Durban is the largest city in the
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n province of
KwaZulu-NatalKwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the
eThekwinieThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000 that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majority of its 3,090,126 people speak Zulu...
metropolitan municipalityIn South Africa, a metropolitan municipality or Category A municipality is a municipality which executes all the functions of local government for a city or conurbation...
. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism because of the city's warm
subtropicalThe subtropics are the geographical and climatical zone of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropical zone, which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitudes 23.5°N and 23.5°S...
climate and extensive beaches. The municipality, which includes neighbouring towns, has a population of almost 4.5 million, making the combined municipality the biggest city on the east coast of the African continent. The metropolitan land area of 2292 square kilometres (884.9 sq mi) is comparatively larger than other South African cities, resulting in a somewhat lower population density of 1513 /km2.
History
Archaeological evidence from the
DrakensbergThe Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
mountains suggests that the Durban area has been inhabited by communities of
hunter-gathererA hunter-gatherer or forage society is one in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies which rely mainly on domesticated species. Hunting and gathering was the ancestral subsistence mode of Homo, and all modern humans were...
s since
100,000 BCThe Middle Paleolithic is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. The term Middle Stone Age is used as an equivalent or a synonym for the Middle Paleolithic in African archeology. The Middle Paleolithic and the Middle Stone Age...
. These people lived throughout the area of present day
KwaZulu-NatalKwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
until the
expansion of Bantu farmers and pastoralistsThe Bantu expansion or the Bantu Migration was a millennia-long series of migrations of speakers of the original proto-Bantu language group...
from the north saw their gradual displacement,incorporation or extermination.
Little is known of the history of the first residents, as there is no
written historyRecorded history is the period in history of the world after prehistory. It has been written down using language, or recorded using other means of communication. It starts around the 4th millennium BC, with the invention of writing.-Historical accounts:...
of the area until it was sighted by
PortuguesePortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
explorerExploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India...
, who sailed parallel to the KwaZulu-Natal coast at Christmastide in 1497 while searching for a route from Europe to
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He named the area "Natal", or Christmas in
PortuguesePortuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
.
First European settlers
The modern city of Durban dates from 1824, when a party of 25 men under British Lieutenant
F. G. FarewellLieutenant Francis George Farewell , the father of the Port Natal Colony in South Africa, was born at Holbrook House near Wincanton in the Vale of Blackmore in 1784. His father was Reverend Samuel Farewell, who died when Francis was young....
arrived from the
Cape ColonyThe Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and established a settlement on the northern shore of the Bay of Natal, near today's Farewell Square. Accompanying Farewell was an adventurer named
Henry Francis FynnHenry Francis Fynn was an English traveler and trader. His diary covers the period from 1824 to 1836 and is the story of the first white settler in Natal, the earliest account of life in Natal...
. Fynn was able to befriend the
ZuluThe Zulu Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or, rather imprecisely, Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the south to Pongola River in the north....
King ShakaShaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
by helping him to recover from a stab wound he suffered in battle. As a token of Shaka's gratitude, he granted Fynn a "30-mile strip of coast a hundred miles in depth."
During a meeting of 35 European residents in Fynn's territory on 23 June 1835, it was decided to build a capital town and name it "d'Urban" after
Sir Benjamin d'UrbanLieutenant-General Sir Benjamin d'Urban, GCB, KCH, KCTS was a British general and colonial administrator, who is best known for his frontier policy when he was the Governor in the Cape Colony .-Early career:...
, then governor of the Cape Colony.
Republic of Natalia
The
VoortrekkersThe Voortrekkers were emigrants during the 1830s and 1840s who left the Cape Colony moving into the interior of what is now South Africa...
established the
Republic of NataliaThe Natalia Republic was a short-lived Boer republic, established in 1839 by local Afrikaans-speaking Voortrekkers shortly after the Battle of Blood River. The republic was located on the coast of the Indian Ocean beyond the Eastern Cape, and was previously named Natalia by Portuguese sailors. The...
in 1838, with its capital at
PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
.
Reports filtered back to the Cape Colony of mistreatment of the Zulu by the Voortrekkers. The governor of the Cape Colony dispatched a force under Captain Charlton Smith to re-establish British rule in Port Natal. The force arrived on 4 May 1842 and built a fortification that was later to be
The Old Fort. On the night of 23/24 May 1842 the British attacked the Voortrekker camp at Congella. The attack failed, and the British had to withdraw to their camp which was put under siege. A local trader Dick King and his servant Ndongeni were able to escape the blockade and rode to
GrahamstownGrahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
, a distance of 600 km (372.82 mi) in fourteen days to raise reinforcements. The reinforcements arrived in Durban 20 days later; the Voortrekkers retreated, and the siege was raised.
Fierce conflict with the Zulu population led to the evacuation of Durban, and eventually the
AfrikanerAfrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
s accepted British annexation in 1844 under military pressure.
British colonial rule
A British governor was appointed to the region and many settlers emigrated from Europe and the Cape Colony. The British established a
sugar caneSugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
industry in the 1860s. Farm owners had a difficult time attracting Zulu labourers to work on their
plantationA plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s, so the British brought thousands of
indentured labourersIndentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
from
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on twenty five-year contracts. As a result of the importation of Indian labourers, Durban has the largest Asian community in South Africa and the African continent.
Durban's historic regalia
When the Borough of Durban was proclaimed in 1854, the council had to procure a seal for official documents. The seal was produced in 1855 and was replaced in 1882. The new seal contained a coat of arms without helmet or mantling that combined the coats of arms of Sir Benjamin D’Urban and Sir Benjamin Pine. An application was made to register the coat of arms with the
College of ArmsThe College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in 1906, but this application was rejected on grounds that the design implied that D’Urban and Pine were husband and wife! Nevertheless, the coat of arms appeared on the council’s stationery from about 1912. The following year, a helmet and mantling was added to the council’s stationery and to the new city seal that was made in 1936.
The blazon of the arms registered by the South African Bureau of Heraldry and granted to Durban on 9 February 1979. The coat of arms fell into disuse with the reorganisation of the South African local government structure in 2000. The seal ceased to be used in 1995.
Durban today
Today, Durban is the busiest container port in Africa and a popular
tourist destinationA tourist destination is a city, town, or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions and possibly some "tourist traps."...
. The
Golden MileThe Golden Mile is the name given to the popular stretch of beachfront in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, including the promenade that runs along with it. It runs roughly from South Beach to the newly-constructed Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in the north...
, developed as a welcoming tourist destination in the 1970s, as well as Durban at large, provide ample
tourist attractionA tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
s, particularly for people on holiday from
JohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. It lost its international holiday pre-eminence to
Cape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in the 1990s, but remains more popular among domestic tourists. The city is also a gateway to the national parks and historic sites of
ZululandThe Zulu Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or, rather imprecisely, Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the south to Pongola River in the north....
and the
DrakensbergThe Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
.
Government and politics
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality Durban was formed in 1994 after South Africa's first democratic elections. The first democtratic mayor of Durban was
Sipho NgwenyaSipho Ngwenya was the first democratically elected mayor of the Greater city of Durban. He was the first black mayor of the city post Apartheid era of South Africa...
. The mayor is elected for a five year term, however Sipho Ngwenya only served 2 of 5 year democratic term. The city of Durban was subjected to city structural and name changes immediately after the country first democratic elections. The change was from the Greater city of Durban in 1994 to Durban UniCity in July 1996 to eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 1999. In July 1996,
Obed MlabaObed Mlaba is the former mayor of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which includes Durban, the third most populous city in South Africa....
, was appointed mayor of Durban UniCity, then in 1999 he was elected to mayor of
EThekwinieThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000 that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majority of its 3,090,126 people speak Zulu...
municipality of Durban, he was re-elected to his second term in 2006. Following the May 2011 Local Government election James Nxumalo, the former Speaker of the Council, was elected as the new mayor.
The name of the Durban municipal government, prior to the post-apartheid reorganisations of municipalities, was the
Durban Corporation or
City of Durban.
The
Freedom of ExpressionFreedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
Institute has reported that there have been problems with the Municipality allowing shack dwellers their legal right to march.
There have been reports of serious corruption by high level city officials.
Geography and climate
Durban is characterised by a mild
subtropical climateA humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
with warm wet summers and mild moist to dry winters, which are frost-free. However, due to large altitude variations, some western suburbs get slightly chilly in the winter. Durban has an annual rainfall of 1009 millimetres (39.7 in) The average annual temperature is 21 °C (70 °F), with daytime maxima peaking from January to March at 28 °C (82 °F) and the minimum is 21 °C (70 °F), dropping to daytime highs from June to August of 23 °C (73 °F) and the minimum is 11 °C (52 °F). Sunrise in Durban is at 04h45 *(04h15) and sunset is 19h00 *(19h30) in summer & rise at 06h30 *(06h10) and set at 17h20 *(17h00) in winter. (* = dawn and dusk)
Durban and its suburbs are hilly, with very few flat areas, except for locations in and around the central business district and the harbour. The western suburbs off
HillcrestHillcrest is a settlement within eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and forms a part of the Upper Highway Area.-History:Hillcrest was formerly a sleepy village, governed by its own Town Board on the outskirts of Durban that has now become a booming suburb incorporated into the eThekwini...
and
KloofKloof is a leafy, middle- to upper class suburb and small town, that includes a smaller area called Everton, in the greater Durban area of eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
are significantly higher
above sea-levelThe term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
, reaching up to 850 metres (2,789 ft) in the community of
Botha's HillBotha's Hill is a small town outside Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the gateway to the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Kearsney College moved to Botha's Hill in 1939....
. Many gorges and ravines are found within the metropolitan area. There is almost no true coastal plain.
Demographics
Durban is ethnically diverse, with a cultural richness of mixed beliefs and traditions. Zulus form the largest single ethnic group. It has a large number of people of Indian descent and has been called "the largest 'Indian' city outside India"
The city’s demographics indicate that 68% of the population are of working age, and 38% of the people in Durban are under the age of 19 years. It has an extremely high rate of HIV/AIDS at 32%.
Economy
The Durban
Metropolitan AreaThe term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
(DMA) has a large and diversified economy with strong manufacturing, tourism, transportation, finance and government sectors. Its coastal location and large port gives it
comparative advantageIn economics, the law of comparative advantage says that two countries will both gain from trade if, in the absence of trade, they have different relative costs for producing the same goods...
over many other centres in South Africa for export-related industry. Durban's mild climate, warm marine current and culturally diverse population has also provided a drawcard for tourism to the region.
There has, however, been little growth in the number of jobs provided by DMA's formal sector over the past 20 years. The manufacturing sector, which is second only to government in the number of jobs provided, has been shedding jobs as firms restructure and become more
capital intensiveCapital intensity is the term in economics for the amount of fixed or real capital present in relation to other factors of production, especially labor...
. High rates of crime have become a disincentive to growth in tourism and many other sectors. Despite a dynamic and growing small and
micro businessA small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
sector, the DMA has very high rates of unemployment, reaching over 30% in some areas of the city. There are still few economic opportunities in the former township areas.
The central business district has experienced an economic decline due to crime and grime. Many corporates have relocated due to rampant decentralisation, especially to the
UmhlangaUmhlanga is a residential, commercial and resort town north of Durban on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, created in 2000, which includes the greater Durban area...
area north of the city. This region has become a new central business district near the
Gateway Theatre of ShoppingGateway Theatre of Shopping or Gateway has been described as both the largest shopping centre in Africa and the largest in the southern hemisphere, although other shopping centres have also claimed the southern hemisphere title. It is located on Umhlanga Ridge in Umhlanga, north of Durban,...
.
Efforts have recently been made to attract business back to the city, with the new
Durban Point Waterfront development south-east of downtown sporting
uShaka Marine World and many new residential and leisure developments. It is hoped efforts by the city to clean up the business district, new developments in Point and the
2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
stadium north of the CBD (Moses Mabidha Stadium) will aid in the economic turnaround.
Durban's economic contribution to the region
The Durban Metropolitan Area is the main economic driver in KwaZulu-Natal, contributing over half of the province's output, employment and income. In national terms, Durban is the second most important economic complex after Gauteng, accounting for 15% of
national outputA variety of measures of national income and output are used in economics to estimate total economic activity in a country or region, including gross domestic product , gross national product , and net national income . All are specially concerned with counting the total amount of goods and...
, 14% of household income and 11% of national employment. Regional development corridors link Durban northwards to Richards Bay and Maputo, and westward to Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg.
Informal sector
The City's responses to informal housing have been met with a mixed reaction. The City won two Vuna awards from the state. But its treatment of shack dwellers has been strongly criticised by a report from
the United NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
linked Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions and there has also been strong criticism of the city's treatment of street traders and street children.
Civil Society
There are a number of prominent civil society organisations based in ethekwini. These include:
Abahlali baseMjondoloAbahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
(shackdwellers') movement which has over 10,000 members, the Diakonia Council of Churches, the Right2Know Campaign, and the
South African Unemployed Peoples' MovementThe South African Unemployed Peoples' Movement is a social movement with branches in Durban, Grahamstown and the Northern Provincein South Africa...
.
Visitor attractions
- The Golden Mile
The Golden Mile is the name given to the popular stretch of beachfront in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, including the promenade that runs along with it. It runs roughly from South Beach to the newly-constructed Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in the north...
- Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World
Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World is situated at the northern end of Durban's Golden Mile, adjacent to the Kings Park Sporting Precinct. Besides the casino, the complex houses many restaurants, a beach bar, cinemas and its own semi-private beach, which was rated as one of the top 3 beaches in...
- The Victoria Embankment (also known as The Esplanade) is home to many tourist sites.
- The International Convention Centre (ICC) – the leading conference centre
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
in Africa for the last 5 years, and rated 4th in the world in 2005.
- uShaka Marine World, one of the largest Aquariums in the world.
- Sahara Stadium Kingsmead
Kingsmead is a cricket ground in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It operates under the sponsorship-based name of Sahara Stadium Kingsmead where Sahara is the trademark of a sponsor from the IT industry. Its stated capacity is 25,000, although grass terracing makes up part of the viewing area....
is a major test matchTest cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and one-day cricket venue.
- Kings Park Stadium
Kings Park , is a stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa, which was originally built in 1891 and extensively renovated in the 1990s...
(Previously known for sponsorship reasons as ABSA Stadium) is host to the internationally renowned Sharks Rugby Team.
- Gateway Theatre of Shopping
Gateway Theatre of Shopping or Gateway has been described as both the largest shopping centre in Africa and the largest in the southern hemisphere, although other shopping centres have also claimed the southern hemisphere title. It is located on Umhlanga Ridge in Umhlanga, north of Durban,...
- Greyville Racecourse
Greyville Racecourse is a Thoroughbred race track in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The 2,800 metre pear-shaped track consists of several gradient features: it is run uphill from the 2,400 metre mark to the 1,800 metre mark, after which it slopes gently downward for...
(home of the Durban July HandicapThe Durban July Handicap is a South African Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first Saturday of July since 1897 at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Raced on turf, the Durban July Handicap is open to horses of all ages. It is South Africa's premier horse racing event and...
) and Durban Country Club and golf course.
- Moses Mabhida Stadium
- Umgeni River Bird Park
The Umgeni River Bird Park is a bird zoo located in Durban, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:Designed and built by Dr. Alan Abrey in an old quarry site, the Umgeni River Bird Park was opened in April 1984. The park was owned privately by a group of bird lovers who wanted to...
- The Markets of Warwick - possibly the Largest informal street market in South Africa
Communications and media
Two major English-language daily newspapers are published in Durban, both part of the Independent Newspapers, the national group owned by Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly. These are the morning editions of
The MercuryThe Mercury is an upmarket English language newspaper owned by Independent News & Media and published in Durban, South Africa.As the most popular English morning newspaper in the region, The Mercury has 269 000 readers .-Content:...
and the afternoon Daily News. Like most news media in South Africa, they have seen declining circulations in recent years. Major Zulu language papers comprise "Isolezwe" ( Independent Newspapers), "UmAfrika" and "Ilanga", the latter being seen to be politically aligned to the IFP. Independent Newspapers also publish "Post", a newspaper aimed largely at the Indian community. A national Sunday paper, the "Sunday Tribune" is also published by Independent Newspapers as is the "Independent on Saturday".
A variety of free weekly suburban newspapers are published by the Caxton Group and there are numerous "community" newspapers, some of which are short lived and others which have had stable tenure. The Tabloid Newspaper group situated in North Coast Road,Durban has also added to the variety of community newspapers.They have ten newspaper publications, three of them in the isiZulu language. Community newspapers target specific areas or zones rooting out and exposing community issues like a magnifying glass. These papers rely solely on advertising revenue and are delivered to each house hold irrespective of race or wealth. Many journalists gain experience at these papers before moving on to other major national publications.
A major city initiative is the eZasegagasini Metro Gazette (
http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/government/media/gazette). It is the official newspaper of the eThekwini Municipality, through which ratepayers and residents are kept informed about projects, programmes and activities of the eThekwini Municipality. It is also a forum for readers’ views. Published fortnightly, the newspaper hits the streets on a Friday morning, with 400 000 copies distributed in English and Zulu. The publication is an in-house product of the Municipality’s Communications Department.
The national broadcaster, the SABC, has regional offices in Durban and operates two major stations here, the
Zulu languageZulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
"Ukhozi FM" with a huge national listenership of over 6.67 million which makes it the second largest radio station in the word. The SABC also operates
Radio LotusLotus FM is a South African national radio station based in Durban, loosely similar to the BBC Asian Network in the United Kingdom, that caters for the needs of the South African Indian community. It combines a mix of Indian music, news, current affairs, interviews and entertainment...
, which is aimed at South Africans of Indian origin. The other SABC national stations have smaller regional offices here, as does TV for news links and sports broadcasts.
A major English language radio station,
East Coast RadioEast Coast Radio, also known as ECR, is a KwaZulu-Natal commercial radio station with an audience of just under 2 million. It is the second largest regional radio station in South Africa....
(
http://www.ecr.co.za/), operates out of Durban and is owned by SA media giant Kagiso Media. There are a number of smaller stations which are independent, having been granted licences by ICASA, the national agency charged with the issue of broadcast licences.
Sports teams and stadia
Durban is home to two closely related
rugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
teams, the
Natal SharksThe Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby...
, who compete in the domestic
Currie CupThe Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
competition, and the Sharks, who compete in the international Super Rugby competition. Both teams play out of the 56,000 capacity
Kings Park StadiumKings Park , is a stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa, which was originally built in 1891 and extensively renovated in the 1990s...
, sometimes referred to as the
Shark Tank – currently it is known as the
Mr Price Kings ParkKings Park , is a stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa, which was originally built in 1891 and extensively renovated in the 1990s...
for sponsorship reasons.
The City is home to two clubs in the
Premier Soccer LeaguePremier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
—AmaZulu, and
Golden ArrowsGolden Arrows are a South African football club based in Durban that participates in the Premier Soccer League.-History:Originally founded in 1943 in the dusty streets of Lamontville, a township in Durban, the club played in the defunct National Professional Soccer League in the 1970s until they...
.
AmaZuluThe amaZulu or Zulu people are a people of southern Africa.Amazulu or AmaZulu may also mean:* AmaZulu F.C. , a South African football club* AmaZulu F.C. , a defunct Zimbabwean football club...
play most of their home games at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. While
Golden ArrowsGolden Arrows are a South African football club based in Durban that participates in the Premier Soccer League.-History:Originally founded in 1943 in the dusty streets of Lamontville, a township in Durban, the club played in the defunct National Professional Soccer League in the 1970s until they...
play most of their home games at the
King Zwelithini StadiumKing Zwelithini Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Umlazi, a suburb of Durban, South Africa. It is currently used mostly for football matches and was initially set to be utilized as a training field for teams participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup after being renovated in 2010 and brought up...
in the suburb of
UmlaziUmlazi is a township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. The township is located south-west of Durban....
, but sometimes play some of their matches at Moses Mabhida Stadium or
Chatsworth StadiumKings Park Soccer Stadium was a multi-use stadium in Durban, South Africa. It was formerly used mostly for football matches and was the home of Manning Rangers who played in the Premier Soccer League. The stadium had a capacity of 35,000 people....
.
Durban is also host to the
DolphinsThe Sunfoil Dolphins is the name used by the KwaZulu Natal cricket team when it plays in the South African SuperSport Series first class competition; also in the MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Twenty20 limited over competitions...
, the provincial
cricket teamCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
.
Shaun PollockShaun Maclean Pollock is a retired South African cricketer who is considered a bowling all-rounder. From 2000 to 2003 he was the captain of the South African cricket team, and also played for Africa XI, World XI, Dolphins and Warwickshire. He was also chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in...
,
Lance KlusenerLance Klusener is a South African cricketer, more specifically an all-rounder. He is known for his aggressive batting and his fast-medium swing bowling. He is nicknamed "Zulu" because of his fluency in that language. Following his exploits at the 1999 World Cup, he topped the ICC ODI Batting...
and
Barry RichardsBarry Anderson Richards is a former South African batsman. A right-handed "talent of such enormous stature", Richards is considered one of South Africa's most successful cricketers. He was able to play only four Test matches - all against Australia - before South Africa's exclusion from the...
all come from the Dolphins (although it was formally called Natal). Cricket in Durban is played at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead.
Durban hosted matches in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. In 2007 the city hosted nine matches, including a semi-final, as part of the inaugural
ICC World Twenty20The ICC World Twenty20 or ICC World T20 also referred to as the T20 World Cup is the international championship of Twenty20 cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council...
. The 2009 IPL season was played in South Africa, and Durban was selected as a venue. 2010 saw the city host six matches, including a semi-final, in the
2010 Champions League Twenty20The 2010 Champions League Twenty20 was the second edition of the Champions League Twenty20, an international Twenty20 cricket tournament. The tournament, which was held from 10 to 26 September 2010 in South Africa, featured 10 domestic Twenty20 sides from India, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand,...
.
Durban was one of the host cities of the
2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and is the host of an
A1GPA1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"...
motor race, driven on a street track. Durban hosted the
123rdThe 123rd International Olympic Committee Session was held in July 2011 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa...
IOC Session in July 2011.
The City is home to
Greyville RacecourseGreyville Racecourse is a Thoroughbred race track in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The 2,800 metre pear-shaped track consists of several gradient features: it is run uphill from the 2,400 metre mark to the 1,800 metre mark, after which it slopes gently downward for...
, a major
Thoroughbred horse racingThoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
venue which annually hosts a number of prestigious races including the country's premier event, the
July HandicapThe Durban July Handicap is a South African Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first Saturday of July since 1897 at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Raced on turf, the Durban July Handicap is open to horses of all ages. It is South Africa's premier horse racing event and...
, and the premier staying event in South Africa, the Gold Cup. Another well-equipped Racecourse is located at Clairwood, just south of the city centre and not far from
Durban International AirportDurban International Airport was the international airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban.-History:...
.
A professional Tennis venue is located at Westridge Park near The Berea, and an Olympic-standard swimming pool is found in the
Kings Park Sporting PrecinctKings Park Sporting Precinct is a site located in Stamford Hill, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. It was developed primarily to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but will also form part of the city's long term plan to host the Summer Olympics...
. In addition to these venues, Durban has facilities for
Water PoloWater polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
,
HockeyHockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, and other sports, most notably the outstanding beach front which has played host to numerous
water sports events such as the Mr Price Pro (previously known as the Gunston 500)
surfingSurfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
competition and the related Ocean Action festival.
Beach volleyballBeach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
is regularly played on local beaches and
PowerboatF1 Powerboat World Championship is a competition of powerboats with rules similar to Formula One car racing. Each F1 powerboat race lasts approximately 45 minutes following a circuit marked out in a selected stretch of water, usually a lake, river, or sheltered bay.Qualifying periods decide the...
racing has taken place in the
HarbourA harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
. Durban and surrounding areas are also well patronised by Professional and Amateur golfers, with the golf course at Durban Country Club near the CBD being particularly well-known.
Air
King Shaka International AirportKing Shaka International Airport, also known as La Mercy Airport and abbreviated as KSIA, is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa. Located at La Mercy, approximately north of the city centre of Durban, it opened its doors to passengers on May 1, 2010, just over a month before the...
services both domestic and international flights, with regularly scheduled service to
DubaiDubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Swaziland,
MozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, and
MauritiusMauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. The airport opened in May 2010, replacing all operations from Durban International Airport, which handled four million passengers in 2005, up over 15 percent from 2004. King Shaka International Airport was constructed at La Mercy, about 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) north of central Durban. All operations at Durban International have been transferred to King Shaka International as of 1 May 2010; with plans for flights to
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, London and Australia.
The
Durban International AirportDurban International Airport was the international airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban.-History:...
was used by the
South African Defence ForceThe South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...
during the
2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and as a secondary airport to handle overflow.
The airport serves as a major gateway for travellers to KwaZulu-Natal and the
DrakensbergThe Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
.
Sea
Durban has a long tradition as a port city. The
Port of DurbanThe Port of Durban in Durban, South Africa, is the largest container terminal in the Southern Hemisphere, according to the AAPA World Port Rankings 2009. In 2010, the port handled 2,511,368 TEU....
, which was formerly known as the Port of Natal, is one of the few natural
harbourA harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
s between Port Elizabeth and
MaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, and is also located at the beginning of a particular weather phenomenon which can cause extremely violent seas. These two features made Durban an extremely busy
port of callA port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
for ship repairs when the port was opened in the 1840s. The Port of Durban is now the busiest port in South Africa, as well as the third busiest
container portContainerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
in the
Southern HemisphereThe Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
.
The modern Port of Durban grew around trade from
JohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, as the industrial and mining capital of South Africa is not located on any navigable body of water. Thus, products being shipped from Johannesburg outside of South Africa have to be loaded onto trucks or railways and transported to Durban. The Port of
MaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
was unavailable for use until the early 1990s due to civil war and an
embargoAn embargo is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country, in order to isolate it. Embargoes are considered strong diplomatic measures imposed in an effort, by the imposing country, to elicit a given national-interest result from the country on which it is...
against South African products. There is now an intense rivalry between Durban and
MaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
for shipping business.
Salisbury Island now joined to the mainland and part of the Port of Durban, was formerly a full
naval baseA navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
until it was downgraded in 2002. It now contains a naval station and other military facilities. The future of the base, however, is uncertain, as there is increasing demand to use Salisbury Island as part of the port facilities.
Rail
Durban featured the first operating steam railway in South Africa when the
Natal Railway CompanyThe Natal Railway Company was formed in January 1859 for the construction of a railway in Durban.Unlike later railways in South Africa, the Natal Railway Company made use of Standard gauge of rather than Cape gauge of ....
started operating a line between the Point and the city of Durban in 1860.
Durban is well-served by railways due to its role as the largest
trans-shipmentTransshipment or Transhipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, and then from there to yet another destination....
point for goods from the interior of South Africa.
Shosholoza MeylShosholoza Meyl is a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa that operates long-distance passenger rail services. It operates various train routes across South Africa, carrying approximately 4 million passengers annually...
, the passenger rail service of Spoornet, operates two long-distance passenger rail services from Durban: a daily service to and from Johannesburg via
PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
, and a weekly service to and from
Cape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
via
KimberleyKimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
and
BloemfonteinBloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
. These trains terminate at
Durban railway stationDurban railway station is the central railway station in the city of Durban, South Africa, located between Umgeni Road and Masabalala Yengwa Avenue just to the north of the central business district...
.
MetrorailMetrorail KwaZulu-Natal is a network of commuter rail services in and around the city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. It is operated by Metrorail, a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa ....
operates a commuter rail service in Durban and the surrounding area. The Metrorail network runs from Durban Station outwards as far as
StangerKwaDukuza is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 2006 the town's official name was changed from Stanger to KwaDukuza, however Zulus in the area used Dukuza well before this date, and many Whites use Stanger today...
on the north coast,
KelsoKelso, Kwazulu-Natal is located in the Umdoni Coast region of South Africa facing the Indian Ocean. Kelso is located 65 kilometers south of Durban, the largest city in Kwazulu-Natal.-History:...
on the south coast, and Cato Ridge inland.
A
high speed rail linkIn April 2010, the South African Minister of Transport proposed a Johannesburg-Durban high speed rail system. There are concerns about the cost and engineering difficulty of the project, which would have to cross the Drakensberg mountains. but the minister repeated proposals in June 2010...
has been proposed, between
JohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and Durban.
Roads
The City's main position as a
port of entryIn general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...
onto the southern African continent has led to a development of
national roadsIn South Africa, national routes constitute a numbered network of roads starting with an "N" prefix . They usually connect major centres. Although the terms National Road and National Route are often used interchangably in everyday conversation, the two are not synonymous, and some Regional Routes ...
around it. One such highway starts in Durban, and one passes through it. The
N3 Western FreewayThe N3 is a National Route in South Africa, connecting Johannesburg and Durban, respectively South Africa's largest and third-largest cities. Johannesburg is the financial and commercial heartland of South Africa, while Durban is South Africa's key port and one of the busiest ports in the Southern...
; which links Durban with the economic hinterland of
GautengGauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
heads west out of the city. The
N2 Outer Ring RoadThe N2 is a National Route in South Africa; it is the main highway along the Indian Ocean coast of the country. The N2 starts in Cape Town in the Western Cape and runs through the cities of Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape and Durban in KwaZulu-Natal to end at Ermelo in...
links Durban with the
Eastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
to the south, and
MpumalangaMpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
in the north. The Western Freeway is particularly important because freight is shipped by truck to and from the
WitwatersrandThe Witwatersrand is a low, sedimentary range of hills, at an elevation of 1700–1800 metres above sea-level, which runs in an east-west direction through Gauteng in South Africa. The word in Afrikaans means "the ridge of white waters". Geologically it is complex, but the principal formations...
for transfer to the port.
The N3 Western Freeway starts in the central business district and heads west under Tollgate Bridge and through the suburbs of Sherwood and Mayville. The EB Cloete Interchange (which is informally nicknamed the
Spaghetti Junction"Spaghetti Junction" is a nickname sometimes given to a complicated or massively intertwined road traffic interchange that resembles a plate of spaghetti. The term is believed to have been coined by a journalist at the Birmingham Evening Mail in the 1970s to refer to the Gravelly Hill Interchange...
) lies to the east of Westville, allowing for transfer of traffic between the N2
Outer Ring RoadThe Durban Outer Ring Road is a ring road that circles the city of Durban, South Africa. It consists of a single freeway, known as the N2, which links the north and south coasts of KwaZulu-Natal Province and acts as a major arterial for the Durban metropolitan area....
and the Western Freeway.
The N2 Outer Ring Road cuts through the city from the north coast to the south coast. It provides a vital link to the
Durban International AirportDurban International Airport was the international airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban.-History:...
and to the coastal towns (such as
ScottburghScottburgh is a resort town situated on the mouth of the Mpambanyoni River , 58 km south of Durban on KwaZulu-Natal South Coast in South Africa...
and
StangerKwaDukuza is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 2006 the town's official name was changed from Stanger to KwaDukuza, however Zulus in the area used Dukuza well before this date, and many Whites use Stanger today...
) that rely on Durban.
Durban also has a system of freeway and dual arterial metropolitan routes, which connect the sprawling suburbs that lie to the north, west and south of the city. The
M4The M4 is a metropolitan road in Durban, South Africa. It runs from the N2 at Durban International Airport to Ballito via the Durban Central Business District and Umhlanga. The sections between the airport and the southern edge of the CBD, and the northern edge of the CBD and the exit to Virginia...
exists in two segments: The northern segment, named the Leo Boyd Highway, starts as an alternative highway at
BallitoBallito is a holiday town located in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Ballito is about 40 kilometres north of Durban. Dolphins are common on this stretch of the North Coast shoreline known as the Dolphin Coast...
where it separates from the N2. It passes through the northern suburbs of
UmghlangaUmhlanga is a residential, commercial and resort town north of Durban on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, created in 2000, which includes the greater Durban area...
and
La-LuciaLa Lucia is a suburb of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, located to the north of the city. It was named after Lucia Michel. She and her husband Albert Michel founded the sugar cane farm La Lucia....
where it becomes a
dual carriagewayA dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
and ends at the northern edge of the CBD. The southern segment of the M4, the Albert Luthuli
http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/services/services_news/red-tar-for-southern-freeway Highway, starts at the southern edge of the CBD, connecting through to the
Durban International AirportDurban International Airport was the international airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban.-History:...
, where it once again reconnects with the N2 Outer Ring Road.
The M7 connects the southern industrial basin with the N3 and
PinetownPinetown is a small city just inland from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pinetown is situated 16 km west of Durban at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,300 feet . It was established in 1850 around the Wayside Hotel, itself built the year before along the main wagon route between Durban and...
via
QueensburghQueensburgh is a middle class town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that is situated inland from Durban and now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan. The hilly area was settled by people working in Durban who wanted to escape the humidity of the coastal city...
via the N2. The M19 connects the northern suburbs with Pinetown via
WestvilleWestville is an area near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which is situated 20 km inland from the Durban city centre. Formerly an independent municipality governed by a Town Council, it now forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which also includes Durban...
.
The
M13- Route :The route starts in the Durban Central Business District. For the first few kilometres of its length, it runs parallel to the N3 on both sides as Berea Road North and Berea Road South...
is an untolled alternative to the N3 Western Freeway (which is tolled at Mariannhill). It also feeds traffic through
GillittsGillitts is a suburb on the western boundary of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.-Overview:It is about inland from the city centre at an elevation of 1800 feet . Although Durban is semi-tropical and very humid, Gillitts is above the humidity and is not humid, except when it is in the...
,
KloofKloof is a leafy, middle- to upper class suburb and small town, that includes a smaller area called Everton, in the greater Durban area of eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
, and
WestvilleWestville is an area near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which is situated 20 km inland from the Durban city centre. Formerly an independent municipality governed by a Town Council, it now forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which also includes Durban...
. In the Westville area it is called the
Jan Smuts HighwayJan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
, while in the
KloofKloof is a leafy, middle- to upper class suburb and small town, that includes a smaller area called Everton, in the greater Durban area of eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
area it is named the Arthur Hopewell Highway.
A number of streets in Durban were renamed in the late 2000s to the names of figures related to the anti-apartheid struggle, persons related to liberation movements around the world (including Che Guevera,
Kenneth KaundaKenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...
and SWAPO), and others associated with the governing
African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
. A few street names were changed in the first round of renaming, followed by a larger second round. The renamings provoked incidents of vandalism, as well as protests from opposition parties and members of the public.
Buses
Remant Alton, a company which bought Durban Transport in 2003, operated scheduled bus services throughout the Durban metropolitan area. However, Remant Alton's services were suspended in March 2009 due to violent
industrial actionIndustrial action or job action refers collectively to any measure taken by trade unions or other organised labour meant to reduce productivity in a workplace. Quite often it is used and interpreted as a euphemism for strike, but the scope is much wider...
by its employees, unroadworthy vehicles and the company's poor financial position. Remant Alton is barely functional, has lost key individuals, suffered the loss of 56 buses in a fire, and had many of the remainder impounded due to unroadworthiness. This has left Durban with a poorly functioning formal public transport system.
The Durban People Mover is a tourist-oriented bus service which runs every 15 minutes and consists of three routes within the central business district and along the beachfront, connecting various attractions.
Several companies run long-distance bus services from Durban to the other cities in South Africa. Buses have a long history in Durban. Most of them run by Indian owners since the early 1930`s. Privately owned buses who are not subsidised by the government service the communities timeoulsy. Buses operate in all areas of the eThekwini Municipality. Since 2003 buses have been violently taken out of the routes and bus ranks by taxi operators. This has brought bus operations into disarray. Bus owners have bought into taxi operations using their bus permits to make a living.
Taxis
Durban has two kinds of taxis:
metered taxisA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
and
minibus taxiA share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between taxis and conventional buses. These informal vehicles for hire are found throughout the world. They are smaller than buses, and usually take passengers on a fixed or semi-fixed route without timetables, usually leaving when all seats are filled...
s. Unlike many cities, metered taxis are not allowed to drive around the city to solicit fares and instead must be called and ordered to a specific location.
There are a number of companies which service the Durban and surrounding regions.
These taxis can also be called upon for airport transfers, point to point pick ups and shuttles.
Mini bus taxis are the standard
form of transportMode of transport is a term used to distinguish substantially different ways to perform transport. The most dominant modes of transport are aviation, land transport, which includes rail, road and off-road transport, and ship transport...
for the majority of the population who cannot afford private cars. With the high demand for transport by the working class of South Africa, minibus taxis are often filled over their legal passenger allowance, making for high casualty rates when minibuses are involved in accidents. Minibuses are generally owned and operated in fleets, and inter-operator violence flares up from time to time, especially as
turf warsThe term taxi war is usually used to refer to the turf wars fought between taxi associations and individual minibus taxi drivers in South Africa, from the late 1980s onwards. These taxi wars are still raging to the present day....
over lucrative taxi routes occur.
Rickshaws
Durban is also famous for its iconic Zulu Rickshaw pullers navigating throughout the city. These colourful characters are famous for their giant, vibrant hats and costumes. Although they had been a mode of transportation since the early 1900s, they have been displaced by other forms of motorised transport, and the 25 or so remaining rickshaws mostly cater to tourists today.
Private schools
- Al Falaah College
Al Falaah College is an alternative, independent school situated in the coastal city of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :In 1985 Ahmedia School opened its doors in Bellair Road, Cato Manor, Durban...
- Clifton School
Clifton School is an independent school for boys located in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, in the Republic of South Africa.-The early years:Mr Harry Stubbs, the retired first headmaster of Durban Prep, established Clifton Preparatory School on 5 February 1924. His home, at 102 Lambert Road, provided the...
- Eden College, South Africa
- Crawford College, La Lucia
Crawford College, La Lucia is an alternative, independent school in La Lucia, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.This is the La Lucia Campus of the Crawford Schools. The Principal since 2010 has been Mrs. Jenny Coetzee.-External links:*...
- Crawford College, North Coast
Crawford College, North Coast is an alternative, independent school between Ballito and Umdloti in the North Coast of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
- Deutsche Schule Durban
- Durban Girls' College
Durban Girls' College is a private boarding and day school for girls located on the Berea, overlooking the city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:...
- Highbury Preparatory School
Highbury Preparatory School is a private school for boys located in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:Highbury was founded in 1903 by Sibella Douglas McMillan. It was named after Highbury House School in England, which was established by Sibella McMillan's father, the Rev Charles...
- Hillcrest Christian Academy
Hillcrest Christian Academy is a co-educational independent Primary School in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 30 km from Durban. The headteacher is Mr M Temlett.- History of HCA:...
- Highway College
- Holy Family College
- Eden College Durban
Eden College Durban is an independent school for boys and girls located in Glenmore, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, in the Republic of South Africa. It comprises a pre-primary school , a preparatory school , a middle school and a college...
- Glenwood Christian School
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Kearsney College Kearsney College is a private boarding school for boys in Botha's Hill, a small town that lies between the provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the largest city of KwaZulu-Natal, a province in South Africa.- History :...
Inanda Seminary
St Henry's Marist Brothers' CollegeSt. Henry's Marist Brothers' College is a co-educational private school school with a Catholic foundation in Glenwood, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:...
Maris Stella SchoolMaris Stella School is a private Roman Catholic day school for girls from four to eighteen years old , located on the Berea in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
Oakridge College
Orient Islamic SchoolOrient Islamic School is an independent Muslim school situated in Greyville, Durban, South Africa.Orient School is part of the Orient Islamic Educational Institute that was established in 1938. The school was established in 1959 as a state-aided school...
Jasmine Codd School
St. Mary's D.S.G.St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls is a private boarding and day school for girls situated in the suburb of Kloof, near Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:...
Thomas More CollegeThomas More College is an independent, co-educational day school located in Kloof, near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-Ethos:Thomas More College is a Christian-based school running classes from Grade 0 to Grade 12...
Roseway Waldorf SchoolRoseway Waldorf School is a coeducational privately-funded school in Alverstone, near Botha's Hill, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in February 1985. The school now has programs from preschool through high school...
Star CollegeStar College of Harbin Normal University is a university located in Harbin, Heilongjiang, P.R. China.Star College is situated in Jiangbei, north of the city centre. It developed from a small language college but now has expanded to close to 10,000 students. It offers a range of majors including...
Victory Christian Academy |
Public schools
- Apollo Secondary School
- Arena Park Secondary School
- Atholton Primary School
- Avoca Primary School
- Avoca Secondary School
- Bechet High School
Bechet High School, situated in Sydenham, Durban, South Africa, is a High School est. in 1955....
- Berea Primary School
- Bonela Primary School
- Brighton Beach Senior Primary
- Carrington Heights Primary School
- Chatsworth High School
- Chelsea Preparatory School
- Crystalpiont Secondary School
- Daleview Secondary School
- Dawnridge Primary school
- Dr AD Lazarus Secondary School
- Durban Academy High School
- Durban Girls' High School
Durban Girls' High School is a public high school for girls located in Glenwood, an upper-middle class suburb of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1882 and is home to over 1200 students....
(DGHSDurban Girls' High School is a public high school for girls located in Glenwood, an upper-middle class suburb of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1882 and is home to over 1200 students....
)
- Durban High School
Durban High School is an all boys public school in Durban, South Africa.- History :DHS opened its doors in 1866 in two rooms and with seven pupils in Smith Street. From there it moved to a disused granary in Cato Square in 1880, just after the Zulu War, and then to the Old Hospital on the foreshore...
(DHSDurban High School is an all boys public school in Durban, South Africa.- History :DHS opened its doors in 1866 in two rooms and with seven pupils in Smith Street. From there it moved to a disused granary in Cato Square in 1880, just after the Zulu War, and then to the Old Hospital on the foreshore...
)
- Durban North College
Durban North College or Durban Noord Kollege is a high school situated to the north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:D.N.C...
- Effingham Primary School
- Effingham Secondary School
- Foresthaven Secondary
- Gelofte High School
- George Campbell School of Technology
George Campbell School of Technology is a public high school specialising in technical education and is located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
- Glenwood High School
Glenwood High School is a semi-private high school for boys located in Glenwood, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-Establishment:Formed in 1910 and originally known as the Day Continuation School, the name was changed to the Durban Technical High School in 1916 by which time the school had 150...
- Glenwood Preparatory School
- Glenover Secondary school
- Greenbury Secondary School
- Greenheights Primary School
- Grosvenor Boys High School
- Grosvenor Girls High School
- Grove End Secondary School
- Hillgrove Secondary School (HSS)
- Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School is a public co-educational high school in Hillcrest, near Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:Hillcrest High School is a large co-educational high school situated 2,5 km from the centre of Hillcrest and 35 km from Durban...
- Hunt Road Secondary
- Isipingo Secondary School
Isipingo Secondary, located in Wattle Place, Isipingo is regarded as one of the area's leading schools. It has produced several top 10 matriculants over the years...
- John Dube High School
- Kharwastan Secondary School
- Kingsway High School
Kingsway High School is an English-medium, co-educational high school situated 2 km north of the Amanzimtoti business centre and less than a kilometre from the shores of the Indian Ocean....
- Kloof High School
Kloof High School is a public, co-educational high school located in Kloof, near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:Kloof High School opened in February 1960 under the first headmaster, Mr Goodwin...
- Kloof Junior Primary School
- Kloof Pre-Primary School
- Kloof Senior Primary School
- KwaMgaga High School
- Montclair Senior Primary School
- Mowat Park High School
- Mzuvele Secondary School
- New Forest High School
- New Germany Primary School
- Northlands Girls' High School
Northlands Girls High School 'NGHS' is an all-girls' school situated in the suburb of Durban North, South Africa. It has a strong relationship with its brother school, Northwood School for boys....
- Northmead Secondary School
- Northwood School
Northwood School is a public high school for boys situated in the coastal city of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :Along with their sister school, Northlands Girls’ High, Northwood celebrated 50 years of High School education in Durban North during 1999.Both schools trace their...
- NqabakaZulu Comprehensive High School
- Ogwini Comprehensive High School
- Open Air School
- Palmcroft Primary School
- Parkhill Secondary School
- Parlock Primary School
- Penzance Primary School
- Pinetown Boys' High School
Pinetown Boys' High School is a public school for boys in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Pinetown High School was founded in 1955 as a co-educational, dual-medium school...
- Pinetown Girls' High School
Pinetown Girls' High School is a public school for girls in Old Main Road, Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1955 as Pinetown Secondary School, a co-educational school, at its current site. On January 1 1978, the boys were split off into Pinetown Boys' High School...
- Port Natal High School
Port Natal High School is a public co-ed high school for Afrikaans speaking learners. The school is located in Umbilo, a middle class suburb of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1941 and is home to over 700 students from Grade 1 – 12.-External links:**...
- Queensburgh Girls' High School
Queensburgh Girls' High School is an all girls high school located on Main Road, Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa. The school has a high level of academic success....
- Queensburgh High School
- Reservoir Hills Secondary School
- Ridge Park College
- Sastri College
- Sibonelo High School
- Sishosonke High School
- Sivananda Technical College and High School
- Stanmore Secondary School
- Swelihle High School
- Virginia Preparatory School
- Vukuzakhe High School
- Werda Hoërskool
- Westcliff Secondary School
- Westham Secondary School
- Westville Boys' High School
Westville Boys' High School, often referred to as WBHS, is a public high school for boys located in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:2006 marked the 41st anniversary of WBHS as an all-boys' high school...
- Westville Girls' High School
Westville Girls' High School,, is a public school for girls in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The school strives to maximise every learner's potential in order that she may serve society and experience personal fulfilment through the development of her unique talents and abilities.The...
- Wingen Heights Secondary School
- Werda High School
- Zakhe High School
- Zeph Dlomo High School
- Zwelibanzi High School
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Tertiary institutions
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
- Durban University of Technology
The Durban University of Technology is a University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was formed in 2002 by the merger of Technikon Natal and ML Sultan Technikon and was previously known as the Durban Institute of Technology. It has four campuses in Durban, and two in Pietermaritzburg...
- Mangosuthu University of Technology
- Varsity College
Varsity College is a P-12 college located in Queensland, Australia.http://varsitycollege.eq.edu.au...
- Regent Business School
For the Regent's Business School in London - see Regent's Business School London.Regent Business School is a private institution focused on postgraduate management education in South Africa. At the undergraduate level, RBS offers the Bachelor of Commerce degree, in addition to various certificate...
Twin towns — Sister cities
Durban is
twinnedTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
AlexandriaAlexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt BakuBaku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, Azerbaijan ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois, United States LeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, United Kingdom, RotterdamRotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands |
GuangzhouGuangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China NantesNantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, France Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium BremenThe City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, BremenThe Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is the smallest of Germany's 16 states. A more informal name, but used in some official contexts, is Land Bremen .-Geography:...
, Germany Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil |
Le PortLe Port is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located at the extreme northwest corner of the island of Réunion. In the 1999 census, Le Port had a population of 38,412...
, Reunion IslandRéunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
, France DaejeonDaejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
, South Korea BulawayoBulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, Zimbabwe New Orleans, Louisiana, United States OranOran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, Algeria |
Eilat, Israel MaracaiboMaracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
, Venezuela KaohsiungKaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taiwan |
See also
- Art Deco in Durban
Art Deco is a truly international style. Born in the 1920s the movement's origins are French. In the 1930s American designers adopted it as their own distinctive style with impressive effect. Yet throughout the world many other countries also identified with the style and added their own local...
- Durban Industry Climate Change Partnership Project
Durban Industry Climate Change Partnership Project is a project aimed at facilitating industry response to climate change in the eThekwini Municipality , South Africa...
(DICCPP)
- World Conference against Racism 2001 – held in Durban
- Durban International Film Festival
The Durban International Film Festival is an annual film festival that takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. It is one of the oldest and largest film festival in Southern African and presents over 200 screenings celebrating the best in South African, African and...
External links