City Of Durban Research Articles

Redressing urban land dispossession of Indians in Cato Manor, Durban, South Africa

ABSTRACT In South Africa, the 1913 Land Act and the Group Areas Act of 1950 resulted in about 3.5 million people being dispossessed of their land and business sites, with little or no compensation. Cato Manor, one of the earliest settlements occupied by Indians after the completion of indenture, was one such site of displacement in Durban. In the democratic era, the Durban City Council used the Section 34 application by the Cato Manor Development Agency (CMDA) to rule out the restoration of land lost by those dispossessed by the Group Areas Act in Cato Manor. Drawing from data collected from the Land Claims Commission, proceedings of the Land Claims Court, and participation in urban restitution workshops, this paper analyses the Cato Manor Section 34 application to illustrate the conflict between two competing public interests: low-cost housing and the need for restoration of land to those who were dispossessed by apartheid forced removals.

Wasted shores: Using drones to monitor the spatio-temporal evolution of debris accumulation hotspots on South Africa's Umgeni River

Rivers are major contributors of plastic waste to the oceans. Running through the northern part of the 1.3 million-inhabitants City of Durban, South Africa, the Umgeni River is estimated to flush in the order of tens to hundreds of tonnes of plastic waste into the Indian Ocean every year. The riverbanks are lined with plastic and other macro-waste accumulation zones formed due to direct littering and occasional deposition of river debris loads. This study presents the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and hydro-meteorological sensors to (1) identify, quantify and monitor such anthropogenic macro-waste hotspots; and (2) investigate the influence of rainfall, river water level and a major flood event on the spatio-temporal evolution of the hotspots, evidencing the debris' availability to leak into the Indian Ocean. The one-year aerial monitoring (2021−2022) of waste hotspots shows that extreme hydrometeorological events have an immediate but short-term effect on the erosion of debris stocks in riverine systems. We observe that reduction in mean index changes of hotspot surface area after flooding were 2–5 times higher than in non-flood conditions. Despite visual evidence of seasonality in debris erosion between the wet and dry season, only the 'natural' type hotspots showed a significant change. Our findings support reported inconsistencies of macro-debris erosion with hydrological factors. Although the data contributes a baseline for macro-debris erosion in the Umgeni River, future ground truth sampling and finer monitoring scales are important to fully understand debris transfer in river systems. The mapping of waste hotspots and understanding their spatio-temporal transfer dynamics supports policymakers in planning and timing to mitigate environmental pollution.

The health and economic impacts of exposure to marine mobile emissions from ships in Durban port, South Africa

South Africa remains an uncharted realm in terms of marine mobile emissions inventory and hence the impact of pollution from ships in coastal cities remains unknown. Such a void creates uncertainties about the extent of population exposure to pollution from ships, the health impact and economic value associated with the changes in policies for the port city of Durban.This study was aimed at estimating the health and economic impact of marine mobile emissions and the health and economic benefits associated with improvement in air quality within the port city of Durban, which is under eThekwini municipality. The population exposure to particulate matter of less than 2.5 and 10 μm (PM2.5 and PM10) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) from ships calling into Durban port were estimated using the AERMOD air dispersion model. The BenMAP modelling tool was then used to estimate the health impact and economic value of changes in emission of PM2.5, PM10 and SO2 from ships visiting Durban port. The reduction in emissions from ships was due to the reduction in the sulphur content of fuel from 3.5% to 0.5% that was implemented by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on the 01st of January 2020.The results showed that PM2.5 and PM10 emissions reduced by 63% in 2020 compared to 2018, whilst SO2 emissions reduced by 82% over the same period. The BenMAP results indicated that 49 premature mortalities were avoided in 2020 compared to 2018 since the IMO's forced reduction in sulphur content of fuel by 85% in 2020. These avoided cases on mortality were estimated a monetary value of R228 million using the World Bank’s 2016 estimates and R683 million using the USEPA Mean VSL estimate. Such monetary values were respectively equivalent to 0.05% and 0.2% of the eThekwini's GDP, which was estimated at R468 billion in 2016.

Livelihood Precarity of Migrants: Perspectives of African Refugees in Durban, South Africa

Migrants and refugees face numerous socioeconomic and institutional challenges in the host cities and countries. They are excluded from full participation in the labor market, which makes them vulnerable to poverty. To survive, migrants and refugees join the informal economic sector. Informed by the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), the article examines how African refugees in Durban make and maintain their livelihoods, including their encounters with marginalization. Participants were drawn from Congolese, Rwandese, and Burundian community groups living in the inner city of Durban. The snowballing sampling method was key in identifying the participants, while face-to-face interviews were used for data collection. The findings show that African refugees in Durban pursue diverse forms of livelihood in the informal sector. They are faced with numerous challenges, such as a lack of start-up capital, weak social networks to protect themselves and their businesses, bureaucratic challenges, discrimination, and xenophobic attacks. Regardless of these challenges, migrants still forge ahead by starting their businesses and making a living under the circumstances of precarity and marginalization.

Access to and acceptability of sexual and reproductive health, harm reduction and other essential health services among people who inject drugs in Durban, South Africa

BackgroundPeople who inject drugs (PWID) are at risk of HIV acquisition. The number of PWID in South African cities is increasing, and in spite of an advanced HIV prevention and treatment programme, there are PWID who experience challenges accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV related services. Access to and acceptability of SRH and harm reduction services by PWID needs to be further understood and explored.MethodsIn-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 10 key stakeholders and 11 PWID, in Durban, South Africa. Interviews were transcribed and translated. Data were thematically analysed using Dedoose software.ResultsParticipants described stigma/discrimination from healthcare workers and other clients accessing services as barriers to accessing healthcare services. They were concerned about long waiting times at healthcare facilities because of possibilities of withdrawal, as well as lost opportunities to “hustle”. Targeted, non-discriminatory services, as well as mobile clinics existed in the city. Non-governmental organisations reportedly worked together with the public sector, facilitating access to HIV and TB prevention and treatment services. There were also needle exchange programmes and a harm reduction clinic in the city. However, there was limited access to contraceptive and STI services. Although there was reportedly good access to HIV and TB and harm reduction services in the city of Durban, uptake was low.ConclusionsThe integration of services to enable PWID to access different services under one roof is critical. There is also a need to strengthen linkages between public and private healthcare, and ensure services are provided in a non-discriminatory environment. This will facilitate uptake and access to more comprehensive SRH and harm reduction services for PWID in Durban, South Africa.

Comparing the effectiveness of pitfall traps and active sampling methods for ants and spiders in a Chromolaena odorata invaded site

Background: Active and passive arthropod sampling techniques have their specific limitations. Pitfall trapping is a commonly used passive sampling method, and bush beating, aerial hand collection above the knee, aerial hand collection below the knee cryptic and non-cryptic are widely used active sampling techniques. Objective and method: Pitfall traps and four active sampling techniques were used in a Chromolaena odorata invaded site to compare the methods used in sampling arthropods in Buffelsdraai Conservancy outside the city of Durban, South Africa. Results: Pitfall traps were the most efficient and the most effective sampling technique with high species richness for both the ant (78%) and spider (76%) samples. One explanation for these differences could be the longer sampling time for passive sampling compared to active sampling. Conclusion: Compared to the subjective identification of species by collectors in active techniques, the non-selective capturing of species by pitfall traps improves its efficiency. The fewest taxa and individuals were collected by aerial hand collection techniques but these techniques are recommended to supplement pitfall traps. The combination of methods allows for the adequate sampling of the various strata found in vegetatively complex sites. An investigation into the possible use of canopy techniques in C. odorata sites would be beneficial, as it considers the various vegetation strata when sampling for biodiversity.

Affordable, accessible, healthy

For many residents in peri-urban areas, the price of essential healthy food items in supermarkets is unaffordable. At the same time, the more affordable informal markets tend to offer highly processed foods with low nutritional value. Indigenous foods are recognised for their potential to improve food and nutrition security, reduce malnutrition and enhance health and well-being, yet their use in urban areas is limited. In this article NOKUTHULA VILAKAZI explores the gap in urban consumers’ knowledge about the availability, production, preparation and use of indigenous foods in the City of Durban, eThekwini Municipality, with a specific focus on cowpeas.

UNRAVELING CAREER DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICAN LOGISTICS COMPANIES

This study delves into the dynamics of career development practices and employee engagement within logistics companies in Durban City, South Africa. Employing a descriptive-correlational research design, the investigation sought answers to key questions regarding the extent of career development practices, the levels of employee engagement, and the relationship between these two critical aspects. The study focused on a sample of 215 employees from five logistics companies in Durban City, South Africa, employing a stratified random sampling approach tailored to the unique characteristics of each company. Primary data collection was conducted through a structured questionnaire, validated for content relevance and reliability, ensuring the instrument's consistency. Ethical principles, including informed consent, anonymity, voluntarism, and confidentiality, were rigorously upheld throughout the study. Data analysis utilized weighted mean and Pearson correlation as statistical tools. The main findings reveal a significant gap in the implementation of career development practices, particularly in essential areas such as career planning, succession planning, and career training. These deficiencies, reflected in low average weighted means, call for strategic interventions to address critical aspects of employee growth and development. Additionally, the study identifies suboptimal levels of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional engagement among employees in logistics companies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive enhancement. A noteworthy discovery is the strong positive correlation between career development practices and employee engagement, highlighted by a robust Pearson Correlation of .887. This statistically significant relationship underscores the interconnectedness of these factors, suggesting that addressing identified gaps in career development practices could catalyze improvements in overall employee engagement within logistics companies. In conclusion, these findings collectively advocate for the enhancement of career development practices as a catalyst for improving employee engagement, fostering a more dynamic and productive workforce. The study's recommendations include the implementation of comprehensive career development programs, prioritization of engagement initiatives, and the integration of technological solutions for career training. These strategies, tailored to the evolving business landscape, hold the potential to contribute to the overall success and sustainability of logistics companies in South Africa.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0012/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Change in emotional distress, anxiety, depression and PTSD from pre- to post-flood exposure in women residing in low-income settings in South Africa

Floods are increasing in frequency and may increase the risk for experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, depression and PTSD. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of damage, loss, injury and death resulting from floods that occurred in and around the city of Durban, South Africa, in April 2022, and associated changes in mental health pre- to post-floods in a low-income setting. Seventy-three women between the ages of 18 and 45, residing in flood affected, low-income settings, were interviewed prior to the floods occurring. Mental health measures were repeated with 69 of the 73 women during the post-flood interview along with a questionnaire measuring flood-related exposures. Loss of infrastructure (lacked access to drinking water, electricity, fresh food, could not travel to work, had to stay in a shelter and could not get hold of friends or family) was a predictor of post-flood change in levels of emotional distress and anxiety. Higher levels of prior trauma exposure were associated with higher post-flood levels of emotional distress. Higher pre-flood food insecurity was also associated with higher post-flood anxiety. Women affected by poverty, food insecurity and a history of trauma are vulnerable to the additive adverse mental health effects of floods. Proactive approaches to diminishing the impact of floods on the livelihood of women is needed and post-flood relieve efforts may be more affective if they are enhanced by providing mental health support.

The Stumbling Block: South African Police Service, and Non-Governmental Organisations Perspective on Human Trafficking in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Human trafficking is not a recent phenomenon. Acts of human abduction for illicit intentions are believed to have been occurring since time immemorial. In South Africa, human trafficking remains a huge threat to peace and security and violates the human rights of all affected individuals. The South African Police Service (SAPS) and relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are two of the systems that should not stint their efforts in addressing this crime. In light of the aforementioned, this study explored i) the frequency of human trafficking occurrences in a month, ii) the effectiveness of the legislature in addressing human trafficking, iii) challenges faced by SAPS in addressing human trafficking, and iv) lastly, the strategies for curbing human trafficking in the city of Durban. The study adopted a qualitative research design with semi-structured one-on-one interviews used for data collection. Purposive sampling was used to select the nine (9) participants drawn from the SAPS and NGOs. The collected data were analysed using the inductive thematic analysis. It is envisaged that this study will be significant in assisting relevant structures such as the SAPS and NGOs in devising new and effective strategies to respond to human trafficking in Durban.

Mzansi Magic

Mzansi Magic

Women’s Stories of Waste Picking in the City: “People Look at Us Like We Are Mad, but I Don’t Care”

The gendered dynamics of informal work in southern cities across the globe has been well documented. Women in the informal sector, usually already marginalised through racialised and class positionalities, face predictable work challenges in patriarchal society, lower pay, longer work hours, more family responsibilities, less social protections, and safety concerns linked to workspaces. In this article, we explore the specific challenges that women waste pickers in the inner city of Durban, South Africa, experience. The study draws on ethnographic research with eight waste pickers. Beyond the challenges, the narrative data illustrates how and why women waste pickers navigate and negotiate for space and safety in the inner city of Durban. We highlight how women build social relationships as a mitigation strategy against material and varied safety concerns. These social relationships work across formal business linkages and relationships on the street. These mitigation strategies are simultaneously gendered responses to work in the city and innovative business practices. The experiences of women waste pickers in the city indicates that it is left to the women themselves, individually and in small collectives, to find ways to navigate issues of discrimination and exclusions linked to work, gender and space in the city. Ultimately, we draw on the experiences of women waste pickers in inner city Durban to ask questions about what lessons can be learnt to advocate better municipal planning that proactively deals with gender and justice in the city.

Gender-based violence as the outcome of maleness and egotism among Congolese male migrants located in the South African City of Durban

The study investigates the relationship between masculinities, narcissism, and gender-based violence (GBV) among Congolese male refugees in Durban, South Africa. The research uses a qualitative approach and 25 in-depth interviews to identify major themes. Results show that Congolese male refugees reinforce their masculinities through narcissistic behaviors, which contribute to GBV. Societal stakeholders in Durban should be involved in addressing GBV prevention initiatives to hinder men's narcissistic attitudes and beliefs. Recognizing a partner's depth can help reduce GBV by recognizing the positive attention they expect from them.

Structural violence and the subversion of participatory planning—the struggle for the Warwick Market in Durban, South Africa

Deprivation, poverty, inequality, forced displacement, psychological harm, lack of public participation in planning and benign neglect are examples of structural violence in cities. In the case of benign neglect, public facilities are deliberately neglected in terms of maintenance and provision of basic facilities—a form of ‘slow violence’. Drawing from qualitative data sources that included participant observation, consultations with legal advisors and court hearings, this paper analyses the different forms of structural violence that were used in early 2009 in the city of Durban to try to replace the century old Early Morning Warwick Market which catered for the poor working class, with a mall. The Municipality’s participatory and consultative approach to upgrade the Warwick Avenue Triangle in the first democratic decade (1994–2004) is contrasted with the subversion of participatory planning in the second democratic decade (2004–2014), as Durban prepared for FIFA 2010. The mall development would have resulted in the loss of an important part of Durban’s history, heritage and culture. A key contention of this paper is that the fatally flawed neoliberal planning fiasco in Warwick Avenue was driven by a top-down process which favoured private corporate interests. The mall project was presented as a public–private partnership. However, in such partnerships local democracy is compromised as the fiscal prospects of local governments become dependent on the business decisions of the private sector. There were serious contradictions evident in the juxtaposition of large-scale public-private partnerships such as the mall, and the threats to displace low-income traders, a process which David Harvey called ‘accumulation by dispossession’. The historical and political processes of accumulated and incremental neglect and stigma which encapsulate ‘slow violence’ contributed to the decay and decline of the Early Morning Market. Attempts to displace traders and replace the market with a mall was basically a political decision, aided and abetted by some senior members in the ruling ANC government hierarchy—a shameful period in Durban’s democratic history. The threats to displace the traders in the Early Morning Market was a form of structural violence, which was reminiscent of the apartheid era. The structural violence of apartheid-capitalism continues at the level of outcomes (non-participation and displacement) even under a changed political structure (democracy), as the ANC government pursues a neoliberal agenda.

Water consumption behaviour and the use of technology among households in Durban, South Africa

Abstract Freshwater resources remain under constant pressure due to population growth, economic development, and changing weather patterns. Water supply utilities generally struggle to keep up with the growing demand for freshwater resources and consequently adopt demand management policies to address supply challenges. As water consumers, households can play a major role in water conservation. This paper examines the impact of biographic characteristics on water consumption behaviour and the adoption of water-efficient technologies in the city of Durban, South Africa. Probit regression models are estimated using survey data collected from 300 household heads sampled across the city. Among other results, the study finds income as the most consistent determinant of water consumption behaviours and the adoption of water-efficient technologies. Furthermore, the level of education was also found to be a consistent determinant of the adoption and installation of water-efficient technologies. These results are significant and serve to guide water utilities when implementing demand management water policies.

Climate Change Impacts and Environmental and Water use Behaviors, Beliefs and Perceptions

This paper presents research conducted on urban home water use behavior as a response demand mitigation strategy to reduce domestic water consumption in SA. The paper presents results of urban home residents’ attitudes, behavior and perceptions towards their water consumption in a search for ways in which domestic demand for water may be substantially reduced. The analysis reflects the water use behavior and perceptions of urban dwellers in a period where water use rationing and restrictions are in place in parts of SA, therefore water scarcity is an important public crisis issue.
 The research has brought to the fore the complexity of the forces shaping water demand and use in the context of the socio-demographic composition of homes residing in different types of dwellings, as well as the cultural, behavioral and attitudinal aspects of water consumption in city of Durban. The essential questions driving the research was what extent the two key dimensions of urban structure do, i.e. built form and the socio-behavioral characteristics of home water use, influence the pattern of water consumption. Additionally, the study ascertained the extent to which urban water users understood water-saving practices and the need to conserve this precious natural resource whilst also investigating the extent that the public believed were the most effective water-saving habits, interventions and communication methods to support reduced water consumption at a home level. In so doing, the study findings have aimed to inform public policy on ways to reduce consumption and identify alternative and complimentary ways to address the urban water conservation and demand management planning.

‘Stockhausenesque’: South African Musical Vanguardism during the ‘Durban Moment’

AbstractThis article weaves a story around the scant evidence that survives of the first university-based electroacoustic studio in Africa and the musical experimentalism that developed alongside it at the fledgling music department of what was then the University of Natal. The time is the early 1970s, the setting the eastern seaboard city of Durban, the local political context the ‘Durban moment’ of growing political unrest infused by Steve Biko's Black Consciousness movement and the radical politics of Richard (Rick) Turner, the red herring an ARP-2500 modular synthesizer, and the key figures the German-born experimental composer Ulrich Süsse and South Africa's foremost musicologist at the time Christopher Ballantine. By tracing the genealogy of Ballantine's ideas in post-1968 British counterculture and in musical collaborations with the physics department at the University of Natal – and by juxtaposing and contrasting the Durban New Music Group's activities with Turner's contemporaneous and often seething critique of white liberalism – the article offers perspectives on the globalization of the avant-garde, the expression of musical vanguardism in the problematic and contradictory spaces of twentieth-century white liberal South Africa, and the dialectics between the ‘experimental’ and the ‘avant-garde’ that informed alternative institution-building at what was to become the first department in South Africa to include African music, jazz, and popular music in their curricula in the early 1980s.

Assessing Infection Control Knowledge and Compliance of Cardiovascular Perfusionists in Theatre at a Private Hospital in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Infections acquired in a hospital (HAI) often referred to as nosocomial infections are related with increasing morbidity and death among patients that are hospitalised and are predisposed to an elevated risk of infection by health workers (HCWs). The need to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program is therefore essential for quality health care. This study sought to assess the knowledge and compliance of infection control practices of Cardiovascular Perfusionists in theatre at a private healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in the city of Durban. We conducted a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with 12 Cardiovascular Perfusionists (CP) who were purposively selected from private sector. The interviews lasted between 20 to 25 minutes and were transcribed, and then thematic analysis were applied using NVivo. The study found that there is a need for Clinical Technologist specialising in Cardiovascular Perfusion to undergo training in infection control and prevention practices at the higher education and training level. Subsequently, the study reveals that Cardiovascular Perfusionists have a good overall understanding of pathogens and the implications thereof. The study also notes that there is considerable compliance to infection control practices in theatre irrespective of the knowledge pertaining to infection control and prevention policies. We concluded that there is an overall good knowledge and understanding regarding infection control practices, although many felt that there exists an inequitable application of infection control policies due to professional biases.

The cost of ownership: Learning from Flamingo Court, a former social housing apartment block in Durban

ABSTRACT: Owning property is an aspiration for many people living in South Africa. The belief that private ownership is a stepping-stone towards material and financial wealth is dominant in South African housing policy. While property ownership may lead to better living conditions and the accrual of wealth, it can also lead to exclusion, dispossession, and displacement for many low-income families. This article analyses the socio-economic, and built environment consequences, of privatising a municipal social housing block, Flamingo Court, located in the city of Durban. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative studies in Flamingo Court, we show that the impact of private ownership for the residents has proved more of a curse than a blessing. There are also unexpected costs to the state in privatising social housing units. The paper argues that low-income beneficiaries of privatised former social housing cannot always afford the costs of maintaining communal spaces or the dwelling units that come with private ownership. This results in deterioration of the building infrastructure, communal finance and governance of the apartment block, and ultimately places residents' security of tenure at risk. Flamingo Court offers an important case study for thinking through some of the hidden costs of ownership for sectional title blocks in the urban core and how and why ownership does not always translate to improved economic or social benefits, countering the current South African policy objective of upliftment and empowerment through the provision of housing.

Subalternization of a Postplantation City

This short piece for a special forum on the Plantationocene responds to Wendy Wolford’s article in the Annals on this topic, with an appreciation of its conditions of possibility in the challenge that Black Geographies has made to the whiteness of Anglo-American geography. Rather than presuming a plantation logic, I suggest returning to the complexity of the agrarian Marxist tradition, also in geography, recognizing its failure to learn from the theoretical contributions of people of color who comprise the planetary majority. Shifting gears, I turn to a surprising historical geography of space making from the South African city of Durban, in which postplantation subalterns effected a surprising transformation in the peripheries and interstices of the racist city, through spatial practices that still hold the seeds of proletarian survival and collective Black liberation.