Westville, KwaZulu-Natal
Encyclopedia
Westville 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 town was laid out on the farm Westville (named in honour of Martin West
, the British
lieutenant-governor of Natal) and formed in 1847.
Westville is a decentralised hub of Durban
. It lies in the Durban West Tourism Route, around 20-25 min (by car) from central Durban
. This location means that it is situated practically for commuters based in Durban
. It has become an established upmarket area, with the fourth most expensive average property prices in the province after Umhlanga
, Durban North
and the Berea
.
, Westville Girls' High School
, Atholl Heights Primary School and Westville Senior Primary.
Higher education centres include a 2 square-kilometre campus of University of KwaZulu-Natal
(former University of Durban-Westville
) and Varsity College
(Westville campus).
Specialist schools such as The International Hotel School, based at the Westville Hotel and The Fusion Cooking School can also be found in Westville.
.
area. The average daily population for 2010 was 3,281.
and Chesterville
.
(Barrier of Spears) Battlefields Tours, Game Reserves and Zululand are within a 2-3 hour drive. A large Anglo-German Historical Route exists with numerous Churches, Museums and Gravesites depicting the early settlement struggles of the early Colonial Days.
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-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....
, South Africa
South Africa
The 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...
, which is situated 20 km inland from the Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
city centre. Formerly an independent municipality governed by a Town Council, it now forms part of the eThekwini
Ethekwini
eThekwini 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 Municipality, which also includes Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. The town was laid out on the farm Westville (named in honour of Martin West
Martin West
Sir Martin West was born in England, the son of a civil servant in the Treasury.Martin West studied at Balliol College, Oxford, before joining the British East India Company...
, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
lieutenant-governor of Natal) and formed in 1847.
Westville is a decentralised hub of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. It lies in the Durban West Tourism Route, around 20-25 min (by car) from central Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. This location means that it is situated practically for commuters based in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. It has become an established upmarket area, with the fourth most expensive average property prices in the province after Umhlanga
Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal
Umhlanga 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...
, Durban North
Durban North
Durban North is a suburb located north of Durban, on the eastern side of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Durban North is on the north side of the Umgeni River. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, created in 2000, which includes the greater Durban area.A beach known to locals as...
and the Berea
Berea, Durban
The Berea is a ridge above the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on the northern side which overlooks the city centre and the Indian Ocean. Berea is also used as a collective designation for the suburbs in the area...
.
Education
Schools situation in Westville include Westville Boys' High SchoolWestville 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
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...
, Atholl Heights Primary School and Westville Senior Primary.
Higher education centres include a 2 square-kilometre campus of University of KwaZulu-Natal
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...
(former University of Durban-Westville
University of Durban-Westville
The University of Durban-Westville was formerly a university situated in Westville, Durban opened 1972. It now forms part of the campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Known as UDW, it was initially established for Indians as during apartheid there were few universities that admitted non-White...
) and Varsity College
Varsity College
Varsity College is a P-12 college located in Queensland, Australia.http://varsitycollege.eq.edu.au...
(Westville campus).
Specialist schools such as The International Hotel School, based at the Westville Hotel and The Fusion Cooking School can also be found in Westville.
Churches
There are several churches in Westville, including the Westville Catholic Church, Our Lady of Lourdes, situated in the town centre, the Westville Baptist Church and St Elizabeth's Anglican ChurchSt Elizabeth's Anglican Church
The sole church of the Parish of Westville, St Elizabeth's Anglican Church is an Anglican Church within the Diocese of Natal of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. It is located in the suburb of Westville, in Durban, South Africa. The church's rector is the Revd Steve Harrison, who is assisted...
.
Mosques
The major mosque in Westville is Habibia Soofie Masjid, located opposite Westville Boys High School. It is a Soofie mosque.Prison
Westville Prison is one of the largest prisons in the country and the only prison located in the DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
area. The average daily population for 2010 was 3,281.
Townships
Westville is also central to several main townships, namely Cato Manor, ClaremontClaremont
- Australia :* Claremont, Tasmania, a suburb of Hobart* Claremont, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth** Claremont Football Club, West Australian Football League** Claremont Oval, home stadium for Claremont Football Club- United Kingdom :...
and Chesterville
Chesterville
Chesterville may refer to a location in North America:United States* Chesterville, Indiana* Chesterville, Maine* Chesterville, Maryland* Chesterville, OhioCanada* Chesterville, Ontario...
.
Shopping Centres
Westville has three notable shopping centres:- Westwood MallWestwood Mall, WestvilleWestwood Mall is a shopping center located in Durban, Westville. Overlooking the University of KwaZulu-Natal - Westville campus and situated near the Vega School of Arts, the shopping center is a popular destination for students during breaks...
, situated close to the University of KwaZulu-NatalUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalThe 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...
, Westville campus. - Westville Mall
- The Pavilion Mall, the largest shopping centre in Westville and the second large in the Durban area, after GatewayGatewayA gateway is a point of entry or exit at which a gate may be hung.Gateway may also refer to:-Computer terminology:*Gateway , a computer or a network that allows or controls access to another computer or network...
.
Attractions
Tourists attractions include Westville's Palmiet Nature Reserve which has 15 km of guided and self guided trails. Further afield tourists can experience the evergreen Western Inland Route and KwaZulu's regional attractions, including The DrakensbergDrakensberg
The 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...
(Barrier of Spears) Battlefields Tours, Game Reserves and Zululand are within a 2-3 hour drive. A large Anglo-German Historical Route exists with numerous Churches, Museums and Gravesites depicting the early settlement struggles of the early Colonial Days.
Prison escapes
There have been a number of escapes or attempted escapes from Westville Prison:- Thozamile TakiThozamile TakiThozamile Taki also known as the Sugarcane Killer is a South African serial killer who killed 13 women aged 18–25, dumping their bodies in agricultural plantations...
, the "sugarcane serial killer" and eight other awaiting trial prisoners broke out of their cell at the Medium "A" section of the prison on Februrary 21st 2010 by sawing through a steel door and the grill gates.By March 7th 2010, 3 of these escapees including Thozamile TakiThozamile TakiThozamile Taki also known as the Sugarcane Killer is a South African serial killer who killed 13 women aged 18–25, dumping their bodies in agricultural plantations...
had been caught, with one killed by the police.