Nine

Yo

This post has been a long time coming, but i guess better late than never.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of being guided through Warwick Junction in the centre of Durban by Richard Dobson. Richard has just recently published a book entitled "Working In Warwick". He has spent many years researching, and very much living the area and its people.

Last Saturday he volunteered his time to take interested parties on a walkabout through the various informal market places. The tour was aimed at bringing attention to the proposed developments which would see drastic changes in the area. I'm sure we're all well aware of the "Market vs mall" debate by now (if not then you should be) but what was unique about Richard's tour was that it showed in detail exactly what the changes are going to be, and exactly how they will impact the area, both socially and geographically.

He showed us the area for the proposed taxi rank and altered roads (which would leave little room for foot traffic), the Early Morning Market, once thriving and now bare thanks to Sutcliffe's divide and conquer (ala apartheid) intimidation tactics, and other spots in between.

He has said that he's more than happy to take individual tours if people were to get hold of him. I urge people to do so. The important issue here is understanding, something the city has failed to do. What's wrong with this development is not that it is development, but rather that it ignores the very delicate and intricate balance which has arisen there over the years. In order to do something we must first understand it. What better way to do this than to actually spend time in the area.

Richard's number: 083 229 6315

Also click our link on the right for more information.