Bell Street Togt Barracks

The Togt Barracks were built on Bell Street by the Town Council in 1892. By providing accommodation to togt ('casual') workers, the Town Council were able to enforce several controls over the workers. The barracks were some of the few places where permanent dock workers or casual labourers could legally stay in town. Their accommodation was very uncomfortable, overcrowded and unsafe. Industrial action began in these barracks in 1941 with some 1,000 workers on strike brought the docks to a standstill. The stay-away was rather peaceful. This protest action was one example of the conflicting perspectives of the Durban municipality and white employers when it came to responding to workers' demands and keeping labour under control. The Department of Labour had agreed to a small increase in wages, whilst employers maintained that a wage increment was not possible.