SA-NL Water Network Projects
Sector: Stormwater, Floodplain
To contribute in the improvement of the living conditions of the poorest people in
Duncan Village
In the Netherlands: Municipality of Leiden,
Water authority of Rijnland and
Delfland, Stichting Stedenband Leiden -
Buffalo City.
In South Africa: DWAF Office Eastern Cape, Eastern Cape development
cooperation, Buffalo City Municipality
Duncan Village, East London, Buffalo City
April 2010 - December 2010
Dutch Embassy, Leiden Municipality, Stichting Stedenband
Leiden- Buffalo
City and Buffalo City Municipality, Hoogheemraadschap Rijnland, inhabitants
Leiden
Project leader: Darby Gounden
+ 27 43 705 11 23/ (BCM),
Muriel Bosman: +31 71 516 50 30/ (Leiden)
www.leidenbuffalocity.nl
Description of the project
In August 2002 Buffalo City was confronted with heavy rainfall, causing a flood that led to severe losses in terms of property and lives. The flood caused problems with hygiene, health and poverty. Dwellings were flooded away and more than 6000 inhabitants lost their homes and personal belongings. Some people even lost their lives. The main problem was the flooding of built up areas which can occur in Buffalo City by heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall is defined by the Buffalo City directorate engineering services as a once-in-a-hundred-years rainfall (1:100 events), the main area where this kind of flooding leads to problems is Duncan Village. This is a built up area on the fringes of the East London City Centre with a high density of shacks.
The citizens of Leiden raised money for the victims and this was a success in terms of raised money and commitment. In the result of the event, Buffalo City requested Leiden to get involved in handling their storm water problems in urban areas and especially in Duncan village. This was a next step in the ongoing programme in the field of Safety and Security which was seen as a positive experience. Leiden offered to help with these problems and suggested to involve the Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland in a storm water project.
In August 2004 the Executive Committee of Rijnland decided to participate in a first identification mission, which resulted in establishing a long-term project.
In September 2005 a second, joint mission of Leiden and Rijnland, was sent to identify the possibilities of meaningful cooperation with Buffalo City Municipality. This resulted in a proposal drafted by Leiden and the Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland and hand over to VNG international, experts of the directorate engineering services and the directorate of social service from the Buffalo City Municipality. The proposal consisted of 5 subprojects; one was a Pilot of reconstruction flood plane amalinda stream
The main target of the Embassy project is to contribute in the improvement of the living conditions of the poorest people in Duncan Village by 3 goals:
- Reduction of crime through a safe recreational environment
- Encourage people to be self supportive through the community gardens
- Training community members on business skills to help them being able to run their own small businesses
Through these goals we contribute to achievement on MDG 1, 6, 7 and 8
