THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

It’s impossible to ignore the affect that those on the political stage have on us...an affect aggravated by the relentless bombardment of social media speculation. But tomorrow, when we’ve all got our breath back, we will continue to take our children to school, cook, go to work, buy, sell and rent homes, and wave to the neighbours.
   
Whatever happens in the world outside – and in South Africa, there are daily surprises – life really does go on. We might go about today shaking our heads, but as South Africans, we are resilient and resourceful. If somebody who is supposed to do something, doesn’t do it, or vice versa...we do it ourselves, as evidenced daily by individuals who take it upon themselves to resolve an issue, solve a problem  or gather together a like-minded community of people to get it done or undone. Yesterday, on a suburban Facebook site, instead of ranting, a local resident was applauded for heading off with clippers and a saw to rid an area of overgrowing foliage, thereby making a potential crime hot spot safer for all. It was a simple act which was achievable by all, but nowadays, it’s easier to take your troubles to social media and let them escalate there... 

Much of it is about community - understanding what it really means, and the power it has to effect change or make your own little world a nicer place. Community can be your suburb, your road, or simply a group of people with a common goal like Saving The Berea (architecturally and visually) or What’s That Smell (Hillcrest health and safety issues). Whether it’s fund raising for legal fees, lobbying the council over building contraventions, cleaning up plastic off the beach, or managing your road’s Whatsapp group, it’s about strength in numbers, a reciprocity among neighbours, and stepping up to the plate..not expecting the plate to come to you. 

A good, strong sense of community makes a world of difference to how we live, and interacting with others is the other way to gain a greater understanding of the lifestyles of other South Africans. 

Nelson Mandela understood the value of community: "A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way to making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of." If we look at incidents and accidents in our province and beyond, there’s little doubt that doing something to help others, or pulling together for the greater good, benefits all – it certainly shows your children how their future in South Africa needs to be lived. Hout Bay’s recent fires are a case in point, where communities stepped up to help those affected; equally in Durban, requests for assistance in the shape of drinks and relief for the fire-fighters battling the massive South Coast Road fire, showed what a community can do.

In South Africa, the unrealistic expectation that various authorities will step in and sort out issues, is fast becoming understood. Whether it’s your untamed verge or broken garbage bags strewn around your entrance, this is your home, your major investment, and your community. Of course you need to hold authorities as accountable as possible, but while you’re doing it, play your part by looking after your property and neighbourhood. 

Clearly, there’s strength in numbers, and if you’re committed to being a new South African, you’ll be prepared to open your ears and mind to others’ views. No one person ever has all of the answers. Divergent world views and lenses mean we approach the exact same problem slightly differently...and that can prove interesting. 

Globally, urbanisation is marching forward relentlessly, and so too, smart cities where increasingly, communities rather than developers are the key drivers of everything from design to facilities. Communities are being asked about their lifestyles, about what they want, rather than being told what they should have and what they’re getting – the latter only leads to dissatisfaction, and ultimately, varying degrees of failure of the development. It just makes sense that a community decides on what works best for them.  

Today could be a challenging day in South Africa. So could tomorrow.  Meantime, let’s build better communities, effective groups of people who work at being tolerant of each others’ lifestyles, and recognise that together, we’ll have more power to effect the changes we want. We all have a love of South Africa in common. In our fast-paced world, the traditional African proverb that ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ couldn’t be more pertinent – translated, it takes a community.