RESTRICTED
REPORT TO THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE
INTRODUCTION

1. DOD is currently involved in the transformation process which, among other things, is looking at the downsizing of the DOD facilities portfolio in a manner that matches the force structure, the Strategic Direction and the budget allocation of the Department.

2. As part of the broader facilities downsizing process, military bases have been identified as some of the facilities that need to be closely looked at for conversion to non-military use. Base conversion is positioned within the broader context of the National Defence conversion strategy.

3. Base conversion has also been recognised as an important mechanism by which DOD facilities could be downsized while at the same time meeting the socio-economic objectives of the Government.

4. The facilities auditing process in the DOD is, in line with the Force Structure Redesign, identifying bases that are redundant (superfluous) and those that are partially redundant (under-utilised).

5. Bases that are identified as totally redundant to the DOD are to be converted for non-military use whilst those that are identified as under-utilised are to be used jointly by the DOD with other suitable partners either from the public or private sector.

6. The bases currently identified for joint-use are listed below. These are not the only bases that will be disposed of in the medium term. There is a concerted effort in the DOD to reduce costs and increase efficiency by reducing the 'footprints' of the SANDF, without sacrificing any unique strategic bases or facilities.

7. The Department of Public Works (DPW), as the custodian of the state's property portfolio has undertaken investigations wrt the potential for optimal utilisation of under-utilised and redundant military bases. This project is in line with the objectives of the Reconstruction and Development Programme. The World Bank subsidised a grant to the Government out of which the project was funded.

8. DPW has, through a State Tender Process, appointed consultants to execute the investigation studies and prepare proposals for the conversion of the identified bases. At the end of Sep OO the consultants completed their investigation studies and submitted recommendations on development strategies for conversion of the identified bases to
DPW

BASES IDENTIFIED FOR CONVERSION TO NON-MILITARY USE

9. The DOD in conjunction with DPW has identified the following bases as redundant to the DOD core business. These bases have to be taken through the process of conversion to non-military use. The present status of the different bases in the conversion process is indicated in the following diagram. Some of these bases have already been handed back to DPW some years ago.

YSTERPLAAT: STATUS QUO

1. A portion of Ysterplaat is situated on property that was purchased by the State from' the Graaff Trust in 1944. The Deed of Transfer contains a clause stipulating that Should the Government no longer require the land or any portion thereof for Defence purposes or as a civil aerodrome and not desire to dispose of the land to the Government of Great Britain for like purposes or to a local authority to be used as an Airport or purposes incidental thereto, the Transferor shall have the right of pre-emption to re-purchase the said land ". The right of pre-emption also applies should the government decide to sell the property to the Government of Great Britain or a local authority. The pre-emption right will have to be wavered before the Air Force Base can be privatised or commercialised.

2. It must be pointed out that other divisions of the Department of Defence as well as other State Departments have first right of refusal for the utilisation of the land and infrastructure. The Department of Public Works have recently concluded a study regarding the possible use of the land and infrastructure wherein the implications of the Deed of Transfer have been considered.

3. Previous proposals by other entities for the co-use of the infrastructure at Air Force Base Ysterplaat have been considered. The viability of the business case within each of these proposals has been based on the premise of co-use where the South African Air Force remains resident and shares the proportional costs of maintaining the infrastructure. The South African Air Force has four bases within a 200-km radius of Cape Town. This deployment is no longer affordable, which is the primary reason for ceasing all Air force operations and activities at Air Force Base Ysterplaat.

4. AFB Ysterplaat is destined for closure by 1 May 2002. However, this intention is affected by the availability of migration funds for the resettlement of current capabilities to other venues. On completion of this planning consideration will be given to potential alternative military use of the facilities before a final decision regarding physical base closure and availability for base conversion can be taken.

11. A fax was received from the DPW (Risk Management) on 12 Jul 01 enquiring whether the SANDE have relocated all personnel to the Zeerust base as planned. They also stipulated that all inhabitants must be removed from the site as soon as possible due to the health risk.

12. The North West Province compiled an Interim Intervention Strategy for the Pomfret Community which is dated 28 Jun 01 as well as a Proposed Development Strategy which were forwarded to the DPW on 25 Jul 01.

13. DPW was informed on 25 Jul 01 that the Minister of Defence approved the handing back of Pomfret to the department on 18 Jul 01. Further instructions as to when the handing back must take place, is awaited.

7. It was planned to hand back the Pomfret Military Base to PWD on 21-22 Jun 01 but could not take place due to the fact that several role players from the DPW and PWD must co-ordinate the exercise to the Base Closure Programme that is managed by DPW Head Office in Pretoria. A meeting took place on 15 Jun 01 where all the relevant role players were present and all parties agreed that the entire process need to be properly co-ordinated, and all efforts implemented to prevent vandalism.

8. On 28 Jun 01 the Premier of the North West Province wrote a letter to the Minister of Defence voicing dissatisfaction in that the matter is dealt with from a perspective of government property only, with scant regard for the human needs of the residents of Pomfret who were brought into South Africa by the former SADF, and were accorded South African citizenship and are therefore entitled to full Constitutional and legal rights. Several aspects were pointed out for example, unexploded ammunition allegedly lying around, the matter of the potential of asbestosis and the removal of moveable property. Legal aspects regarding the move to Zeerust were also discussed.

9. Taking into consideration the total spectrum of the circumstances surrounding the community, it can be stated with sincerity that the DOD has consistently been very concerned about the well being of the community. At the very beginning of this planning process, approximately five years ago when planning for the resettlement of 2 SAl Bn to Zeerust commenced, the community as well as the members still in service were kept informed about developments via the community Forums as well as briefings to members, specifically indicating the health risk caused by asbestos. Regardless of this early warning and continuous awareness campaigns, certain members of the community (non-DOD) have insisted all along on remaining at Pomfret.

10. The following comments were rendered regarding aspects raised in the letter to the
Minister.

a. Unexploded ammunition. The DOD visited the range on 16 Jul 01, but no ammunition was however found during spot checks that were carried out. The DOD will do a final sweep of the range before the base is handed over to DPW.

b. Potential threat of asbestosis. As the asbestos pollution is not caused by or related to the military use of the property, rehabilitation measures are the responsibility of the DPW who are the custodians of the facilities. The rehabilitation of asbestos pollution sources has for a long time been addressed by DPW and they have spent considerable resources to this end.

c. Water and Electricity. The DPW has agreed to continue with the water and electricity supply, but it is not known for what period of time.

d. Litter disposal site. The DOD inherited the disposal site when it occupied the base in1989. The DOD is not aware of a permit having been issued for the site, which was operated by the previous owners. The DOD continued to utilise the disposal site whilst managing and maintaining the site in accordance laid down guide lines without a formal Environmental Management Plan.

POMFRET: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON RELOCATION

1. The Director General of the North West Province has informed the DOD in Oct 9~9 that the North West Government has decided to take over control of Pomfret and establish it as a normal local town under a democratically local government. Pomfret will become a Municipality and its area of jurisdiction will include Bray, Tosca, Vergelee and Vorstershoop.

2. A Mr Radebe was appointed as the Project leader to establish a Municipality and he obtained authority for four posts to be filled to enhance establishment thereof. A total of sixteen offices were made available to Mr Radebe to enable him to establish the municipality. During a worksession on 13 Mar 01 which was held at Pomfret he indicated that the budget for the municipality would only become available as from 01 Jul 01. According to Mr Radebe the municipality will receive a budget for two years where after it must be self-supporting.

3. Before resuming control over Pomfret, the North West Government wants the DOD to complete the transfer of the remaining military personnel to Zeerust and the DPW to officially hand over the control of the Pomfret to the Provincial Government.

4. The DPW notified the DOD that it will be terminating its water, electricity and housing support to the Pomfret Military Base and the surrounding community in the no distant future. DPW therefore required very clear and specific time frames of vacating of the base and hand back to their department.

5. The Pomfret Military Base was identified for the World Bank Base Closure Project and private consultants was appointed by PWD to conduct the investigation. Consultants also liased with the Provincial Government in this regard. Proposals for future use of Pomfret were as follows.

a. Establishment of a Game Farming Project seen in the light of the close proximity to Botswana.

b. Construction of a Tannery with a Taxidermist Facility

c. Establishment of a Sheep farm and a sheepskin facility,

d. Construction of a leather shoe and sandal factory.

e. Mixed use of property, combining the aforementioned proposals with a cultural village, handcraft manufacturing and traditional skills of the local people.

6. The aforementioned Consultants report is currently in the hands of the DPW, and recommendations will have to be made on the way forward.