A new series of maps shows past, present and future visions of Xolobeni, South Africa. The maps stand in contrast to ‘development’ plans drawn up by the government and mining companies.
The Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) has worked closely with geographers from the University of Johannesburg and the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal on a project called ‘Maps Are Now Our Spears’ to design the set of static and interactive online maps.
The maps were displayed at an exhibition in December 2024 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, alongside excerpts of comics from the Centre for Future Natures.
At the exhibition, Nonhle Mbuthuma (Amadiba Crisis Committee) explained why the maps were created and how they would be used.
These maps show unequivocally that the lands and seas of Xolobeni are home to a vibrant and viable caring economy – steeped in history and deeply connected to the land – that sustains local inhabitants and others in surrounding communities.
The maps highlight the area’s rich cultural heritage, along with important eco-tourism sites, scenic attractions, ecologically sensitive and biodiverse wetlands, highly productive agricultural land using agro-ecological practices, and infrastructure, including local roads, churches, schools and thriving local businesses.
Community resistance is focused on a raft of government-led proposals, including plans for open cast mining, the construction of a “smart city”, and a coastal road through ecologically sensitive and biodiverse lands.
The maps also depict a variety of community-proposed developments, including the ACC’s alternative N2 route, that, if supported, would shorten the distance from Durban to East London while adding significant value to local livelihoods and overall socio-economic well-being.
Static printable maps can be found on the AIDC website, along with more information about the event and the project.
Video by Jane Quin