City Story set to make a change in Durban

THERE has been a positive response from citizens of Durban to a video by the group City Story in response to a recent expose by Carte Blanche on issues plaguing Durban.

The video, presented by Russell Curtis and Mphume Mkhize, which encouraged people to get on board to make a change in the city, went viral on social meida earlier this month. In the video, Curtis and Mkhize didn’t dispute the facts presented by Carte Blanche, that Durban was battling issues of crime, grime, drug usage, prostitution and homelessness, however they encouraged people to join the organisation City Story to help change these negative aspects of the city which is a major holiday destination, over a period of four years.

Speaking to Berea Mail this week, Robin Moodley and Thami Mahlobo from City Story, which is a network of individuals from different spheres of life including NGOs, religious groups, business, government, the municipality and individuals, said the group wanted to embark on this journey with like-minded people.

“We have received so many responses to the video and we are still breaking down the groups of people, with more still contacting us to get involved. We have attracted like-minded people who are willing to be involved,” said Thami.

Robin said the initiative to change the course of the city started when the group attended Movement Day in New York in 2016. The conference is about making change in cities and impacting cities for the good.

“The conference speaks to understanding how cities can be restored and renewed. Historically we come from a fractured past, compounded with displaced people. The Carte Blanche programme showed a bleeding city without hope. We aim to take ownership of the city, find out who we are and give people the opportunity to get involved,” said Robin.

https://www.facebook.com/DOGDurban/videos/298906037425605/

He said the Carte Blanche expose encouraged the group to act and the responses received will enable the group to gather resources. “There has been an influx of responses from businesses, corporates and individuals and we are putting together a database and consolidating a vision so we can look at it logistically and put a plan of action together using different people’s gifting, time, availability and management skills,” said Robin.

He said the plan would be to break up sections of the city geographically, and people with different skills sets could get involved in each area.

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“We need to restore the city and the infrastructure, but you cannot divorce this from the people living there. We need to focus of the people, understand the need on the ground and bring resources into place to birth hope, healing and restoration, then the infrastructure will come in,” said Robin.

The men said the municipality had responded favourably to the initiative and Russell had already put together a logistical team in the City to get involved. The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also agreed to get on board, with former CEO Dumile Cele one of the members of City Story.

“We hope to meet regularly with interested people. We have cast our vision and stirred up hope, and we will now come together to bring resources to make a change,” said Robin.

Join the movement by visiting: www.city-story.org.

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