Women recyclers taking care of the city

Misiwe Maphumulo and Sarah Heneck Recycling has a multitude of benefits; it protects the environment, saves the municipality money, and helps many people sustain their livelihoods. Let’s unpack this a little bit: Protecting the environment: Recyclable materials such as cardboard, paper, plastic, cans and glass that are not recycled either ends up as litter in … Read more

Silindokuhle Micro-Childcare Facility: Reviving hope for children of informally working mothers

Micro-childcare facility Brook Street by Jo Lees

Sarah Heneck AeTs childcare project which has been in the pipeline for the past 3 years (details available in the previous blogpost ) was unfortunately put on hold due to the COVID-19 induced nationwide lockdown which came into effect in March 2020. This was just weeks before the first childcare facility designed specifically to cater … Read more

Part 2 – Inclusive urban design and policy that dignifies the Os’gadla

(This blog forms part of a series, see Part 1: Os’gadla; an unrecognised, yet extremely robust workforce in transit) ‘By 2030, eThekwini Municipality will be Africa’s most caring and liveable city.’ This is the IDP vision for eThekwini – the municipality in which Durban is situated. In order to make this ambitious goal a reality, … Read more

Enabling Structures: Markets of Warwick Junction

An exhibition on Durban’s contribution to city making, that also celebrates the diverse livelihoods represented by the markets which form a substantial part of Durban’s local economy. The exhibition Enabling Structures: Markets of Warwick Junction by designworkshop:sa and Asiye eTafuleni, was originally showcased at the 2016 International Architecture Exhibition Biennale in Venice, Italy, and viewed … Read more

Creating safer working spaces for women recyclers

Misiwe Maphumulo Street trade is pervasive and a source of employment and income for many urban dwellers. WIEGOs recent /survey shows that 61% of livelihoods are earned through informal work. A secure environment is a prerequisite for formal business, this shouldn’t be any different for the informal sectors. Everywhere informal recyclers experience strong prejudice and … Read more

2019 SAIA-KZN Awards for Architecture

Richard Dobson Architect, in partnership with AeT, received a Special Mention for Work of Social Importance. Recognising the significance of urban design that impacts positively on some of the poorest and most vulnerable workers. Despite the City providing basic infrastructure for the Mealie Cooks, a major challenge lies in the current cooking method of using … Read more

Asiye eTafuleni: Igniting Transformative Change

“From the brink of hundreds of informal traders being threatened with displacement to the thriving, collective governance of today, Warwick Junction has carved a unique path to integrating large, informal markets into a modern city.” Dr. Frannie Léautier, a Juror of the 2019 WRI Ross Prize and the Chief Operating Officer of the Eastern and … Read more

Reflecting on 2018: Part 2

Rebecca Plumbley As we reach the end of 2018, we look back on ten significant projects and events that happened this year. This is Part 2 of the list. 6. Herb Market Fire On the 29th of July a fire destroyed around a third of the Traditional Herb and Medicine Market, burning the stock and … Read more