Emergency plans in case of unrest

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "Mossel Bay Municipality has competent leadership and staff with extensive experience and in addition, is structured, organised and in good cooperation with all relevant role players to be prepared for any eventuality."

This is according to a media release from the municipality on Wednesday, 14 July.

"Perventing public unrest is part of this contingency planning and the emergency plan regarding protest action has been tested and is very effective," the municipality noted in the communication.

The contingency planning department was ready to establish a joint operations centre at the municipality, if necessary, the municipality stated.

The community is welcome to pass on any information about suspicious behaviour by calling 044 803 4455 or 082 522 3116.

The executive deputy mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé, met with representatives of the security community and other role players on Wednesday, 14 July, to ensure that the contingency planning was reviewed and ready.

Neighbourhood watches
Mossel Bay is privileged to have 35 neighbourhood watches of which 25 are appropriately accredited, various farm watch groups as well as an effective Business Forum. In addition, the municipality maintains good relations with the various taxi associations and role players such as the Central Investment District management.

Alderman Kotzé thanked residents for their calmness and for rejecting violence. "I thank our law enforcement officers, whether municipal law enforcement personnel or members employed by the SAPS, as well as the volunteers involved with our neighbourhood watches, who are on standby."

In the statement, the municipality claimed: "This is what distinguishes Mossel Bay - good, mutual cooperation and effective communication. Mossel Bay is privileged to have a good, hard-working police service at five different police stations in the district, with the Herbertsdale Police Satellite Office also operational.

"In addition to the planning, Mossel Bay Municipality has the support of the contracted Red Ants that are still being deployed in the area."

Well coordinated
Under the portfolio chair for community safety, Councillor Niklaas Booisen, role players met with representative senior officers of the Da Gamaskop cluster to ensure that the contingency planning takes place jointly and is well coordinated. The planning also links directly with the joint operations centres of the Garden Route district, provincial government and national government.

"The officers gave the assurance that the SAPS Contingency Plan was functioning properly and had an early warning system. The SAPS in Mossel Bay has members at each police station who are well trained in crowd control, in addition to the public order unit, although the Covid-19 impact on members cannot be ignored."

Proper planning exists concerning all-important and core infrastructure and good liaison has already been established with all role players, the municipality noted.

"I urge the community not to spread unconfirmed rumours and misinformation on social media. The municipality asks the community to rely on confirmed information provided by the safety community and municipality and not sensational information, " said acting municipal manager Colin Puren.

"Mossel Bay Municipality works very closely with the provincial traffic department, the police and other security agencies to be prepared for any eventuality proactively," the municipality noted in the statement.

Deputy mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé, councillors, senior municipal personnel and representatives of the Da Gamaskop police cluster, neighbourhood watches and other role players met to discuss the contingency plan in case of public unrest.