Two sides to every story

THERE is an old witticism that trees are bulldozed to make way for new housing estates, and then the streets are named after the trees.

That might well be borne in mind in the emotionally-laden context of the Birdswood/Mpunza Hill conflict.

Most of the anger (which often has fear as its source) has been vented against the destruction of the forest to accommodate the mass Shembe Church celebrations which, although concluded, has left disturbing evidence that the area will not be returned to its original, semi-pristine state.

In fact, indications are that the official 1.6ha site allocated to the church is growing at an alarming rate as more buildings are being erected.

Of course residents from neighbouring Birdswood are upset – why wouldn’t they be after their pavements were turned into an informal settlement, with immediate health concerns and long-term property valuations uppermost in their minds?

However, in the historical context, those residents themselves might well be viewed as the ‘invaders’.

Long before there was a Birdswood suburb – and let it be said that plenty of natural vegetation was flattened for this to happen – Mpunza Hill was already a well-established place of worship, so it is not difficult to see how the local populace could deem the area to be ‘theirs’ by right of traditional usage over time.

Obviously, as town planning schemes evolved, the situation changed and land previously controlled by other entities was placed under the administration of the municipality.

Of course the forest must be protected from destruction, and it is heartening to know that then MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development, Dr Meshack Radebe was adamant that this would be the case.

The point is, the present conflict goes far deeper than the simple illegal occupation or destruction of land.

There are historical, traditional and religious factors that should be understood and taken into account in resolving the issue.

The same may be said of the ‘ritual animal slaughters’ taking place along the coastline, where what some perceive as animal cruelty is viewed by others as a traditional practice, going back for decades.

This after a harbour, pipelines and breakwater piers were built that had environmental consequence far, far greater than could ever be caused by millions of headless chickens being dumped into the ocean.

Our judgements are always clouded by our personal insights and prejudices, and we would do well to acknowledge other points of view.