By Bongekile Gumede
In response to the community’s outcry following the tragic floods which hit parts of Durban in April and May, the Springfield Civic and Ratepayers’ Association recently undertook the responsibility of restoring damaged areas in Springfield’s Ward 25, including the retention pond on Asherville grounds and the Balkumar Asherville Swimming Pool in Ward 31.
The Springfield Civic and Ratepayers’ Association (SCRA) was fortunate to have partnered with Maureen Rambhadursing of the Poor Flat Dwellers Movement, a social justice and human rights organisation affiliated with the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance. Well known to the community, Rambhadursing is a board member of Poor Flat Dwellers Movement and has now secured the services of environmental, structural, civil, GeoTecS, engineering and town planning experts to assist and advise the SCRA on a pro bono basis.
On Monday, 18 July, the SCRA together with Rambhadursing and Advocate Kresen Moodley of the Joint Ratepayers’ Association met with eThekwini Deputy Mayor, Councillor Philani Mavundla, and Ward 25 Councillor, Themba Mkhize, to conduct a detailed inspection which was led by Nicole Daniels who works with the SCRA. Daniels expressed hope that the oversight visit by the deputy mayor was the beginning of a fruitful joint development and partnership with the city.
Vice-chairperson of the SCRA, Jonathan Muthusamy, was enthusiastic about the pro-active and prompt response from the office of the deputy mayor. He said: “We are very grateful for the meeting last week and the visit today from Deputy Mayor Mavundla and his team as well as Councillor Mkhize, for making time to attend to us. We are grateful that he kept to his promise to conduct the site visit on 18 July, which was also Mandela Day. The SCRA looks forward to working with the both of them in restoring our area. We are also glad that the repairs to Dr RD Naidu Drive were completed a few weeks back, thanks to Cllr Mkhize for his assistance and intervention in the repairs.”
Muthusamy said that as the SCRA, they are grateful to Daniels for leading the coalition between the SCRA, Joint Ratepayers’ Association, the PFDM and the SDCEA.
Rajah Krishnasamy, public relations officer for the SCRA, added that the stormwater drainage system needs to be restored as a matter of urgency as any further storms which may come will completely destroy the area and will lead to further loss of lives and damage to property which may be irreparable.
“We are grateful for the intervention and care shown towards the area by the stormwater and sewage department who have already begun the planning and design of the reconstruction. The SCRA would like to express our appreciation to all those who sponsored food hampers and rendered assistance to the vulnerable residents of Springfield,” concluded Krishnasamy.
