Why SA Navy is collaborating with Cape Town to address fire, water, and baboon challenges

In a bid to improve operations at Simon's Town Naval Base, navy officials have turned to the City of Cape Town for assistance in managing fire control, baboon issues, and resource supply.

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.

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, the SA Navy, represented by Admiral Msikinya, approached the city to enter into what it called an umbrella agreement.

The document said the agreement covered a surprisingly broad list of issues:

• 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.

"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.

It said while the agreement allows broad collaboration, costs will remain tightly controlled.

Approached for comment, the defence department 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."

"The Navy remains an integral part of the SANDF under the command and authority of the chief of the SANDF."

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