“Everything was destroyed…we had no savings.”

Rebecca Plumbley Almost a month ago a fire destroyed around a third of the Traditional Herb and Medicine Market- directly impacting 77 traders. Asiye eTafuleni spoke with some of the traders whose goods were burnt in the fire to find out what their experiences of the past month have been: “Everything was destroyed. From the … Read more

Reflecting on 2016 and Beyond: Part 2 of 2

Tasmi Quazi This article is the second part of a reflection piece of our work in 2016 and after much deliberation, we selected 16 major events or projects to highlight, much of which is continuing into the present year. Part 1 covered organisation milestones such as new funding support, project achievements particularly those breaking new … Read more

Conference: Giving Voice to Women Traders in the Informal Economy

Tasmi Quazi On 13 and 14 April 2016, a conference exclusively for women traders – believed to be the first of its kind in Durban – was held with the support of the Foundation for Human Rights and implemented by Legal Resources Centre (LRC) and Asiye eTafuleni (AeT). The conference deliberated on the significance, opportunities … Read more

Reflecting on AeT’s 2014 Activities and Beyond: Series 4 of 4

Tasmi Quazi Asiye eTafuleni’s (AeT) award-winning approach involves work in the following areas; design, urban intelligence, advocacy and education. Emanating from these key themes are projects, programmes and activities being carried forward into 2015. The final piece in the 4-series article will reflect on our work in “education”. An exposure dialogue programme with Workers College, … Read more

Landmark legal case defending informal workers’ rights

Richard Dobson & Tasmi Quazi In the course of Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) implementing its project based work, we have been conscious of the hardships that confiscations and other punitive actions by enforcement officials place on informal workers. One such event that emerged was the case of John Makwicana, a legally compliant trader in all aspects … Read more

EMM 80 +24 Heritage Day Celebration

Richard Dobson & Tasmi Quazi The Early Morning Market (EMM) has been in the Durban’s Warwick Junction precinct for 88 years and in existence for a further 24 years. That in in itself was a cause for celebration for this year’s national heritage day on 24 September.   During the Union of International Architects (UIA) … Read more

Achieving Together: AeT Intern 2013 Regional “Architectural Student of the Year”

Tasmi Quazi AeT intern Mongezi Ncube from University of KwaZulu-Natal was selected as the regional winner of the 2013 “Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year”. This is the successive year that an AeT intern has won this prestigious student competition, the 2012 winner being, Dennis-Lee Stols.   Mongezi’s thesis explored urban informality as a generator … Read more

Warwick Junction’s First Aiders challenge myths about informal workers

Written by Laura Alfers & Phumzile Xulu Worldwide there is a tendency to assume that informal workers do not and will not properly maintain their workplaces and the infrastructure with which they are provided. The language that attends discussions of informal workplaces is peppered with the words “dirty,” “run down,” “broken,” and informal workers themselves … Read more

AeT Featured in ‘Spark’ Newsletter for Igniting Local Action

Tasmi Quazi Asiye eTafuleni’s (AeT) work in the realm of inclusive urban planning and design was featured in Spark Newsletter (March 2013, Issue 7, pages 15 and 16). AeT’s work appeared under the theme “Public Participation”, including an excerpt on its Markets of Warwick community tourism project which received a Mayoral Award of Excellence in … Read more