022 701 7000 mun@sbm.gov.za

EMERGENCY MUNICIPAL LOAD SHEDDING RELIEF GRANT – SALDANHA BAY MUNICIPALITY TO PROCURE BACK-UP ENERGY SUPPLY

by | Nov 1, 2023 | Media Release, Press Release, Press Releases, URGENT NOTICES

The Western Cape Government, via its Department of Local Government, identified certain additional projects to be funded in terms of its Emergency Municipal Load Shedding Relief Grant for the 2022/23 financial year for the purpose of allocating funding to Municipalities, within the Western Cape Province, to procure and install emergency diesel generators to be used for water treatment, water distribution and wastewater systems during times of prolonged load shedding and to mitigate the impact on the provision of basic services.

A total amount of R 2 950 000 (VAT Inclusive) was allocated to the Saldanha Bay Municipality.

The Municipality is in the process of procuring generators from the emergency funding that will strategically be placed at the following service points, namely:

  • Hopefield Oaksweg Sewer Pump Station
  • Hopefield Waste Water Treatment Works
  • St Helena Bay Blueberry Hill Water Pump Station
  • Saldanha Bay Manatoka Sewer Pump Station

The Municipality will also be procuring additional generators with its own funding.

In terms of the project status, the tender for the supply of the emergency generators has already been awarded. The order for the supply of these generators has been placed. The first generators are expected to be delivered to the Municipality by the end of May 2023.

Prolonged power outages cause operational challenges for municipal water supply.  During extended periods of power outages or load shedding, some areas may experience low water pressure or a temporary disruption in water supply.  In addition, interrupted electricity supply to pump stations increases the risk of sewer spillage.

As part of Saldanha Bay Municipality’s mitigation measures, existing and additional generators that can supply electricity to reservoirs and pump stations, will enable a continuous potable water supply service to consumers and maintain the sewerage system.

However, it is important to realise that temporary generator capacity has limitations.  Therefore, despite the efforts that are made to prevent a complete disruption in service delivery, consumers are requested to reduce their consumption where possible during abnormal circumstances where prolonged periods of power outages or load shedding are experienced.  During such times, consumers are requested to please use less water so that storage levels can be conserved.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF SBM COMMUNITIES VIOLATED

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF SBM COMMUNITIES VIOLATED

by | Nov 22, 2022 | Media Release

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF SBM COMMUNITIES VIOLATED

Sadly, both days of the provincial taxi shutdown saw numerous incidents of violence and intimidation, leaving our communities vulnerable and feeling unsafe.

This morning it was evident that there was a calculated effort to disrupt and close off Saldanha. In the early hours of the morning the senseless damaging of our public property continued as our residents were intimidated and assaulted.

As the Executive Mayor of Saldanha Bay, I want to explicitly state that this barbaric behaviour is strongly condemned. We will do whatever it takes, within the ambit of the law, to protect our citizens and property.

I want to give credit to our diligent Neighbourhood Watch, Law Enforcement and Fire Services, as well as members of POPS [Public Order Policing] who continued to work diligently under dangerous conditions to maintain a good presence in our towns and for going beyond the call of duty to restore law and order. The members of Vredenburg SAPS are also commended for the effective manner in which they executed their duties on Monday, 21 November ’22.

Whilst we respect the democratic right of the Taxi Industry, and any other industry for that matter, to strike / protest peacefully, we will never tolerate rogue individuals and groups who utilize this opportunity to embark on violent actions and disruptions to create chaos by damaging and destroying roads and public property and interfering with the free movement of our people.

Our urgent request to those participating in the protest action, is to refrain from interfering in any way, shape or form, with learners and their parents.

In view of the numerous illegal and violent incidents that happened, I can confirm that the Saldanha Bay Municipality reported several crimes to the local police for further investigation.

Our communities are advised to-

  • Pay no attention to any unsubstantiated posts or rumours [and refrain from sharing it].
  • If you must travel, ensure beforehand that your planned route is safe.
  • Report any illegal activities to the Saldanha Bay Municipality Control Room on 022 701 6834.

I want to plea with each and every member of our respective communities to put your safety and the safety of your loved ones first. Do not interfere and do not take the law into your own hands.

According to the Constitution, every person has the right to assemble with others and express their views on any matter freely in public and to enjoy the protection of the state while doing so. Section 17 of the Constitution provides that: everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions. The exercise of such rights shall take place peacefully and with regard to the rights of others.

Saldanha Bay Municipality acknowledges the value of the Public Transport Industry in the local economy and has no dispute with the industry. However, in a democracy that is bound by the rule of law, we cannot and will not allow one party to exercise a constitutional right which infringe the constitutional rights of others.

Cllr André Truter

Executive Mayor: Saldanha Bay Municipality

TAXI SHUTDOWN

by | Nov 21, 2022 | Media Release

TAXI SHUTDOWN

I have monitored and noted the actions by the members of the Saldanha Taxi Association, an affiliation of the SANTACO since the call by the Western Cape SANTACO for the SHUTDOWN on the 21 – 22 November 2022.

I have been briefed on the closing of all the major roads into all our town. And that has unfortunately affected and inconvenienced all our residents and had a major impact to the economy and service delivery to our citizens.

I have since monitored what was supposed to be a peaceful strike, escalating to violence, intimidation and vandalism to infrastructure. I have instructed the Executive Management Team of SBM together with SAPS to engage with the Saldanha Taxi Association Executive Management to find an amicable solution that will cause a minimal disruption and peace to the citizens of the municipal area.

I would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms any violence and intimidation targeting innocent and abiding citizens as well as any destruction and vandalism at public infrastructure meant to serve our communities.

Furthermore, I would like to request the public to be more vigilant and assist and protect one another during this period. And report any incidents to SBM Control Room at 022 701 6834.

Cllr André Truter

Executive Mayor: Saldanha Bay Municipality

SALDANHA BAY MUNICIPALITY APPOINTS HEINRICH METTLER AS MUNICIPAL MANAGER

by | Nov 8, 2022 | Media Release

SALDANHA BAY MUNICIPALITY APPOINTS HEINRICH METTLER AS MUNICIPAL MANAGER

During a Council Meeting on 13 September 2022, the Saldanha Bay Municipality Council welcomed the appointment of Mr. Heinrich Mettler as the Municipal Manager for the next five years.

In terms of the Municipal Systems Act, the employment contract for a Municipal Manager must be for a fixed term to a maximum of five years but may not exceed a period of one year after the election of a new Council.

The vacancy was advertised nationally with a total of 28 applications received and two (2) candidates were invited to attend the assessment and interview sessions on 5 September 2022 after a screening and vetting process.

Two (2) interviews were conducted after three (3) candidates withdrew from the interview session. Council resolved on the appointment of Mr. Mettler from 1 November 2022, after considering the report received from the service provider on the recruitment process.

Executive Mayor André Truter wishes to congratulate and welcome back Mr. Mettler in his continuing role as Municipal Manager. “I wish him well in his responsibilities and I know together we will take Saldanha Bay Municipality to even greater heights. We all know the re-appointment of a Municipal Manager indicates stability and progress for Saldanha Bay Municipality,” Truter said.

Mettler has extensive experience in Municipal Management and first joined the Saldanha Bay Municipality on 3 December 2018, following his tenure as Municipal Manager at Prince Albert Municipality.  He holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Port Elizabeth Technikon, which he achieved in 2003, and a National Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Cape Technikon (Cape Peninsula University of Technology), supplemented by various municipal aligned training as well as vast experience in the public, private and local government sectors.  Mettler is also a board member of the Freeport Saldanha Industrial Development Zone.

SALDANHA BAY SELECTED AS PREMIUM DESTINATION FOR GREEN HYDROGEN HUB

SALDANHA BAY SELECTED AS PREMIUM DESTINATION FOR GREEN HYDROGEN HUB

by | Oct 18, 2022 | Media Release

SALDANHA BAY SELECTED AS PREMIUM DESTINATION FOR GREEN HYDROGEN HUB

Today, 18 October 2022, at the opening of the African Energy Week [AEW] 2022 conference and exhibition in Cape Town, it was announced that the Freeport Saldanha Industrial Development Zone [also known as the Saldanha Bay IDZ [Industrial Development zone] has signed a memorandum of understanding [MoU] with SASOL to establish a green hydrogen hub in Saldanha Bay.

As the Executive Mayor of Saldanha Bay Municipality, I am extremely pleased with this exciting announcement.  I believe that Saldanha has been positioning itself as the economic hub and gateway to the rest of the world in industrial manufacturing.

It is undeniable that Saldanha Bay Municipality played a crucial supporting role in the development of the Freeport Saldanha [IDZ] and through infrastructure investments.

We are now perfectly positioned to become the Green Hydrogen Energy Hub of Africa.

I firmly believe that the generation of energy will play a significant role in the future of Saldanha Bay.  Our local workforce and businesses, equipped with exceptional skills and tenacity, are ready and able to provide a service and support to our investors.

Saldanha Bay welcomes these investments that will fundamentally change our economic viability and the lives of our people. Sustainable, well-paid employment for our local labour force, especially our women and youth, remain a driving force and inspiration to me personally.

There is no doubt in my mind that these investments will be the catalyst that will spark multiple new investments.

We remain focused and committed to work for both local and international investors and investment in pursuit of our economic goals.

Executive Mayor: Saldanha Bay Municipality

André B. Truter

SALDANHA BAY MUNICIPALITY EXECUTIVE MAYOR ANDRÉ TRUTER INFORMS THE PUBLIC OF THE MUNICIPALITY’S PLANS TO PROCURE ENERGY

by | Sep 21, 2022 | Executive Mayor, Media Release

SALDANHA BAY MUNICIPALITY EXECUTIVE MAYOR ANDRÉ TRUTER INFORMS THE PUBLIC OF THE MUNICIPALITY’S PLANS TO PROCURE ENERGY

During an Executive Management Team meeting held on 19 September 2022, Saldanha Bay Municipality, Executive Mayor, Directors and Senior Management met to discuss the procurement of energy for Saldanha Bay.

Truter mentions that the Municipality has been working on plans to mitigate load shedding in the Saldanha Bay municipal area. “My team and I have been working tirelessly to put plans in place for energy security. The team has gone way beyond the call of duty to put preventative measures in place to prioritise exceptional service delivery for the people of Saldanha Bay.”

He has assured residents of Saldanha Bay that there are active plans in place, and he is meeting with the relevant role-players to ensure that the area becomes energy resilient. Truter states that he and the Municipal Manager, Mr Heinrich Mettler, are currently working on a private energy procurement project and they have the full support of the Western Cape Government. “We have ambitious plans, but I believe they are do-able” said Truter.

“Load shedding is the biggest constraint on Saldanha Bay’s economic growth; however, we are taking action to address both the immediate crisis and to make load shedding a thing of the past”. Saldanha Bay Municipality has proven to be highly adaptative and agile during the drought disaster in 2017 and the Covid-19 pandemic, so we will certainly conquer this energy challenge as well and leave no stone unturned, said Truter.

Truter said it would be reckless to make promises but he can assure all citizens that the Municipality is doing everything in its power to position itself in the best way possible to secure energy resilience, build the economy and to ensure that no business will have to close its doors.

He further mentioned that, as a municipality, they would also like to receive support from National Government on their energy procurement project. He said the plans are not to entirely remove the municipal area off the grid but to rather not be dependent on it.

Truter is pleased with the astounding support from the Western Cape Government, Premier Allan Winde, his cabinet, the West Coast District Municipality, Directors and the employees of Saldanha Bay Municipality. “Looking at the measures the Western Cape Government have in place; to step up in an unknown territory and not to wait for the National Government, has put me at ease.

He said Saldanha Bay Municipality is one of the top municipalities which are financially viable and, due to the team being prudent with their finances, our Municipality can build a buffer and shield our people.

Truter urges residents to use electricity sparingly by offering the following energy saving tips listed by Premier Allan Winde:

  • Switch off all appliances at the wall and pull out chargers – this could save 6% on electricity costs.
  • Decrease the geyser temperature to 60 degrees Celsius – this can save 5% on electricity costs.
  • Fit geysers with geyser blankets to prevent heat loss.
  • Replace lightbulbs with energy saving bulbs.
  • Set pool pumps to run for fewer hours.

“I plead with our residents to bear with us. Saldanha Bay Municipality is a receiver of load-shedding, but I can assure every citizen out there that we are in good hands. I am very confident in the team. If we stand together, I have no doubt we will come out stronger, wiser and more equipped” concluded Truter.