The City of Durban: the history, present and future

The City of Durban: the history, present and future 

By Nomfundo Cele


Durban has a rich history, which can be found in the KwaMuhle Museum. KwaMuhle Museum is located on Bram Fischer Road in Durban and showcases the history of Durban and its people. The historical building was initially a native affairs office or native administration department during the apartheid era in South Africa.The native affairs or native administration department was tasked with finding black people jobs and issuing them with a document called a dompass, which permitted black people to work and stay in Durban.

Khetha Sithole, a curator at KwaMuhle Museum, said that people who came to the building during the segregation or apartheid era were faced with difficult conditions when they came to look for jobs in the native administration department.

"When black people came here looking for a job, they would first be given a 3-day waiting period in which they would stay outside the building like cattle waiting. After the waiting period, they would go for a medical examination, and they would be told to sit on the benches naked", said Sithole.



Sithole said that black people would be washed like cows in an open area before being given a job because the white people believed that black people were dirty because of the color of their skin.

Once given a job, the black people would be issued with a dompass, which they had to carry wherever they went. Sithole said that the document had over 90 pages because it contained all the individual's information and everything they did was recorded on it.



Nompumelelo Ngcamu had a grandfather who lived during these difficult times in Durban and worked as a gardener for the white people. Ngcamu said that her grandfather told them about the conditions they lived under during segregation and the pass-laws system.

"My grandfather told us that they had to have a document called a dompass, which they had to carry with them wherever they went, and if they did not have it, they were brutally beaten up by the police and sent back to the rural areas", said Ngcamu.

"My grandfather also told us that they were not allowed in areas where white people stayed; they had their own areas that were for black people only, like hostels and townships", said Ngcamu.



That was Durban then, but now the city is different. People, regardless of the color of their skin, can walk freely and stay where they want. Despite that, the youth of Durban are concerned by the socio-economic issues and the state of the city.

Aphiwe Bele, who is a student and a resident of Durban, is concerned with the high rate of crime in the city.

"The crime rate is high in Durban, and I think it is because of the high inflation and unemployment rate, especially among the youth, so most of them resort to crime", said Bele.

The 24-year-old has been mugged twice in Durban, the most recent one being a month ago.

Another  resident, Melissa Msimango, is concerned about the illegal dumping and the bad buildings in Durban, which are in the central business district (CBD). 

"Most of the buildings in Durban are old and have cracks; they are taking away the city's reputation for being the best tourism destination ", said Msimango.


The Durban mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, said that they are in the process of cleaning up the inner city and the surroundings and argued that the pupil was doing illegal dumping. He also acknowledged that there are bad buildings in the CBD, and the Ethekwini municipality will enforce the bylaws and building regulations in order for Durban to keep its name as the best tourist destination. The Ethekwini municipality has also promised that in 2030, Durban will be Africa's most caring and livable city.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Being A Woman & A Street Vendor

Image
By Nothando Luthuli Research states that the informal economy provides a living, employment and an income for 2.5 million people in South Africa. It is estimated that one million people of this 2.5 million are street vendors, and 90% of them are women.  Reports such as the WIEGO's 2012 Informal Economy Monitoring Study (IEMS), stated that street vendors are a major contributor to the strengthening of their communities. They strengthen their communities by providing household incomes, by creating jobs for people who would otherwise not be able to get jobs in the formal economy, by sometimes contributing to the safety of their communities and by being a source of revenue for their cities. STREET VENDOR - JUDITH LANGA  Some of these street vendors are people like 73 year old Fikile Mnikathi who put her three children and her late daughters two children through school and university, with the money she maked from doing alterations, and selling bath salts and sweets.    “I put my three
Read more

ON THE ROCK: AN UNFORGETTABLE HIGH

Image
Brandon Lee Khan at uThongathi. Mawande Mzobe The youth of today has succumbed to the abuse of drugs and the hunger for money for a better lifestyle. The pressure within their generational spheres lays heavily on their shoulders, coupled with mental health issues which are hardly talked about within their social groups. They rely on escape methods that soon become addictions, which are hard to let go once hooked through a single blunt and blow. A young, intelligent, and multi-talented man stands isolated hustling for survival whilst battling his addiction. Those who pass him think less of him as the condition of his clothes have defined him without him having to say anything. The conditions of his shoes are worn-out, old and seem to tear, but they are still functional. In his baggy clothes he smiles, greets, and continues his day job in repudiation of the ugly stares and looks passed onto him. Brandon Lee Khan working during the day in uThongathi. Brandon Lee Khan (25) has been
Read more

Embracing the beauty of Africa’s oldest surviving Botanic garden- ‘The Durban Botanic Garden’

Image
 By Hajira Langa Durban Botanic Garden Lake area Along with seeding plants and trees that have stood the test of time, the Durban Botanic Garden will celebrate its 174th anniversary in April 2023. Since its founding in 1849, the garden rich in history has played a vital role in the city’s life. The Durban Botanical Garden is situated in Durban Berea on the East coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The indigenous and exotic nature of collections such as cycads, palms, and orchids promote a very rich teaching and learning to better understand the world of plants. The Botanic Garden was established by the Natal Agricultural and Horticultural society as early as 1849. The garden began as a vegetable, fruit, and other agricultural produce farming garden, and has since evolved into a significant botanical station, gaining local and international acclaim for its research, plant collection, educational outreach, and efforts to connect people with plants and nature. The Garden displays views of natura
Read more