Here's why Simon’s Town Navy bosses turned to City for help with fire, water, and even baboons
People watch on as Petty Officer Alistair Maasdorp loads a canon in preparation for the noon gun
Image: FILE
So desperate to keep a tight ship running at Simon’s Town Naval Base, navy bosses turned to the City of Cape Town for help with everything from fire control and baboon management to water supply and power.
For years, the SA Navy, on its own account, battled to get joy from the national public works department, which had long been responsible for maintaining and supporting the base.
Frustrated by the standard and cost of these services, it now cast its lines toward the city, hoping for calmer waters and quicker cooperation.
The partnership has now been formalised in a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the national defence department, represented by the SA Navy, and the Mother City.
The MoA, which runs for five years and may be renewed, gives the navy free rein to knock on the city’s door whenever help is needed.
According to a report tabled before the city’s mayoral committee earlier this month — and seen by IOL — the SA Navy, represented by Admiral Msikinya, approached the city to enter into what it called an umbrella agreement.
This would allow both parties to freely engage on a wide range of operational and administrative matters.
“The matters covered by the MoA are all related to the day-to-day operations of either the Simon's Town Navy Base or the city where close co-operation through this agreement will go a long way in ensuring that these services, events or other matters of importance are properly and more expeditiously dealt with,” the report stated.
The document said the agreement covered a surprisingly broad list of issues.
These included:
- Fire services and equipment;
- Security, law enforcement, coastal patrol, and disaster management;
- Power supply and infrastructure;
- Water and sanitation;
- Heritage sites; and
- Baboon management, events, and transport planning.
To explain the background to the move, the report said the navy previously made use of the public works department to access resources, support and contracts for purposes of implementing its mandate.
But the base had run into challenges with “the standard and cost of these services” and was now looking for more "effective" support.
“The base is having trouble with the standard and cost of these services and is intending to therefore seek support from other spheres of government.
"Given the proximity to the City of Cape Town, as well as the reputation which the city has in terms of service delivery and integrity, it is an obvious alternative,” it said.
The report explained that the MoA would not involve the city taking over the navy’s responsibilities but rather creating a formal channel of collaboration.
“The SA Navy for example does not have inhouse expertise in the field of construction and as such would approach the city for advice and guidance on certain matters, or request access through the proper legal processes to access city contracts for specific works to be done.
"In this way the SA Navy will have opportunity to grow its internal capacity and skillsets.”
It also painted a picture of the navy’s footprint across the Cape Peninsula, saying the base consisted of not only the sea-side harbour and adjacent properties, but also a multitude of other properties in the peninsula and on the mountainside.
"Many of these properties are heritage buildings of historical value to the Western Cape and contribute to the rich heritage of the City of Cape Town as a whole.
"Not the least of these is the Noon Gun site on Signal Hill.”
The document said the “the firing of the noon gun was part and parcel of the rich heritage and tourism attraction and in relation to which the city already makes a financial contribution".
“Similarly, where the city is for example battling to implement fire control measures, this agreement provides for a direct line of contact with the SA Navy to implement these strategies to the benefit of the entire region, all residents, and many other role players,” the report said.
It said while the agreement allows broad collaboration, costs will remain tightly controlled.
“This MoA provides for sub-agreements to be entered into which are project specific.
"Each project will have its specific scope and deliverables and will determine what costs are applicable and payable by each party.
"All costs must always remain within the ordinary course of business of each party.
"This agreement does not make provision for any costs to be incurred outside of those authorities, nor for the bypassing of any requisite legislative processes.”
The report said the MoA would create direct communication lines between designated officials from both sides to deal with issues as they arise, ensuring faster response and better coordination.
“It is therefore proposed that the relevant executive director under which any specific sub-agreement may be required, be authorised to sign such project specific agreement(s) on behalf of the city.”
The city’s administration concluded that the partnership would ultimately strengthen both sides.
“By entering into this MoA, the city as well as the SA Navy will be in a better position to support each other in the implementation of its respective mandates more effectively.
"This in turn will enhance the ability of the parties to showcase themselves and be globally attractive for tourism, events and investment.”
Approached for comment, the defence department said it was well aware of the report.
It said the MoA established a bilateral partnership committee with two representatives each from both parties.
"The SA National Defence Force notes the public interest in the recently approved MoA between the defence department, represented by the SA Navy’s Simon’s Town Naval Base and the City of Cape Town," a spokesperson said.
"The Flag Officer Commanding Naval Base Simon’s Town entered into this agreement within the context of addressing operational and service delivery matters that affect the base’s functioning and its interaction with local government structures.
"The agreement establishes a cooperative framework between the city and the defence department to enhance efficiency in areas such as fire safety, infrastructure maintenance, heritage preservation, water and sanitation, and emergency response coordination."
It also said the agreement does not in any way imply that the SA Navy operates independently of the broader SANDF structure.
"The Navy remains an integral part of the SANDF under the command and authority of the chief of the SANDF.
"This cooperative arrangement is part of normal intergovernmental collaboration to ensure effective management of defence facilities and to strengthen partnerships with municipalities for mutual benefit."
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