Ballito’s farmers are joining forces to fight crime, tackle failing infrastructure and protect their communities where government services fall short.

Leading the charge is Ihawu Lethu, meaning “our shield”, a volunteer-driven, non-profit organisation with 137 member households, small holdings and farms. It is working to improve safety across about 50 000 hectares of farmland, smallholdings, residential estates and businesses stretching from Tongaat to the Umvoti River and inland to Glendale Heights.

Speaking at the organisation’s fifth annual general meeting at Collisheen Estate last Wednesday, Ihawu Lethu chairperson Craig Slevin said protecting the region required residents to look beyond their own properties.

“We are Ballito’s and Salt Rock’s back garden,” said Slevin.

“If it becomes unsafe, the whole region’s property values, tourism, businesses and investment pay the price. If it stays safe and well run, it is one of the Dolphin Coast’s greatest assets.”

Slevin said even the most secure residential estates are affected by what happens beyond their gates.

Among Ihawu Lethu’s achievements is a community-funded network of SNIPR camera sites covering most entry points into the area, as well as anti-poaching initiatives undertaken with the Dolphin Coast Anti-Poaching Forum. The organisation works alongside Saps and private security teams to actively respond to crime and track down criminals.

Together with other civic bodies, Ihawu Lethu has also campaigned for repairs to the collapsed P104 road and plans to escalate concerns about inadequate resources at Umhlali Saps.

Slevin said the organisation’s greatest strength is its ability to unite communities that might otherwise operate independently.

“We cannot wait for others to fix what we can fix ourselves. If we don’t do it, who will?”

Priorities for the coming year include expanding membership, strengthening neighbourhood and farm watch co-operation, tackling poaching and illegal dumping and exploring a regional structure to co-ordinate community initiatives.

Slevin urged more residents, businesses, farms and estates to get involved.

“The progress we have made this year did not come from one committee, one organisation or one service provider. It came from people choosing to work together.”