The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) celebrated 30 years of existence on Saturday, earning widespread praise from environmentalists and lobby groups.

The SDCEA’s goal is to act as a central network that strengthens its 19 affiliate organisations and unites civil society to advance environmental justice and sustainable development in South Africa. 

Its core strategies include improving communication among members, advocating for the wise use of natural resources, and actively engaging with key stakeholders, including government and industry, to promote a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment for all.

Desmond D’Sa, the co-ordinator of SDCEA and Goldman Prize Winner 2014, acknowledged those who shared and passed on their knowledge both locally and internationally over the decades. 

D’Sa said it was a legacy of struggle, where people were not afraid to speak out. He highlighted his meeting with Nelson Mandela in Morningside, Durban, which he said opened up the doors for SDCEA to tackle environmental issues. 

“There was a time when we could not get near the national key points that polluters hid behind. They would arrest and lock us up. However, over the years, Mandela summoned people to meet with us to get the desired results,” he said.

D’Sa highlighted major environmental battles with companies in Durban, and also the plight of people who suffered from cancer in areas near heavy industries, and the emergence of the subsistence fishing forum.

“The transfer of knowledge to the youth for resilience and the ongoing struggle is still important. We developed an organisation that the community has access to. We continue training people. If we empower people, they will enforce change,” he said. 

Verushka Memdutt, the SDCEA chairperson, emphasised the organisation’s vigilance, deep community roots, and borderless commitment.

She stated: “The affected communities are our target audience. We stand together independent and resolute until our country and communities are safe, and where we raise our families.”

The SDCEA is a crucial structured network for improving the environment and reporting industrial incidents in KwaZulu-Natal.

Ferrial Adam, executive head of WaterCAN, described her work with SDCEA, which began 20 years ago with the bucket brigade collecting air pollution data.

She said the alliance “empowered people”, enabling “citizen science” that gave the community a tool to speak for themselves. She praised their ability to adapt and evolve as a movement:

“Their legacy is not an office campaign but a legacy of a practice that influenced so many of us here today.”

Angela Andrews, a former member of the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), told the audience that it was difficult to take on what she described as a military-industrial complex. She said public participation was important. 

“It was a herculean task to take them on, but we won some major battles,” she said. 

Bobby Peek, director of groundWork and a former SDCEA activist, noted that the SDCEA brought the world’s attention to Durban through their campaigns.

Despite facing environmental problems and death threats in areas like Umlazi, Peek said the alliance pulled people into the struggle, taking it “from local and made it global”, even stopping toxic dumping in Durban.

He reflected on the early days: “We decided to work together, form an alliance, and not let industries divide us. The government officials thought we were troublemakers. Here we are, 30 years later. We only had hope ahead of us when we decided to swim in the opposite direction.”

Peek added that the SDCEA created a powerful global network while remaining true to its roots.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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