Maria photographed by AeT intern Dennis Stols

On observing informal cardboard recycler Maria Vilakazi at her workplace, Journalist Pralini Naidoo has written a fascinating article for the environmental magazine, the Green Times on 10th February 2012. Maria is a participant of the Imagine Durban Cardboard Recycling Project which has been implemented by Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) for just over 2 years.

Pralini describes Maria’s working environment and includes interviews with and photographs from AeT staff. Pralini says, “Her territory is a labyrinth of hidden refuse rooms bathed in charcoal light. Masterfully she flattens a mountain of discarded cardboard boxes into an efficient bundle. Later she will haul her treasure to a buyer a few roads away and earn her income for the day.

…We used to be chased by policemen, and we had to hide our trolleys”, says Maria. That was before the assistance of Asiye Etafuleni, an NPO who together with Imagine Durban and Sustainable Cities, Canada, have been trying to improve the conditions of informal recyclers. “Our long term plan is to change the infrastructure of the city to incorporate the informal recyclers by providing specific collection areas” says Tasmi Quazi who facilitates this project. “Urban design and planning needs to proactively accommodate informal workers”.”

Based on her personal experience of interviewing and observing Maria work she adds: “Meeting Maria is a total eye-opener for me. Despite her 12 hour, seven day week and a host of tragedies including the deaths of five of her six children, in Maria there remains a strength of character and maternal wisdom which makes her a natural leader.”

For the full article, click here. Furthermore, to view a photographic essay of Maria’s working life, click here.

The images of the ‘Working in Warwick’ exhibition were taken by the internationally renowned Architectural Photographer, Dennis Gilbert. This vibrant library of images is also published in the book ‘Working in Warwick: Including Street Traders in Urban Plans’, co-authored by Asiye eTafuleni’s (AeT) Richard Dobson and Caroline Skinner. The motivation behind the exhibition was to capture the history and the endemic energy of informal activities in public spaces of Warwick Junction, by optimizing the power of photographic record.

However, this was implemented as a unique joint product, combining a book launch and exhibition as a tool for dissemination. As one stakeholder elaborated:

…the book was driven by the need to disseminate the message that INCLUSIVE CITIES REDUCE POVERTY, ARE POSSIBLE, AND NEEDED NOW and WIEGO identified Warwick Junction as a good example of what is possible. It was recognised that there was an urgent need for documentation of the experience of Warwick, and the book is a treasure.

The images are particularly striking due to their large scale and artistry, which an organiser explained:

We deliberately printed very large scale images which are seldom seen except in billboard advertising. We deliberately did this to create a strikingly different notion of informal work, by inducing an aesthetic jolt… Many people do not recognise informal work, however the technical proficiency used in the photographers’ images served to re-examine the informal work of the people. Subsequently, we used high quality material and large size images to elevate the images to a highly aesthetic realm, with the aim of conscientising and underlining that informal work is significant and important…

These were some of the public responses about the exhibition:

‘…The exhibition was a mirror image of what I had lived through most of my life – but in print form, and the book was an emotional experience for me. I was overwhelmed by the photography and like many others, I bought the book and we would not have done this unless it meant a lot to us.’ (Shop owner in the Warwick Area)

‘…The format, quality and content are professionally done. It shows reality without romanticising it. The photographs are not contrived images, they are real. They are presented in sequence and as a whole you get to appreciate the sense of pride in informal workers, and thereby you get to understand how they continue to work day in and day out to eek out livelihoods and support their families.’ (Book retailer & assistant at the opening function)

‘The book and exhibition was stunning and vivid and conveyed the essence of the dynamics of the Warwick area.’ (Architect)

‘The photos were fantastic, of the same class and professional quality as any other type of exhibition. Just because the subject matter is the informal economy, it was not of any lower standard and I appreciated that.’ (Architect & NGO professional)

To read more, click here to download The Close-Out Report (18) which elaborates the motivations of the exhibition and book launch, including a technical review, the public responses and media coverage received, and key learnings of this project.

However, the ‘Working in Warwick’ exhibition first featured within a prominent Architectural firm’s office display, Allies and Morrison, located near the famous Art Museum, Tate Britain, during March 2008. Click here to view The Flyer (19) and Narrative Document (15) of this event. To view more images from London, click here .

Allies & Morrison window display in London

Thereafter the book and exhibition was first launched in South Africa at Durban’s Art Gallery during June 2009. To see more on the process of installation and the opening launch (8).

Exhibition and book launch in Durban

The Exhibition next travelled to Cape Town during February 2010, hosted by African Centre for Cities. Click here for the photographic report of the launching event (10) which coincided with two other book launches as part of a week-long symposium. To read more on this event, click here.

Exhibition travels to Cape Town

Thereafter the exhibition again travelled abroad during November 2011, but this time to Belo Horizonte, Brazil as part of one of  WIEGO’s public events hosted by the School of Fine Art at the University Federal of Minas Gerais. To view more images from the opening launch of this event, click here.

Exhibition and book travel to Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Other exhibitions that have featured images from the collection include the 2010 Shanghai Expo as organised by the South African Institute of Architects and the “Design with the Other 90%” Exhibition in New York during October 2010-January 2012.

Design with the Other 90 percent, the organisers selected an image of the Early Morning Market as the central iconic piece

Last but not least, the exhibition travelled to Johannesburg as part of the South African Informal City, at the Bus Factory in Newtown, on view from 11 November till 11 December 2011. For this event, AeT had facilitated the provision of photographic images from the ‘Working in Warwick’ collection and was an invited speaker at the associated Seminar. Click here to view more images from this event.

Exhibition goes to Johannesburg's South African Informal City Exhibition

In conclusion, the feedback from the exhibition and book launch evaluation revealed a consensus that the outcomes exceeded expectations; in terms of the quality, the high numbers of visitors at the gallery and the book sales made. The fact that the exhibition is traveling nationally and internationally is testament to the increasing interest in this collection of images of Warwick Junction. It has been widely expressed that the exhibition has been an innovative and effective tool for the dissemination of the need to re-vision more inclusive city-making. Also, it has served to stimulate better interactions of a wide cross section of people across professions, races and classes through the mediums of high end-art and readership.

AeT's Phumzile Xulu & Richard Dobson with Informal Recycler Maria Vilakazi

An important component of Asiye eTafuleni’s (AeT) research methodology includes getting our hands down and dirty through practical work experience and observation exercises of informal workers in their working environments. This is aimed at building a grounded understanding of the working dynamics which ultimately inform potential design interventions. Secondly, this assists in building a working relationship with the community who are seen as co-developers of potential interventions for their working environments.

For the Imagine Durban Inner-city Cardboard Recycling project, the entire AeT team joined informal recyclers operating from Palmer Street for a four and a half hour collection round. AeT’s Richard Dobson and Phumzile Xulu were partnered with informal recycler, Maria Vilakazi. At some point during the collection round, Richard and Phumzile were seen opening green bins to salvage cardboard and Richard whimsically reflected the surprised looks of “white” drivers observing him from their cars probably thinking “…wow we know that the economic recession is bleak, but it must be bad if a “white” man is digging in the bins”. This clearly highlighted the stigma attached to this informal activity, which however provides a valuable service to recycling in the city and is increasingly becoming important within a green economy strategy.

Informal Recycler Balisile Msomi gracefully piling a cardboard bundle at Boxer Superstores refuse area

Subsequent to these experiences, AeT’s intern Dennis-Lee Stols and Tasmi Quazi have been conducting observation exercises with informal recyclers which have been captured as a series of photographic essays on the working lives of specific informal recyclers as Menzi Dlamini, Musa Khoza, Afrika Ntuli, Maria Vilakazi and Balisile Msomi.

This methodology has also enabled great opportunities for hearing remarkable and inspiring stories of the working and personal lives of the informal workers, including identifying supportive people from formal businesses and the general public. For instance, informal recycler Balisile Msomi told us how grateful she is to the supermarket, Boxer Superstores in West Street for enabling her to collect cardboard for the last 3 years. Her primary income comes from recycling the cardboard she collects from Boxer and while she waits for the “middle-agent” to collect her cardboard, she makes and sells beaded jewellery. She added that the Boxer management care for her better than their own staff, whereby they get concerned if she ever falls ill and where they have assigned her a set of keys to the bin area.

AeT's Patric Ndlovu & Phumzile Xulu on a work experience session with a Pine Street Informal Recycler

Previously unemployed and on seeking independence from her controlling husband, she chose to recycle cardboard as a livelihood strategy for the last six years to support four dependents. She was compelled into this livelihood after seeing that her sister and other women in her community managed to independently build their own houses and buy groceries from the income earned from cardboard recycling. On being asked whether she would consider any other kind of work, she said:

If I have to, I will consider other work but only where I can be my own boss and where I can be in charge and work for myself as I do now.

This statement is revealing in that there are various motivations that compel informal workers to practice their livelihoods, beyond merely being a survivalist strategy. More traditional research methods would have reduced rich stories as these to hard facts and statistics which are useful. However, the work of these communities largely remains invisible and utilising a narrative approach is foregrounding not only the statistics, but also their rich contribution to inner-city life.

The Markets of Warwick tours featured in the Cosmopolitan Magazine in its December 2011 issue on page 21, featured under “Cosmo Hot Stuff’ – What’s up, What’s new and What’s unmissable this month.”  In this feature is a list of 20 items listed that range from new music to ‘things to do’ and items to buy.  Here, the Markets of Warwick is listed as number 7!

The write-up on the Markets of Warwick describes the markets as a community lead project. In addition it emphasizes the fun and novel experience of the tour of “Durban’s little known markets”. This goes to show the extent to which perceptions of the area have changed as a result of the Markets of Warwick project, as it is now perceived as safe and reliable enough to feature and be promoted in one of the most popular women’s glossy magazines in South Africa.

The Markets of Warwick tours is also one of the few items listed under “to do” in Durban highlighting the increased recognition as a Durban tourism item.

Another interesting observation is the extent to which the project name, the ‘Markets of Warwick’ has caught on and successfully established itself as the brand for the area, and in doing so brought about a new image to the area as per the founding objectives of the community project.  For instance, this Cosmopolitan review was not initiated by Asiye eTafuleni, but independently generated which highlights that the project is standing on its own.

To experience it for yourself, click here.

The two events have been scheduled for 30 November 2011 and 7 December 2011 at the Palmer Street Collection Point on 152 Palmer Street between 9.30 – 10.30 am. The later timing was based on the relative timing of the ‘buy-back’ truck which comes daily to buy the cardboard waste from the recyclers and which visitors will get to experience.

In the process of donating paper and cardboard waste, the visitors will be able to contribute to improving the livelihood of an informal recycler and learn about this valuable livelihood strategy that is a part of the green economy and which contributes to a zero-waste environment.  There will also be presentations made by AeT staff and the Recyclers from the streets, where the recycling work happens.  In addition, visitors will be able to view the Priority Zone project which is exhibiting work showcasing Climate Change innovation, including their own innovative roof garden.

The elated recyclers and friends at the Inner-city Cardboard Recycling Project Street Exhibition

The concept for this programme has arisen from the Imagine Durban Inner-city Cardboard Recycling Project that has been on-going for two years. The Project has been aimed at improving the livelihood prospects of inner-city recyclers in the eThekwini Municipality. The Project is being implemented by eThekwini-based NGO AeT, and is being funded by the eThekwini Municipality’s Imagine Durban project, which receives funding support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through Vancouver-based NGO Sustainable Cities International.

Passing motorists stop on Palmer Street to view the exhibition, much to the humour of the informal recyclers, Maria & Victoria, in the foreground

This Project targeted two groups of existing inner-city informal recyclers and tested a number of interventions, including providing the recyclers with more sophisticated and ergonomic trolleys to transfer their materials. In addition, the Project has established a “Friends of the Recyclers” to enhance cooperation with local businesses, and by introducing identification cards and uniforms to improve the image and status of recyclers.

Please RSVP to Tasmi Quazi if you are interested to attend this event or by calling 031 309 3880, and feel free to spread the word. For view the photos from the 1st event, click here.

To read more about the Project, click on the following links:

• Cardboard Recycling Project Profiled in Delivery Magazine
• Imagine Durban Cardboard Recycling Project 
• Sustainable Living Exhibition
• Sustainable City Exhibition
• Work experience with inner city cardboard recyclers

She writes: “Being a lover of markets, different cultures and bright shiny things I was delighted to find a colourful flyer advertising a walking tour of the Markets of Warwick whilst on holiday in Durban.

One phone call later and the next day I was being dropped off at the meeting point by my slightly concerned mother asking ‘Are you sure you going to be safe dear?’ I waved her off, promising to stick to the group and not to eat anything that could make me ill. She was off to a shopping mall and so was I. Except that mine had over 6 000 shops! OK, stalls … depending on how you look at it (on an average day the area accommodates at least 6 000 street vendors)…

I have to say that this tour was probably a highlight of my trip to Durban and I am going to spread the word unashamedly. You’ll be welcomed into a lively world where you will learn about traditions and meet interesting people. You can buy jewellery and potatoes, have a game of pool, or take home a chicken. But most of all you will be supporting an initiative that is helping boost local traders and their livelihood as well as the local tourism industry. Do this tour – I stake my sangoma beads on the fact you will love it.”

For the full article, click here.

Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) was compelled to engage with a series of refreshingly relevant questions like; what makes your project a driver of change? How does your project demonstrate a holistic and proactive approach? Is the project aligned to government’s development strategy? Based on the answers to these and more questions, AeT was shortlisted from thirty nominations in the Civil Society category, as one of three finalists and finally awarded winner of the Civil Society Award for 2011. To read AeT’s winning entry, click here for the full report on the Investing in the Future and Drivers of Change Award 2011 (51). The announcement happened on the 3rd of November 2011, where the Southern Africa Trust in partnership with the Mail & Guardian newspaper hosted the Annual ‘Investing in the Future and Drivers of Change’ awards gala dinner at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The co-founders of AeT with the Civil Society Award

The Drivers of Change component of the awards was presented by the Southern Africa Trust in four categories: civil society, business, government and individual. The Investing in the Future component of the awards was presented by the Mail & Guardian newspaper in several other categories such as Investing in Education and Investing in Life. The merger of the previously separate Southern Africa Trust and Mail & Guardian awards in the civil society and business categories respectively was reportedly intended to streamline the awards and offer greater accolades to winners in these categories.

Furthermore, these awards were reportedly designed to recognise companies, civil society organisations and individuals from across the Southern Africa region, believed to be making an impact on the lives of people living in poverty, through the development and implementation of effective public policies and strategies. It was added that the award was created 22 years ago, with the intention to publicise the often unsung contributions made to the future of the country and its citizens. It was also intended to heighten public, government and business awareness about the various types of social investment activities.

It was also elaborated that the award has been established to hold up living examples of innovative practices, exceptional approaches, inclusive attitudes and effective processes. Neville Gabriel, Executive Director of the Southern Africa Trust, had this to say about this year’s entries: “Each year, the quality of nominations for these awards improves. Among this year’s winners are some of the finest examples of real progress being made to engage all sectors of our societies in a cooperative effort to overcome poverty.”

Botswana’s President, Ian Khama gave the keynote address at the awards and other guests of honour included the former Prime Minister and current Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia, Dr Theo Ben Gurirab; and Graça Machel, who was called upon to hand over the Civil Society Award.

AeT team with Graca Machel

During the short video clip introducing AeT as a finalist of the Civil Society Award category, this was how AeT was described:

“Asiye eTafuleni means “let’s go to the table”. By taking a “bottom up” approach to compliment local government efforts, Asiye eTafuleni collaborates with informal traders, local government officials, and town planners to creatively include the voices and interests of informal traders in urban planning and development. As a social facilitation agency, AeT has been pioneering in research, multi-stakeholder dialogue and negotiation, policy development, and service delivery aimed at filling the pro-poor development vacuum that exists in urban design and planning.

Through its innovative work in the Warwick Avenue market area in Durban, South Africa, Asiye e Tafuleni is a driver for systemic change towards more inclusive cities across the southern Africa region. The initiative exemplifies higher level partnerships that work for the benefit of vulnerable groups at a very local level, the judges said.”

Mail and Guardian reporter, Aphiwe DeKlerk, has written an exclusive article on Asiye eTafuleni on page 6, titled ‘Giving the Sidelined a Voice’. Also, Neville Gabriel refers to Asiye eTafuleni as winners of the Civil Society Award in his article on page 9, titled ‘Taking Charge of the Future’. For more pictures from the event, go to AeT’s Facebook page.

The Awards Gala Dinner at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg

For Asiye eTafuleni, this is a triumph for the recognition of informal workers as critical components of the urban fabric and economies locally, regionally and internationally. In light of the political ambivalence and/or the mixed signals towards the informal economy in many parts of the world including South Africa, the more support there is for the valuable contribution of the informal economy, the less the big decision makers can subvert development work, with and for the informal economy. Therefore, this award signals support gained at a Southern Africa regional level for the efforts towards inclusive development. This comes with perfect timing after the recent international recognition of iTRUMP: Warwick Junction, as facilitated by AeT, at the ‘Design with the Other 90%: CITIES’ exhibition on view at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

For AeT, the ultimate affirmation of the evening was the concluding remark before being presented the Civil Society Award, namely:

“The judges were blown away by the organisation’s approach to complex and common issues in South Africa’s cities. It is an innovative, progressive organisation setting new standards that should be replicated widely, they said.”

Outside the UN Headquarters publicising the exhibition

The launch of the ‘Design with the Other 90%: CITIES’ exhibition, a project by the Smithsonian-Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum,  was kicked off with a press preview held on the 14th of October 2011, and the Opening Event on the 17th of October at the United Nations (UN) Visitors Centre’s Gallery in New York.  This will be on exhibit until 9th of January 2012 with the intention of having the exhibition travel around major centres in the US.  The UN venue is the home for this exhibition that is in its second installation, the first being ‘Design for the Other 90%’.  The motivation behind the encouraging shift in the semantics of ‘design for’ to ‘design with’ implies an understanding that designing for social change is a process of collaboration and horizontal learning, rather than being authoritarian and parentalist.

For the iTRUMP Warwick Junction display, the organisers selected an image of the Early Morning Market as the central iconic piece with an aerial map and before and after images of the major development nodes

The iTRUMP: Warwick Junction project was selected as one of the 60 projects profiled in the exhibition that demonstrates innovation resulting from designing WITH the informal ‘poor’ in addressing some of their developmental challenges.  Warwick Junction was one of the few projects that showcased development innovation with informal workers. Furthermore, it was one of the handful of projects fortunate enough to feature on all the media and dissemination platforms of the massive ‘Design with the Other 90%’ project.  This included the exhibition itself which featured a number of the 60 projects, and which incorporated a participatory video-piece made by film-maker Cassim Shepard.

Thirdly, the catalogue, which reads more like a fascinating book comprises various essays interspersed with references to the 60 selected project case studies which are discussed in detail.  Furthermore, the ‘catalogue’ includes interviews with thought leaders discussing emerging practices and possibilities of socially responsible design which address the challenges emanating from the rapid increase in urbanisation and informality being experienced in developing countries.

The iTRUMP Warwick Junction display amidst the other projects

Fourth, the website which profiles all 60 selected projects, and lastly, a 4-part TV documentary that features a handful of the projects.  The TV documentary is scheduled to appear on the Smithsonian Network, and the first two episodes will be aired on 29th of November 2011, and the last two parts in which iTRUMP: Warwick Junction is featured will air on the 6th of December 2011.

At the press preview held on the 14th of October 2011, journalists were invited to engage the organisers from Smithsonian-Cooper Hewitt and a few representatives from the projects being exhibited that were in attendance.  Representing the iTRUMP: Warwick Junction project was Asiye eTafuleni’s (AeT), Tasmi Quazi.  AeT is a Non-Profit Organisation based in the area and continuing to support the iTRUMP initiative.  In addition, AeT has been responsible for the sourcing of the iTRUMP display material, interviews and video-content for the participatory film and TV-documentary.

Press Preview & Opening event functions at the UN Visitors Centre Gallery

The Press Preview was an informal platform in which project representatives like Tasmi Quazi were able to engage the media officials by referring to the project material exhibited and have discussions on the project process and experience of designing with the informal ‘poor’.  Paying particular interest to iTRUMP: Warwick Junction project was Mr Adala (Second Secretary of the Kenya Mission to the UN) who purchased a copy of the book ‘Working in Warwick’ with the intention to give it to his colleagues in Architecture and Urban Planning Departments within local government in Kenya.  Mr Adala emphasised ‘…the disconnect of some elements of western oriented planning and design to African or developing world settings.’  He added that the ‘Working in Warwick’ book provides vital learnings on an alternative approach to urban planning that is more appropriate to other African contexts in particular, instead of the pursuit of the urban modernist approach adopted from developed countries that do not meet the needs of the informal economy.

Representatives from another project called the ‘Vertical Gym’ commented that what struck them most about the Warwick Junction project is that it is a city government initiative that has been able to achieve an immense measure of scale in the implementation of design work, where as many of the projects at the exhibition were once-off and small-scale.  They added that the fact that the work in iTRUMP is still on-going alongside the work of an organisation like AeT, is also commendable from a sustainability point of view, because many of the projects at the exhibition are still in their infancy and consequently unable to demonstrate sustainability yet.

Press Preview & Opening event functions at the UN Visitors Centre Gallery

The exhibition also offered an opportunity for AeT to network with a very innovative New York-based organisation called Project for Public Spaces. The meeting sparked a mutual interest in future collaboration and knowledge-sharing due to the shared values of implementing urban design as responsive ‘place making’ through community-driven processes. On visiting the exhibition with the founder of PPS and a UN-Habitat official, the Vice President of PPS commented that their shared opinion was that iTRUMP: Warwick Junction is the most impactful of all the projects on display.

At the opening event speeches, funders and organisers commented that ‘Design with the Other 90%’ and the 99% movement sweeping across USA and the world, is increasingly serving to raise awareness in the urgency of addressing the grave socio-economic challenges facing society. This condition of increasing poverty and inequality is no longer just a developing country issue, but is also affecting developed countries in lieu of the global economic recession.  Therefore, having platforms like this exhibition not only creates awareness of the creative possibilities to addressing some of the greatest development challenges of our time, but it also advances the understanding of alternative practices that are more appropriate to developing country contexts.  This includes understanding social design as a collaborative, community-driven process premised on horizontal learning.  For iTRUMP specifically, it also includes a holistic approach by harnessing a multi-disciplinary team, uniquely positioned within city government, as an area-based approach that sensitised and implemented supportive policy and urban management strategies.

To download the full report, TRUMP WJ at Design with the Other 90 Downloadable report (67). To see more pictures from the two events, go to Asiye eTafuleni on Facebook.

This exhibition is receiving media coverage far and wide, for a taste of some of the reviews, follow the links below:

• Sustainable Cities
• Dowser article
• New York Times article
• Design Observer
• Arts Observer

On Monday 17 October 2011, the All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) for International Development and the Environment forum held a meeting titled ‘The view from the streets: Citizen-led contributions to urban poverty reduction’. Amongst the line-up of speakers at the meeting, will be our very own Project Leader, Richard Dobson representing Women in the Informal Economy: Globalising and Organising (WIEGO) and Asiye eTafuleni; including Bijal Bhatt from the Mahila Housing SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association of India) Trust, Diana Mitlin from the International Institute for Environment & Development and Jockin Arphutham from Shack/Slum Dwellers International.

The APPGs are officially-recognised but have no formal role in the UK parliamentary process. However, the APPG for International Development and the Environment is a forum whereby parliamentarians can discuss the links between environment and poverty, and engage with people and organisations outside Parliament. The secretariat for the APPG is provided by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and is supported by the Development & Environment Group of BOND, the UK membership body for international development organisations.

Attending the event were members of parliament from all political parties, members of the UK second chamber the House of Lords, parliamentary staff, civil servants, representatives of NGOs and civil society organisations, academics etc. Attendees will be a mix of specialists and non-specialists. The meeting took place in the Grand Committee Room within the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. This is one of the largest and, as its name suggests, most prestigious meeting rooms in the Palace of Westminster.

Reflecting on Asiye eTafuleni’s experience, Richard Dobson’s presentation at this large assembly, regarding citizen-led contributions to urban poverty reduction included the following points:

1. Community structures provide the conduit for development and enhances organizational legibility. This in turn provides a visible incentive that encourages external support.
2. Community organizing is initiated and maintained by extraordinary levels of volunteerism.
3. The negative circumstances arising from deprivation often produce project clarity and focus, with inspired creativity.
4. Built environment professionals have been practicing ‘value management’ for approximately 20 years. The theory is that maximum value is only obtained by incremental analysis throughout the entire delivery process – not just the end product. An engaged and thoroughly participative community process demonstrates this theory in practice.
5. Often the pragmatic logic of the urban poor challenges the preconceived and prejudices vision of an imagined urban future espoused by urban development practitioners.

For access to the full power-point presentation of The View from the Streets London Presentation (35)

Asiye eTafuleni hosted the 4th Street Law Seminar on 13 September 2011 at SEDA eThekwini, Durban. The theme of the Seminar was on Consumer Protection. There were 28 informal traders in attendance from different sectors and they participated actively with numerous questions.

Q & A session around the Consumer Protection Act

Mr Gugu Ngwenya from the KZN Department of Economic Development’s Consumer Services was the guest speaker. He traced back the origins of the Consumer Protection Act, which came into effect earlier this year, including the motivations behind its need and purposes. He also explained how the Act affects informal traders and their relations with formal business. He mentioned that ‘suppliers’ do not only refer to formal businesses but include municipalities and other structures within government. However, government departments and the other organs of state cannot use the legislation. For the detailed explanation on the Consumer Act, read the full report on the Street Law Seminar 4 Report (59).

On the question of policy and law making, the traders raised their concerns that recent provincial policy documents and municipal bylaws regulating informal trade; have been promulgated without the full participation of traders. They informed Mr Ngwenya that these concerns have been referred to the provincial MEC of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu, on more than one occasion and including at the launch of the Provincial Policy on informal economy. However, no response has been received from the MEC office. Mr Ngwenya undertook to invite the officers involved in the drafting and promulgation of provincial policy on informal trade to address some of the concerns.

Active discussions underway as a trader raises a concern

In conclusion, the seminar built on the initial strides made in earlier seminars; and it seems as though it is beginning to serve the greater purpose of bringing awareness to a critical mass of informal traders about basic human rights and constitutional guarantees. Mr Ngwenya commented how he had not presented a workshop to informal traders before and how pleased he was to see that the traders were so eager and interactive in gaining knowledge and information.