Tensions Regarding Community Contributions and the MPC

Part I: Community Contribution Dispute

Background

It was previously agreed upon that CORC and WPI would split the cost of the MPC. CORC would use money from its CUFF (Community Upgrading Finance Facility) to contribute its portion. However, the use of the CUFF Fund is directly dependent on community contribution. Usually the money can only be used if the community assumes 20% of the total cost, but Adi was able to negotiate the terms down to 10% for this particular case. This means that the community is the deciding factor when it comes to MPC implementation: without their 10% contribution, CORC will not contribute its portion, and without CORC’s contribution, WPI will also not financially support the project.

Cast of Characters

Working group members, Langrug leaders Trevor and Alfred, WPI teams

Scene

We started the morning off by talking about the need for the community to contribute 10% of the MPC cost (which translates to about R15,000 or about R10/household) in order for the finances to go through. We also reminded the working team that WPI only has ten days left in Langrug to work with them. This turned into a heated discussion about broken promises and community tensions. Trevor and Amanda, especially, vehemently protested this condition. They expressed that the community has been under the impression for the past two years that the MPC would be completely funded by the Municipality, and now that the Municipality is not contributing to the initial cost, they are angry with them. They expressed a lost of faith in the Municipality and the partnership in general. Trevor wants to have the press and the media at the next partnership meeting to make sure that any promises are made publicly. The conversation got heated enough that the WPI team felt uncomfortable continuing the discussion without the presence of Scott or someone from CORC.

Reflection

This was an incredibly frustrating discussion that we had with the working team. They kept saying that we did not understand how precarious their position in the community is, and that they frequently have death threats. It was frustrating because every time we tried to move the discussion forward, they would either say we didn’t understand their situation or that we would not have as many issues if the Municipality had made good on their alleged “promises” from two years ago. They were visibly angry and frustrated with us, and we were attempting to maintain composure while also getting frustrated with them. It is difficult for us to understand why they say that the community is “ready” for the MPC, but then they are, according to the working team, not willing to contribute to it financially. We understand that money is exceedingly tight in the community, but we also know that a lot of the tensions stem from a lack of implementation.

It seems like the working team has forgotten that they have this urgent need to build something physical in order to pacify the community. It is also perfectly reasonable for them to be angry with the Municipality, especially since they were under the impression that this MPC was promised to the community for free. Regardless, it is disheartening to approach this hurdle with a resounding “no” from their side. Even when we said that this was the only way that the MPC could happen, they could not come up with any other options except to blame the Municipality or use their broken promises as leverage. We feel at a complete loss as to how to conquer this last obstacle that is standing in the way of MPC implementation.

Part II: Deciding to Implement the WaSH facility

Background

During the tense discussion that morning, it was decided that the conversation should be put on hold until Scott and possibly Adi came to Langrug to make sure that the information was correct and that the discussion could move forward in a productive manner.

Cast of Characters

Trevor, working team, Scott, WPI teams

Scene

As soon as Scott showed up, Trevor returned to the wendy house and the discussion over community contribution to the MPC resumed. Scott mediated the meeting to keep the conversation on track, as Trevor began to digress into complaining about Municipality wrongdoings. Scott clarified what WPI’s role in the partnership is, emphasising that we sympathise with all of the partners, including the Municipality, and that we are more of a support system than a crucial, active member in the partnership. The working team was not as vehemently opposed to the community contribution as they had been earlier, although they expressed similar concerns (community dissatisfaction, etc.). Trevor offered to serve as a sort of foreman for the construction process and said that he will try to be in Langrug every day for the next two to three weeks while WPI is still here so that he can work more closely with us students.

Most importantly, the working team decided to go ahead with the WaSH facility construction. They became very enthusiastic about the project, especially after they had seen the new coloured drawings of the facility. It was decided to begin the WaSH project as soon as possible and holding off on any MPC decisions until Tuesday’s partnership meeting. The WaSH facility could also be constructed without community contributions since WPI could fund the entire project, which would allow us to begin implementation almost immediately.

Reflection

This discussion was thankfully much more relaxed and reasonable than the one from the morning. It seems that Scott’s presence makes the working team more willing to compromise, perhaps because he is seen as an authority figure. Everyone was very uplifted when Trevor offered his expertise and leadership for managing the construction process; it also showed the value he placed on himself and his own skills, which was a very positive thought after a morning full of negativity. The WaSH facility construction was also an uplifting discussion as the project will almost definitely be implemented. Although there was not a whole lot of headway made in regards to community contribution, at least the working team became calm enough to consider compromises and strategies to ask the community for money. The hopelessness of the morning was replaced with thoughtfulness and general willingness to continue moving forward together.