Monster meeting gains momentum

THE Save Our Berea campaign is gaining momentum with the much anticipated monster meeting scheduled to take place on Tuesday 26 October at 6.30pm for 7pm at the St. Thomas Church Hall, Musgrave.

Members of the Save Our Berea Working Committee (SOBWC) have been working tirelessly around the clock in preparation for the meeting and raising awareness for its fight to hold those in authority accountable for the city by-laws which are being flouted.

“One of our group spent the weekend handing out flyers to neighbours, he dropped them off at yacht clubs, sports clubs and schools,” saids Cheryl Johnson, SOBWC member. The SOBWC is made up of five members who work in their own time and at their own cost to try to make a difference in their community and beyond.

Support for their cause has come through media attention and a growing following on social media sites. The SOBWC has received donations from neighbours will contribute to the cost of the hiring of the hall for the meeting.

“Since the article about the Save Our Berea campaign was published in the Berea Mail, we have had an overwhelming surge of support for what we are doing,” said Johnson, adding that SOBWC members have had many people writing to them asking how they can help and offering their support and alliance.

The Facebook page has also created a virtual community. “I find it interesting because we don’t have a community on the ground. People disappear behind their high walls, electric fences and alarm systems. But now they have come out in cyber space and are talking to and interacting with each other,” she said. “Being involved in this campaign has taught me that there are amazing people out there who want to make things better.”

The monster meeting is not aimed exlusively for residents of the Berea, everyone living in Durban is encouraged to attend. “We have nothing to do with party politics, race or religious beliefs,” saids Johnson. “We are not elitist either. We have called the campaign Save Our Berea because this is where we live and what we know best, but we are just as concerned about other areas. We would like people from all areas to join hands with us,” she said.

The SOBWC is already aligned with activists from other communities and by standing together, they believe they can bring about change. “We want to engage with other communities and together find solutions,” she said..

Johnson says that the next step for the SOBWC will be depend on what the community raises at the meeting. “Once we know what people want, we will set up teams of volunteers to tackle specific issues and put pressure on the City to resolve these issues.”

“No one person can change things, communities change things. We hope that through our Facebook page we have made our community more aware, more passionate about where they live and how to improve their area,” she said.

What you can expect

The SOBWC has invited acting head of Land Use Management, Musa Mbhele and Land Use Manager for the Berea, Llekha Allopi to attend the meeting and explain to residents why the by-laws are not being enforced on the Berea. They will be briefed on what will be expected of them at the meeting beforehand. “We don’t view them as the enemy, we are trying to find solutions,” said Johnson.

“”he SOBWC wants this to be a positive relationship between the City and ratepayers. Many people have asked if we will consider mounting a rates boycott. This has never come up in our discussions. However, ratepayers contribute a huge amount of money to the city and don’t believe they are getting a fair return for their money. This is very serious and people are very angry. The City must address this urgently and explain to ratepayers why they are not getting value for money,” she said.

The SOBWC is determined that the Monster Meeting will not be boring. “We want people to be stimulated and also have a bit of fun.” Panel experts in the line up to address attendees on the evening will speak briefly on the areas of experise and put forward ideas on how workable solutions may be reached. Two experts who have already confirmed their participation are Richard Dobson, an architect by training, who directs Asiya Etafuleni (Zulu for ‘let us negotiate’) a non-governmental organisation offering design and facilitation services to the informal economy. His work, which over the last 15 years has particularly focused on the informal economy, has been acknowledged through many awards and citations. Based on his integral involvement in urban regeneration work in Durban’s inner-city since 1996, he co-authored the book Working in Warwick: Including Street Traders in Urban Plans. He is an expert on urban regeneration, urban management and the ‘informal’ economy.

Crime expert, Brad Nathanson, a private investigator who has tracked down and dealt with adulterers, rapists, murderers and armed robbers, thwarted crimes and put his life on the line to make a difference will also address those present. Brad’s ambition is to rid the world of violent criminals so that law abiding citizens can sleep peacefully in their beds.

Other experts will include a heritage architect, a neco warrior and a lawyer specialising in town planning issues.

Community power is the key to changing things. “Without the participation and contribution of the community, there is no campaign,” said Johnson. To make the community feel more a part of the Save Our Berea campaign, meeting goers can download a template from Save Our Berea’s Facebook page to fill in beforehand. They can then share the issues of concern in their area with others in attendance. These will be exhibited in the hall, creating an instant exhibition of protest..