Tensions rise on The Bluff over ratepayers association’s opposition to community initiatives

A GROUP of people took to the streets on The Bluff to protest what they described as divisive practices by the local ratepayers’ association.
One of the organisers of the march,  Siyanda Dlamini, said, “The march is not about service delivery, we are satisfied with the level of service delivery we have been receiving on The Bluff.

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“Our main challenge is the conduct of the Bluff Ratepayers and Residents’ Association (BRRA) which has been undermining individuals who are simply trying to earn a living in our community. We are facing high levels of unemployment, and when residents attempted to establish an informal trading market along Tara Road in a space allocated by eThekwini Municipality, the BRRA actively opposed it and shut it down.

“These actions directly affect people’s ability to support their families. We believe that every resident should have the opportunity to work and sustain themselves especially in legally approved areas. The continued resistance by the BRRA to informal trading is not only unfair, but it also deepens the economic challenges in our community.

“In addition to this, an old woman who was running a soup kitchen to feed the homeless people, she was told to stop her initiative by the BRRA,” he said.

In a statement issued by the BRRA, its chairperson Norman Gilbert said the allegations made by the MK supporters are misleading.

“The BRRA expresses deep disappointment at the memorandum submitted by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), which is regrettably premised on a false and misleading narrative.

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“It is unfortunate that the MKP has chosen to frame the BRRA’s work in a way that disregards our core mandate: to represent and advocate for all ratepayers and residents of The Bluff, regardless of race, class, or economic background. The memorandum selectively distorts legitimate efforts by the BRRA to ensure that city by-laws are upheld, by-laws which exist not to exclude, but to promote order, safety, and the dignity of all communities within eThekwini,” said Gilbert.

He said the BRRA does not apologise for calling for the consistent enforcement of municipal regulations, particularly in relation to public health, safety, and the responsible use of public spaces.

“These are not instruments of oppression, but safeguards intended to protect the wellbeing of every resident including the vulnerable.

“We reject any insinuation that lawful advocacy equates to racism or classism. The issues raised around informal trading, unauthorised land use, and unregulated structures are not matters of race or exclusion, but of lawful governance. The BRRA engages on these issues precisely because we care about the sustainability and inclusivity of our community.

“The BRRA remains committed to dialogue, but will not be intimidated into silence by ideological attacks. We invite all stakeholders to engage constructively and honestly, without resorting to rhetoric that undermines social cohesion or stokes division. We will continue to serve The Bluff with integrity, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law,” he added.

A memorandum was handed over to the chairperson of the warroom for The Bluff, Thandazani Ndlela.

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