Page 41 - Bulletin 7 2003

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THE MAYORS OF THE KALK BAY – MUIZENBERG MUNICIPALITY
AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS

Michael Walker and Stephen Herbert

Introduction

The arrival of the railway caused a great influx of new residents to the Kalk Bay

area and necessitated the establishment a local authority to exert some control
over its development.

A municipality was mooted as early as 1889, but a strong petition, led by Father
Duignam, protested against its establishment from the fear that rates would now

be charged to the detriment of the already impoverished fishermen. Whether the

petition carried any influence is uncertain but a Village Management Board was
established in 1891, instead of the proposed municipality. The population census

of that year showed the community of Kalk Bay - Muizenberg to be 757 women
and 904 men (all races), giving a total population of 1661 persons.

The powers of the V. M. B. were limited. They were not empowered to levy any

rates except through the Divisional Council. The rates at Kalk Bay in 1891 were

one half penny in the pound on the value of immovable property and were
affordable by a great majority of the fishermen. Messrs. John Reid, Abraham

Auret Snr. and J. P. van Blerk were the first elected members of the V. M. B.
Their task was formidable as in 1891 there was no piped water, no sewerage

system, and no refuse removal. These generally unhygienic conditions led to
various diseases, including typhoid and smallpox. It was not surprising therefore

that most of the tasks of the V. M. B. centred around the control of public

hygiene and cleanliness, as well as certain conditions regarding the approval of
building plans and the repair of unsafe buildings. Another interesting regulation

was that “no sand or stones be removed from the beach except on payment”.