Abstract:
In spite of significant political changes in the nation, the population of South Africa continues to
suffer from the enduring consequences of a segregated urban environment, where architecture
served as a tool of oppression and control (Landman & Badenhorst 2015, Todes 2015).
The efforts made by architects to tackle these issues often go unnoticed and become
marginalised, even within mainstream professional circles. As a result, cities face considerable
difficulties in attempts to dismantle and overcome the oppressive structures that persist
(Landman & Badenhorst 2015). The paper thus aims to investigate how the intentions of Public
Interest Design have been frustrated by the lack of local government support within Warwick
Junction, in a post apartheid South African context.
A case study was executed in Warwick Junction, Ethekwini, drawing on ethnographic data,
collected in the field including seven of the nine existing markets in the Warwick Junction
transport and trading hub, to create a nuanced understanding of intricate systems at work
within Warwick Junction, and how these systems are unsupported by local authorities as a
result of globalisation. The insights from this case study highlight the crucial significance of
local government in service delivery and citizen support within the framework of post-apartheid
South Africa. It reveals that local authorities hold the power to shape the on-the-ground
realities, either positively or negatively. This underscores the nuanced understanding of how
local government's involvement is vital in addressing the diverse needs and challenges faced
by citizens, as well as driving transformative change in the post-apartheid era.
The ethnographic data collected on site is interpreted through the lens of Public Interest
Design (PID), where a nine point design taxonomy set out by Kim (2018) plays a vital role in
understanding the important principles considered when designing for the public’s interest. The
research explores the complex repercussions of a dysfunctional government system, and aims
to understand the importance of local authorities in the implementation of PID (Karim 2018).
The comprehensive framework set out by Kim (in Karim 2018) serves as scaffolding for the
implementation of PID. However, when considering its application in the specific context of
South Africa, particularly in Warwick Junction, Ethekwini, where supportive local authorities are
lacking, this case study exposes the need to understand the role of local authorities in
addressing exclusionary urban landscapes. The current consequences of an unsupportive local
authority hinder the realisation of the theoretical ideals of PID, highlighting the necessity for a
nuanced understanding of this relationship. This underscores the complexities of PID within the
South African context and highlights the significance of incorporating local identities into the
implementation of inclusive design processes.
