--- title: "Photo Essay: Durban's decay and neglect" description: "Daily Maverick’s Chief Photographer spent last week in KwaZulu-Natal on the election trail as the African National Congress rolled out the big guns in the contested and critical province. His camera captured images from Durban’s city centre." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "ROAD TO 2024 ELECTIONS" author: "Felix Dlangamandla" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/felix-dlangamandla/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-05-14-photo-essay-durbans-decay-and-neglect/" published: "2024-05-14T17:28:58" updated: "2024-05-14T19:10:01" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 443 --- # Photo Essay: Durban's decay and neglect > Daily Maverick’s Chief Photographer spent last week in KwaZulu-Natal on the election trail as the African National Congress rolled out the big guns in the contested and critical province. His camera captured images from Durban’s city centre. By Felix Dlangamandla · Published 14 May 2024, 19:28 SAST · Updated 14 May 2024, 21:10 SAST ## Content Informal traders have taken over the sidewalks of the Durban CBD and Pietermaritzburg. Trying to navigate Durban, I couldn’t help but think how this once proud and beautiful city had become a shadow of its formal self. The city centre is overrun with homeless people, carrying recyclables and trying to sell their collections to trucks driving around. For many, this is the only way to survive, hoping to sell a few pieces of cardboard in return for a few rands to buy a meal. **Read more in Daily Maverick:**[Durban mayor acts like an autocrat while the city decays for all to see](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-10-01-durban-mayor-acts-like-an-autocrat-while-the-city-decays-for-all-to-see/) Hawkers mostly sell food such as mealie meal and secondhand clothing, using anything with wheels to move their goods around. ![MK party and ANC posters hanging on a street pole in Pietermaritzburg CBD. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/mtABLKK4EcAj-BCner_lqf1GSQc=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1559.jpg) *MK party and ANC posters hanging on a street pole in Pietermaritzburg CBD. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* As elections loom, campaign posters are on every lamp post, standing guard over dirty water flowing in the road gutters. It was heartbreaking to witness. **DM** ![A garbage collector prepares a load of cardboards to be sold to recyclers in the City. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/JA2PfBDTnb51amlKClD810M9bFc=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1483.jpg) *A garbage collector prepares a load of cardboards to be sold to recyclers in the city. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![A man pulls a trolley with loads of mealie meal in the busy street of Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street in Durban. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/hxGFvEU9h3mbbh9pHS9zQ27pqwo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1437.jpg) *A man crosses Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street in Durban, pulling a trolley heaving under a load of mealie meal which he will deliver to various informal traders. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![Trolley operators in the Durban CBD lining up for more load requests as their way of making a hard-earned living. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/rCxmGwy6yIIp7iJg2hVSwk6XuB4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1450.jpg) *Trolley operators in the Durban CBD lining up for more load requests as their way of making a hard-earned living moving wares for the street sellers. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![Filth on the pavement of DR A B Xuma and DR Yusuf Dadoo with hawkers having taken over the streets. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/BY1xCFBtq67TtQs5DFVuJ0T7HfE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1454.jpg) *Discarded waste on the pavement corner Dr A B Xuma and Dr Yusuf Dadoo streets with hawkers living the streets. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![The dilapidated Dragonwyck building at the corner of Broad and St Georges Street. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Y5olMtxFzmM8oLfkrghUmLld3o0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1460.jpg) *Dragonwyck building at the corner of Broad and St Georges streets. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![Decay and filth on Park Road in the CBD. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/LbJMmeS8GAzi1kEA7L2qMRb5rTs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1463.jpg) *Decay and filth on Park Road in the Durban CBD. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![Garbage left in the middle of the road near Victoria Street in Durban. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Q6w1q01uObAKnOxTe7pef8TPMx4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1473.jpg) *Garbage and discarded bins left in the middle of the road near Victoria Street in Durban. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![A Durban China Mall building that was damaged by fire in 2021. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/jKpMqB8ohHL-S1Gwx66tyniI9L0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1544.jpg) *A Durban China Mall building that was damaged by fire in 2021. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![Taxis ranking next to Durban’s Early Morning Market. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Fke9bnhwSPNh8QpeRV7E1IoFhyE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1539.jpg) *Taxis parked next to Durban’s Early Morning Market. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![An elderly lady tries to cross the street on busy Warwick Avenue. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/jJMbAqWexgAwqxgDQvxVOyrAi-4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1527.jpg) *An elderly lady tries to cross the street on busy Warwick Avenue. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![A hawker selling chicken gizzards in Durban’s Warwick Avenue prepares the delicacy for his customers. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/nGPvZk_MuE-KXTLpDX1KhzMsq-w=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1506.jpg) *A hawker selling chicken gizzards in Durban’s Warwick Avenue prepares the delicacy for his customers. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![A trolley operator crosses the street on busy Warwick Avenue in Durban, near the Early Morning Market. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/JbEROBwXstp5RjRd8ZjbFuzeRqs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1499.jpg) *A trolley operator crosses the street on busy Warwick Avenue in Durban, near the Early Morning Market. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![A garbage collector carries a load of cardboard to be sold to recyclers in the City. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/R622ZxbgnM-VnGDV9nLxDP0cINo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1479.jpg) *A garbage collector carries a load of cardboard to be sold to recyclers in the City. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![Hawkers selling vegetables in Durban’s Warwick Avenue prepare for customers. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/dT32VV2Px-_Gel4YjTxjp54DWXY=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V1470.jpg) *Hawkers selling vegetables in Durban’s Warwick Avenue prepare stock for their customers. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![Decay at the Marikana building on University Street, Durban. 8 May 2024. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/P-FDKjoprks5oKQBFluaLOAGnaI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20V2777.jpg) *Decay at the Marikana building on University Street, Durban. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* [Media on Daily Maverick: "Election questions 2024"](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-05-14-photo-essay-durbans-decay-and-neglect/)