|
IMPACT |
Peace at a Price in Vrygrond |
|
|
|
After more than ten years of conflict, the Vrygrond community can at last look forward to moving ahead with much-needed development. Vrygrond is one of the oldest informal settlements in Cape Town, but has been wracked by deep conflict to its roots. The community was not organised, and political differences caused tensions which broke out around the process of development. In 1993 / 1994, a Development Trust was imposed on the unorganised community. As soon as the houses started being built in October 1998, people realised it was not what they wanted, so they chased the builders away. When the premier of the province, Gerald Morkel, came to visit the site, he was also chased away. In spite of many organisations intervening at various stages, it was only during election monitoring in 1999 when consultations were finally initiated with the beneficiaries. The Peace Monitoring Forum [PMF] and the Independent Electoral Commission [IEC] identified Vrygrond as one of the areas where conflict could erupt. The IEC mandated the PMF, who in turn mandated the QPC to look at the Vrygrond conflict. The QPC consulted with stakeholders and role-players such as organisations, the community and the South Peninsula Municipality [SPM]. During consultations, the churches started talking to the people, and from July to November 1999, the problems became apparent. The community needed an organisation to assist the Trust. The conflict that had been brewing arose out of divisions between political parties and a deep mistrust between the people. Different organisations supposedly represented the people, but they were not representative. One person had been appointed who claimed to represent the community. Prior to December, Trevor Ciljeur was in the community, and there were various attempts on his life. In 1998/99 his house was burnt, injuring him and his daughter. Pastor Mark Killian recalls: "On 14 December 1999, he was killed because of the conflict. Someone in the community has been detained, but one party is still missing. At the funeral there was more seething conflict. It was very tense. People couldn't deal with the traumatised situation, so the pastors and ministers were called in. We realised that we, as the church, had failed he community. It took QPC with the initiative to start resolving the conflict. The church became involved on certain conditions: that it be non-political. The church would initiate reconciliation and peace in conjunction with QPC, but the service for the healing of memories on 20 February would not be allowed to be used as a political platform. At the service we apologised and asked the community for forgiveness in our failure to intervene earlier. We are grateful to QPC for starting the process of healing." Plans started being made to work out the long-standing conflict. The development process at Westlake provided a possible model. When the Development Trust was given the land at Vrygrond, all the sectors needed to be represented, like the community and the South Peninsula Municipality. At Westlake the development process was very different — in spite of the community having differing politics and coming from different cultural backgrounds. It was one of the few places where whites, coloured and blacks were all living together with no animosity between them. They created different forums for different interest groups such as transport, churches, schools and so on. We started to set this process in motion for Vrygrond. All the parties have agreed to work together in a community structure _ the Development Forum _ and even on the Trust. The Development Trust is seen as an interim Trust, but it represents stakeholders and the community. We didn't want to break the Trust, as it is a useful legal structure. Now there is representation from the Development Forum on the Development Trust. The turning point has come. QPC is helping to establish the different committees in Vrygrond, so that we can launch the structures and take the development process a step further. We now have a draft constitution for the Vrygrond Development Trust. The Vrygrond Development Forum is the body representing the community, and the Trust is the executive arm. The Trust will be guided by the different committees in the Forum. The next phase is getting the sub-committees operative. Some infrastructure also still needs to be established, and the SPM is looking at the situation of building roads. The building has started again, and some people are already in their new houses. Because the conflict has stopped, the builders can continue. We need to establish a firm base for the future, because there will be more and different development to come. In the future, the churches will play an active role in their congregations. For example, they can establish a soup kitchen for the whole community. The church must be seen as a haven. The first church in Westlake got ground, and keeps it doors open 24 hours. There is a lot of child abuse, so we want it to be a place of safety. This is a role the church should play — all the churches. Because Vrygrond is a very poor community, steps are being taken to find partners for development. Representatives went to parliament to tell their story and get support from MPs. The negotiations started in January 2000, with more visits to parliament on 20 February and 4 March. Arrangements are being made with MPs to work on funding proposals. The congregations are drawing up the proposals, and looking for donors, also internationally. Some major changes are taking place. Now there is stability, people can dream again about having their own houses and business prospects are opening up. In the past, the community members were living as individuals, now they are getting to know each other, and respect each other. |
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
| HOME |
 |
