A Public Disgrace
UPDATE on February 9th 2021
“In essence there are two main issues that SAMSA indicated keeps them from providing the applicable documentation to the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW):
Removal of cable: DTPW actioning this
We have noted the suggestion to not allow any boating activity while the cable is in place. Unfortunately SAMSA has indicated that the cable must be removed. The wheels are already turning with regards to the removal of the cable.
Appointment of a service provider to supervise the trained operators as they operate without the cable: DTPW actioning this.
The procurement/recruitment of said service provider has started and is being expedited.
Jandré Bakker
Head of Communication
Department of Transport and Public WorksWestern Cape Government”
UPDATE on February 1st 2021
https://www.facebook.com/themalgaspont
“After an inspection today, SAMSA have decided that the pont will remain closed indefinitely. SAMSA have stipulated that the cable must come down. The performance of the crew without the cable is under review. Further training is required.”
Malagas Pont…a public disgrace
Swellendam Tourism: ‘A sad day for us as the historical pont at Malgas is dragged out of the Breede River to its final resting place next to the river. Such a local landmark, photographed by so many locals and visitors over the many years.’
From Mayor Nicholas Myburgh:
“I want to share with you some thoughts on this very important matter.
This pont is the oldest and probably the last of its kind in SA. It is an icon of our region, the Overberg. It is an important part of our history, and a significant tourist attraction. Tour operators will attest to this. Generations of local inhabitants will recall the central role of this facility in their lives, and in the lives of those who have travelled afar to experience its special charm!
About three years ago someone apparently decided that the Malagas Pont must be terminated and replaced by something new. I say “someone” because ever since I raised this issue (around October 2019) no-one has been willing to own up to the decision! The ball has been passed frantically between the Overberg District Municipality (ODM) and the Provincial Government (PG).
When the termination of the Pont and its replacement by an ugly motorised yellow monstrosity was first brought to my attention I went out of my way to establish the facts. I also tried to stop the process which was already in a very advanced stage. I launched a petition (click to view) which harvested over 20 000 signatures, and met with both ODM and PG officials to press the case for the old Pont.
Undertakings were given , and promises were made, by both the ODM and PG, none of which were honoured. This is a public disgrace! This is supposed to be the DA! We are supposed to be different from the ANC! We are supposed to be the custodians of transparent and accountable government. In this instance we have failed, and we have failed badly.
No public participation processes were followed. A huge waste of scarce public resources has been committed in spending R7 million on a yellow elephant!
If there were public safety issues why was the Pont operated for years without incident after alleged safety inspections were done?
Why were more environmentally friendly and aestetically pleasing options not considered if replacement was deemed necessary?
Why was Swellendam Municipality, in whose territory the Pont is situated, not consulted?
Why was the public, and those who have used this facility for generations never consulted?
These, and other questions, were put to the various authorities but never answered.
The people of the Overberg, and over 20 000 petitioners have been betrayed. We have been badly let down, and I will continue to seek answers to reasonable questions.
Photos from Malgas Pont Facebook page:
Click here to view
John Paisley: JUNE 19th
Who is responsible for the pont operation?
In 2015, Swellendam Tourism chose the Malgas Pont as a focal point to encapsulate the diversity of the area, the people and the history of the area. In one magical image, photographer Henk Venture captured all of it, and the photo became the front cover of the Swellendam Tourism booklet. Look closely – you will see musicians, chefs, tourists, photographers, brides, hikers, cyclists, fishermen, farmers, bee keepers, rieldansers. You will see Xhosa people, Khoi people, Afrikaans and English people. You will see ‘Hendrik Swellengrebel’ and his wife. You will see the Mayor of Swellendam. To think that such an iconic piece of history can be discarded for no good reason and, seemingly without thought and consultation, is heart breaking.
Elsie
June 24, 2020 at 1:04 pm150% with you on this one Mr. Mayor! I am sure all residents will bacK you up if needed.
I for one have not yet had the opportunity to see the famous old pont and was looking forward to when “lockdown” was over to make a trip that side with my family from Cape Town.
What a disappointment.
Wendie
June 24, 2020 at 1:13 pmOur great friends The Shackleys from Swellendam and now Buffeljagsrivier who heavily promote tourism in the area took us here on one of our trips to beautiful South Africa. We loved experiencing this special place and are so sad that some nameless person has decided to stop it operating. It draws tourists not once but many times as it is so special. If no one is owning up to the decision to stop it, it seems to me that the strength of your petition show that all those named people who want a different decision should be listened to. They are not hiding.
David Thomas
June 24, 2020 at 1:14 pmOutrageous. Outrageous. Why do we have to rip out everything of the past which is perfectly adequate for the present ?
Richard van Schalkwyk
June 24, 2020 at 1:20 pmI am thrilled our mayor now realises that his party, the DA, do not really care for our residents of the Swellendam area but more importantly will chase the same votes at the next election that the ANC are after.
We warned before the previous election and were criticised heavily by the DA and particularly Debbie Shafer, the DA hierarchy is not pro the residents of Swellendam but has a hidden agenda with our municipal area. The birds have NOW come home to roost.
Proudly FF+
Richard van Schalkwyk
Nicholas Myburgh
June 24, 2020 at 2:22 pmRichard van Schalkwyk can be expected to take a cheap shot at the DA. Everyone with more than three brain cells and who has the most basic observation skills knows that the DA does an infinitely better job at governing than any other party in this country. He is very wrong, and predictably oppertunistic, if he thought this is a nice DA-bashing moment! This is not about narrow party politics but about service delivery and accountability. The DA is not beyond reproach, and is always willing to rectify a mistake. We are a democratic party that respects robust debate, and will always try to do the right thing. The debate about the Malagas Pont has been in the public domain for some time now, and this is part of an ongoing discussion, with or without the ‘kansvatters’!
Richard van schalkwyk
August 14, 2020 at 4:18 pmI do not wish to enter into a mud slinging debate with you Mr. Mayor. You have overstayed your length of service in our town I believe and before you talk about brain cell counts of others, take a careful look at your spelling of the word “oppertunistic” and I suggest you appoint somebody to your office who knows how to spell.
Rinda
June 25, 2020 at 12:14 pmPeople like you are exactly the reason I will never vote for the FF+, Cheap shot, really.
Richard van schalkwyk
August 14, 2020 at 4:25 pmHi Rinda,
Our party does not take cheap shots. If you want to follow politics, read up carefully on the various parties and you will soon realise which of them take cheap shots.Any local government party who openly criticizes their provincial bosses must be prepared to face flak from their own party – let alone opposition parties. Have a great day.
Concerned
June 25, 2020 at 12:51 pmI’m not interested in getting into a political debate about anything here, but would very much like to know more about this “agenda” that the DA would have in our town?
Willemina
June 24, 2020 at 4:10 pmIt is certainly destructive to impose this expensive option – our history totally disregarded, and again, no true public participation! Illegal proceedings? No way of halting the process, or turning it around? Were local people involved in inspecting the pont for structural problems?
Next thing is a R17m tar road to Malgas? hahaha
Ronél Dunn
June 24, 2020 at 5:14 pmEk het op Swellendam Toerisme se fb blad ook gereageer. Ek is meer as teleurgesteld, ek meer as hartseer en baie meer as net kwaad. Innerlik bloei ek.
Hoewel ek nie meer in Swellendam woon nie, was dit my woonplek vir 22 jaar en my skoonmense het ‘n baie sterk band met Swellendam gehad vir meer as een geslag. Moxie Dunn was ‘n kleinneef van my skoonpa, John Henry Dunn sr. Laasgenoemde was by sy aftrede hoofpadinspekteur van die Afdelingsraad. Ek sou graag wou weet wat hy hiervan dink. My swaer, Eugene Dunn van Bredasdorp was een van die enigstes wat onderwater sweiswerk kan doen en was gereeld gevra om herstelwerk te doen. Die groot, galgeel verskrikking waarmee die ou pont vervang is, laat trane in my hart en oë opstoot. Die mors van kosbare geld deur ‘n regering wat gereeld ‘fix which ain’t broke’, maar niks wat hulle oorgeneem het – soos SAL – instand kan hou nie, dis makliker om China te vra om dit te vervang …
Ek staan baie sterk agter die geëerde Burgemeester en sal weer elke petisie wat ek sien, teken soos ek reeds gedoen het.
Neels Nothling
June 24, 2020 at 6:42 pmWe take our overseas guests and our over the Orange guests to the pont and always a highlight!
A part of our heritage now down the drain!
Andre ZS1AZ
June 24, 2020 at 8:03 pmIt is vey easy to find out who did what. That monstrosity did not fall out of the sky. Find out who built it, who transported it and who gave those tractor drivers permission to do what they did? In other words, follow the money trail. If our municipality cannot do this, they are hopeless.
Dave Guy
June 25, 2020 at 6:51 pmI am afraid that many of the powers to be have no appreciation of the country’s heritage.
Very sad. But what can one do?
Swellendam Heritage Association
June 26, 2020 at 9:20 amDear Heritage Friends,
We are shocked by this betrayal of promises made to us.
Early this year we wrote letters to Heritage Western Cape, the Mayor of the Overberg Municipality and were also in discussion with the Premier of the Western Cape Government.
We were assured that the old Pont would remain in service to preserve the Heritage of this old icon, and that the new one would operate in support.
To ensure that this remained the case, we were also in the process of having the Pont declared a National Monument.
So in support of the Major we are asking the person or persons responsible for this act to stand up and be accountable.
Alf Hunter
Chairman – Swellendam Heritage Association
Renate Advocaat
June 26, 2020 at 12:56 pmA disgrace it is that a very autocratic decision was taken to remove a major tourist attraction and detrimental part of the Overberg’s history. The pull over ferry, loved by young and old, was replaced by a motorized plastic “gedrocht”. How democratic is the Overberg actually that despite all our signatures and demands have been ignored??
I think it is time for our right to get information via PAIA and get to the bottom
of this.
I have a few questions…..
– who decided that the ferry had to get out and why
– what were the instructions for the procurement of the new plastic pontoon?
– was a tender sent out? If not, why not? We would like to see the tender document and the documents of the companies that tendered
– with what money was the gedrocht paid for (which budget)
– what was the price of this horrible thing?
– If it was donated, by who was it donated and why? What did Overberg municipality get in return.
– why were stakeholders not informed?
– why were suggestions by stakeholders arrogantly and undemocratically ignored?
What Are the next surprises we are going to get? A gas pipeline right through De Hoop Nature Reserve maybe and fracking for gas in the vicinity Of the whale nursery between Witsand and Hermanus killing the tourism industry in the Overberg completely?
Andre ZS1AZ
June 26, 2020 at 6:15 pmWell, the Mayor should be able to find out the answer to some of these questions. As I said previously, follow the money trail and you will be surprised to where it leads you.
Somebody must have seen it delivered. Find the name of the transport company and go
from there.
Whose digger was that? Ask the owner who gave the instruction to pull the pont out.
If we keep on asking questions like that, we will find the answer.
Andre ZS1AZ
June 27, 2020 at 7:34 pmI have been hearing things from people that I know and it just gets more disturbing. We go to the Malagas area very often and the people are willing to talk to us. I think that the mayor knows more than he is letting on. Information is pointing to the DA knowing exactly what was going to happen.
Richard van schalkwyk
August 14, 2020 at 4:27 pmWell stated Andre.
Nancy Soller
July 14, 2020 at 7:29 pmDear Mr. Myburgh. Why can’t you push on to find who did this and get to the bottom of it for us residents. Why must it just dissapear. We signed a petition and we want to know who was responsible. Why no inquiry into this tender that took place to buy and deliver it. We are relying on you to let us know and name and shame the person and bring them to book. I will not vote for the DA if they don”t fight further on corruption and give us transparency.
Nancy
William
August 11, 2020 at 1:42 pmI volunteer to be one of the hands that removes the thing.
Further I pledge to donate (a little) money to a replica ferry.
All we need now is a few hundred of us (angry) residents and a carpenter, then we can watch democracy take its course.
Terrence Roy Andrew
October 30, 2020 at 1:22 pmI do not believe that the Malgas ferry was replaced by this plastic monstrosity with nobody knowing who or what agency was responsible. That is simply not possible.
It is not possible for this to occur without some or all of the following agencies being complicit or ‘in the know’. These agencies would include the municipal governments of Swellendam, and Overberg, and the department of transport of the Western Cape government.
I expect a clear statement on the ferry replacement and how it was facilitated well before the 2021 municipal elections.
Who is with me on this?
Richard van Schalkwyk
February 2, 2021 at 1:48 pmWell now, a few months later the chickens have come home to roost.
The proof of this pudding is in the eating.
What a shambles – not only for us Swellendammers who host tourists and locals breaking away for a few days, but for the provincial government who run the Western Cape and may I dare say who this party is.
We now have to inform our guests wanting to visit Malgas and use the pon’t “Rather stay away from Swellendam as the DA cannot even keep the “pont” operational.
Mr. mayor, I totally support your initial criticism.
CG Dunn
February 26, 2021 at 7:32 pmEk is verheug om te.sien Swellendam munic, die burgermeester is aan ons kant.
SAMSA het geen gevoel vir die omgewing nie. Ek hoop die premier Mnr. A. Winde kan help.9m oplossings te kry.
Dankie Swellendam.