The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme - 10 Years Later! Has It Helped You?

When you approach Mdantsane, you are greeted by a large friendly sign board positioned strategically just after the traffic lights (so that you can not overlook it), entitled "The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme". It announces a great promise: We are changing the face of Mdantsane.

During his State of the Nation Address in 2001 President Mbeki announced the implementation of a new government initiative, aimed at speeding up service delivery and improving the quality of life of communities living in eight identified townships. And so the Urban Renewal Programme (MURP) was born.

You are welcomed to the suburb of Mdantsane

With a planned lifespan of 10 years, the programme is run under the auspices of the National Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) to promote coordinated service delivery in eight selected Urban Renewal Nodes in the country. It targets urban communities, with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as women, youth, the aged and the disabled.

The township of Mdantsane, situated 25 km outside of East London corresponded exactly to the above description. Additionally it is an important part of the Buffalo City Metropolitan. Mdantsane was identified as one of the eight townships and in October 2003 the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme was launched by the Buffalo City Municipality. 

The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme promised to change the face of Mdantsane over a period of ten years

Going trough the official papers and mission statements, that are available to the public you will find, that the Urban Renewal Programme's overall mission is:

“To fight poverty and underdevelopment through job creation, infrastructure development and the stimulation of growth”.

For Mdantsane this general mission statement was narrowed down to the following vision - a vision, that should guide all future developments in the township:

“Mdantsane to be innovative place, socially inclusive, addressing the imbalances of yesterday, investing in today for a better tomorrow.” 

Addressing the imbalances of yesterday and investing in a better tomorrow

Ten years later after the implementation of the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme - where are we now? Has it helped the people as it planned to do so? Has it helped you personally? Has it helped the ones (or at least some of them) who are living in Mdantsane? 
We are asking these questions without a second agenda. We are asking these questions, because ten years is a time long enough to see results or not and to draw some conclusions from the experiences, that the residents of Mdantsane have made with the programme.

Ten years is a time long enough, to allow us to understand if the conceptualization of the programme has picked up the needs of the beneficiaries and if it has been implemented in a sustainable way. Sustainability is the talk of the time.
Meaning: are the projects, that have been realized with the funds of the programme still alive and going?

But only the ones who are living there, are the ones who can tell us. No government papers or reports can do that better than they do.

Mdantsane has to become a socially inclusive place......a childhood in Mdantsane

 
There is no doubt, that Mdantsane, due to its special history of segregation during the Apartheid time and long time underdevelopment is in dire need of urban renewal. Put it in simpler words: Mdantsane is in need of urbanization.

Mdantsane has to become an innovative place.........

Let's have a closer look at the key areas of  MURP, that have been identified 10 years ago.

The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme has identified six key objectives that will ensure the aim of changing the face of the township will be realized (quoted from the official website).

1. to create habitable living environments  
2. to create a vibrant and sustainable local economy
3. to reduce vulnerability and improved access to social services and economic opportunities
4. Improved stakeholder involvement and partnerships
5. Improved strategy project implementation and coordination
6. Improved capacity for Urban Renewal Implementation

Vulnerable groups must experience increased physical and social security opportunities

Mdantsane Hotel And Entertainment Area

The strategies that were outlined by the programme seemed simple and easy to follow up: to create a living environment where people work, live and play. Live and play is important. To be able to live in an environment where you can be happy is of utmost importance. This alone can change your life - even if you are not rich!

Furthermore to support the residents through the creation of jobs and economic opportunities. To improve access to social services, create a socially and culturally inclusive environment and to ensure that vulnerable groups experience increased physical and social security opportunities.

All this was supposed to happen by encouraging and supporting local initiatives in Mdantsane, thereby ensuring that the residents increasingly participate in the decision making of the programme. Using local talent, capacities and resources in this process is self understood because this promotes the sustainability of the programme.

But nothing concerning development is easy!

Resident of a Mdantsane Informal Settlement

It is envisaged that:

• Less people will travel outside to look for work
• It will be a safe place to live and invest
• There will be greater incomes and economic benefits
• The social & physical environments will be enhanced AND
• The community will be proud of Mdantsane

Are we proud?

Mdantsane CBD - Central Business District - or Hi-Way

Who are the Beneficiaries in Mdantsane?

On the Buffalo City Website you can seen the projects they have realized under the framework of this programme. If you would like to check it out go to the following link http://www.buffalocity.gov.za/business/murp_archive.stm

The Urban Renewal Programme has an office in Mdantsane:

Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme
Dunga Road
Mdantsane Community Support Centre
Highway
Tel: 043 708 4500/04
Fax: 043 760 0392

E-mail: phumlam@buffalocity.gov.za 

We are asking you: Have you benefited from this programme or have you made negative experiences? What is your opinion? Readers from different parts of this world are also welcome to share their opinion if they have experiences with similar programmes in other countries. You can comment directly and anonymously by clicking on "comment" in the footer of this article. A comment form will open.