Warwick Bruce Chapman

Statement issued by Cllr Warwick Chapman, eThekwini Municipality

As the convener and chairperson of the meeting held at uShaka yesterday between activists and officials, I wish to clarify a misconception created by an ambiguous article in the media this morning.

An article carried by SABC news outlets started with the following ambiguous paragraph, “The South African Association for Marine Biological Research, the body that runs Durban’s uShaka Sea World, says it has met with animal rights activists about the New Year’s Eve dance party, and they are satisfied that no harm will come to marine life.”

The ambiguity lies with who was satisfied that no harm would come to marine life. The outcome of the meeting was very clearly that SAAMBR was satisfied that no harm would come to the marine life but the same was not true for all of the activists.

Many of the activists present remained concerned about the event and tabled a proposal for the consideration of uShaka and the event organiser that the event it be moved to Moyo entirely and out of the vicinity of all marine life.

The meeting concluded after the event organiser and officials agreed they would consider the proposal and issue a statement by the end of business on Friday (today).

The statement was issued this morning, explaining that the event would be going ahead and addressing the various concerns around the safety of the animals.

Cllr Warwick Chapman
083 7797 094

The letter that follows below was posted to the FB group “Oppose the Ushaka Rave: Sipping Cocktails & Killing Dolphins“.  It follows a previous post on this subject.

Dear All

One of the issues highlighted during the meeting today was the damage done to the reputation of uShaka, SAAMBR and associates by both misinformation and a lack of information during this protest. Ironically, it was highlighted by the activists.

I would like to enquire as to the naming of this group, and why it still refers to killing dolphins when patently the dolphins are not at risk, and the outcome of today’s meeting is very clearly that the marine life at uShaka are not at risk from this event.

The core area of concern highlighted at the end of the meeting was acknowledged to be more ‘social’ than ‘scientific’ and that was the ‘appropriateness of holding such events at a marine park’.

SAAMBR, uShaka and the event organiser met and openly discussed every issue put before them today – whether you liked the answers or not, there was nothing they could answer that they didn’t. When pressed to put their personal assurances behind their statements, they did just that.

The scientists explained, without anything to the contrary being put on the table, that whether it was noise, cigarette butts or even drugs being dropped into the water, that the animals were not at risk.

So other than it just not feeling right to hold such an event at uShaka, what reason is there to continue to associate uShaka with “killing dolphins” and putting the rest of the marine life at risk?

My question now is at what point the responsibility on the activist group kicks in to mitigate the reputational damage that has been done to the uShaka Marine World, SAAMBR and the City?

I remain convinced, as is continually evidenced in posts on this page, that the genesis of this whole protest is anti-captivity, and I’m pretty sure that not all activists really know that is what they’ve been dragged into. As just one example, see below where it is highlighted that places like uShaka are called “abusement parks”.

Judy Mann explained today the integral role that aquariums play in conservation education, explaining that 80000-100000 learners, teachers and others go through their education centre every year. For many, an aquarium is the only way they will see what lives beneath the “carpet” that is the surface of the sea.

That may not sway most hardened anti-cap campaigners, but it does bring a different perspective to the standard anti-captivity rhetoric. These marine animals receive world class care while facilitating the education of hundreds of thousands of people in the importance of marine conservation.

So, is it still about “killing dolphins” or is that just to draw in the crowds and whip them into a frenzy before giving them a little more information about what the concerns actually are?

Regards
Warwick

For those of you who may have come across a petition and other protest messages about a rave at uShaka which may kill the dolphins there, it has become clear that this campaign is driven by anti-captivity activists and is not in the first instance actually about a party near dolphins.

Read the press statement on the SeaWorld website (http://www.seaworld.org.za/news/entry/the-animals-will-be-our-prime-concern-on-new-years-eve) where South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) CEO Judy Mann says that the animals are not at risk and they will be onhand to monitor.

“As with any function held at uShaka Marine World, the health of the animals is our primary priority. We will never allow any function to be held that may, in any way, be harmful to the animals.”

Me, personally, no I am not pro captivity. I don’t go to zoos and I definitely don’t go to circuses. But I do see the role that aquariums and perhaps even well managed zoos can play in raising awareness about conservation and environmental sensitivity.

I know this is the case with uShaka given the sheer number of young school kids and other visitors who pass through the place on an annual basis as part of a sustained programme of environmental, marine and conservation education run by SAAMBR.

SAAMBR through Seaworld and ORI do an incredible amount of rescue, and save the lives of a great number of marine animals right there at the uShaka complex. There is a massive underground infrastructure that would blow your mind if you got to explore it as I have on a few occasions.

So, if there is a chance that this party will generate money that will go toward conservation, animal rescue and nursing sick, polluted and injured animals back to good health, and if it can be done without risk to dolphins and other animals – then I support it.

And I trust Judy Mann, as a scientist, and as a professional. She says she will be on hand to monitor the animals during the event personally. I believe her and support her.

As a parting note, left on a strictly personal basis, my own opinion is that alarmism of the sort that has surrounded this matter actually does damage to the cause of environmentalism and conservation.

Those advocating the issue – cited an instance where a dolphin died a few days after a party and may or may not have died as a result of the party. Further, they failed to consult the world respected and renowned Marine Biologists working at uShaka through SAAMBR/ORI/SeaWorld.

Worse still is that when Judy Mann’s statement was put out clarifying the concerns, the debate was not so subtly adjusted to focus on animals in captivity, revealing the potential genesis of the activism around this issue.

I would respect the activists more if they came out cleanly with their issue in the first place – and used the party to illustrate how animals in captivity are inevitably subject to circumstances which raise their stress levels and potentially put their lives at risk. Then if they quoted some proven research, or cited known instances that would also bolster their argument.

I urge those interested in environmental activisism to read South African journalist Ivo Vegter’s book “Extreme Environment” where he tackles environmental exaggeration and explains just how damaging it is to the credibility of the genuine campaigners for conservation and environmentalism.

If you’re an environmental activist – you should read this book. It will make you a better activist.

The Chairperson of the eThekwini Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr William Mapena, declined a request from the DA at today’s sitting for the Committee to regard with more urgency the improving the delivery of housing in eThekwini.

During the 2011/12 financial year, eThekwini Municipality delivered only 4900 houses, a fraction of the nearly 19000 houses delivered by the council at its peak in 2008. Reasons given for this slowdown in delivery of housing in eThekwini are many and varied, ranging from reduced funding from provincial government to problems with environmental legislation. The truth however, is hidden in the Manase report, giving us some idea just why council has been so reluctant to keep this report from the public.

Off the record conversations with senior housing officials during the course of this year has made it clear that eThekwini’s Housing Department got used to flouting legislation, not being compliant with regulations, and awarding contracts left right and centre – resulting in impressive output of housing. During the tenure of Mike Mabuyakhula as Human Settlements MEC, the eThekwini housing department was said to have been given near open access to funds without the onerous reporting obligations normally required. These allegations would seem to be supported by the over R432m irregular expenditure the AGs report found to have taken place in the housing department during the 2010/11 financial year.

The net result is that eThekwini Housing department, now having to comply with the regulations and report timeously to the provincial department, is struggling to get sufficient projects moving on the ground. The housing backlog in eThekwini is around 450 000 units, which would take us over 40 years to meet we’re we building houses at 2008 delivery rates and will take us well over a century at present rates.

Against this backdrop, DA councillor Warwick Chapman urged the Human Settlements and Infrastructure committee and the officials present from the Housing Department to place more urgency on the challenge of ramping up housing delivery in eThekwini. He pointed out that in the period of the last three months, not a single report had been tabled before the committee relating to the delivery of housing projects in eThekwini.

Committee chairperson councillor Wlliam Mapena glossed over Chapman’s request and later referred him to the 140 page quarterly report of the Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) to seek answers to his request and closed the matter.

The DA in eThekwini recognises the importance of delivery sufficient housing opportunities every year in order to meaningfully improve the living conditions of over 1 million eThekwini residents who live in informal settlements. In order for the eThekwini Housing Department to ramp up the delivery of housing, the committee must take more seriously the challenges the department faces. The department must be urgently be shored up with the necessary specialist personnel to navigate the complex legislative and reporting framework required to sustainably access sufficient housing grants from the provincial department.

Ends

Media enquiries

Warwick Chapman
083 7797 094

The Speaker – eThekwini Council
Councillor Logie Naidoo
City Hall
DURBAN

18 August 2012

Dear Mr Speaker

NOTICE OF MOTION IN TERMS OF RULE OF ORDER 13