Warwick Junction, also known as Warwick Triangle, is a transportation and trading hub in the city of

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It is the largest of its kind in South Africa. The area sees up to 460 000 people daily, who come to the area to for its transport interchange and market shopping.

History

Initially used as a market space by

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

traders during

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

, the area become popular with

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traders towards to the end of apartheid.

Markets

Warwick Junction is home to nine distinct markets, where informal and formal traders sell a variety of products, from food to

traditional medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...

. There are approximately 5000 to 8000 vendors in the area. The Bead Market has vendors who are mostly from coastal areas adjacent to Durban selling traditional Zulu

beadwork Beadwork is the art or craft of attaching beads to one another by stringing them onto a thread or thin wire with a sewing or beading needle or sewing them to cloth. Beads are produced in a diverse range of materials, shapes, and sizes, and vary b ...

items. Berea Station Market, located near two rail stations, has vendors selling traditional Zulu items such as spears and shields, as well as modern clothing and technology items. The Bovine Head Market consists of vendors who cook and sell cows' heads, a traditional African delicacy. Brook Street Market consists of two sections: an upper level food court, and a lower level market with vendors selling clothing and household goods. It is located alongside the Badsha Peer Shrine, built by the original Indian traders in the area. The Early Morning Market is the most famous of all the markets at Warwick Junction, and consists of up to 200 traders. Products on offer include fresh produce, spices and flowers. This market has been earmarked for a shopping mall development The Herb Market consists of vendors who sell

traditional African medicine Traditional African medicine is a range of traditional medicine disciplines involving Indigenous peoples of Africa, indigenous herbalism and Traditional African religions, African spirituality, typically including divination, diviners, midwives, ...

. There are up to 700 traders in this market. Traditional healers diagnose customers according to their ailments and then recommend a herbal product for the relief of symptoms. The Impepho and Lime Market has vendors who sell white and red lime, mined in Ndwedwe north of Durban. This lime is used by

sangomas Traditional healers of Southern Africa are practitioners of traditional African medicine in Southern Africa. They fulfill different social and political roles in the community, including divination, healing physical, emotional and spiritua ...

, or traditional healers.{{Cite book, title=CBD Durban with special emphasis on Warwick Junction, last=Hemson, first=D, publisher=SARPN (Southern Africa Regional Poverty Network), year=2003, location=Hatfield Vendors also sell incense known as '' impepho'' which is believed to help with communication with one's ancestors. The impepho vendors are almost exclusively from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape Province, who collect the herbs that grow in that area and travel to Durban to sell them. Victoria Street Market was founded in 1910, and consists of 180 traders with individually-owned stores selling jewellery, spices and traditional art.

Transportation

The Warwick Triangle area became an important transportation hub during apartheid, as Indian and African-owned buses were not allowed access to the inner city. Today, the area is the largest transportation hub in the city, with a taxi rank, bus rank, and railway stations linking to the city's different nodes.

References

Transport in Durban