Durban Before/After

Old Durban. 2 pictures, 70 years apart. There’s just something so effortlessly classy about the 1953 scene... Corner of West and Dorothy Nyembe St, Durban, South Africa. 1953 - 2024. 1953 picture courtesy of Etienne du Plessis, obtained via "Facts about Durban" fad.co.za

Sagittarius St, Durban, South Africa. 2009 - 2024

Satellite timelapse showing informal settlement growth over time. (West) Bottlebrush, Durban, South Africa. 2007 - 2025

An interesting observation roughly 5 weeks into this account’s journey: Before/after posts showing decline get far more engagement than growth or nostalgia posts. Easily 10x more, sometimes even 100x. I’m not sure what it says about the algorithm (or even human nature?) when negative posts get all the views and engagement… My idea for this account was to do for Durban (and surroundings) what @jozivsjozi did for Joburg - showing the city’s evolution through Google Street View and Google Earth. But while the decline is real, posting only the bad parts just felt wrong. It becomes decline porn or disaster tourism if you ignore everything else. That’s why I decided to occasionally include posts showing growth and nostalgia. I intend to keep doing that, even if the algorithm and engagement clearly favour the decline posts over everything else. That being said, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the direction of this small account, what brings the most value and what you’d like to see more of going forward. If there are other formats or ideas you think would add something, feel free to share.

West St Cemetery, Durban, South Africa. 2017 - 2023

Time for... Durban Bright Spots! This timelapse shows the before and after of the Durban Cruise Terminal. A new international cruise gateway where the harbour meets the city, completed in December 2021. Durban Point, Durban, South Africa. 2019 - 2024

@HennieKotze9 Wonderful share, thanks!

Old Durban. West St, Durban, South Africa. Circa 1888 and 1898.

@DecayDetectivSA @OfficialBCMM @GDCoGTA Complete destruction ☹️

#13 - Industrial Decay. 62 Hadeda Cl, Fort Jackson (Industrial), Mdantsane, East London Factories. PICS: 2010> 2025 | Neglect ,#Eastlondon #BuffaloCity #Thenvsnow #Throwback #Decaydetectivesa #Decay #Municipal @OfficialBCMM @GDCoGTA

@Brian5_8_1899 God knows what's going on here. Bad quality materials, terrible workmanship, oversized trucks cutting the corner, ...? Happy days 😬

@durbsrewind how does this happen...do people steal the concrete? it cant just be natural wear and tear, is it?

One year... Crompton St, Pinetown, eThekwini, South Africa. 2023 - 2024

@LGB_randon @IanCameron23 @jozivsjozi You're absolutely right, Joburg's decay is more visible and widespread. Especially the CBD and surrounding areas. But the fact is that decline is happening across the board in SA.

@durbsrewind @IanCameron23 This is nothing on @jozivsjozi. I was a regular visitor as a child in the 00s when my grandparents were alive and as an adult my visits have been greatly staggered with many years between them. I know there are areas around Point Rd that can rival JvJ.

Georgehill Rd, Durban, South Africa. 2013 - 2022

Conway Rd, Westville, Durban, South Africa. 2013 - 2024

@Coster_Rama2 Unfortunately there are.

@durbsrewind At least there are no shacks

@JeauMoer I quickly checked the city center out on Google Maps but don't see any big urban changes worth posting that side. That's a good thing! But if you have a specific street in mind, I'd be happy to have a look.

@durbsrewind Empangeni?

@CapeIndy Different place, same story. Sadly.

@durbsrewind Reminds me of the Western Cape... thecapeindependent.com/growing-anarch…

(A different view of) Dhulam Rd, Durban, South Africa. 2009 - 2024

@argbsas24 You're probably referring to Funworld? It closed down a few years ago. uShaka Marine World is still there though. And a new amusement park might open next year at the old Funworld location: iol.co.za/news/south-afr…

@durbsrewind The amusement park by by the sea is still open? I remember visiting with my family in the ‘90s

Umgudulu Rd, Durban, South Africa. 2009 - 2022

@CapeIndy Looks like a completely different place in just 10 years. :( Makes you wonder why the city never bothered to intervene.

@durbsrewind Same in Cape Town