The eThekwini Municipality officially launched R6.7 million community bakery development programme last week. However, a bump in the road was hit when construction started on one of them but on the wrong plot of land in Glenwood on Wednesday. In December 2024, the Economic Development and Planning Committee received support from council to fund five bakeries in ward 01: Kwa Ximba, Ward 94: KwaMakhutha, Ward 32: Albert Park, Ward 61: Tongaat and Ward 207: Ntuzuma/Inanda, during the 2024 and 2025 financial year. Following a discussion between ward 32: Albert Park, Ward 61: Tongaat and ward 107: Ntuzuma/Inanda, during 2024 and 2025 financial year.
Following a discussion between ward 32 Councillor Protas Ngonyama and ward 33 Councillor Fran Kristofer the matter had been resolved after it was discovered that there could have been a misunderstanding with ward demarcations. Both councillors initially declined to comment further but Ngonyama later said that the bakery project would be placed on Dunkirk Park, within his ward in Umbilo. In a report to eThekwini council, it stated that the bakery programme is critical for achieving rural and township recovery objectives. The programme will also assist the city to contribute towards job creation and creation of sustainable livelihoods through supporting the development of Township-Based Enterprises, Co-operatives and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs).
The misunderstanding is a significant error on the part of the ward councillors. Hopefully the decision to move the bakery construction site from one ward demarcation to the other won’t cost a major amount of money. The main purpose of this bakery programme is to improve the livelihood of the communities in the respective wards. The Bakery programme is meant to give their respective wards hope about improvement and lead them to a better path for the future. This could especially provide opportunities for women and their children. The programme could go a long way in lifting parts of the eThekwini region out of poverty and giving them opportunities. Hopefully the same mistake won’t be repeated again as regards to construction in the wrong ward demarcation.
Meanwhile there was also a fire in an informal settlement.
At least 70 residents were rescued after a fire ripped through their homes in Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban on Wednesday night. KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila said the fire, which broke out around 20:00, destroyed more than 40 informal structures. “Disaster response teams received urgent calls from residents reporting a significant fire within the informal settlement,” he said. He added that disaster response, police, and fire and rescue teams were at the scene. “The incident resulted in over 40 shacks being destroyed, leaving many residents without shelter and having lost essential documents and personal belongings. “A comprehensive investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the fire,” Mzila added. No deaths were recorded. The affected residents are being housed at a nearby community hall.
It has been said that newly installed smoke alarms played a role in alerting both the residents as well as disaster response, police and fire and rescue teams to a major fire taking alight. The fire would been terrible and frightening for the locals, particularly the children. It was fortunate that people survived. If it were not for the smoke alarms the night could have ended in tragedy. It shows that some things can change, even though there is still progress to be made. Yes, personal documentation was lost but these can be remade by home affairs for the residents again. The incident will shine a spot light on the housing situation in eThekwini as well as the surrounding region. It is good news that the rescue services acted in the nick of time or there would have certainly been more deaths.
Things are changing slowly in eThekwini region but it will depend on what we will be able to tackle with in the future.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
