University for Peace, Den Haag, Urban Peace and Security: A South African Case Study

Prof Erwin SchwellaSPL and SIGLA

University of StellenboschLeiden Leadership Centre, Leiden University

Apartheid to Al-Shabaab and Afrikaans to Arabic: How Bellville, South Africa and Mogadishu Somalia got

Connected

Apartheid to Al-Shabaab and Afrikaans to Arabic: How Bellville and Mogadishu got Connected

• A Tale of 2 Cities on the same Continent that moved from Worlds Apart to being Closely Connected

“Behind a main road lie a huge array of retail shops, all in a small area buzzing with activity as people stream into colourful, jam-packed bargain shops and browse around pavement stalls. The area is marked with people in distinct, long Islamic scarves and dresses worn by Somali women with many of them tagging their children along wearing similar outfits in miniature.

This is “Somali Town” or “Som Town”, and it is in the midst of the Bellville CBD, at the end of Durban Road. It has been dubbed “Som Town” as it is the central or safest place for Somalis to live and run a business. Over the past few years, thousands of Somalis fled the civil war in their country hoping for a better life in South Africa, but xenophobic attacks have left them fearful except in this central spot in Bellville.”

Between Deep Blue Sees and the Devils in many Disguises

• Somali shops closed, looted as 2008 trading agreement enforced in Khayelitsha West Cape News 4 September 2012

• A South African local business woman who attended the meeting, but refused to give her name, said the Somali traders had to “pack up and go” by this weekend. “We are suffering because of them. Police are aware of the agreement, but are failing to do their job of closing the (new) shops.” She alleged the police were being bribed by the Somali shop owners and the local business owners would take matters into their own hands.

Between Deep Blue Sees and the Devils in many Disguises

• A Somali shop owner near the Bellville train station:• “It is hell-fire in South Africa. It is hell-fire in Somalia.

– We do not feel safe here at all, but we cannot go back home because of war. This month only, nine Somalis were killed in Cape Town

– “The criminals break in all the time and we are defenseless. When we go to the police station to report, they just open a case. They do not act. If we follow up, they will just ask for your case number, then they will tell us they will phone us and it ends like that. I have been living in South Africa for eleven years. Since the break-out of xenophobia in 2008, I have struggled economically because I lost my business when they attacked and looted my shop in Kraaifontein

Between Deep Blue Sees and the Devils in many Disguises

• From Groundup July 2012• “They hate us because we care for and support

the community. And we do not double our profits like them. Our Muslim religion forbids us to double profits and emphasises helping the community. We buy our business goods in the same local market with the South African businessmen. I am disappointed by the way they escalate their prices to their community."

Bellville a ‘safe haven’ for Somalis

• Newspaper Article 2011

A community of Somalis have made several blocks of downtown Bellville their refuge from war at home, as well as locally where they have become victims in neighbouring districts of commercially-motivated violence and killings.

Innovative and Inclusive ResponsesKnowledge Based Facilitated Change towards Effective and Ethical Service Delivery

DEVELOPMENT

PROACTIVE

Current Reality Ideal Current Reality Ideal

STRATEGIC OPERATIONAL Lead with vision, purpose Manage implementation, projects, performance

Current Reality Ideal Current Reality Ideal

REACTIVE

REGULATION AND POLICING

Institutionalising Innovative and Inclusive Responses

• Voortrekker Road City Improvement District (VRCID)

• “The vision of the VRCID is to create and maintain a clean and safe urban environment along the Voortrekker Road corridor,” he says.– Its goals include:

• Reducing crime significantly by proactive visible patrolling and cooperation with existing SAPS, Metro Police and Law Enforcement efforts in the area.

• Creating a safe and clean public environment by addressing issues of maintenance and street, pavement and public space cleansing.

• Seeking to provide jobs for homeless people.• Supporting the promotion of the VRCID as a safe and clean environment to

work and live in.• The sustained and effective management of the VRCID.

Institutionalising Innovative and Inclusive Responses

• The Greater Tygerberg Partnership

Knowledge for the City: From Ambition to Action: Turning Potential into Prosperity

Vision: To inclusively and innovatively facilitate the creation and sustained existence of a vibrant thriving, desirable and value adding economically prosperous area for the benefit of citizens and inhabitants, by introducing and utilising world class cutting edge knowledge- based strategies, structures and dynamics.

Conclusions

• Innovative and Inclusive Partnerships

“To make their cities attractive places to live in, civic authorities need to harness the energies of all the individuals and businesses flocking into their metropolises. They need to foster the innovative spirit of social entrepreneurs who can step in with new solutions to meet demands for services and infrastructure. They must increase their political clout by forming productive partnerships with the private sector and civil society groups.” Quoted from: Liveable Cities: Challenges and opportunities for policymakers. Economist Intelligence Unit, 2010.