Informal Worker’s Response to the Challenge of Public Urination

In Durban’s inner city, there comes a time when one must hold their nose as they walk past a place covered in a build-up of urine. The ammonia creates a strong smell that most struggle to stomach. As bad as this smell can be, the conditions created from this waste and the reasons behind it … Read more

Warwick’s Street Carpenter

By Priyanka Govender Here in South Africa, where jobs are hard to come by and the unemployment crisis is skyrocketing, having an entrepreneurial spirit is key. Carving out a space for yourself in our unforgiving economy is not only a way of life for many, but essential for survival. In fact, South Africa, home to … Read more

Durban’s Inner City Informal Transport Network

By Priyanka Govender Barrow operators are an integral part of the well-oiled machine that is the inner cities’ Warwick Junction. They play a huge role in the street ecosystem by acting as a transportation service. They cart heavy cargo to and from places on their equipment. Their routes can take them through busy roadways or … Read more

The Deeper Implications of Potholes

Priyanka Govender Picture driving on the way to work, when suddenly the entire car takes a large thump. A pothole. A common South African experience, akin to the likes of home affairs queues and loadshedding right before a deadline. Usually a situation like this is resolved in a matter of days with an insurance claim … Read more

The Palmer Street Recycling Facility: Creating change in Informal Recycling

Priyanka Govender Many have seen a woman pulling a mountainous heap of stacked cardboard on a trolley, straining to navigate the hot and cluttered Durban sidewalk as we drove past on our way to somewhere else. It’s a natural occurrence where we live that not many have spared this more than a passing thought. But … Read more