Strategic Goal 6: Empowering People Through Innovation.
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SPORT DEVELOPMENT AND FACILITIES
Each town has sport facilities which are managed by Local Sports Councils who, are also responsible for sports- development. The Municipality supports these Sports Councils through an annual grant and maintains and upgrade the facilities on an on-going basis.
Sport infrastructure is provided through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) as well as funding from the Western Cape Provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. In terms of MIG, municipalities are required to allocate 5 % of their allocation to the development of sport facilities.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Implementation of the Sport Infrastructure Master Plan
A consultant was appointed to draft a Sport Infrastructure Master Plan and the consultation with the local Sport Councils and councillors have already commenced. This process was concluded during August 2022.
The full capital program is contained in Chapter 10, but the most significant capital development priorities are indicated on the table below:
HOLIDAY RESORTS
The Municipality has holiday resorts in Laaiplek and Dwarskersbos, which need to be always maintained at a high standard as they contribute to local tourism.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Enhance the revenue from resorts.
A Revenue Enhancement Plan was developed to enhance revenue from the resorts.
Marketing
Provision is made to advertise holiday resorts in newspapers and magazines.
Upgrading of resorts
Improvement of facilities is done on an on-going basis.
Resort viability study
Council is currently in a process to reconsider the future of the resorts.
Resort Master Plan
The Resort Master Plan will be revised during the 2023/24 financial year.
The full capital programme is contained in Chapter 10, but the most significant capital development priorities are indicated on the table below:
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
The Municipality has community halls in each town.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Maintenance and upgrading
Community facilities will be maintained and upgraded on an on-going basis according to the approved facilities maintenance plan.
The full capital program is contained in Chapter 10, but the most significant capital development priorities are indicated on the table below:
COMMUNITY PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
Community parks and public open spaces have important recreational and conservation value. A key priority is to develop parks into fully functional spaces, which provide safe and secure recreational opportunities for all communities in the municipal area. In addition, the municipality has embarked on a process to facilitate greater safety awareness, even as far as the purchase, installation and maintenance of playground equipment is concerned.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Maintenance and upgrading, and
Community parks will be maintained and upgraded on an on-going basis. Every effort is being made to ensure that all equipment is fully functional and user-friendly. At the same time, the surface-areas (turfs) of playparks will receive attention, so that it is free from safety hazards.
The full capital program is contained in Chapter 10, but the most significant capital development priorities are indicated on the table below:
LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
Collection of information resources, in print or in other forms, that is organized and made accessible for reading or study. Today’s libraries are a place in which literary and artistic material, such as books, periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, DVD’s and CDs are kept for reading, reference, or lending. An extended services such as Library of the blind audiobooks and E-Books (Libby) are a new addition to our service. The public library consists of four (4) components, librarians, library material, patrons and buildings. The librarian should strive to empower the community, improve the quality of life, encourage a lifelong learning, connect people with technology and reach out to people of all ages. One of the main tasks of a librarian is to educate borrowers in the use of library material and help them choose the correct material and giving information when needed. Libraries are the functional mandate of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (Western Cape Library Services), and the Municipality manages 14 community libraries on their behalf.
In terms of the Constitution of South Africa local museums are a function of local government. The two museums of the municipality, the Jan Danckaert Museum in Porterville and the Piketberg Museum are managed by Museum Committees and are given a grant in aid by the municipality to cover some of their operational costs. The Municipality also gave a grant in aid to the SA Fisheries Museum in Velddrif. The Municipality plays an active role on the Museum Committee.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Good quality library and information services
The Municipality aims to provide library and information services of a high quality and does this with operational and capital grants provided by the Department of Sport, Art and Culture.
The full capital program is contained in Chapter 10, but the most significant capital development priorities are indicated on the table below:
There is a need for social programmes in the municipal area and the municipality work co-operatively with other spheres of government, corporates and NGOs to bring social programmes to Bergrivier. Of particular importance is the provision of support to people with disabilities.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Youth Café
The Youth Café concept is being designed, developed and implemented by the Department of Social Development of the Western Cape Provincial Government. Youth cafes have already successfully been established in George, Mitchells Plain, Vanguard (the latter 2 areas in Cape Town). The purpose is to provide a vibrant and safe environment for the youth where they can access opportunities to develop their skills, personal development and opportunities. The café also offers a cashless environment using a digital currency (ZLATO) enabling the youth to earn rewards by doing acts of kindness in their communities. The youth can also purchase a variety of café items and spend their digital currency at local merchants through a controlled market. The first Youth Café will be in Noordhoek in Velddrif, and Is being run by Mfesane.
Pietie Fredericks Youth Centre in Piketberg
Through funding from PPC Cement, Suiderland Plase, Tip Trans Resources, Western Cape Provincial Government and the municipality, a youth centre is being constructed in Piketberg and Phase I will be operational end-2022. The planning is to establish the Youth Centre as a accredited training centre through the SETA’s and that various SETA programmes can be presented at the Centre. The Centre is being managed by Initiative for Community Advancement (ICA), a community foundation who is responsible for the general management of programmes at the centre.
A Youth Programme
A Youth Programme is in the process of being drafted and include activities such as:
a. An electronic database of bursaries available, job opportunities available and internships.
b. LOTYDE; and
c. Early Childhood Development.
Porterville Skills Development Centre
An important skills development initiative that was completed is the skills centre in Porterville funded by PPC and being run by the Goedgedacht Trust.
Thusong Programme
The Municipality will continue to participate in the Thusong Programme to ensure that our Community has access to government services until funding is secured for a building to house the Department of Home Affairs, SASSA and SARS.
Memoranda of understanding
The Municipality has embarked on a process of concluding memoranda of understandings with Provincial Departments such as Social Development and Community Safety to ensure co-operation and alignment of initiatives. This must be done annually and expanded to include other Departments.
TRAFFIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
An analysis of community needs revealed that the second highest priority in the Municipal Area is improved law enforcement from all spheres of government tasked with enforcing the law. There are several stakeholders involved in law enforcement from both the Municipality, the West Coast District Municipality and other spheres of government and a concerted effort is required to create a safe environment.
One of the game changers for this strategic objective is to develop a zero-tolerance programme for law transgressions.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Develop a zero-tolerance programme for law transgressions.
The purpose is to develop a programme that will be aimed at an awareness for zero-tolerance on law transgressions. This programme will have to be integrated and will include all municipal departments and provincial and national sectors involved in the enforcement of the law.
Revenue enhancement
Enhance the revenue from traffic fines (Implement revenue enhancement initiative) (on-going).
Visibility
Regularly review Traffic Operational Plan to enhance visibility and optimal functionality of law enforcement officers.
EPWP
Implement programmes to utilise unemployed persons for Law Enforcement.
Replacement of vehicles and equipment
Replacement of vehicles and equipment is on-going.
Implement Community and Rural Safety Plan
The Community and Rural Safety Plan was approved by Council on 30 March 2021.
The full capital program is contained in Chapter 10, but the most significant capital development priorities are indicated on the table below:
FIRE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The revised Disaster Management Plan was submitted and approved by the Mayoral Committee in May 2016. The Municipality is responsible for disaster management in its area of jurisdiction. The municipality is also responsible for structural fires in its urban as well as rural areas. We are in the process of reviewing the risk assessment in consultation with the West Cost District Municipality and the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre. Thereafter the Disaster Management Plan will be revised. The lack of a fully functional Fire Department is identified as a risk.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Disaster Management Plan
The municipality is currently in the process to revise the risk assessment of the municipality. The Disaster Management Plan will be revised during the 2023/24 financial year.
Implement Community and Rural Safety Plan
Implementation of the Community and Rural Safety Plan initiatives is on-going.
Fire –By-law
The Municipality’s Fire By-law will be revised during the 2022/23 financial year.
The full capital program is contained in Chapter 10, but the most significant capital development priorities are indicated on the table below:
CONTROL OF ANIMALS
The Municipality supports private animal welfare organisations and has concluded an agreement with Swartland SPCA in Darling to provide animal impound facilities on behalf of the Municipality. Velddrif Animal Care (VAC) and Piketberg Outreach also assist with this function.
CEMETERIES
Communities did not place a high priority on the development of cemeteries during the IDP Public Participation Process but would like to see improved maintenance standards.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Maintenance and upgrading
Cemeteries will be maintained and upgraded on an on-going basis. Porterville Cemetery Expansion project is currently on the way and finality reach with the final approval processes with this project.
The full capital program is contained in Chapter 10, but the most significant capital development priorities are indicated on the table below:
INTRODUCTION
The “smart city” concept should be regarded in a broad sense in that each municipality and the municipal area of operation is unique and has its own unique requirements and strategic objectives within the Constitutional framework. It can be defined as a geographical area where traditional networks and services are developed and expanded to be more flexible and adaptable, efficient and sustainable with the use of information, digital- and telecommunication technologies with the purpose of improving the “city’s” operations for the benefit of all its inhabitants. They are greener, safer, faster and friendlier. It consists of different components such as smart infrastructure, smart transportation, smart energy, smart healthcare, smart technology to name but a few.
CHALLENGES
ICT challenges include:
- Capacity;
- ICT infrastructure; and
- Smart infrastructure.
Municipal challenges include:
- Institutional and organisational arrangements;
- Skills and knowledge; and
- Partnerships.
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Develop a Master Plan for “Smart Cities” in Bergrivier Municipal Area;
Improve customer engagement – Website, App;
Smart infrastructure; and
Community participation, community projects and transfer of skills.
