Cato Manor Visitors Centre now open Tourists travelling through Cato Manor to learn about the history of the area and lessons about the development project will now have to make a stop-over at the brand new Visitors’ Centre at Intuthuko Junction. The Visitors’ Centre is part of the Cato Manor Tourism project which is an initiative to create jobs through the development of tours, arts and crafts and traditional song and dance using the rich and diverse culture of Cato Manor. The tourism office is part of a Visitors’ Centre which consists of a museum (which should start to operate in September), internet café and a conference centre which is available for use by all and sundry. Although, both the internet café and the tourism office are not fully operational, the Conference Centre is now fully functional and bookings are made via Zola Bhengu on 261 8857 or Shelley Gielink at 261 6640. Rates for the use of the conference centre differ according to categories. NGOs will pay R30 per hour, CBOs are charged at R20 per hour while corporate organisations are charged R50. Local tour operators have been trainedand are already in place to guide tourists through urban reality tourism. Cato Manor is a fine example of the rebirth of a community torn apart by apartheid. It is a prime example of social engineering that was practised in South Africa. Cato Manor tours are usually 11/2 hours long, depending on the interest of the visitors eg education, political or lessons on development. The minimum fee charged for adults is R50 and R10 for scholars.

Mazwi's Diary News from the grave Don’t wait until it is too late to find out that you will not be able to bury your loved one at a cemetery nearer to your home. The rate at which people are dying is amazing. Scores of people are being forced to bury their loved ones in far away places. IZWI visited the Chesterville Cemetery (Wiggins) to gather a few interesting facts. This is what we discovered. There are no more fresh graves available. The piece of land that is unused is awaiting approval from land surveyors. Burials conducted in Wiggins are either recycled graves or families re-opening graves previously leased to them. Graves are no longer purchased but can be leased for up to ten years. Purchasing of graves was abolished in May 1958. Before July 1994 people could lease graves for as long as 20 years. The most important piece of information to remember is that families have up to six months after the burial to lease the grave. If the family fails to do so, graves can be leased to other families, but the new lessee will have to wait ten years to conduct a burial in that grave. Whether or not the grave is leased, burial fees remain the same. It is R1 150 for children below the age of 12 and R1 350 for people above 13 years. To lease a grave, families have to pay R460 for ten years. The leasing period is only renewable on expiry date. The family will be reminded when the expiry date approaches. Families who wish to re-open a grave which has a tombstones erected on it has to pay R160 more. Should you wish to have your family grave looked after, a fee of R106 per year is charged.

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Endangered chameleons become a symbol of co-operation

 

The rare and endangered Black-headed Dwarf Chameleon is set to become a symbol of cooperation between developers and conservation authorities.

In a joint press statement, the Head of Planning for KZN Wildlife, Mr Roger Porter and Mr Clive Forster, Chief Executive Officer of the Cato Manor Development Association, outlined an eight-point plan that will see an increase in the population and habitat of the critically endangered reptile.

The Cato Manor Development Association is developing a business park on the corner of Edwin Swales and Bellair Roads as part of an overall programme to promote local economic development in the Cato Manor area.

The development was recently approved by the Development Facilitation Tribunal for KwaZulu-Natal, but at the last minute the Black-headed Dwarf Chameleon was found to be resident on the proposed development site.

Negotiations between local experts, KZN Wildlife, the eThekwini Municipality’s Environmental Management Branch and the developer, the Cato Manor Development Association, led to an exciting outcome enabling the development to go ahead while protecting and extending the habitat of the chameleon.

"It is a win-win outcome," said Clive Forster, “with the ongoing economic upliftment of Cato Manor and its people considered alongside crucial environmental issues.

"The programme includes the proclamation of an adjacent area as a Natural Heritage Site and the CMDA is making available finance to ensure the management of that site in perpetuity as a chameleon sanctuary."

The eight-point plan incorporates:

A search for chameleons will be undertaken on the development footprint itself and any found will be relocated to a special site that is suitable for them.

The relocation of the chameleons identified through the search which gets underway this week is being overseen by KZN Wildlife. The exercise is guided by principles developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, a United Nation’s Agency.

"This unique project, coming as it does on the eve of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, is an excellent example of how public-private partnerships can be utilised in the delivery of development that on the one hand addresses the needs of poor communities, and on the other, ensures the retention of the rich bio-diversity that exists in Southern Africa," said Mr Porter.

Commented Dr Debra Roberts, Head of the City’s Environmental Management Branch: "It is a compliment to our City that such a rare and endangered creature can be found within an area undergoing substantial urban renewal."