Question NW1435 to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
04 June 2021 - NW1435
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) In view of a certain undertaking by the SA National Parks that the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) would soon establish a Mission Area Command, Control and Communications Centre for the execution of Sustainable Asset Protection, Safety and Security in TMNP in accordance with the 2020 Area Integrity Management Plan, which has been planned for two years with no tangible results yet, on what date will the Joint Operations Centre be (a) completed and (b) operational; (2) whether she will furnish Mr D W Bryant with the project plan for fundraising, planning, planning approvals, specification compilation, commercial tender process, tender evaluation, implementation and/or construction and final commissioning of the planned Joint Operations Centre; (3)(a) what is the budget breakdown for the (i) new Joint Operations Centre and (ii) associated security improvements for TMNP and (b) how will the Joint Operations Centre be complemented by adequate resources on the ground; (4) does SANParks intend to recruit additional rangers to prevent and react to crime; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (5) what are the details of the various security solutions such as cameras, drones, helicopters, tactical response units, canine unit and rangers?
Reply:
(1) The plan to establish a command centre for Table Mountain National Park originated in 2019.. The command centre was officially established on 1 October 2020 and it is located at Newlands fire base in Cape Town. Although the Command Centre is still in the process of establishment, specifically with regards to the specialized technical infrastructure and specialized training of staff, it is already partially operational and in use by SANParks and other key security cluster stakeholders. Once completed the capacitated Command Centre will be resourced with capabilities to take action based on the intelligence it collects.
The implementation plan for the Command Centre will be divided into Phases. Phase 1 has been implemented effective from 1 April 2021 and Phase 2 implemented from 1 June 2021.
Despite the fact that the Command Centre was not fully functional during the December 2020 festive season, a successful special operation, which included aerial observation support, was conducted. A similar operation was conducted during the April 2021 festive season, with similar positive effects.
(b) The Command Centre will be complimented with a special taskforce/response team which is anticipated to be operational by November 2021. The Command Centre control room is already 60 percent functional and manned by SANParks officials.
(2) Operational plans from the security cluster are not normally placed in the public domain.
(3) SANParks wishes to clarify that a Command Centre is established, not a Joint Operations Centre.
(a)(i) Approximately R500 000 has been set aside for Operational Expenditure while an amount of R1.5 million has been budgeted for Capital Expenditure under Phase 1. To date an amount of R24,899.15 has been spent on operations and R76,569.85 has been spent on capital related expenditure.
(ii) The Command Centre aims to integrate the Ranger staff with the special taskforce/response team as well as external role players in the security cluster, namely SAPS, Metro Police, City Law Enforcement and others. This integrated approach will streamline and facilitate a more focussed response to area integrity.
b) The Command centre will be complemented by external resources such as SAPS, Metro Police, Environmental monitors and other relevant City Law Enforcement officials. It will ensure those whose primary responsibility is law enforcement also focus on safety of user in the Table Mountain National Park.
(4) The Table Mountain National Park has a total of 112 Rangers, 14 Environmental Monitors and 59 Tourism Monitors. The command centre is manned by a dedicated team who come from a Conservation and Tourism background and thus have the knowledge and experience to ensure effective and efficient deployment.
Twenty of these staff members will be trained to operate as a tactical response team, to respond to any sea, mountain and other incidents reported through the Command Centre.
(5) At this stage, SANParks is testing appropriate technologies. The organisation will select those technologies which are most feasible and deliver the intended outcomes. SANParks will also pursue partnerships, where appropriate, to further enhance safety and security and share technology, such as the existing partnership with the Table Mountain Arial Cable Company.
Helicopters will also be deployed from time to time on joint planned operations, especially during festive seasons as was done during the December 2020 festive season.
A Canine Unit for the Table Mountain National Park will be in place by August 2021.
Regards
MS B D CREECY, MP
MINISTER OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
DATE: 4/6/2021