NEXT week’s Monster Meeting, the third public meeting organised by Save Our Berea civic organisation is the culmination of a long, arduous two year journey that has seen this organisation tackle city authorities on a number of issues affecting Berea residents and more recently, Durban ratepayers as a whole.
It was in November 2013 that activists Cheryl Johnson and Kevin Dunkley, together with a core group of other long-term Berea residents got together to tackle the social ills that plagued the area and were grabbing media headlines at the time. From vagrants and prostitutes to illegal buildings, absentee landlords and a general sense of decay, the group formed Save Our Berea in an effort to turn things around at a grassroots level. At the time, Dunkley and Johnson said the initiative to save the Berea rather than Durban was made because the founding group were familiar with the issues that needed attention in the area. It was their hope that other similar localised initiatives in all areas of the metro would be established with which Save Our Berea could support and form alliances. It has since done this successfully with the Sydenham initiative and the Bulwer Community Safety Forum.
Relentless and uncompromising on issues of by-laws and the responsibilities of local government officials and politicians, Save Our Berea has engaged with the city on a myriad of topics. Not affiliated to any political party, it has taken a stand for the people of the Berea and greater Durban and not wavered in its pursuit for justice. The highlight of its success has undoubtedly been the High Court judgement in favour of objectors to the 317 Currie Road development. That this is just one of many controversial developments currently under investigation by Save Our Berea and its affiliates is no secret. However, what is needed is the support of residents, not only on the Berea, but those in other suburbs where similar issues have arisen. There is strength in numbers and it is one of the reasons Save Our Berea has come out in support of a national march on 19 August on the union buildings in Pretoria by ordinary citizens, civic bodies and groups who are calling for an end to the corruptions and ills that have infiltrated our government and threaten our constitution.
In the meantime, a call goes out to all residents, whether you live on the Berea or outlying suburbs, to attend the Monster Meeting on Tuesday, 4 August at St Thomas’ Church hall at 6.30pm for 7pm to hear guest speaker, Advocate Tayob Aboobaker, explain what the Currie Road judgement means to each and every resident and what lies ahead after the city and the developers indicated their intention to appeal the decision to have the building demolished. It is in every person’s best interest to understand the enormity of the issue that does not just apply to one development, but may well affect future developments and zoning issues in all areas of the metro.
