The West Coast District Municipality (WCDM) is an award-winning district comprising five local municipalities and one district management area (DMA). The five local municipalities are:

Bergrivier     ∙     Cederberg     ∙     Matzikama     ∙     Saldanha Bay     ∙     Swartland

These municipalities, as part of the district have been successful at developing the local communities, boosting the regional economies and attracting investment in identified key sectors. But is the DMA that perhaps needs most care and attention.

A DMA is an area run directly by the district municipality as opposed to being part of a local municipality. DMAs are often national parks or isolated areas of low population density. The DMA in the WCDM is an area north of Vanrhynsdorp and includes the settlements at Bitterfontein, Rietpoort, Kliprand and Nuwerus.

In late 2007 the WCDM local economic development (LED) gathered to consider ways to improve the quality of life of its DMA population and to boost local economic activity in the region to at least a level of self-sufficiency. To this end, the Big Roof Project has been established, with funding received from the Department of Water Affairs and the WCDM.

The project involves the establishment of vegetable gardens in the Bitterfontein area of the DMA, that would allow residents to be self-sufficient at first, and even deal commercially with excess products they are able to produce.

For an initiative such as this to be successful there needs to be buy-in from the local authorites in terms of infrastructure, equipment and, most importantly, skills training.

If the initial project in Bitterfontein is successful, the WCDM is looking to reproduce the model in other areas in the DMA.

For more information on the West Coast District Municipality and the opportunities available please contact Mr Marthinus Boois by email on mboois@wcdm.co.za or by tel: +27 22 433 8530.