Countering urban binaries within a third space: Durban, South Africa's experience as a counter-city

Abstract

This paper explores the notion of the ‘counter-city’, which has emerged through processes of ‘countering’ within the framework of ‘third space’, in Durban, South Africa. Countering represents alternate conceptualizations and practices of urban processes to those of dominant northern discourse. Durban transitioned from a colonial and apartheid city, based on social separation, inequality, and differential service provision in the 20th century, to one that is now grappling with its apartheid legacy, informality and poverty, contested governance, environmental risk, and civil unrest, whilst simultaneously negotiating its way as an incipient global city. Durban's municipal, research, civic and NGO actions challenge urban scholars to rethink the notion of the post-metropolis and what the counter-city means in this context. This rethinking is reflected in counter moves, that not only resist hegemonic formations, but seek to blend policy and programme development to provide voice to the poor, address precarity, and ensure climate resilience and economic competitiveness. Drawing on the analysis of selected interventions, we argue that the experience of Durban provides insight into the complex nature of urban development. It outlines how a city is attempting to negotiate its future, through processes of countering, which sheds light on alternate conceptualisations of what ‘urban’ life, well-being, and governance mean in a ‘counter-city’. • This paper seeks to advance the case to de-centre hegemonic urban theory arguments. • Durban, South Africa, through its hybridity, is presented as an evolving ‘counter-city’. • Processes of ‘countering’ shape development engagement and outcomes to produce new conceptualisations of the urban.