sdceanewsletterjan2013

While some may boast greater economic benefits,
many people residing in the south Durban basin
would beg to differ when it comes to the Port
expansion developments. For months, south
Durban communities have embarked on a mission
to put an end to these developments, claiming that
it will only further entrench socioeconomic and
environmental disparities within the region.
Along with being a product of the apartheid
era’s forced removals system, the south Durban
basin has also fallen prey to the highly illustrious
industrial developments it boasts. With these, as
has been documented before, come high levels of
those suffering from pollutant-induced illnesses,
environmental degradation and an increase in
socioeconomic distress among those residing in
this area.
Almost twenty years into South Africa’s
democracy, this area is still overshadowed by its
ill-fated past and seems to re-model the same ill-
fated circumstances (increasing levels of polluting
industry developments and displacement of
people). As a result, these areas have experienced
very few, if any, changes in the post-apartheid era.
The dug-out port, link road and back of port
developments have become the new issues
faced by the residents of the south Durban basin
communities which include Bluff, Clairwood,
Merebank, Mobeni, Wentworth and parts of
Isipingo. The victims of these new developments
are now embarking on a new struggle to save what
little they have left of their residential areas.
17 Jan 2013
distressing DIG OUT PORT
DEBACLE
THE BATTLE BETWEEN DAVID AND GOLIATH CONTINUES
His Eminence, Cardinal Wilfred Fox Napier at the MTSS
Hall Massive Meeting
PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS
On the 3rd
of September 2012, the South Durban
Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) held
a Port Expansion mass meeting at the MTSS hall
in Merebank. The purpose of this meeting was to
discuss viable resolutions and the way forward
as united communities of the south Durban area.
Present at the meeting was his eminence, Cardinal
Wilfred Fox Napier who agreed that people should
unite and fight against the port expansion. He
also highlighted in his speech that: “we must take
the stand to live the life of a human being”. Many
other organizations within the south Durban
area were also present and seemed to echo the
same message. This ultimately led to the decision
by the communities to take mass action through
organizing a mass protest – showing peoples’
grievances and their lack of support towards the
port expansion developments. This took place in
the form of the Port Lock Down held on the 1st
of
December, 2012.
Volume 17: Jan 2013
Tel: 031-461-1991 Fax: 031-468-1257 email: shanusha@sdceango.co.za web: www.sdcea.co.za

SDCEA COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2013Page 2
On the 5th
of December 2012, the Minister of public
enterprises, Mr Malusi Gigaba, graced us with his
presence at a public meeting held at Coastlands
Hotel (Musgrave). This meeting was held in
light of the recent concerns that were raised in
a memorandum handed to TRANSNET and the
Mayor’s office at the massive protest action that
took place at the Durban container terminals.
Present at this meeting were the CEO and chairman
of Transnet. The team from Transnet’s planning
and monitoring unit also attended and presented
a power point presentation which covered their
plans for the dug-out port and other related
developments, including the back-of-port plans.
Various community groups were also present to
discuss this matter and to present their contestation
towards the port expansion plans.
The Minister first discussed the importance of
engagement by all affected parties. He then went on
to state the importance of such a development, as
the existing port has reached its optimum capacity;
hence the expansion being able to cater for larger
vessels. The argument put forward is that this will,
in turn, yield greater economic benefits for South
Africa. He also added that South Africa needs to
create greater avenues to develop skills and job
creation through sustainable measures, whilst
uplifting areas.
Transnet’s presentation, by Mark Greg McDonald,
presented the same arguments addressed by the
Minister. Furthermore, they argued that they do
not have sufficient funding for such developments,
thus implying that tax money would be used to
facilitate these developments. However, absent
in either of the addresses was the issue of the
Clairwood informal settlements and the social
upheaval surrounding forced relocations or
“constructive evictions”. Key to this issue is the
fact that government has claimed lack of land and
funding for providing homes to people displaced in
these communities. If, however, port developments
continue then this implies that neither funding nor
land is the issue, but rather to whom it is granted.
Furthermore, South African tax payers’ money
may not be the only funding this project receives;
international investors are also looking to gain out
of such prospects. If this is true, then it is important
to question those who stand to benefit, and to what
extent those benefitting will be the communities
affected by these developments.
There were many holes in the addresses given
by both the Minister and Transnet. What was,
however, clear in each presentation was the fact
that this project will yield great economic benefits.
As to who will benefit, this is yet to be seen, but
what we do know is that great environmental
damage will be incurred and that many more
people will be further displaced.
VISIT BY THE MINISTER OF
PUBLIC ENTERPRISE
The Port Lock Down was a massive protest that
consisted of over a thousand south Durban
community members from the Bluff, Clairwood,
Durban central, Glenwood, Isipingo, Umlazi,
KwaMkutha, uMbumbulu, Folweni, uMlazi,
kwaMakhutha, Umbilo and Wentworth areas.
Although it was scorching hot, community
members stood their ground and blocked the port
entrance for four hours, forcing representatives of
Transnet, the mayor’s office and the municipality
manager to come out and engage with outraged
community members over their opposing of the
port expansion.
Overall, the protest was a success as representatives
of the above-mentioned groups acknowledged
and signed a memorandum handed over to them
by SDCEA. The event also received major media
coverage and positive feedback from all those
present.
Mass Anti-Port Picket at the Langerberg Road, corner of
Bayhead on the 1st
December 2012

SDCEA COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2013 Page 3
The rezoning of Clairwood has been met with
outrage from both Clairwood residents and
surrounding communities in the south Durban
basin.
A community rich in cultural heritage and long-
standing struggles has embarked upon a journey to
save what little they have of this area.
Present at the meeting were many community
groups including: the Clairwood Ratepayers
Association, the Clairwood Tamil Institute
and SDCEA, to name a few, who presented the
implications of the port expansion and what has
become of Clairwood since it has become almost
fully industrialised. Also present was community
activist Ashwin Desai who challenged Pravin
Gordon on government officials’ corruption and
his role as the Minister of Finance in curbing such
issues.
Pravin Gordon acknowledged that high-level
government officials were guilty of pocketing
money but also said that the country’s past has left
behind a skewed economy and therefore he urged
community groups and organizations to look at all
sides before completely ruling out this development
and seeing it as bad.
However, many organizations disagreed with the
minister’s view as they felt that not all facets of
the implications were being thoroughly addressed
and, furthermore, very little public participation
was occurring.
Another aspect addressed at the meeting was the
struggle towards keeping Clairwood a residential
community and what industry has done to the
area. This was facilitated by slide shows showing
Clairwood’s “hay days” and the thriving community
that existed before the influx of industry, and then
there were slide shows that showcased damages
incurred by trucks to houses as well as deaths
related to truck accidents.
Desai stated that the true rainbow nation has
emerged in the South Durban area because, for the
first time, there is a fight that is non-racial and that
has united people with common interests.
MEETING WITH MINISTER OF FINANCE:
PRAVIN GORDON
City Manager Sithole welcomed stakeholders from
the south industrial basin, at a meeting held at
the Moses Mabida stadium in Durban on the 6th
of September 2012. He noted the conflict that had
emerged since the consultation process started and
expressed his wish to be informed by community
views of people living in the south Durban basin
which has been at the helm of social movements
since the 60s.
In his address, he noted that development must
be integrated and must balance the socioeconomic
needs of the community, and that this needs to be
mediated and balanced as there will be conflict if
economic needs are not married with social and
environmental needs. He also stated that:
• City rates base is not increasing with
needs of city.
• Economicdevelopmenthasbeenstagnant.
Notes that malls have not yielded growth
and consumerism is growing.
• Our sea is our gold to mine but also
protect.
• However, we have young population that
needs jobs or will have an Arab spring.
He also mentioned the importance of creating a new
sustainable economy that addresses the needs of
everybody and therefore the country shouldn’t rely
on tourism only, but should expand its prospects to
other sources which could then provide the entire
continent with petrochemicals and logistics.
He also addressed the issue of rezoning and
“constructive evictions” in the south Durban area
and stated that areas such as Clairwood need to be
re-classified.
He did, however, admit that there has been fault on
the part of government and that both government
and communities need to work together to resolve
the issue of the port expansion.
ADDRESS BY CITY MANAGER
SiBUSISO SITHOLE

On the 7th
to the 9th
of September 2012, an inaugural
conference of the Southern African Youth Network
was held in Durban, South Africa. This conference
was a great success as the youth from project
partner organizations in Mozambique, Namibia,
South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe participated
and engaged in many different activities. They
networked, shared knowledge and empowered
each other.
The conference brought together youth delegates,
accompanied by adults from project partner
organizations. The main objective of the conference
was, firstly, to launch the regional TDH youth
network, that will set the stage for a long-term
process of building a vibrant community of youth
actors who are committed to promote the vision
and mission of TDH and its international program’s
strategies. Secondly, to elect youth delegates for
possible participation in the Delegates Conference
in Germany in October 2013.
An opening speech was given by the South Durban
Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) Co-
ordinator, Desmond D’Sa. Desmond highlighted
that the future is in the young people’s hands.
The youth is needed to take charge and make the
decisions for the future, not to expect the older
generations to make decisions on the youth’s
behalf.
It is important for the youth to carry the message
across correctly because, when we go to Germany,
we need to send the proper message, the African’s
perspective. It’s imperative that we also get our
long-awaited proper share, not just the crumbs
or left over pieces. We need to send a clear and
accurate message of our concerns, dreams and
visions, and explain that improvement is needed.
Ms. Nosipho Mgoma, former DUT student
journalist, presented on youth activism. According
to Ms. Mgoma ‘we start change by motivating
others’. We must change our mindset and educate
other people about the effect and impacts before
we do anything.
The youth delegates were divided into groups
and had to discuss the following topics: State of
TDH youth network in the region; achievements
towards realizing TDH strategic goals; weaknesses
and challenges experienced; issues and strategies
to overcome these weaknesses; working together
to build a vibrant regional TDH youth network;
and issues and strategies to be considered towards
the development of future strategic goals for TDH
international program’s activities.
The Toxic Tour that followed covers a whole range
of historical accidents and incidents in Durban
and it is primarily focusing on educating the
youth and communities in different areas about
the chemicals that are emitted in the process of
refining petrol and diesel and making paper, It is
as a result of such processes that we experience
these stressful weather changes that most directly
impact disadvantaged communities. To some of the
people this is a very emotional experience because
they have lost their close family members due to
the unbearable utter devastation caused.
CREATING TOMORROW’S
LEADERS TODAY
Youth Inaugural Conference at the Bluff Eco-park
The youth having fun at the beach

DAY 1: Meeting and presentations from each city
Prof Ellie welcomed all participants on behalf of
York University
We were then welcomed to Nairobi by the
colleagues from Kenya, who gave us a breakdown
of the agenda for the next few days of the meeting.
It covered issues on climate change and water
in Nairobi, emphasizing flooding in their largest
informal settlement, named Kibera. These are
issues that need to be addressed with civil society
organizations.
Nilza from Maputo spoke on the education of
environmental awareness in schools and the youth.
She explained that more that 50% were unaware on
these issues. This was determined by an evaluation.
They have realized that they need to change their
approach towards engaging youth more. They also
found that youth and schools participate more
when there is an interactive arrangement, rather
than just talk and listen. Their engagement with
governance or the education is because their
curriculum is rather tight and there is not space to
cater for this content of climate change.
Duduzile Khumalo started off by enlightening us
with some songs and dances, which softened the
mood and certainly broke the ice. The problem of
sanitation is a huge issue and a great challenge
because of pollution and contamination of our fresh
water systems. The Umphilo Organization that
she belongs to has conducted many workshops in
communities regarding these issues, empowering
residents.
Priya Pillay from SDCEA – the South Durban
Community Environmental Alliance – did the
next presentation, emphasizing the issues faced in
Durban and focusing on climate change and water
in particular. She went on to explain how, and to
what extent, it affects the local communities that
this organization works with in south Durban,
and also what SDCEA has been doing with regard
to these concerns. Her presentation highlighted
issues such as the bore holes mentioned by
Duduzile Khumalo, who also works in Durban. She
further explained the role of SDCEA in identifying
these issues and trying to solve them by educating
locals on climate change and water shortages by
means of workshops and meetings, encouraging
open and public discussions about these concerns.
Empowering youth is a major factor in the
contribution to environmental education and
activism. She also said that interaction with
government is rather poor and still in a testing
process. Another major issue regarding water and
sanitation are that shacks and transit camps have
no access to fresh, clean water, resulting in washing
in rivers which escalates water-borne diseases.
Further economic expansion of the Durban harbour
container terminals will result in further depletion
of mangroves and sandbanks.
Patrick Bond was the next speaker and his
presentation about how water is a scarce resource
and what do natural disasters and climate change
issues impacts on people was delightful and very
informative. He gave us a good review on white
elephants, which are huge, massive developments
and, in South Africa, include the King Shaka
international airport, Moses Mabida Stadium,
the ICC and many other buildings that have been
built for no logical reason and stand with no viable
purpose.
DAY 2: Field trip
•Nairobi game park
•Kibera, Silanga village
•Haruma village
DAY 3: Evaluation and monitoring of our work and
if we met our objectives
First we gave feedback and were debriefed about
our experiences and encounters on our field trips,
REPORT ON YORK MEETING IN NAIROBI
Protesters outside the Durban City Hall

which was rather enlightening. We were then
divided into our country groups to speak on our
objectives which were:
OBJECTIVE 1: To characterize the institutional
framework for urban water governance in three
cities – Durban, Nairobi and Maputo – and explain
how the different actors within this framework
cope with climate change and variability.
OBJECTIVE 2: To identify and test the viable
alternatives for enhancing civil society roles
towards adaptation to climate change and
variability by vulnerable groups.
OBJECTIVE 3: To share widely the knowledge
generated for adaptation by other cities in Africa.
There was a general discussion on how we intend
to promote or exchange our ways and knowledge
regarding this project and the issues within this
project. All groups agreed that the best way so far
has been through these types of project partner
meetings where different organizations and people
come together and exchange their information and
knowledge about certain issues in question. In this
way we are able to strengthen our networks and
learn from one another.
The York project was extremely enlightening and
has certainly broadened our insight on how to
approach communities with climate change issues.
It has also reminded us never to underestimate the
level of indigenous knowledge that local and rural
residents have. It is so important to know their
stories and understand their positions. We have
seen major differences and changes to the approach
when it comes to climate change and adaptation
techniques.
SDCEA, an organization that is doing this and
has been working with local and vulnerable
communities for many years, has seen great
improvement in the sense of how we inform the
local residents and how we interact with them
regarding climate change issues. The progress that
we have seen throughout this project in relation
to climate change and the three objectives of this
project is vast and instructive.
Group picture at the Nairobi Game Park
The Marikana massacre reaped international
attention. This followed a series of violent incidents
between the South African Police Service, Lonmin
security, the leadership of the National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM) and strikers themselves,
which resulted in the deaths of approximately
forty-seven people, the majority of whom were
striking mineworkers killed on the 16th
of August
2012. At least seventy-eight other workers were
also injured on the 16th
of August. The total number
of injuries during the strike remains unknown.
On the 12th
of September 2012, the South Durban
Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA)
embarked on a ‘Red Day Protest’ outside the
Durban City Hall to express the disapproval of and
disappointment at the massacre, which took us
back to the apartheid era. The shooting incident
on the 16th
of August was the single most lethal
use of force by South African security forces
against civilians since 1960. The shootings have
been described as a massacre in the South African
media and have been compared to the Sharpeville
massacre in 1960.
It brought even more anger, melancholy and dispute
when it was discovered that most of the victims
were shot in the back and many victims were shot
far from police lines. This therefore indicates that
no one is safe as a South African citizen and we are
not willing to go back to the apartheid era.
Red day Protest
Red day Protesters outside City Hall

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa
(NERSA) announced the dates and venue for the
upcoming public hearings on Eskom’s application
for the third multiyear price determination
(MYPD3), which will result in a cost unsustainable
and unfair to the average South African.
Eskom has applied for an average price increase of
16% for each of the five years of the MYPD from
the 1st
of April 2013 to the 31st
of March 2018. This
means that electricity will increase in total by more
than double over the next five years. This would
take the price of electricity from 61c per kilowatt
hour in 2012/2013 to 128c per kilowatt hour in
2017/2018. This is the price to Eskom’s direct
customers; those buying from the municipality
will have to pay more. It is, once again, the South
African citizens who have to suffer and bear the
consequences, since Eskom wants to double its
income from electricity prices over the next five
years. However, Eskom is still failing to deliver
clean, affordable and accessible electricity to the
South African citizens.
On the 17th
of January 2013, Noluthando Mbeje,
SDCEA projects officer, made an oral submission
at the NERSA Public hearing and called on NERSA
to consider the externalised costs of construction
and operation to the environment and to people’s
health and well-being – which makes the price
hikes even more burdensome. She also indicated
the finding from research conducted by SDCEA,
groundwork and David Hallowes which indicated
that there is a high percentage of unemployment
and people who can’t afford electricity and that
60% of the people who were interviewed regularly
experience disconnections. The majority of those
interviewed felt that electricity is too expensive
and that soon it will be impossible to afford it. This
will therefore lead to a rise in illegal connections
and electricity theft. Of those interviewed, 90% felt
that renewable energy would be a better option as it
is cheaper, more sustainable and environmentally
friendly.
Because electricity is no longer affordable, the poor
will have to resort to alternatives such as paraffin,
gas, candles, wood and so on. These will have
devastating impacts, such as indoor pollution,
burning accidents, death, diseases such as TB, and
repeated fires in shacks.
She further justified why Eskom’s MYDP3
application should be rejected. Eskom’s proposals
will lead to a huge increase in greenhouse gas
emissions, resulting in pollution and climate
change. Eskom failed to embrace the use of
renewable energy and provide sufficient funds to
pursue various renewable options. Lastly, it will
lead to: job loss, food insecurity and health impacts.
Whilst the public hearing presentations were
taking place, hundreds of KZN residents were
outside the International Convention Centre (ICC)
picketing. Members of the public were sending the
message loud and clear that they will not be fools
for daylight robbery.
People were chanting their frustrations and
pensioners were speaking of their daily struggles
to make ends meet. Many held placards in protest
against Eskom and NERSA. Messages such as:
“Poor to pay no more”, “Rich win + Poor lose =
Capitalism” and “BHP Bilton benefits and poor
pay” were held in detestation against the 16% price
hike tariff being proposed by Eskom.
One thing is for certain, the consumers will not take
this matter lying down, especially since the price
increases are going to continue at above-inflation
levels. Eskom needs to realize that consumers are
tired of paying and suffering the consequences of
disastrous decisions made to benefit a select few,
whilst leaving the poor to fight for their small slice
of the pie.
Betrayed by Eskom
Protesters outside the ICC (Nersa Public Hearing)
The Eskom and Nersa representatives outside the ICC

THE SECRECY BILL FAILS OUR SEVEN
POINT FREEDOM TEST
The Right2Know campaign KZN held its regional
summit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on
Saturday the 19th
of January 2013.
In addition to the Durban/Umlazi participants,
a large number of the participants were from
outlying areas such as Harding, Vryheid, Nongoma,
Newcastle, Eshowe, Gingindhlovu, Msindusi
(Ndwedwe), Umkomaas, Gamalakhe, Botha’s Hill,
Inanda, Ilfracom, Umgababa, Ndwedwe Court and
Umzinyathi. We had an excellent mix of deep rural
participants from the northern areas of Zululand/
KwaZulu as well as the south coast.
A new provincial working group was elected and
tasked with taking the campaign forward in the
province in 2013.
An important task of the provincial working
group will be to organize the national summit of
the Right2Know, scheduled to be held in Durban
within the next two months.
The R2K is of the view that the Secrecy Bill, now
passed by the NCOP, still fails our seven point
freedom test:
• Limit secrecy to core state bodies in the
security sector, such as the police, defence and
intelligence agencies – ALMOST MET.
• Limit secrecy to strictly defined national
security matters and no more. Officials must
give reasons for making information secret –
PARTLY MET.
• Exclude commercial information from this Bill
– ALMOST MET.
• Do not exempt the intelligence agencies from
public scrutiny – PARTLY MET.
• Do not apply penalties for unauthorised
disclosure to society at large – NOT MET.
• Do not criminalise the legitimate disclosure of
secrets in the public interest – PARTLY MET.
• An independent body appointed by Parliament,
and not the Minister of State Security, should
review decisions about what may be made
secret – PARTLY MET.
In addition to the above aspects of the “Secrecy
Bill”, the R2K will also focus on the other legs of
its national campaign on “Information Access
Now!”, “Promotion of a Diverse Media!” and
“Justice for Whistle-blowers!”
In the coming period the campaign will be
strengthened in the rural areas to reinforce
the popular demand for democratic practices
throughout the country.
THE RIGHT2KNOW DEMANDS
• FREE INFORMATION
• FULL INCLUSION
• FAIR PROCESS
It is of great importance that civil society joins in
on the Right2Know campaign, as having the right
to know and the right to speak out means being
included and informed so that the community
can empower itself with information and take
decisions for itself. Ensuring the right to know is
one small way of making democracy wok for the
ordinary person on the street.
Government control of the media only increases
their control over the nation and we need to
fight against this. The fight against this not only
comes from knowledge but through action because
knowledge does not solve injustice – it is through
action that we find justice.
So what are you going to do about this? Allow
yourself the opportunity to live in a transparent
democracy where words like justice and equality
are not used in vain but are lived experiences of
peoples’ lives. Only we, civil society, have the
ability to effect positive changes in our democracy.
So let us take a stand and carve a new path in our
democracy.

After several months of persuading the eThekwini
municipality to build new houses for the Clairwood
residents residing in tent towns in the most
inhumane conditions, the municipality finally built
new structures to cater for these families.
These residents were forcefully moved from their
shacks in 208 Pine Road. On the 5th
of September
2011, they were moved to two big tents situated on
the Clairwood grounds. One tent was for males and
the other for females and children. Families were
tragically separated. These people were moved into
such callous conditions on a “temporary” basis, yet
almost a year later they were still waiting. Sadly,
the weather conditions we experienced recently
did them no good and left them living under even
more horrendous conditions.
Finally, these residents, after numerous meetings
between SDCEA, Clairwood Residents & Ratepayers
Association and Ivor Aylward, chairperson of the
Bluff Ratepayers Association, and the municipality,
can share the experience of living together as one
family unit with proper sanitation and bathing
facilities provided. They may not be the best houses
ever built, but we all acknowledge that they are
an improvement and we are looking forward to
many more improvements all over south Durban
regarding these situations. We give credit when
credit is due.
THERE MAY BE LIGHT AT THE END OF
THE TUNNEL FOR CLAIRWOOD TENT
DWELLERS
Fishermen in Durban are angry over the fact that,
since 2004, they have been denied access to the
lucrative fishing grounds at the South Pier and to
other traditional fishing grounds. Furthermore, the
source of bait used to fish, found on the sand banks
in the Durban Harbour, has become a no-go area.
Despite the Port Regulator recognizing that they are
port users, the North and South Piers have become
inaccessible to the subsistence fisher folks who use
this to access the deep waters of the Indian Ocean.
These fishermen are now being harassed and all
their equipment taken by both port security and
harbour police.
Subsistence fisher folk were kept off the Durban
beaches and piers during the 2010 FIFA world cup,
which has stifled their livelihoods since, to this
day, these fishermen are still denied access to such
spaces.
Fisher folks place the blame on the national
Fisheries Department, Transnet and the eThekwini
Municipality, which continue to deny them their
rights to a livelihood, despite the country’s high
unemployment rate.
Thelucrative“sardinerun”(withvastshoals),which
runs from May to July, continues to be enjoyed by
the tourists who come from far and wide, while the
fisher folks stay at home worrying how they will
put the next plate of food on the table. Fisher folks
ask: “who is gaining at our expense while we suffer
from hunger!”
Subsistence Fishermen cry foul
Anger simmers over Ban on access to Traditional Fishing
grounds in the Durban Harbour and Beach front Piers
The living conditions of the tent dwellers
The improved living conditions (transit camp)

The South Durban Community
Environmental Alliance (SDCEA)
has embarked on advocating
for environmental justice in,
and around, South Durban and
working in juxtaposition with
environmental NGO’s/CBO’s
in other provinces around the
country where they experience
similar challenges. It is therefore
the aim of such organizations to
put pressure on government to
ensure their adherence to Section
24a in the Bill of Rights, which
guarantees citizens:
The right to an environment
that is not harmful to their
health and wellbeing
The south Durban basin
comprises six major industrial
belts:
• The Valley Industrial (Engen;
Mondi and Sapref),
• The Jacobs Industrial Belt,
• The Navy/Mobeni Industrial
Belt,
• The Island View Industrial
Belt,
• The Umbongitwini and the
Prospecton Industrial Belt.
The Toxic Tour covers a whole
range of historical accidents
and incidents in Durban and
it primarily focuses on educating the youth and
communities in different areas about the chemicals
that are emitted in the process of refining petrol
and diesel and making paper and that contribute
towards the stressful weather changes which most
directly impact disadvantaged communities.
SDCEA has hosted more than seventeen toxic tours
from August 2012 to date. Twelve of the tours were
for international groups.
The toxic tour addresses air, water and land
pollution in the south Durban basin.
Toxic Tour: Narrative background
of south Durban
Rising Sun (20/11/12)

The cat is out of the hat
Protesters outside the FFs Refinery (Cat-Urine Picket)
Southland Sun (29/08/12)

On Saturday the 20th
of October 2012, SDCEA
brought together over eighty people representing
a wide spectrum of civil society at the Dennis
Hurley Centre at Diakonia Council of Churches.
The discussion included representatives of
environmental and faith based groups, community
forums, ratepayers, shack dwellers and other social
movements to discuss how best we can support
one another’s struggles and provide solidarity to
these struggles.
The meeting took place as civil society finds the
spaces that they have enjoyed since the democratic
dispensation of 1994 closing rapidly, with the state
playing a prominent role. Civil society groups
such as NGOs, community-based organizations
and social movements are accused by the state
and business of being the third force. The meeting
comes at a time when forty-three miners have
been shot by the South African Police Services in
the mining dispute at Marikana.
Many organizations adhered to the fact that they
have been victims of state brutality, with the shack
dwellers movement giving a very eloquent report
of how some of their members have been killed,
others jailed and leaders of the movement and
their families have had to flee from their homes
and base where they work. They have since been
vindicated by the courts in Durban. Others gave an
account of their struggles.
The meeting ended with resolutions that were
adopted and that stated that the civil society unity
and solidarity must be carried forward by an
interim committee.
FORWARD TO UNITY AND SOLIDARITY -
NO TO DIVISION
SDCEA can be contacted at:
Tel: 031-461-1991
Fax: 031-468-1257
Email: shanusha@sdceango.co.za
Daily News (29/08/12)
web: www.sdcea.co.za

sdceanewsletterjan2013

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