Umzinto
Umzinto Show map of KwaZulu-Natal Umzinto Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 30°19′S 30°40′E / 30.317°S 30.667°E / -30.317; 30.667
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Ugu
Area [1]
• Total	42.49 km2 (16.41 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	16,205
• Density	380/km2 (990/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	31.8%
• Coloured	18.4%
• Indian/Asian	59.8%
• White	0.4%
• Other	0.7%
First languages (2011) [1]
• English	89.9%
• Zulu	13.3%
• Xhosa	0.9%
• Other	0.7%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
PO box	4200
Area code	031

Umzinto is a town, located in the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, approximately 67 kilometres (42 mi) south-west of Durban. It was a sugarcane growing area and the town was set up as the centre for a sugar mill.

Although Umzinto has historically been predominantly populated by Indians, it has become a melting pot of cultures and races with a significant number of Black and Coloured residents residing here too.

Etymology

"Umzinto" is said to be derived from the Zulu "umenzi wezinto", meaning "the kraal [or place] of accomplishment".^[2]

According to an urban legend, the town's name derived from a visit by two men, one of whom was named Um. On encountering a stream, the men decided to cross it, but Um did not notice the crocodile lurking beneath the surface.^[3] Subsequently, Um was attacked by the crocodile, and bitten in half. "Um's in two!" his friend exclaimed. The legend has been ascribed to Jonathan Swift^[4] but Swift died in 1745, decades before the British encountered the region.

History

The first public company in Natal was established at Umzinto on the 6 July 1846. The sugar cane fields on the outskirts of Umzinto are owned and run by Crookes Brothers, a JSE listed company. Umzinto was named the last town in Durban in 1963.

Geography

Umzinto lies just inland from the coastal village of Park Rynie, in hilly countryside and to the north of the uMzinto River, after which it is named. The nearest settlements to Umzinto include Park Rynie (8 km), Amandawe (10 km), Scottburgh (12 km), Pennington (16 km) and Amahlongwa (16 km).

Economy

Today, Umzinto has become a small yet bustling town that serves as a service centre to the surrounding rural communities. Typical of many small South African towns, Umzinto has a singular main road, Nelson Mandela Road, that forms the backbone of the town lined by a number of national and local retailers and businesses.

Umzinto was once the home of three large textile mills, namely Alitex, Bally Spinning Mills and MYM Textiles that used to export abroad. Today only one survives and is not as productive as it used to be. Consequently, this has affected the economy of Umzinto negatively.

Sport

Unofficially, Umzinto was at one time the capital of Alexandra County, a district that also includes the areas and suburbs surrounding the towns of Scottburgh, Umkomaas, and Sezela-Pennington. Umzinto hosted two class-A cricket matches at the Alexandra Memorial Ground, one on 2 March 1974, when Natal B hosted Griqualand West in the Currie Cup Section B, and again on 19 March 1977, when Natal B faced Border in the same contest.

Law and government

The municipality has not maintained the roads and currently the roads are in a deplorable condition. In 1995, low cost housing was developed on the outskirts called Gandhi Nagar.

Education

Schools: Umzintovale Primary School, Umzinto Secondary School, Umzinto Islamic School, St Patrick's Primary School, Roseville Secondary School, St Annes Primary School

Umzinto also houses a Darul-Uloom called Madrassa Da'watul Haq that has produced many graduates who have memorised the entire Quraan.

Halls: Sanathan Hall, Islamic Cultural Centre, Umzinto Town Hall

Media

Radio Station : Life FM KZN

Infrastructure

Notable residents

• Bavelile Hlongwa (1981–2019), South African politician and chemical engineer.
• Sadanund Ramjee Dhaja (captain) a police officer who served with decorum and integrity and received accolades for highest arrests in the prevention of crime (1997).

References