Nxamalala
Workshop 1
Revised Proceedings
1
Workshop 1, conducted by Umphilo waManzi, in the Umngeni
catchment (Howick Municipality)
07 December 2013
Objectives of the workshop
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To engage the Nxamalala community to build local understanding of climate change and its
possible local impacts, particularly on water supply and agriculture.
To explore “what does this mean for us?”
To create a forum in which existing climate change adaptation strategies could be identified.
To facilitate the formulation of an appropriate action plan.
To strengthen connections between community groups and other stakeholders.
Description of the area
The Nxamala farm consists of 182 hectares of land located adjacent to the Fowler Farm in Howick. It
falls under uMngeni municipality, and the uMngeni River passes through the area flowing into
Midmar dam. A community-owned sawmill and a primary school for 85 children form part of
Nxamalala. Many of the community members work at the sawmill, while some have worked at
Fowler Farm, and others are employed on chicken farms or in woodworking. However, at the time of
the workshops, it was reported that those working at the farm had had their employment contracts
terminated. The workshop was supposed to be facilitated at the primary school but due to logistical
problems, it was conducted at the saw-mill site. The site is also a place of residence, saw-mill
workers have constructed wooden cabin houses using some of the waste timber they produce.
The community gets its water from Howick municipality which is delivered to them by a truck; the
water is stored in 200 liter plastic tanks. One of the community leaders is, however, concerned
about the cleanliness of the water coming from the tank as it is smelly and sometimes develops
some sticky substance (sludge). Although they purify the water using chemicals like JIK, the
community leader said that other community members don’t like the smell of JIK in their drinking
water. The other sources of water that were identified were a small stream that flows below the
saw-mill site into a dam, and a stream which arises from a spring and flows into a marshy
area/wetland, between the road and Nxamalala farm.
Vulnerability and areas of action
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Concern over land tenure – the community does not yet have titledeeds to their land
Unsafe water supply (smelly and muddy water from a nearby dam)
Unemployment (due to retrenchments of farm workers)
Health risks due to burning of coal for heat
Food insecurity, the community lacks money to buy seeds and fertilizer to start community
gardens
Polluted dam from effluents coming from neighbouring farms upstream
Vegetables grown at the sawmill need to be protected against being eaten by rats, which
would also pose a health hazard to residents
The water pooling at the sawmill is a drowning hazard for toddlers, and potentially a
mosquito breeding ground in summer
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Mapping the community’s assets
Responding and adapting to climate change also requires the community to be fully aware of its
resources and assets. The workshop facilitators identified the following community assets on their
transect walk:
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Potential for private ownership of land
Tanks for storing water
School
Borehole for water supply
Regular municipal supply of water (sourced from Midmar Dam)
Cell phone to call the municipality to supply water
Plantation
Dam
Saw dust for compost and for chicken breeding
Employment generated by the sawmill
Forklift operating skill
Waste timber on hand for recylcling/upcycling
Introductions and Expectations
The workshop began by inviting participants to introduce themselves (where they come from, what
they do) and share what they hoped to gain from the workshop. Participants came from a wide
range of places which included Fakuthi, Matatiela, Mzimkhulu and as far as Eastern Cape and
Zimbabwe. Most of the participants reported that they migrated to Nxamalala in search of
employment. The community was keen to learn about the sources of water, share information of
how to effectively use water and land for growing food. They further expected to get some advice
on how to fertilize the soil, acquire seeds and whether tank water that smells is safe to use on plants
under cultivation. Some community members hoped for the workshop to provide them with
information on how to grow their own crops and vegetables as a strategy to minimize food security.
It appeared that some participants had first-hand experience of farming as they used to cultivate
crops whilst growing up. A woman from Zimbabwe narrated that back she grows mielies and
potatoes in her home country.
1.) Introduction to Climate Change Presentation
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Objectives:
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To provide information on what climate change is
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To raise awareness around potential local impacts; encourage people to start thinking,
before an extreme event, about how they might react.
Activity:
Mary Galvin gave a verbal presentation on the causes of global climate change in English, while Ma
Khumalo translated into isiZulu. She discussed the processes leading to the buildup of Carbon in the
atmosphere, and the climate change impacts that are evidenced in increasingly frequent extreme
weather phenomena such as droughts and floods. Mary concluded her presentation by emphasizing
that by sharing this information with the community, we were inviting them to think of how they
would react to climate change in the future, for example, when heavy rains make it difficult to pass
through the area, and encouraging them to start responding now.
Outcomes and Reflections:
Mr Ngcobo discussed how the community had altered its former practice of burning waste timber,
and now called ‘shavings’ people to make shavings with it for use in chicken coops. Ngcobo
mentioned that there was ill-feeling around this, as selected people were benefitting from the
recycling of the waste, which is a collective resource. Further, he discussed the current requirement
by the Department of Agriculture that the community-run sawmill request specific permission for
burning. This has been extended to the use of the kiln, which has forced the sawmill to stack and
airdry the timber they process, before selling it on. This is time consuming, and has negative cost
implications.
2.) Climate Timeline mapping
Objectives:
-To Record weather patterns/incidences as experienced over a period of around thirty years
(if possible) by residents in the area;
-To make explicit community responses to problematic weather phenomena
Activity:
Facilitators engaged the community in a climate timeline mapping exercise. Community members
were asked to reflect on the major weather events that have occurred over the past 30 years. The
climate timeline map covered a period of almost 30 years beginning from 1985 to present. A big
sheet of white paper was put up on the wall, on which Robinson recorded the identified events,
which were detailed as follows:
1987: Floods that washed away houses
1990: Hail storm that destroyed crops
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1998: Floods that killed two people
2009: Drying up of uMngeni dam
2009: Floods that affected the pine trees
Outcomes and Reflections:
Few participants had been located in Nxamalala for long enough to know a history dating beyond a
few years. Much of what was reported was hearsay. There were only one or two incidents recounted
where events, and community impacts and responses, could be described in any detail. Information
gathered seemed sketchy and not continuous. The climate timeline was an important exercise as it
allowed the workshop facilitators and participants to gain insight into weather extremes that the
community had experienced. Umphilo’s hope was twofold: that by the community articulating their
experiences of weather phenomena (that were possibly indicative of climate change at work) it
raised their awareness of climate change and brought it into the realm of conscious thinking; and
that by bringing to mind their responses, it emphasized the possibility for reflecting on ways of
developing the most effective responses, which could involve adaptation and forward planning.
3.) The water cycle and catchment
Objectives:
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To introduce participants to how the water cycle works
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To invite discussion on the water catchment areas that surround the community
Activity:
Water cycles handouts were distributed among the participants. The water cycle was also presented
through power point slides. The facilitator explained each stage of the cycle emphasizing the notion
that “water is never lost”. In exploring the local water catchment, one volunteer was asked to draw a
sketch map of the catchment area. The volunteer succeeded in sketching out the catchment map
capturing the flow of UMngeni River and Midmar dam. The sketch matched that of the map of
uMngeni catchment that was retrieved from Google maps.
Outcomes and Reflections:
Participants appeared to have a sound understanding of the water cycle and they are aware of water
sources in the areas. They mentioned Umngeni river and Midmar dam as important water sources.
However, they also expressed concern around interruptions in tanker top-ups, and described
periods when they had no tank water, and were forced to rely on unpurified dam/stream water for
drinking. They mentioned previous outbreaks of cholera in their community as a compelling reason
for ensuring a reliable supply of safe drinking water.
4.) DVD: Water harvesting/Permaculture
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Objectives:
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To introduce the community to alternative ways of food growing, with the emphasis on
innovative use of water as a finite (often scarce) resource.
Activity:
A DVD on rain water harvesting was screened for the community via a DVD player.
Outcomes:
Participants were curious to know more about the dripping irrigation technique, where perforated
plastic bottles submerged in heaped soil are used for irrigation. They also wanted to know how rain
water could be harvested from the ground and fed into tanks buried under the ground. Generally,
participants were thrilled by the DVD; they felt empowered about learning new methods of
harvesting rain water. A sense of urgency was stimulated by the DVD, the community felt motivated
to start food gardens and practice the dripping irrigation when they returned to their respective
homes.
5.) Evaluation of the Workshop
Participants were unanimous that the workshop was helpful and motivating.
Some of the feedback received when asked to expand on: “What was useful to me today;
What was my least favourite thing”
 ‘We knew what you were talking about [weather changes/climate change] but because we
were looking for work and job and someone to pay us and help us to survive, we just pushed
it away, but now that you are coming here and reminding us about these issues, we believe
that it is important that we notice what is happening around us and start growing the food’
 ‘It was amazing - the information helped a lot. We will spread the word for the next
workshop’.
 ‘Are you going to come to our area in Matatiele? We need this in our area’.
 ‘I was amazed at the watering technique we saw in the DVD, where plastic bottles can be
used for irrigation’.
 ‘I was surprised that water mixed with chillies can be used as an insecticide’.
 Some information we didn’t know about. It was helpful.
 There is nothing that was ‘worst’ – we never thought we would get such information.
6.) Plans for a Second Workshop
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Participants were eager to attend the follow-up workshop in which they hoped to learn more about
agriculture, particularly from experts. The formulation of action plans to cope with climate change
were left for this second workshop, the date of which was set for the 2nd February 2014, after the
long Christmas holiday. The agreed venue was the Corrie Lyn Primary school. Umphilo waManzi
promised to invite other experts specializing in agriculture and community gardening to the
workshop to respond to some of the farming questions raised by the participants. Bonginkosi
indicated that he would again be willing to make the necessary arrangements in the area for the
workshop.
7.) Umphilo reflections
The Umphilo team was concerned that there seemed to be a boycott of the workshop by residents
on the Nxamalala farm, with the exception of a schoolgirl, and four men who arrived for the start,
and then left after the introductions. Discussions between Ma Khumalo and other women
participants revealed that there was mistrust between this community and Mr Shabalala who had
initiated the engagement. We took a decision to visit the community again before the second
workshop, and spend time going door to door at the Nxamalala farm, to introduce ourselves and
personally inviting individual householders to attend the following workshop (thus demonstrating
our independence from Mr Shabalala – it transpired the men had attended as a lookout for Mr
Shabalala, with the intention of chasing him if he arrived).
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