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
Tasmi Quazi A common myth is that the “formal” and “informal” economies are two distinct realities that function separately; economically and spatially. Although the distinction itself is riddled with a lack of clarity and contention, value chain analyses of specific sectors has shown that the two are linked. Moreover, there are many thriving spatial examples … Read more
By Tasmi Quazi Patrick Ndlovu is the co-founder and Senior Project Officer of Asiye eTafuleni (AeT). Due to his extensive experience of working with informal workers, in Durban’s inner-city in particular, he is regarded as one of the most skilled social facilitators globally within the development domain of the informal economy. Below is a personal … Read more
Tasmi Quazi is the Research Officer of Asiye eTafuleni (AeT). She has a master’s degree in Development Studies, and a background in architecture and design, particularly community-based approaches. Her master’s thesis titled “Municipal Approaches to Incorporating the Informal Economy into the Urban Fabric: A Case Study of Msunduzi Local Municipality and Hibiscus Coast Municipality” has … Read more
Written by Tasmi Quazi, Photographs by Tasmi Quazi & Phumzile Xulu Since its inception, Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) has engaged the interest of various tertiary institutions in learning about inclusive urban design and development with the informal economy. This interest however has deepened and intensified from 2013. Five different educational institutions, local and international, have bought … Read more
Tasmi Quazi The unique attribute of Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) within the “informal” economy sector is believed to be the deliberate integration of urban planning and design expertise coupled with comprehensive social facilitation services. The prioritisation of the grounded social facilitation seeks to place AeT at the intersection of rights based consciousness, responsive urban management and … Read more
Compiled by Tasmi Quazi As part of its dissemination strategy, Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) has welcomed the challenge of presenting its project work to interested audiences, particularly students. This is because of AeT’s belief that a young audience can influence and contribute significantly to the future assimilation of informal workers into urban environments. Accordingly, close to … Read more
By Maya Potter, Compiled by Tasmi Quazi Maya Potter, anthropology major, interned with Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) this year, and after immersing herself in Warwick Junction, a major informal economy hub in Durban (South Africa) in which AeT is based, this was one of her colourful and perceptive reflection pieces: “There are two Durbans—Durban by car … Read more
By Tasmi Quazi Richard Dobson is the co-founder and Project Leader of Asiye eTafuleni. He is an architect by profession, and based on his integral involvement in urban regeneration work in Durban’s inner-city since 1996, he co-authored the book “Working in Warwick: Including Street Traders in Urban Plans”. Furthermore, he has been invited to a … Read more
