ISN TECHNICAL TEAM EXCHANGE TO KZN
DATES 26th August - 1st September 2011
Four ISN technical team members from WC and Gauteng provinces were in attendance, including Blessing (Coordinator of enumerations and GIS specialist)
Day 1: Meeting with the ISN technical teams in Piesang River.
After the introductions, Patrick gave the purpose of the exchange. There has been various enumerations being conducted in the different provinces and there is need for a proper follow-up and proper documentation, mapping and settlement planning (layouts), so that the technical teams can make good presentations at the partnership meetings. The information as well must reach the community as a whole. This kind of exchange and the activities are a way of preparing ourselves for the community meetings, meetings with Councillors and meetings with the Municipality. When the communities and more especially the technical team is capacitated with all the relevant information then they have the power (on behalf of communities) to negotiate with the Municipalities.
Patrick emphasized the need to build a network of technical teams from each province , and in all the informal settlements within regions, so that communities are well capacitated and informed about their own development, and this also points to the relevance of exchanges and proper exposure to techncila issues and challenges faced by different groups and solutions to inevitable challenges. This has to be finally recognised where the teams would get formal training and internal certification through the University of Stellenbosch.
For this process to work, there is need to start planning a national workshop of mapping and (settlement) layout planning, and all regions must have fortnightly technical meetings where they discuss their development and prepare fully for meetings with the Municipality.
The team members from KZN gave report of the enumeration and mapping activities in the following areas: Ntuzuma G, eZakheleni, Dunbar, and Quarry Road. Western cape and Gauteng also gave their reports. This was a way of putting into perspective the areas of need, or the areas that need to be supported technically following the enumerations and in preparation for the meeting with the Municipality. This then gave direction to the proceedings of the week as follows:
Day 2 (27th Aug) – Ntuzuma G. A meeting was held with leadership and the technical team in Ntuzuma G. However, the outcome was not successful as the community need to be re-mobilised around development. There are a lot of dynamics (social issues) that have torn the community apart and the savings group has also fallen apart. The support team could not proceed with the mapping exercise, and requested that a community meeting be coordinated where the community has to be re-motivated in preparation for the meeting with the Municipality.
Day 3 (28th Aug) – eZakheleni (Umlazi). Determined as ever the eZhakheleni team already had done and completed their mapping, and they needed support with the settlement plan/layout plan, which thay had completed by the 31st August. The support team from other provinces enjoyed working with the Umlazi team.
Day 4 (29th Aug) – Dunbar Road. The team from Dunbar was also enthusiastic about the support they got, however there was an indication that the youth are not interested in the development process, leaving the process to be supported by the elderly members. They completed their layout on the 31st August with the support of team members from Dunbar, Piesang river and Umlazi.
Day 5 (30th Aug) – Quarry Road. The technical team from Quarry Road is determined but consists of people that cannot dedicate themselves fully to the process. This is because they are still a new group and are plugged with community dynamics. This settlement is faced with an imminent relocation according to the Municipality housing plan, and as such their activities included site visits to the pieces if land that they have identified and a conduct of deeds searches on those pieces of land with the Real Estate department. Four pieces of land were identified and the deeds search revealed that 2 of those portions belong to the Department of Public Works, 1 piece belongs to the Municipality and the rest belongs to private owners. Further investigations will be done in order to start appropriate negotiations with the Municipality and the private owners.
However there is need for the community to decide on who is moving and who is remaining in the settlement. This will help in planning on proper relocations and also to decide which portion of land will be able to accommodate the groups that are willing to relocate.
Day 6 (31st Aug) – Meeting in Cato Crest. Sizwe from the Capetown office assisted the Cato Crest team with the costings for the double/triple storeys, and they visited 3 suppliers.
Day 7 (1st Sept) – Evaluation meeting in Piesang River. This was the final day for the exchange programme and the team members had to critically look at the activities of the week and also gave a wayforward.
· It looks like the communities do not have full access and knowledge of the enumeration results and the report thereof, so it was suggested that the technical teams take the responsibility to ensure that the enumeration results are communicated fully to the community as a whole.
· The youth must be encouraged to partake in community activities, especially community development issues. The youth must lead the development process with the support of the leadership
· Encourage people to attend meetings, and decisions must be taken at these big meetings
· eZakheleni will be the learning centre for KZN as the team and the leadership are determined and fully committed to their development.
· Encourage more young people to take interest in development issues e.g Dunbar Road
· The youth must be brought into the process (need to devise a strategy to bring in the youth).
· Need to revive the internal certification (through the Universities and uTshani Fund) so that more youth will be attracted to the process
· Need to start Youth savings, and encourage Mind Tours as already started in Gauteng.
· Encourage income generating programmes for the youth
Patrick endorsed the team as the ISN national technical team, and encouraged that the same activities be replicated in all the provinces coupled with monthly meetings of the technical teams around the CUFF projects and other community activities. Blessing emphasised on the importance of mobilising more youth around enumerations, mapping, savings and presentations at partnership meetings. This will only me possible if communities still hold well-coordinated meetings where they get full reports of such activities and exchange programmes.
Wayforward
· National Mapping workshop to be held in one of the learning centres.
· Technical team monthly meetings (all provinces in preparation for the proposed upgrading projects)
· Community preparation for the CUFF approved projects. In this case eZakheleni (in KZN) will start the preparation for the construction of the Zanempilo Creche, and Masilunge (in WC) as well. This process will involve the selection of the CCMT & the Steering committee and training therefore.