Overberg District Municipality Emergency Equipment hand over

Speech prepared for Minister Bredell

05 August 2025

• Sakkie Franken, Mayor of Overberg District Municipality
• Mr. Richard Bosman, Municipal Manager Overberg District Municipality
• Eben Phillips Director: Community Services, Overberg District Municipality
• Etienne du Toit, Deputy Director, WC Government, Fire and Rescue Services.
• Colleagues and ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for allowing me to say a few words today. Benjamin Franklin in 1789 famously said: “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” It is currently tax season, and we all must face the SA Revenue Services in this regard. However, today we are here in Bredasdorp to see how government is spending taxpayers money to prevent death, injury, and destruction of property.

In South Africa, where we seem to have a talent to stumble from the one government crisis to the next, it is easy to forget that spending of taxes for the benefit of the normal man and woman on the street is one of the most basic functions of a government.

In the Western Cape we take this for granted, and people still assume that government will spend on services and invest in infrastructure to their benefit. But in other provinces of our country basic service delivery has in some municipalities disintegrated to unrecognisable low levels. There are towns in our country where a function, such as this one, can only be an unrealistic dream. In those towns the fire stations are crumbling, there are no fire engines, and the staff is not equipped to do their work.

I am not saying this to brag about the work of the Western Cape Government. I am saying this to remind each one of us how important it is to keep our standards high and to remain committed and professional in our work as government representatives. Once the rot of corruption, or the slipping of standards and ethics get a foothold in an organisation, it becomes very difficult, or impossible, to stop the decline.

Colleagues I also want to say something about the environment in which we are spending taxes. 

Climate change is real and it is now. Here in the Western Cape, we have come to know the impact of climate change all too well. 

We’ve faced crippling droughts that nearly brought Cape Town to Day Zero. We’ve seen devastating floods throughout the province. Each summer our resources are tested with wildfires. Communities in informal settlements are increasingly vulnerable to flooding, extreme heat and runaway fires that can destroy an entire community within mere minutes. 

Let me be clear: climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is here. It is now. And it is a social, environmental, and economic disruptor. 

The equipment and vehicles that we are handing out today is a critical component in our response as government to climate change. Yes, we must legislate and draft policies that will transition us from a carbon-based society to a greener and more sustainable one. And we must invest in infrastructure that can withstand the storms and floods of the future. 

But you, as the fire and rescue services, are our first responders that must deal with the safety of our communities right now. 

It is my wish that you will be able to do your work in a safe manner and that the new equipment will enable you to make the difference in people’s lives you wanted to make when you signed up with the fire services.

Colleagues this is the context for the following support of R3.9 million from the Western Cape Government Department of Local Government:

• Two 5000 litre water tankers, for emergency water distribution and firefighting.
• Two light support service vehicles.
• A specialised trailer for HAZMAT incidences.

We are also supporting the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association with R400 000 to do capacity building.

During the 2024/25 fire season, the province provided R3.6 million for aerial support during 23 fires, where ground teams were deployed at 6 of these fires.

Our planning for 2025/26 includes the establishment of a 10-person provincial ground team in Bredasdorp.

Colleagues, if we take the equipment, together with the various support measures, it adds up to support of R7.7 million for the Overberg District.

I want to conclude by circling back to the beginning: I spoke of towns and districts in South Africa where there is no functioning service delivery anymore. In South Africa, a lack of money is not the problem. The problem is almost always weak leadership and bad management.  

So, allow me to thank the strong leadership and good management that is in place here in the Overberg District. I will work by your side to help keep this in place.  

To the men and women who will be at the face of the next fire, flood or humanitarian crisis: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your brave and selfless work. It is my whish that with the correct equipment and training you will be able to perform your work and stay safe at the same time. I thank you.

Media Enquiries
Wouter Kriel
Media Liaison Officer 
Tel:  021 483 2820
Cell: 079 694 3085
Email:  Wouter.kriel@westerncape.gov.za