23 February 2024
In his State of the Province Address (SOPA) earlier this week in Paarl, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde congratulated Drakenstein Municipality on its innovative primary traffic light Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) system, which helps ensure smooth traffic flow and road user safety during Eskom loadshedding. This system has proven to be so successful that it is now being rolled out across South Africa.
Drakenstein Municipality played host to the official Opening of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and the Premier's SOPA on Monday, 19 February 2024. The momentous event, preceded by a procession featuring safety and security officials and a fly-over by safety aircraft, took place in a packed Huguenot Community Hall in Paarl East.
Reflecting on the past five years' challenges and successes, the Premier highlighted the energy crisis faced by South Africans - a challenge that severely hampers the Western Cape's economic growth, exacerbates unemployment, and affects the safety and dignity of its residents. He also listed interventions undertaken by the Provincial Government and municipalities, together with private sector, to mitigate Eskom loadshedding.
“In this (Drakenstein) Municipality, an exciting project ensures that their traffic lights work during loadshedding," said Premier Winde. He revealed that this groundbreaking project is now being adopted by other municipalities across the country.
Launched in 2021, Drakenstein Municipality has already equipped 44 of its 48 primary traffic intersections with the UPS system. The system's components - batteries, controllers, and other equipment used for traffic signals – are all housed in underground chambers to prevent vandalism. This is considered a first in Africa.
These chambers are equipped with alarms that can detect attempts to gain unauthorised access. To facilitate work on the equipment, it can be hoisted to above ground level to allow user input and maintenance at eye level. This traffic light UPS system initiative aligns with the Municipality's sustainable service delivery pillar to address traffic control challenges, improve traffic flow, and help ensure road users' safety during Eskom loadshedding.
Renewed focus on public safety partnerships
The Premier also focused on South Africa's crime levels, citing independent research by the Institute for Security Studies that highlights the Western Cape as the only province in the county where murder has declined in the last five years.
“But without the help of communities, our law enforcement agencies and capabilities would struggle. I am always astounded at the dedication of residents who give of their own time to patrol their neighbourhoods, placing their safety at risk so that fellow community members can be safe. Neighbourhood watches are our eyes and ears in communities. Thank you to people like Aylmer Manko, from Paarl Neighbourhood Watch, here tonight for what you do.
“Often, they know better than law enforcement agencies where the problems in their neighbourhoods are. In essence, they are both crime fighters and intelligence gatherers of sorts, helping official law enforcement bodies to battle crime. There are 477 accredited neighbourhood watches in the province, comprising 14 632 patrollers," said Premier Winde.
In Drakenstein, the Municipality recently took the bold step of establishing a new department solely dedicated to public safety. Operational since 1 November 2023, the public safety department's vision is to coordinate and mobilise all Drakenstein's safety partners and, in doing so, optimise their diverse expertise. In this regard the Municipality is fostering partnerships with the South African Police Service (SAPS), community police forums (CPFs), law enforcement agencies, farm and neighbourhood watches, and registered security companies, to create a safer Drakenstein.
A sport events mecca
Finally, Premier Winde also made mention in his address of the role that major events play in the province and Drakenstein, such as the annual Paarl Boys' High vs Paarl Gim Rugby Interschools attracting thousands of visitors to Paarl; the premier polo events at the Val de Vie Estate; and the Absa Cape Epic that winds its way through the Cape Winelands. This year, no less than three of this internationally renowned mountain bike race's seven stages are taking place in Wellington. This year's race is scheduled to take place from 17 to 24 March 2024.
View the media summary of the Premier's SOPA here.
[END]
