Between the Push and the Shove

Durban has embarked on an ambitious programme to re-make the city into a preferred destination for mega-sports events. In order to achieve this it has earmarked the area closest to the central beachfront to build sporting facilities and related infrastructure. This article looks at the consequences of this re-making by focusing on how the poor in the inner city have been affected. The article concentrates on two areas – Albert Park where African immigrants reside and Warwick Junction, the site of a century-old market. It shows that rather than the city having been re-made from the top, it has had to contend with resistance from below. The article concludes by raising some important theoretical concerns in comprehending the major changes unfolding in post-apartheid cities like Durban.