Page 97 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

The initial involvement in the Cape Peninsula was more than 4,000 auxiliaries with this

number rising eventually to nearly 10,000 auxiliaries in voluntary unpaid service. The Cape

Peninsula was part of the Western Province Command No. 1, but because of the different
problems from those of the country towns (i.e. naval and merchant ship requirements) the

Cape Peninsula was allowed to hive off as Command No. 13 with 22 branches, each
headed by a branch commandant.

Kalk Bay and Muizenberg operated as separate branches. Mrs. K. F. Court was the first

Branch Commandant of Kalk Bay until June 1941. Then Mrs. Ninita Pare, who lived at

“Southolme”, 173 Main Road, Kalk Bay, took over. The branch was quite small and had
about 200 auxiliaries, and was run by a committee of nine. (Fig. 3.14). Mrs. Max

Sonnenberg was Branch Commandant of Muizenberg, which included Lakeside and

stretched as far as Retreat. It was somewhat larger than Kalk Bay with nearly 350
auxiliaries.

Once a month the Provincial Commandant of S.A.W.A.S. Command 13 would hold a

meeting with her staff officers and branch commandants in the Mayoress' Parlour in the
City Hall.

The S.A.W.A.S. Halls and Organization

The hall at the corner of School Road and Main Road Muizenberg was placed at the
disposal of the S.A.W.A.S. for work parties, for canteens, and for entertainment when the

Peninsula was flooded with troops from convoys or with refugees.

In Kalk Bay the former sewage pump house opposite Dalebrook Pool became the

headquarters of the Kalk Bay S.A.W.A.S. Initially this building was not suitable for use but
over an eighteen-month period, between March 1941 - October 1942, many needed

renovations and alterations were carried out. These included laying a floor, providing toilet

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