Taking a stand against port expansion

HEADED by the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, Durban residents were out in force to march against the ill-conceived Durban Port Expansion Project on Saturday 29 March, representing a broad cultural, political and demographical cross-section of concerned Durban communities.

From King Dinizulu Park, the starting point, all the way to the City Hall, protestors highlighted a wide range of problems that will flow from this mega-infrastructure project.

Of particular concern to Glenwood and Umbilo communities will be the major increase of heavy duty trucks in the suburbs, the resulting social decay, an increase in drugs, crime, illegal taverns and prostitution, and the unemployment that will result from small local businesses squeezed out to make way for container storage depots and other harbour-related industry.

Specific crime-related concerns cited in the memorandum handed over to Transnet Port Authorities and city officials on the day included both the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), who have, in their most recent world reports, flagged South Africa as one of the leading narcotics transit points worldwide. It is said this will increase significantly with the increased opportunities presented by a vastly expanded port.

Dr Lucan Naidoo of the INCB specifically cited the Durban port expansion as cause for major concern with regard to the rise in the trade, and even more so, the use, of heroin. Security at Durban harbour is notoriously poor.

According to Metro Police a large number of stowaways arrive at the port, some already addicted to heroin. These factors have led to Whoonga Park, near the junction of the M4, Che Guevara Road and Albert Park, where up to 600 people have gathered in an informal settlement, purely to smoke and deal in whoonga.

Narcotics are also being smuggled through the underground storm water tunnels below Glenwood and Umbilo.

Another issue raised in the memorandum was that currently, only one per cent of containers passing through Durban Harbour are properly screened. In addition to narcotics, independent research has shown a dramatic rise in the smuggling of diamonds, vehicles, cigarettes and other contraband flowing through the port. As communities surrounding the port already suffer high crime levels, poverty, and socioeconomic challenges, the potential for increased serious criminal activity will be magnified by the increased opportunities presented by an expanded port and cause further social decay.

The third crime-related issue highlighted the fact that SA ranks within the top 10 countries in terms of human trafficking. In 2012, the DPCI (Hawks) listed Umbilo as having one of the country’s highest incidences of human trafficking and the highest in KZN. It is no coincidence that Umbilo adjoins the Durban harbour. Most trafficked women are used for the sex trade, for which Glenwood is becoming increasingly notorious. Current human rights abuses, vigilantism and racial tension between sex workers and community members will be fuelled by the increased human trafficking trade it is anticipated will be caused by the port expansion with potentially explosive results.

Umbilo has recorded a 14.9 per cent increase in truck hijacking for 2013-14 compared to 2012-13, ranking 7th highest in South Africa – this is expected to spiral as more trucks invade the area to service the port, read the memorandum.

According to the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, apart from failing to provide a meaningful, inclusive, public participation platform, there are also severe health, environmental and economic risks attached to this project, not least being the considerable contribution it will make to climate change.

The memorandum of concerns and demands was handed to representatives from the Mayor’s Office and Transnet on the City Hall steps. Both were given 14 days to respond.