• Swellendam Municipality
• Provincial – Overberg District Municipality (ODM)
• Cape Nature
• Department of Water Affairs
• Department of Environmental Affairs

Malgas being a rural community does not receive municipal services as one would in an urban environment.  Historically the development of Malgas was rather haphazard. When plots were proclaimed, no consideration was given to the development of roads, the supply of water or other services. As a result, access to individual plots cross over other properties. No servitudes were ever registered in this regard. This resulted in the current situation where the municipality will not take responsibility for maintenance of roads, collection of garbage or supply of water. In terms of municipal regulations, a municipality is prohibited to provide services if it does not own the road infrastructure or at least have registered servitudes.

The negotiation and pleading with the municipality have been ongoing for many years. Simply put it is a battle that residents will never win. An alternative solution needs to be developed in this regard.  An active Ratepayers Association is essential in order to represent its members and residents, and we urge all to join the Association in its efforts

The Malgas Ratepayers & Residents’ Association (MRRA) applies annually for financial assistance which is awarded in a ad-hoc manner. The funds are insufficient to cover all road maintenance.

Please note that the Municipality applies a 30% discount to your Rates Bill because of the lack of services supplied.

The supply of water is the responsibility of each resident.  A combination of pumping water from the river, capturing of rainwater and reverse osmosis plants are in use.

Electricity is supplied directly by Eskom.

Malgas is regarded as a rural community and therefore Eskom charges Rural Surcharges at Land rate 2 tariffs. (Even though Municipality levies are residential.) This makes the supply of electricity expensive. The current prepaid cost per unit is R9.87.

Permanent residents have in the majority moved onto solar. Holiday homes in the main are supplied by Eskom.

• The local flora species is called renosterveld. Renosterveld is endangered and may not be cleared without permission from Cape Nature. Fines will be levied in the region of R200 000 plus.
• Please do not remove or disturb any wild animals from their habitat. Tortoises and wild cats are seen frequently in our area and must not be taken home to become pets.
• Alien vegetation is an issue for the survival of Renosterveld and river banks. We will provide a list of plants and trees that are not part of the indigenous landscape and should be removed.
• Regeneration of land. We will provide a list of permitted plants and trees.

• The roads that run next to the river cross over individual plots and are the responsibility of the individual owners. Normally the specific community (Area 1 to 4) get together and arrange for road scraping. Care has to be taken not to damage underlying electrical cables and water pipes.
• The access roads from the Main Malgas/Infanta Road cross individual farmers properties. Servitudes have not been registered in most cases. The municipality does not accept responsibility for these roads.
• The following roads are proclaimed and maintained by Province
• Main Road Malgas/Infanta, stretching from N2 turnoff to entrance of Infanta Provincial Main Road MR268 (68.82km)
• Road towards Ferry (off MR268)
• District Road held by prescription and managed by Managing Agent ODM (on behalf of Provincial) Divisional Road DR1263
• Proclaimed road towards Malagas NG Church (Area2) to just before the church Minor Road OP4455 (1.03km)
• Proclaimed road towards toward Lemoentuin to marked indictor (end of Public Road) Minor Road OP4454 (3.62km)

There are two fueling points in Malgas:

• opposite the Malagas Hotel
• Riverine filling station

• Central Household waste collection sites are located at Diepkloof and Area 2 (Pont Road). Provision has been made for recycling.
• Property owners are responsible for transporting their refuse to these collection containers.
• Residents are encouraged to compost wherever possible.
• Household waste is collected from the collection site every Tuesday by a contractor appointed by the municipality. Additional runs are in place over the busy times. The service is charged as a separate item on your rates bill.
• Garden waste and building rubble:
  • The Infanta dump is open Mon, Wed, Sat from 10:00 to 13:00.
  • CLEAN BUILDERS RUBBLE 500kg/one bakkie load per site per day (loads mixed with plastics, metal, cement bags, wood etc will not be accepted and no sorting on site is allowed).
  • GARDEN WASTE, one bakkie/trailer load per site per day.
  • There is an on-site dump manager, please take directions from him when off loading.

• No municipal sewerage system exists.
• Old properties use septic tanks.
• New buildings / structures are required by law to have conservancy tanks that are pumped out by the municipality at a fee and by appointment.

• The municipality runs a planning department for approval of building plans and alterations.
• Several restrictions are in place regarding properties, especially with regard to proximity to the river (floodlines). The department of Water Affairs (DWAF) is sometimes involved. The municipality liaises with the DWAF where applicable.
• Cape Nature controls the registration of jetties and slipways. No new slipways may be developed.
• Alien vegetation.

• The municipality is responsible for providing a fire brigade. Due to the distance to Swellendam the response time is over an hour.
• In extreme cases helicopters will assist from Bredasdorp. If liability is proved costs will be charged to the landowner.
• Farms can join for services via Greater Overberg Fire Protection Agency (GOFPA).
• The Ratepayers Association have a Disaster Management team consisting of volunteers, to act as first responders until support from the municipality arrives. A minimum of 1 fire cart / SKID per area is available and strategically placed to maximise response time.
• Each area has an area manager that can be contacted.
• The municipality has donated fire carts / fire skids that form part of the disaster plan as mentioned above.
• Burning permits are required if any refuse or vegetation is burned. We live in a high fire risk area. Permits are available from GOFPA.

• Nuwedorp is a local informal settlement.
• Water is delivered by truck by a contractor appointed by the municipality on a daily basis.
• There are no potable facilities.
• As the informal settlement is on private land the municipality does not provide services.
• There is a waste collection site in Nuwedorp serviced by the municipality on scheduled collection days.
• Ad-hoc Grant-in-Aid is available for community projects.

• The municipality does not have a satellite office in Malgas. All functions occur at the Swellendam office.
• The municipality does not have any local municipal staff stationed in Malgas.

• No Local schools.
• The closest primary school is at OuPlaas. (30km). Traditionally services farm worker’s children.
• Senior Schools at Swellendam/ Bredasdorp.

• No public bus service.
• A bus service is provided for transport to a junior school for farm workforce and Nuwedorp children. It does not currently service Malgas and Infanta.

• An ambulance service is available from Swellendam. Please note, it will take at least an hour before they will arrive. If possible make alternative arrangements.
• A mobile clinic does visit the Malgas area on a monthly basis.

• No local Police station.
• Two private security companies exist.
• Ratepayers Association maintains a camera network. Municipality does assist from time to time in this regard.
• Swellendam traffic officers may patrol 1-day a year.

• The Pont is managed by Overberg District Roads Department.
• The land from which the Pont works is owned by the municipality.
• Reliability is a factor.
• Join the Pont Whatsapp Group for live information on whether the Pont is running:
  

The Lower Breede River Conservancy Trust (LBRCT)  is the implementing agent for the municipality, enforcing the river by-laws for both East and West bank of the Lower Breede River. The LBRTC is a private organisation that receives municipal funding from Swellendam and Hessequa municipalities. It is also dependent on donations and membership.

• Boat licenses are payable annually or at a daily rate.
• SAMSA boat certifications are required annually.
• Fishing licenses are available online on the LBRCT website.
• Cape Nature levies fees on jetties and slipways. Cape Nature does not assist with funding the LBRCT.

LBRCT duties are

• River patrols and enforcement of river and coastal by-laws.
• Water sampling.