136
3 eThekwini’s Green and Ecological Infrastructure Policy Landscape
Table 3.4
(continued)
Collaboration between eThekwini and DUCT [Duzi Umngeni Conservation Trust] exists concerning the River
Horse Project. The purpose of this is to establish a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative to implement the
recommendations of the consultants on the maintenance of the wetland (Respondent 6). Respondent 6 said that
he wants to get the CSI off the ground, together with the River Horse Valley Business Management Association.
‘[T]hey, (the business association) have done the investigations for us and the feedback that we’ve had is that
Unilever is one of them, and there are a number of companies that said they are excited about contributing to
this, especially because the wetland is literally on their doorstep. The companies said they usually fund things
that are kilometres away, and now we have the opportunity to fund something that is literally on our doorstep’
specific interest groups
(DUCT and the business
association) with a
specific interest group
(business association)
The ‘…former head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation’ established and championed the UEIP. The aim is
‘…to coordinate action around improving the state of [ecological infrastructures] in the uMngeni Catchment, in
terms of water security. There is…a whole governance component that coordinates action across research
institutions and government entities and NGOs [non-governmental organisations], and it is quite complex.
There is a strong research component to that’ (Respondent 9). eThekwini, therefore, is a key partner in the
UEIP, which has several associates, for example, ‘…the Msunduzi Municipality, Umgeni Water…, the KZN
Provincial Department of Environment and Tourism, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the WRC, KZN
Wildlife (Ezemvelo), UKZN (Sabine and Cathy, and the other person is Graham Jewitt)—so they are very
well-represented on the UEIP. CSIR is also part of the partnership. [T]here are a few [NGOs], for example,
WESSA. Wildlands, which is a KZN-based NGO, Birdlife South Africa and SASA [South African Sugar
Association], as well as quite a few municipalities, for example, the uMgungundlovu District Municipality
(Respondent 7). According to Respondent 16, the UEIP consists of 23 stakeholders. There is inter-municipal
collaboration with upstream neighbouring municipalities, as mentioned by Respondent 7, climate change
compact partnerships and communities, particularly in the Palmiet Catchment, as well as associations
representing the sugar industry and forestry
The Palmiet Catchment initiative is part of the UEIP, and it has fallen on us. Originally, it was driven by Water
and Sanitation to create wetlands below the Quarry Road informal settlement’ (Respondent 16)
eThekwini collaborates with various stakeholders, such as Umgeni Water, WWF [World Wide Fund for Nature]
and other interest groups (PWR) and the epistemic community (DUT and UKZN) when implementing green
and ecological infrastructure initiatives (Respondents 7 and 9)
Other initiatives by the Municipality are the Sihlangzimvelo Project, on the Umhlangane River, and the Green
Corridor initiative. The latter is under the auspices of eThekwini’s Economic Development Department, which
has an agreement with the DUCT. The initiative involves the clearing of alien invasive species and alien
management in the uMngeni River (Respondent 6). [The Green Corridor] was a subsidiary of DUCT before
they decided to make it independent. Now it is an independent entity that is mainly funded by eThekwini. It is
like a parastatal NGO, because it is very dependent on eThekwini for funding. And then there is [WfE], which
is becoming very famous, and which is a Durban project…’ (Respondent 8)
Establishment of a
collaborative structure to
promote the
municipality’s water
security, considering its
downstream status
A cobweb of relations
involving various actor
types, although a local
government-centred
partnership constituting
specific green and
ecological infrastructure
initiatives
(continued)
3 eThekwini’s Green and Ecological Infrastructure Policy Landscape
Table 3.4
(continued)
Collaboration between eThekwini and DUCT [Duzi Umngeni Conservation Trust] exists concerning the River
Horse Project. The purpose of this is to establish a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative to implement the
recommendations of the consultants on the maintenance of the wetland (Respondent 6). Respondent 6 said that
he wants to get the CSI off the ground, together with the River Horse Valley Business Management Association.
‘[T]hey, (the business association) have done the investigations for us and the feedback that we’ve had is that
Unilever is one of them, and there are a number of companies that said they are excited about contributing to
this, especially because the wetland is literally on their doorstep. The companies said they usually fund things
that are kilometres away, and now we have the opportunity to fund something that is literally on our doorstep’
specific interest groups
(DUCT and the business
association) with a
specific interest group
(business association)
The ‘…former head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation’ established and championed the UEIP. The aim is
‘…to coordinate action around improving the state of [ecological infrastructures] in the uMngeni Catchment, in
terms of water security. There is…a whole governance component that coordinates action across research
institutions and government entities and NGOs [non-governmental organisations], and it is quite complex.
There is a strong research component to that’ (Respondent 9). eThekwini, therefore, is a key partner in the
UEIP, which has several associates, for example, ‘…the Msunduzi Municipality, Umgeni Water…, the KZN
Provincial Department of Environment and Tourism, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the WRC, KZN
Wildlife (Ezemvelo), UKZN (Sabine and Cathy, and the other person is Graham Jewitt)—so they are very
well-represented on the UEIP. CSIR is also part of the partnership. [T]here are a few [NGOs], for example,
WESSA. Wildlands, which is a KZN-based NGO, Birdlife South Africa and SASA [South African Sugar
Association], as well as quite a few municipalities, for example, the uMgungundlovu District Municipality
(Respondent 7). According to Respondent 16, the UEIP consists of 23 stakeholders. There is inter-municipal
collaboration with upstream neighbouring municipalities, as mentioned by Respondent 7, climate change
compact partnerships and communities, particularly in the Palmiet Catchment, as well as associations
representing the sugar industry and forestry
The Palmiet Catchment initiative is part of the UEIP, and it has fallen on us. Originally, it was driven by Water
and Sanitation to create wetlands below the Quarry Road informal settlement’ (Respondent 16)
eThekwini collaborates with various stakeholders, such as Umgeni Water, WWF [World Wide Fund for Nature]
and other interest groups (PWR) and the epistemic community (DUT and UKZN) when implementing green
and ecological infrastructure initiatives (Respondents 7 and 9)
Other initiatives by the Municipality are the Sihlangzimvelo Project, on the Umhlangane River, and the Green
Corridor initiative. The latter is under the auspices of eThekwini’s Economic Development Department, which
has an agreement with the DUCT. The initiative involves the clearing of alien invasive species and alien
management in the uMngeni River (Respondent 6). [The Green Corridor] was a subsidiary of DUCT before
they decided to make it independent. Now it is an independent entity that is mainly funded by eThekwini. It is
like a parastatal NGO, because it is very dependent on eThekwini for funding. And then there is [WfE], which
is becoming very famous, and which is a Durban project…’ (Respondent 8)
Establishment of a
collaborative structure to
promote the
municipality’s water
security, considering its
downstream status
A cobweb of relations
involving various actor
types, although a local
government-centred
partnership constituting
specific green and
ecological infrastructure
initiatives
(continued)