Thursday 26th November 2009
There has been a lot of water under the bridge since the meeting we had with Queen Sigcau in August 2007. The fact is that one of the biggest challenges facing this initiative is inept political meddling for self-serving personal gain; appointed senior officials from East Cape Tourism make sweeping promises when they attend planning sessions and meetings in cosy hotels on the Wild Coast but when it comes to follow through the promises are forgotten and manifest as no more than empty background noise... we live in hope that someday this will change.
Right, moving on, at the beginning of the month On Track Club uploaded a state of the art, real time, online booking system that includes local community huts as part of a worldwide booking system and anybody, anywhere around the world can book a an overnight stay with participating communities all along the Wild Coast. The idea is to create a mix of existing, established B&B’s, backpackers’, hotels, tour operators and guides along the entire 
Wild Coast and link them to community huts with a view to providing a real Wild Coast cultural experience.
Visit the Wild Coast and spend a few nights in huts belonging to the local communities – the booking fee is paid directly to the family that owns the hut – the booking can be done online, real time, from any computer anywhere in the World. We hope that the existing establishments will see this as an opportunity t o attract more people to the Wild Coast in a way that directly benefits local communities and in turn provides a sustainable alternative to proposed developments like mining the Mnyameni Sand Dunes or routing the proposed Toll Road through areas that would transform the Wild Coast to an extension of the KZN South Coast with its tar roads, shops, high rise buildings.
Right now we need mattresses and stretchers - the bulk of our membership fee is now allocated to driving this project, purchasing mattresses and basic B&B "stuff" for these huts. If this is of interest to you, join the team and help us bring on new members - let me know.
Thursday 2nd August 2007
We have kept this record on the dashboard as a point of reference so that those interested in getting involved in this campaign get to understand that On Track Club is making every effort to be in “partnership” with all the people living along the Wild Coast. This record refers to the extent of the initial buy in at community level.
Meeting between the:
1. Qaukeni (Pondoland Kingdom)Tribal Authority
2. Mhlabuhlangene Adventure Tourism Development Committee
3. On Track Club
4. Members of the community
Hosted by Queen L. M. Sigcau
This landmark meeting has been five years in the making
The final preliminary meetings with Chief Gideon Mlungu Sigcau (Aah Mhlabuhlangene) as well as Dumisani Mkwedini (Headman of Gwexintaba), convened by Durban Mpahlana and Phineas Nenemba over the past three months, resulted in a preliminary heads of agreement that was presented to King Mpondombili Sigcau (Aah Thandizulu) in July 2007.
With the permission of King M Sigcau represented at this meeting by Queen L. M. Sigcau and agreed to by all present, that the Gwexintaba community will go ahead with the implementation of the first adventure tourism development node on the Wild Coast as set out in the heads of agreement. It is hoped that this and future adventure tourism development nodes will culminate in the realisation of the
Wild Coast Adventure Route
in the not too distant future.
This is an On Track Club initiative in association with ALL Pondoland tribal leaders and their respective communities. It’s objective is, through a structured selection, learning and training process, to uplift and truly empower remote, impoverished communities along the Wild Coast with sound environmental consideration as one of the primary points of reference.
“It is time to reinvent our methodology. By linking existing structures and initiatives to a dynamic, self-sustaining, holistic approach that is owned by the immediate community (Structured adventure education, ongoing training and ultimately viable business opportunities) we will unlock a treasure trove of renewable, ongoing wealth for the local community” Mike Baker On Track Club
Environmental issues:
Another point raised by Queen Sigcau was the imperative need for an update on the proposed
Wild Coast Toll Road
and the mining concession at Mnyameni. Mike Baker was requested to assist her with research and liaison in these matters. Mike Baker agreed to assist but stressed that in no way was he an authority in either of these subjects.
Attended by:
Queen L. M. Sigcau (Queen of Pondoland )
L. P Mbena (Secretary)
Chief Gideon Mlungu Sigcau (Aah Mhlabuhlangene)
Chief C. M. Majuba
Chief P. Mjoji (Lambasi)
Chief M. Nodunyelwa
Chief Bodweni
Gugulethu Sirayi (Community committee member)
Edward Sobantwana (Community committee member)
Mike Baker (On Track Club)
Phineas Nenemba (On Track Club – Development Instructor)
Durban Mpahlana (On Track Club – Community Liaison)
Kim Robinson (On Track Club)
Mathew Majola