Vehicular access to the Trekoskraal reserve is restricted to the designated gravel roads and is not permitted across the beach, private property, or dunes. Since 2001, South African law has banned vehicles from driving on beaches to protect coastal dunes, which are crucial for both environmental preservation and archaeological integrity.

To safeguard the area, the municipality is implementing the following measures, including:

• Enactment of Bylaws: At the moment, the municipality does not have a by-law pertaining to the impoundment of vehicles. A model by-law to allow for the confiscation of vehicles in violation of regulations, will be addressed during the next round of the review of the existing municipal bylaws as promulgated in 2022.
• Signage: The erection of additional warning boards is underway to clearly demarcate the restricted zones. Previously installed signage has been vandalised and such actions are strongly condemned and discouraged.
• Enhanced Surveillance: Regular beach patrols and inspections are being conducted, supported by surveillance cameras linked to the 24-hour municipal control room.

The public is reminded that all activities in the Trekoskraal coastal admiralty reserve are monitored closely. Trespassers and those violating the applicable regulations and bylaws will face consequences. Should any offences be committed against the municipal bylaws, fines will be issued, or people maybe arrested on the scene depending on the nature of the offence committed.

The full municipal bylaws pertaining to public amenities are available on the municipal website at https://sbm.gov.za/policies-by-laws/ .  For ease of reference, note below important fines that can be issued:

• Erecting a structure, fence, without permission: R2,500.00
• Bringing in or being in possession of a firearm: To Court
• Throw a stone or object: R1,500.00
• Staying or sleeping overnight other than camping: R1,500.00
• Discharging of a firearm: To Court
• Exposing body or clothing indecently: R500.00
• Camping on land other than demarcated camping area: R500.00
• Camping in a camping area for longer than three months: R500.00

Members of the public must note that the Department Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) has two departments that are also responsible for the enforcement of environmental legislation at Trekoskraal.

• Fisheries, Monitoring, Control & Surveillance: with three directorates, Compliance, Fishery Patrol Vessels, and Monitoring & Surveillance, is responsible for compliance in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA), Act 18/1998. Fishery Control Officers are appointed across various spheres of government, national, provincial, and municipal, which allows them to enforce the legislation. The MLRA regulates fishing and fishing related activities in terms of Section 13 and 18 of the Act.

Important fines that can be issued in relation to the above-mentioned section of the Act are:

• Fishing without a permit (relevant regulation for fish, rock lobster of invertebrates): R500.00 plus R500.00 per unit of fish or West Coast Rock Lobster
• Environment, Oceans & Coasts, Enforcement: responsible for the enforcement of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Integrated Coastal Management Act (ICMA). This department is responsible for the enforcement of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulations. All Peace Officers appointed in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, across various spheres of government, National, Provincial and Municipal are allowed to enforce this legislation.

Important fines that can be issued in relation to the regulation for the Control of Use of Vehicles in the Coastal Area GN 496 of 27 June 2014:

• Penalties range from R500.00 to R2,500.00, or imprisonment, depending on the directive of the applicable regulation.

Saldanha Bay Municipality in partnership with the National Department Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) urges the community and visitors to respect these regulations to preserve the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Trekoskraal reserve. For information and guidance about the relevant bylaws and regulations, please contact the municipal Law Enforcement department on +27 22 701-6912, Monday to Friday during office hours.

Cllr. André Brahm Truter

EXECUTIVE MAYOR