Abahlali calls for inclusion in eThekwini’s community safety plans
Abahlali baseMjondolo has urged eThekwini Municipality to involve organisations such as the shack dwellers' movement when developing safety plans for informal settlements.
The City installed 324 fire and smoke detectors at the Dakota Informal Settlement in Isipingo, south of Durban on Tuesday.
The municipality says it's part of efforts to reduce fire risks.
The installations come three weeks after a devastating blaze ripped through the area, leaving more than 400 people homeless.
Abahlali baseMjondolo's Mqapheli Bonono says they have asked to be part of discussions, so that they can properly represent shack dwellers when key decisions are made, but feels they've been sidelined.
He adds that they understand how the fire detectors work.
"The questions that we [have are]: how [are these detectors] going to be monitored and [how can we be sure] that they are not being put there just to tick boxes?
"We believe that if they can involve everyone who works with informal [dwellers], these things can be run in a way that can be useful in the communities."
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