Open letter to MTO
Open letter to the Management of MTO and the Residents of Storms River Village
This is an open letter to the Management of MTO and for the benefit of those residents who could not make the gathering on Thursday 06 February 2025.
To the MTO Management Team and Colleagues
Background
As MTO, you will know the STORMS NPC was placed in a very difficult predicament. A few years back, a single Storms River Village resident, purporting to be a spokesperson for the village, took issue with MTO over a matter of herbicidal use in a field opposite to the Village. Whilst what he was saying appeared to have merit, his approach and method of interfacing with his adversaries was hostile, which unfortunately spilled over to the press in such a way that it had the potential to cause collateral brand damage to the good name of Storms River Village.
Offer
In an attempt to bring objectivity to both parties and to our residents, the NPC offered to facilitate a neutral open forum giving each party, equal time to project their points of view. MTO lauded the opportunity, but unfortunately the resident in question became aggrieved, accusing the NPC of not being transparent. Why, we do not understand. Based on this outcome, the debate was abandoned. This unexpected outcome nonetheless opened the door to conduct frank, yet meaningful discussion with MTO in a way that would address the herbicide debate in a rational manner, thus allowing Storms River Village residents to come to their own conclusions.
Opportunity
A new window of objectivity now opened for both the NPC and MTO. It commenced with a frank discussion between myself, in my capacity as a Director of STORMS NPC and Nico De Waal, GM: Forests MTO Cape, around the use of Glyphosate. Ahead of our first discussion, we mutually agreed that all future discussion would be conducted on the premise of ‘What needs to be said, must be said’, but successful outcomes would revolve around the ‘how it was said’. We agreed that unless there was common respect, understanding and diplomacy, a win-win outcome could never be achieved. That platform has now been set.
This precursor discussion paved the way to a series of meetings, which included a one-on-one meeting with your Itumeleng Langeni, MTO’s Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer, and a second meeting between the NPC’s Directors and guests and MTO’s Senior Management. The culmination of positively disposed outcomes of these meetings were tabled in an open forum gathering of Storms River Village residents on 06 February 2025, together with a presentation by an MTO-appointed expert on herbicide testing and control measures.
Resolved
Integrated Fire Plan
Undeniably your expertise and experience when it comes to crisis management of wildfires, is the best one can get. Thank you for offering to share your plan with us and allow us to now be an integral partner in your overall Integrated Management Fire Plan. A plan that outlines ‘ who-does-what’ when a wildfire occurs. On the premise of prevention is better than cure, you have encouraged us to familiarise ourselves with and potentially join the Fire Protection Association of South Africa and allow them to do a risk-audit of Storms River Village. This will allow us to restrict fire damage and keep ourselves and our visitors safe, by addressing and fixing any high-risk issue.
Fire education and community development
In our very first meeting, Nico De Waal reached out to ask if the STORMS NPC could give guidance around educating local community children about fire and fire prevention. We willingly said we could, through our Director Social Economic Transformation, Joslin Bauer. In subsequent meetings we learned of the Digital Training Centre sponsored by MTO and housed in the Storms River Primary School and the MTO vegetable growing initiative in and around Storms River West – in both instances, having been co-ordinated by your Itumeleng Langeni. We agreed that in going forward, both Itumeleng and Joslin would connect in regard to future development initiatives.
Safety & Security
Similarly, and as a quid pro quo, we are in the throes of implementing a sophisticated security system, which we would welcome your participation in, thus allowing our observation vantage points to extend to the rural land that surrounds our Village. We would then link your control room to ours, thus having at least two sets of eyes on the greater area at any one time, 24/7. This would enhance what we already consider to be an optimal security set-up.
Research into experimental alternatives to Glyphosate
Thank you for sharing the outcomes of the nearby research* (see footnote) you conducted just east of the Storms River Village. As discussed, together with TIPWG and other research institutions, it would be great if we could use the land that was in contention opposite our Village (hillside), as a new ‘research prospect’ that could find ways to eliminate the use of Glyphosate. We agreed on the principle of ‘never say never’ and you agreed to look into this possibility.
Sewage Treatment Works
Thank you for continuing to work with us on the conundrum of land ownership as it applies to these works and to joining us to establish a strategy that would motivate Koukamma Municipality to up their performance in regard to these works.
Eradication of alien vegetation
Having explained to you the alien eradication programme currently being executed in SANParks Plaatbos Forest by SANParks Honorary Rangers, you showed a keen willingness to get involved in the supply of chainsaws and their operators, along with labour, in areas under MTO control. This was greatly appreciated by all.
Approved adventure activities on MTO land
Attention was given in regard to an adventure activity operator that was potentially causing brand damage to both Storms River Village and MTO. MTO accepted the benefit that could be derived by utilising a STORMS NPC approved operator. You undertook to review and possibly sanction the current operator. Details and video of transgressions by the current operator are available for your review.
The Future
Despite an unnecessary long period of not coming together because of awkward circumstances, the NPC would like to thank the MTO Management for heeding our call to resolve matters in a meaningful and amicable way – striving for win-win solutions. Together, we believe we have created a stakeholder relationship that will prove mutually beneficial for many years to come.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully, Jimmy Wayland
On behalf of the Directors – Safety, Tourism, Oversight & self-Regulatory Management System, a Non-Profit Company (NPC)
*As confirmed by the laboratory, no glyphosate or AMPA was detected in the water samples from the test grounds (Block K19a) as attested to by Ritchie Morris (Pr Sci Nat) Independent Hydrogeologist & Contaminant Specialist. For more information please contact Jimmy Wayland.
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