EVOLUCIÓN DE INSTAGRAM

It is important to note that the development of the Grey Street Complex has to be considered in the context of the entire CBD. This is because the race-space delineation of this precinct was only legally determined at a very late stage in the apartheid era. The birth of the Grey Street Complex can be traced to the 1870s when the Durban CBD already had a large concentration of Indians who had started businesses and acquired residency in a north-western region of the city (Chetty and Omar, 1983). By the early 1880s, Durban retained more than 60 Indian shops and approximately 118 fixed properties that were owned by Indians (Rajah, 1981). Thus an „Indian hub‟ began to emerge and geo-strategically position itself in the city centre. Due to the profile of the urban consumer market in this centralized and new-found Indian hub, services and products for this community expanded very rapidly and subsequently became known as the Indian CBD (Rajah, 1981).

The continuous success of Indian traders antagonized white merchants (Rajah, 1981; Chetty and Omar, 1983; Jithoo, 1985). Rajah (1981) asserted that the true potential of Indian traders was fully realized during the economic recession between 1882-1886, when quintessentially employment was limited, and trading volumes were restricted. It was during this specific period that most black and Indian consumers became avid customers to Indian traders (Rajah, 1981). Thus the so-called „Indian CBD‟ acquired increased consumer popularity – such influence on the urban market attracted attention from the government (Rajah, 1981). It was at this point in South African history that the first expression of anti-Indian tendencies surfaced. Such anti-Indianism led to the establishment of the Wragg Commission in 1885, a document of the prevailing legislation governing Indian immigrants (Rajah, 1981; Jithoo, 1985; Vahed, 1999). Although the Commission stated that the dynamic role of Indian traders was significant to the urban economy, it also suggested that Indians should continue to remain in the colony, however, only as indentured labourers (Rajah, 1981; Jithoo, 1985).

Subsequently, various laws were implemented in a concerted effort to destabilize and impede the growth of Indian capital as well as to impose limitations on their acquisition of properties (Table 4.1).

- 55 - 4.2.3.1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, a large part of the Indian population was displaced from the Durban CBD and relocated to areas that came to be known as Railway and Magazine Barracks (Chetty and Omar, 1983). By 1911, the population of the Durban CBD was in excess of 115 000 (Memorandum to Group Areas Board, Central Durban Property Protection Committee, 1961; Chetty and Omar, 1983). Table 4.3 reflects that almost half of the population was made up of the Indian community in 1911.

Legislation Description

Dealers Licenses Act (Natal) No. 18 of 1897 Required Indians to obtain trading licences in order to prevent them from competing with white merchants Trading and Occupation of Land Restriction

Act No. 35 (Pegging Act) of 1943

Prohibited Indians from occupying or purchasing properties which were previously occupied or acquired by the white community

Asiatic Land Tenure Act (Ghetto Act) of 1946 Restricted Asians from owning or occupying land in specific locations. Asians required a permit if the land was not occupied or purchased by Asians previously Group Areas Act No. 41 of 1950

Determined the spatial location of different race groups Industrial Conciliation Act No. 28 of 1956 Racially separated trade union movements and

prohibited mixed trade unions

(Adapted from: Chetty and Omar, 1983; Jithoo, 1985)

Table 4.3: Reflection of the population percentage in Durban CBD for 1911 Table 4.2: Restrictive legislation imposed on Indians in the Durban CBD

(Adapted from: Schlemmer et al., 1971; Chetty and Omar, 1983)

- 56 - With the presence of a very large Indian population in the CBD, it was inherent for this community to settle at this particular location. The implementation of the Group Areas Act of 1950 further dislocated approximately 140 000 Indians from the CBD .The Indian population in this precinct remained fairly similar from 1960 – 1970 and a very significant decrease, by more than 30%, was evident by 1980 (Figure 4.1). This decrease was attributed to the political dynamics of uncertainty in terms of racial zoning of the area as per the Group Areas Act.

4.2.3.2 LAND ZONING AND USAGE

Despite the brutality of the Group Areas Act, Indians who remained in the Grey Street precinct continued with purchasing and developing fixed properties for residential purposes until 1966 (Chetty and Omar, 1983). In 1966 all properties, land and premises could only be utilized or occupied for commercial purposes by Indians in terms of Section 19(1) of the Group Areas Act (Memorandum of the Grey Street Area Indian Local Affairs Committee, 1979). Hence a large part of floor space coverage (excluding road coverage) was composed of retail usage between 1966 – 1982, as illustrated in Figure 4.2. In 1979, retail was in far

(Adapted from: Memorandum of the Central Durban Indian Area Protection Committee, 1982) Figure 4.1: Population of the Grey Street Complex from 1960 – 1980

- 57 - greater demand as this complex was zoned for Indian commercial occupation and ownership (in 1973) and not for residential usage. Office space was utilized to a lesser extent as the retail was a more common form of commercial activity in the Grey Street Complex.

4.2.4 SUMMARY

The impact of the Group Areas zoning and the ultimate proclamation led to the decline of this precinct in terms of its traditional form and function. However, the Indian community in this precinct continued to persevere and maintain businesses, residences and cultural centres, which remained fully functioning throughout the apartheid era – a few of which are still operational today. Thus the determination of the community to preserve this precinct as their home signifies the place connection that they developed with the Grey Street Complex.

Lingering memories and nostalgia of the vibrant social and cultural life persist, and this is the theme of the next section

15%

54%

31%

Offices

Retail