Who We Are
Local Government
Recent Events
Meeting of community radio stations and the DDP
5 August 2010, DDP Seminar room - Participants came in with a number of different expectations. To a large extent, CRS representatives were hoping to find out how programmes on democracy education or coverage on elections can be improved, so that they are sustainable and unbiased. Participants also saw the meeting as an opportunity to engage in more networking with other CRS.
Public Forum Report: Reforming the Education System-what is the way forward?
4 August 2010 - Southern Sun, Elangeni: The objective was to discuss the viability of the announced changes and to exchange ideas on what the way forward for enhancing education in South Africa should be.
Public Forum Report: The 2010 FIFA World Cup and its impact on South Africans
Forum report by Thomas Keil (DDP Intern) - 'FIFA had also not exerted pressure on the city of Durban to build a new venue. Sole thus concluded that the money spent on the Moses Mabhida stadium should rather have gone into other, strategically more important issues, as the new stadium was not a FIFA requirement, but merely a “nice to have”.'
Public Forum Presentation: The 2010 FIFA World Cup and its impact on South Africans
Presentation by Prof. B Maharaj - Prof. Brij Maharaj took a critical stance towards South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Examining the relationship between sports and local economic development he argued that in the contemporary environment, cities are forced to competing with other cities around the world for investment.
Personal Leadership and Mastery Workshop
29 June -1 July 2010, Umdloti Conference Centre - 20 participants from a range of organisations participated in this 3-day workshop facilitated by Rama Naidu and Anita Simon. The workshop focused to a greater degree on the leaders’ personal development as a leader within the organisation. The methodology used was process oriented and thus the issues that were raised by the participants themselves. Experienced-based learning is a fundamental approach and conversation a key tool used by the facilitators.
Okumhlope High School Workshop
14-16 June 2010 - The DDP schools programme has taken on an alternate approach in developing young people. The focus has moved from developing leaders to developing young community builders moulding their own future. Having started the process in Phoenix with Greenbury Secondary School, an opportunity was extended to Okumhlophe High School in Umlazi. Although lacking the resources, the school has the potential and through this opportunity will engage with the process and programme.
Amakhosi Meeting
13 April 2010 - Ms Mpume Shezi representing the DDP Local government desk held a meeting on the proposed capacity trainings in UMlalazi Municipality. The Deputy Manager Mr. S. Mashabane was instrumental in orchestrating the processes to include the Municipal Manager Mr. Gerber and Mr. Williams, Manager Corporate services.
Ward Committee Induction Workshop
18 – 19 May 2010 - This workshop followed after the Municipality and the DDP had formally entered into the Partnership agreement on the 4th of May 2010. The proposal to enter into such an agreement came at a right time for the municipality as several wards held by-elections replacing old ward committee structures as well as councilors with new ones.
Amakhosi Information Sharing Workshop
21 May 2010 - UMlalazi council having signed an MOU with DDP regarding trainings saw it important to officially engage in a process of taking Amakhosi through the structures and contents of the workshops as well as projected outcomes.
Presentation: Human Trafficking
04 June 2010, Diakonia Conference Centre - The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in partnership with the DDP recently held a legislative briefing seminar on the new Bill on Human Trafficking in South Africa.
Report on seminar: Proposed Bill on Trafficking in Persons
04 June 2010, Diakonia Conference Centre - The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in partnership with the DDP recently held a legislative briefing seminar on the new Bill on Human Trafficking in South Africa.
Public forum discussion on Eskom’s $3.5 bn World Bank loan and its implications for ordinary South Africans
Thursday, 20 May 2010, Southern Sun, Elangeni, Durban - The forum sought to address issues around the controversial loan that has been granted by the World Bank to help finance Eskom’s build programme, specifically the large coal-fired plant the parastatal power utility is currently building in Medupi, Limpopo. DDP was pleased to welcome two speakers to this event, namely Prof. Patrick Bond from the Centre for Civil Society and Mr. Bobby Peek, from the environmental NGO groundwork.
Courageous Conversations
Friday, April 30, 2010, Koinonia, Durban - On the 30th of May Vuleka Trust and the DDP hosted an event called “ Courageous Conversations” at the Koinonia Centre in Hillcrest. The event was the brainchild of Roland Vernon, the Director of Koinonia and was meant to bring people together to share their uniquely South African stories. This was a ‘fruit salad’ gathering in that it brought people together across a spectrum of race, age, gender and culture.
NPO Training for Operational Planning using the Log Frame Aproach
12-14 April 2010, DDP Seminar room, Durban - The DDP held this workshop to assist the non profit sector achieve their greatest possible project impact through the best organisational practice.
Youth Salt March
Inanda,18 April 2010 - The principles of Mahatma Gandhi and in particular the Salt March are very pertinent to the people of South Africa, especially at this cross-road the country finds itself. Events like the Salt March are necessary to raise the awareness of great people like Mahatma Gandhi and the principles he stood for. As part of our relationship and commitment to the leadership programme with Greenbury Secondary School, we the DDP under took to participate with them in the Gandhi Development Trust Salt March.
Public forum discussion on Lifestyle Audits
Tuesday, 24 March 2010, Southern Sun, Elangeni, Durban - The controversial idea of lifestyle audits being conducted on politicians triggered a lively debate with some welcoming it while others said it created an impression that black politicians were corrupt. Political analyst, Dumisani Hlophe and University of Kwa-Zulu Natal political analyst, Zakhele Ndlovu presented their views at the forum.
Community Building - a key leadership task brought to you by Symphonia for South Africa
Wednesday & Thursday, March 11-12, 2010, St Phils Hospitality Centre, Durban - This workshop, a collaborative effort of the DDP and Symphonia in active response to the Dinokeng Scenarios, published in May 2009. The Scenarios urge all South Africans to walk together on the issues that face this country in order to put South Africa on the road to success. The workshop was facilitated by Peter Block, an author, consultant and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Seminar: MEDIA FREEDOM UNDER THREAT?
