I would like to extend a big thank you to The Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (Docrra) and other civic organisations for the powerful messages given to the KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) last week, especially the call to be transparent and inclusive.
This is the essence of democracy, rooted at local level. KDM indicated positively that they heard the calls by the civic organisations. I would like to comment that there are two major points of potential conflict facing our communities that both need urgent, yet sensitive, attention:
1. Electricity ‘wastage’/illegal connections highlighted at the meeting).
2. The growing informal settlement near Umhlali Country Club. This has received much glaring publicity in the media (e.g. two recent extensive Sunday Times articles showing on going tensions, particularly highlighting the wealthy/poor divide).
Civic organisations, KDM and political parties must work together, genuinely, to find satisfactory solutions to both issues. There is no win/lose outcome here.
Assistance is needed, and I recommend that a facilitator with strong mediation and conflict resolutions skills be used.
For example, near at hand is the International Centre of Nonviolence at DUT. It is headed by Dr Crispin Hemson, who is also contactable at UKZN.
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