The building on 2 Abattoir Road in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa is like many places in the city, in that it has a past. When it was first built, it was the bus depot for the city’s segregated transport department. It was also the Tabitha Ministries home for some of Pietermaritzburg’s HIV/AIDS infected children. After this it was the home of the Christian Life Academy school and also a safe space during the COVID pandemic. 2 Abattoir Road has now been cleared out to make a safe place and shelter by the PMB Homeless Network for the homeless people on the streets of the same city. These pictures were taken during a two week period while the building was being cleared out in preparation for it’s new purposing. During that period of clearing out, the remnants of the past uses of 2 Abattoir Road and elements from the times in which this building has been in use have been juxtaposed and gathered. These ephemeral moments have been caught by the eye of the photographer; all before all these elements moved on, thrown away or painted over in the readying for its new use as a safe space and shelter for the city’s homeless people. This body of work is a visual documentation of aspects of the history of 2 Abattoir Road, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, a space that was. 2023, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Image Number: APN757345

APN757345

Headline: Pay phone and school locker Title: A Space That Was Description: The building on 2 Abattoir Road in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa is like many places in the city, in that it has a past. When it was first built, it was the bus depot for the city’s segregated transport department. It was also the Tabitha Ministries home for some of Pietermaritzburg’s HIV/AIDS infected children. After this it was the home of the Christian Life Academy school and also a safe space during the COVID pandemic. 2 Abattoir Road has now been cleared out to make a safe place and shelter by the PMB Homeless Network for the homeless people on the streets of the same city. These pictures were taken during a two week period while the building was being cleared out in preparation for it’s new purposing. During that period of clearing out, the remnants of the past uses of 2 Abattoir Road and elements from the times in which this building has been in use have been juxtaposed and gathered. These ephemeral moments have been caught by the eye of the photographer; all before all these elements moved on, thrown away or painted over in the readying for its new use as a safe space and shelter for the city’s homeless people. This body of work is a visual documentation of aspects of the history of 2 Abattoir Road, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, a space that was. 2023, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Sublocation: 2 Abattoir Road City: Pietermaritzburg Province or State: KZN Country: South Africa Date Created: 21-02-2023 Creator: John Robinson Credit Notice: Photo John Robinson Pixel Dimensions X: 6240 Pixel Dimensions Y: 4160 Keywords: