Imagine Durban is about realizing that the choices we make today will affect our children and grandchildren tomorrow.  So if we are committed to handing down a safe, healthy and prosperous world to future generations, we need to make the right decisions today.  Of course the best way to make the right choice is to make an informed choice, and this is where the ideas and the knowledge of the people of Durban come in. 

The Imagine Durban process began by asking some key questions of people from all walks of life, namely: 

1. What do you like about the neighbourhood where you live?
2. What do you NOT like about your neighbourhood?
3. What changes would you most like to see in your neighbourhood?
4. Describe your hopes and dreams for:
   1. Your neighbourhood in the future
   2. Durban in the future
5. What can YOU do to make these dreams a reality?

The 5 questions were asked in a variety of ways – through surveys, postcards in libraries, municipal centers, restaurants and coffee shops, through high school students and via the Imagine Durban website.   

The key responses to each of the questions were:

What do you like about the neighbourhood where you live?

These are some of things that people said that they liked about their neighbourhoods:

1. It is friendly
2. It has accessible schools
3. It is quiet and peaceful
4. It is safe
5. It has accessible and safe public transport
6. It is clean
7. It has basic household services
8. It is central and close to things that people need
9. Is has accessible shops
10. It has a nice environment
11. It is a developed area

What do you NOT like about your neighbourhood?

These are some of things that people said that they didn’t like about their neighbourhoods:

1. There is crime
2. The roads are bad
3. It is dirty
4. There are not enough public facilities
5. There is unemployment
6. It is noisy
7. The public transport is unreliable
8. There is drug and alcohol abuse in the area
9. The water is unreliable
10. There air is polluted
11. There is informal housing
12. Houses are badly designed

What changes would you most like to see in your neighbourhood?

These are some of the changes that people would most like to see in their neighbourhoods:

1. A reduction in the crime and more policing
2. An upgrade in roads
3. Employment creation
4. More shopping Centres
5. A cleaner environment
6. More development
7. More housing and improved housing
8. Better Public Transport
9. More Schools
10. Provision of Electricity

Describe your hopes and dreams for your neighbourhood in the future

These are people’s hopes and dreams for their neighbourhoods:

1. A peaceful neighbourhood with reduced crime and improved safety
2. A well developed area
3. A place with more shopping centres
4. A cleaner environment
5. A place with more employment
6. A sense of community unity and mutual support
7. A friendly community
8. A place with more entertainment facilities
9. A neighbourhood that remains unchanged

Describe your hopes and dreams for Durban in the future

These are people’s hopes and dreams for Durban:

1. Improved safety and reduction in crime
2. A cleaner city and environment
3. Durban is the best city in South Africa
4. Durban attracts more tourists
5. More Employment is created
6. A developed city
7. It remains a beautiful city
8. The buildings are upgraded

What can YOU do to make these dreams a reality?

This is what people felt they could do to make their dreams become a reality:

1. Actively participate and have their say
2. Volunteer to help their community and participate in the community projects
3. Get educated and improve their education
4. Exercise right to vote
5. Pay rates and taxes
6. Report crime and assist the police
7. Help the youth-help
8. Be a responsible citizen
9. Not littering

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