The Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA) has been
progressively losing its rich cultural heritage.
This is primarily because of the historical
relocation of residents, racial violence, urban
development, increasing population, and air
pollution.
Relocation of residents
As a result of apartheid policies,
'black' communities settled in the
heart of the DMA were uprooted and relocated to
the periphery of the city. Many of these
communities had a long history of living in the
area. They were forced to abandon a wealth of
cultural resources accumulated over the years.
Buildings and sites of special significance
which were abandoned, were generally allowed to
degrade, or were completely destroyed by new
developments. As well as the loss of these
physical resources, communities also lost their
strong cultural ties with the areas they were
forced to leave.
Racial Violence
Although racial violence
in the DMA has not generally been targeted at
cultural resources, some resources have been
damaged during riots and other protest actions.
An example is the damage caused to the Phoenix Settlement
during the 'Inanda Riots' of 1985.
During these riots the settlement was
effectively destroyed. It was subsequently
overtaken by approximately 8 000 informal
settlers.
Urban development
Urban development in Durban has resulted in
the destruction of many old sites to make way
for new buildings and infrastructure. The way in
which such development has taken place in Durban
has been particularly destructive of our
cultural heritage. Many old buildings and sites
have been regarded as obstacles to progress, and
expendable, rather than as essential elements
underpinning the ongoing development of the
city.
Housing needs
A rapidly expanding population in the DMA,
coupled with a severe shortage of housing, has
led to extensive informal settlement
development. In 1997 about 143 000 households
were located in informal settlements. The
development of such settlements around cultural
sites has restricted their accessibility. In
some cases it has also resulted in sites being
damaged.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is a significant
factor in the degradation of some sites. External surfaces of
buildings have been corroded by acid rain and blackened by
pollutants in the air.
