Line of Sight

A soft hand in the successful relocation of some of the families on the Tsitsikamma Community Wind Farm. Dignity in every step. 

The land that the Tsitsikamma Community Wind Farm is being developed on is land owned and occupied by the Mfengu community. For the Mfengu people land ownership and occupation has a bitter-sweet taste to it. 

Cennergi understood the fragility of the situation.  Knowing that profound commitment to the process, matched by Cennergi’s responsibility to the outcomes will be the only way to positively adjust the story line. New homes are being built, warm homes, dry homes, but we need a leap of faith. 

Through humility and true understanding of all the elements involved, paying special attention to empower the new home owner with insight into the whole process - remaining mindful of the impact and consequences we have. Mandla Kolwapi takes great care in walking Mphumeleli Matsaba and his wife through their new house plans for approval. 

Only when everyone is comfortable with both the intended end result as well as the steps to achieve it, does the paperwork start. 

In part because of the emotions involved in the story so far, Cennergi took great care to make the relocation as dignified and comfortable as possible. 

Meanwhile the Tsitsikamma Community was a buzz of activity - with the new houses being built and a promise of unity.  Bringing the elderly who lived in the dilapidated houses roughly 2km from the rest of the Mfengu as well as the ‘inkommers’ living in shacks on the outskirts of the community into the fold.

In total 12 houses were built in the Tsitsikamma community.  Cennergi ensured that the contractor employed local labour - for the first time in many years, bringing employment to Wittekleibosch. 

Not only the house content was moved.  The chickens and pigs, the horses and dogs, every part of their lives were relocated.  Handled with care. 

As for the finer things, Nomathemba Matroos - was happy to move her flower garden to a patch next to her new house.  Here the cows would not be the only ones to see them bloom. 

During the demolition of the old houses - everything that could be used again was carefully collected and given to the homeowner. 

Understanding the significance of the Ixhanti - Taking care to move all the memorabilia of a life lived, celebrations and dedications.

Cennergi’s hand in the smallest of detail, the element of care and respect.

Mpumeleli Matshaba kept a watchful eye on the deconstruction of his house.  Making sure that the chickens and pigs got fed before they too would be moved. 

Relocation seems a good way to ensure purging. Leaving the things behind that is no longer needed for the story to continue.  Looking at the things I want to take with me, hopefully seeing the story line moving into the sun. 

A new day.   A day in which the Mfengu walk down the road to celebrate and welcome the new neighbours and old friends.  People they love, people they care for, now living closer. Being closer makes us stronger. 

Monwabisi Skosana - a key to the front door constitutes his ownership.  He is Mfengu but never needs to be a wanderer again.

Hot water and electricity, so sorely lacking in the old houses. A little bit of texture in the greater story.  Once introduced, can never be taken out of the story again.  That is what indicates lasting change - introduce an element with positive effect. 

The flowers might wait until next year before they show their colours.  But today, on this day, those that Nomathemba Matroos cares about, will be warm and dry and safe. Displaced no longer.

I have realised that we might not be seeing the full outline of the Cennergi stories yet, but Cennergi fundamentally changes the outcomes of stories in existence.  In the rainy April air Mphumeleli Matsaba greeted his wife Mamntande, for the last time.  I have no way of knowing if his new home provided any comfort in the darkness of that day, but I would like to think it did. 

And on that day, the 18th of December 2014, the story dramatically changed.  Thobile Makhamba cut the ribbon to the home where Zuziwe Dawuni (MaRadebe to her loved ones) and her husband would live.  A far cry from the shack where there was no stopping the rain and the cold would creep into your bones when winter came knocking. 

On that day, the Mfengu put on their finest because on this day, the very meaning of their name changed - The word Mfengu meaning ‘destitute or wanderer’ becomes historic rather than prophetic.

Most striking to me is the effect that Cennergi is having on the dignity, the self esteem, the pride of the community members.  Mphumi Skosana and his wife Silvia are shining in the new. 

Believing that the second best time to plant a tree is now.  The row of mango trees will one day serve in the same way as the community serves each other. 

And of all the outcomes affected, little Lmange Maqungu will have the best story to tell.  The Mfengu narrative of being forcefully removed, augmented today.  

“In 2014 we got a brand new house.  A street to find it in, a community to belong in.”