SALDANHA BAY MUNICIPALITY REJECTS ALLEGATIONS OF IRREGULAR PROCESSES AT ITS DISATER MANAGEMENT CENTRE

UPDATED: 16H00

Saldanha Bay Municipality herewith contest the accusations that are made with regards to the management of its Disaster Management Centre and declares that the information currently circulating is untrue and void of substance. This message is to protect the integrity of our organisation and meant to provide the community and the reader with accurate information.

The SBM Disaster Management Forum, chaired by the Municipal Manager, was established in terms of the Disaster Management Plan as adopted by Council. All operations were managed under the strict supervision of the relative Director as delegated by the Municipal Manager. All information pertaining to the progress of activities, including confiscations and humanitarian relief, etc. were recorded and further escalated to the West Coast District Disaster Management Centre.

A contract position was created to ensure effective and efficient administrative operations, especially in relation to the necessary interaction with the community and various organisations. An internal coordinator was appointed at the start of the national lockdown and tasked to coordinate all relief activities which included the distribution of food parcels, coordination of donated items, coordination of shelter arrangements for destitute persons and the coordination of soup kitchens. This coordinator was also primarily responsible to capture all collated data that had reference to relief activities within the municipal area. The coordinator worked closely with the community in order to oversee and ensure the fair distribution of relief items.