Kurland’s population of an estimated 4 500 people is comprised of different and sometimes conflicting, cultural groupings. 60% of the population are Coloured (i.e. people of mixed heritage) Afrikaans speaking people with the balance being mainly Black African people. Of the latter grouping, Xhosa speaking persons are in the majority but recent years have also witnessed the influx from within South Africa of culturally and linguistically different tribal members such as the Zulu, Tswana, Sotho and other groupings. Furthermore, from beyond South Africa’s borders are to be increasingly found political and/or economic refugees from Zimbabwe, Somalia and the West Coast countries of Africa.

Anthony van der Byl, the Municipal Manager, reckons that for practical purposes he works on an overall +/-65% female: 35% male breakdown; folk under the age of 21 are estimated to be approximately 25-30%; the incidence of HIV/AIDS is +/-35% with under- and un-employment levels to be +/- 45%. Whilst the new housing development is under construction, unemployment has visibly dropped but once complete, is anticipated to return to former levels.

A Community Hall was built during the early nineties – this accommodates at most only two hundred people. A crèche built at the same time was designed and built to cater for only fifty kids but currently has just on 90 children registered. The latter facility is run by two permanent staff members only.

Housing density is estimated at +/- 5 persons per unit. Cyclically a large percentage of people are unemployed due to the low education level as well as a lack of market related skills. This applies especially to adult members of the community. This has a spin-off effect in that those children who finish their schooling to Grade 9 in many cases, and to Grade 12 in others, who cannot obtain funding to continue with their studies due to having no financial backing, end up sitting at home for a year or more before they can find employment. The lack of cultural, sport and recreational facilities also results in the youth being caught up in the spiral of crime, alcohol and drug abuse; under consensual-age sex, pregnancy and single parenthood. HIV/AIDS remains a core community concern.

All-in-all, the impoverished community structure also restricts the ability of community members to empower themselves with skills to improve the quality of their lives. In order to assist facilitate the advancement of the community from this stalemate situation, the Kurland Community Development Forum (The KCDF – a community based formally registered Section 21 organisation incorporated not for gain) was established. Amongst the priority of needs identified was the creation of a facility catering for the needs of the community and it is believed that the new, expanded, multi-purpose community centre will go a long way to fulfilling part of these needs.

Public funding for this structure has not been immediately forthcoming and the unreasonable delays experienced in the commencement of the physical construction of long overdue core housing to replace the informal squatter shacks certainly points to the need to pursue avenues other than the public sector.

To this scenario must be added the damning report recently issued by the Auditor-General on the current state of the Bitou Municipality’s fiscal affairs. It must be noted that Kurland Village falls within the jurisdiction of the Plettenberg Bay based Bitou Municipal management region. What should be one of the wealthiest local administrations in the Western Cape Province has been quantified as being severely cash-strapped due to the many irregularities uncovered in recent audits. It is no wonder that the local powers that be are pushing for or have already expedited the sale of publicly owned facilities to raise the capital sums needed to remain liquid, meet loan repayment obligations and address the real needs of their largely impoverished electorate who are awaiting delivery of the services pledged them by the politicians in prior elections.

The overall conclusion reached by the Kurland Village municipal manager in the light of the above-mentioned scenario is that it is almost impossible for the community to survive and that the Kurland Community Development Forum has no other choice but to reach out to the world for assistance in their hour of need.

It is the KCDF’s intention to raise funds for the community centre that will include a library, computer centre, theatre, gym, game centre, music room, crafts room, cafeteria, satellite police station, kitchen, offices, conference room, and stores – each fully equipped to play in meaningful role in the community’s development needs. The land where the Multi-Purpose Centre will be situated is already allocated and partly approved by local government. The size of the plot is 2394 square metres meaning that most of the buildings will be double storey structures. The general plan of the building is completed, enabling general costing for the respective phases to be completed.