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89-679: The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast (better known as the KZN South Coast or just the South Coast ) is a region along the southern stretch of coastline of KwaZulu-Natal , South Africa , south of the coastal city of Durban . The primary hubs of the South Coast are Port Shepstone and Amanzimtoti with several other coastal hubs at Kingsburgh , Margate , Port Edward , Shelly Beach , Scottburgh and Umkomaas whilst Harding and Umzinto have developed as primary commercial centres for

178-590: A border between the "non-white" areas to the west and the "white" areas to the east (excluding Albersville) which was planned by apartheid planners. At the time, there was no township present in Port Shepstone due to the management of the "black" area which was creating a problem because the Nsimbini Tribal Authority claimed the extension of their territory on white land which was their in the past. The Grand Apartheid policies initiated in

267-819: A diamond-cutting works, various heavy engineering concerns, the Natal Portland Cement (NPC) slagment cement factory, and the Newcastle Cogeneration Plant (old Ingagane Power Station). This was recommissioned as Africa's first gas-fired power station by Independent Power Southern Africa (IPSA), and it supplies the Karbochem Plant with electricity. The textile industry is a major employer in the Newcastle area, with over 100 factories belonging to ethnic Taiwanese and Chinese industrialists. Maize, livestock and dairy farmers operate on

356-522: A large industrial sector located in Marburg which is located south-west of the Port Shepstone CBD and is the only major industrial zone on the South Coast. The town's industries also include Illovo Sugar 's Umzimkhulu Sugar Mill , a lime works and a marble quarry. Additionally, timber , wattle bark and sub-tropical fruit are produced in the district. The Port Shepstone CBD has

445-470: A major upheaval in KwaZulu-Natal's political landscape. The African National Congress (ANC), which had won a majority in the province in every election since 2004 , saw its vote collapse by nearly two-thirds, down to 17% and in third place. In contrast, uMkhonto we Sizwe , a new party led by former President Jacob Zuma , became the province's largest party, winning 45% of the vote, primarily among

534-589: A minimum of 21 °C (70 °F), dropping to daytime highs from June to August of 23 °C (73 °F) with a minimum of 11 °C (52 °F). The temperature drops towards the hinterland, with Pietermaritzburg being similar in the summer, but much cooler in the winter. Ladysmith in the Tugela River Valley reaches 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer but may drop below freezing point on winter evenings. The Drakensberg can experience heavy winter snow, with light snow occasionally experienced on

623-482: A party of 246 Norwegian immigrants settled in the town and subsequently started to play a major role in the development of the area. Post the opening of the railway to Durban in 1901, the harbour fell into disuse and eventually the river silted up again, making it impossible to use. The 27,000-candela lighthouse still stands at the mouth of the Mzimkulu River. Norwegian immigration to Port Shepstone began in

712-537: A range of flora and fauna. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, along with uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and Ndumo, are wetlands of international importance for migratory species and are designated as Ramsar sites . South Africa signed the 1971 Ramsar Convention to try to conserve and protect important wetlands because of their importance to habitats and numerous species. The former Eastern Cape enclave of

801-448: A regional economic centre at its core, it is home to two main tourist attractions: Port Shepstone Beach is the main beach in Port Shepstone, situated a short distance from the CBD. South of Port Shepstone is Oslo Beach, while to the north are the beaches of Umtentweni Beach, Sea Park Beach, Southport Beach, Sunwich Port Beach, Banana Beach and Melville Beach. Port Shepstone also serves as

890-533: A significant shift from sugar cane to macadamia nut farming. Prior to 1 December 2023, the South Coast had four vehicle registrations plate configurations starting with N which stood for Natal .   The South Coast is served by Margate Airport which currently has scheduled weekly flights to Johannesburg operated by CemAir though many tourists also arrive from the King Shaka International Airport , north of Durban which has

979-613: A wider variety of scheduled flights to other domestic destinations in South Africa as well as international destinations such as Doha , Dubai , Istanbul , Lusaka , Manzini and Harare . The South Coast is intersected by one national route , the N2 and five regional routes including the R61, R102, R603, R620 and R612. The largest traffic volumes pass along the N2 from Durban towards Port Shepstone, and further towards Kokstad, as well as

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1068-420: Is Durban , which is also the largest port city in sub-saharan Africa. It is the second-most populous province in South Africa, after Gauteng . Two areas in KwaZulu-Natal have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites : the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park . These areas are extremely scenic as well as important to the surrounding ecosystems. During the 1830s and early 1840s,

1157-413: Is 28, an increase of 6 years from 2011. In the 2022 census, 84.8% of the population described themselves as Black African , 9.3% as Indian/Asian , 4.1% as White , and 1.5% as Coloured . A large majority of Black African people in the province are Zulu . KwaZulu-Natal has the largest Indian population in South Africa, with a majority of all Indian South Africans living in the province. A majority of

1246-590: Is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu ) and Natal Province . It is located in the southeast of the country, with a long shoreline on the Indian Ocean . It shares borders with three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique , Eswatini and Lesotho . Its capital is Pietermaritzburg , and its largest city

1335-532: Is a Zulu-style grass hut. The motto is Masisukume Sakhe , Zulu for "Let us stand up and build". KwaZulu-Natal's provincial government sits in Pietermaritzburg . The foundation stone of the new legislative building was laid on 21 June 1887, to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee . The building was completed two years later. On 25 April 1889, the Governor of Natal, Sir Arthur Havelock , opened

1424-591: Is a small town located halfway between Port Shepstone and Kokstad in Griqualand East . It is famous for its sawmills in the Weza area and the Ingeli Forest. The area mainly consists of the main areas of Harding and Weza. The KZN South Coast currently has ten hospitals serving the coastal region with various options in terms of public and private healthcare. The South Coast has earned its nickname as

1513-549: Is given in parentheses: In 2012, the Ingonyama Trust owns 32% of the land in KwaZulu-Natal, in many municipalities. This amounts to about three million hectares, occupied by over 4 million people. The Zulu king is the chairman of the Trust. The coastline is dotted with small towns, many of which serve as seasonal recreational hubs. The climate of the coastal areas is humid and subtropical, comparable to southern Florida in

1602-452: Is increasingly important to the economy of KwaZulu-Natal. The area's rich biodiversity and efforts at conservation have been recognised. Tourists have come to see the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park , declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites . These two major parks and that of Ndumo have wetlands of international importance listed as Ramsar sites for conservation. Prominent civil society organisations based in

1691-619: Is mainly split into five local government areas : It is divided into four subregions which are the Sapphire Coast, uMdoni Coast & Country, Hibiscus Coast and Harding and surrounds. The Upper South Coast better known as the Sapphire Coast stretches from Amanzimtoti to Clansthal near Umkomaas and has historically been a popular holiday destination. It is situated south of Durban with Amanzimtoti serving as its primary urban centre whilst Kingsburgh and Umkomaas serve as secondary urban centres. The following main towns form part of

1780-628: Is one of the best suited and renowned areas in KwaZulu-Natal for banana production, due to its subtropical climatic conditions, hence it accounts for the bulk of banana production in the province, even though the province only accounts for 18% of bananas produced in South Africa (as of 2002). In recent years, there has been a declining demand of bananas from KwaZulu-Natal due to competing countries such as neighbouring Mozambique and eSwatini , which has resulted in many banana farmers along

1869-566: Is preyed upon by thousands of predators, including game fish , sharks , dolphins and seabirds . Usually, the shoals break up and the fish disappear into deeper water around Durban. Scientists have been unable to answer many questions surrounding this exceptional seasonal event. The interior of the province consists largely of rolling hills from the Valley of a Thousand Hills to the Midlands . Their beauty has inspired literature. Alan Paton , in

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1958-529: Is the divergence of the N2 (the freeway coming north from Durban ) to the western hinterland towards Kokstad . The R102 , which is the old road to Durban, takes origin from the N2 in Marburg and heads north-east along the coast towards Melville and Hibberdene . The R61 also originates from the N2 in Marburg, but heads south-west towards Margate and Port Edward . Now, there is currently construction of

2047-638: Is the eastern most province in the country. The lowland region along the Indian Ocean coast is extremely narrow in the south, widening in the northern part of the province, while the central Natal Midlands consists of an undulating hilly plateau rising toward the west. Two mountainous areas, the western Drakensberg Mountains and northern Lebombo Mountains form, respectively, a solid basalt wall rising over 3,000 m (9,800 ft) beside Lesotho border and low parallel ranges of ancient granite running southward from Eswatini. The area's largest river,

2136-695: The N2 Wild Coast Toll Route , which will effectively re-designate the R61 highway heading south from the Marburg Interchange past Port Edward as the N2 (it will no-longer be designated as the R61) once the new route is complete. Also, the road from Marburg westwards past Kokstad will effectively be re-designated as the R102 (it will no-longer be designated as the N2). Port Shepstone is also

2225-488: The Star of Bethlehem , due to Vasco da Gama naming the region "Natalia", a reference to the birth of Christ, on Christmas Day in 1497. The strelitzia flower on the shield symbolizes the province's beauty. The assegai and knobkierrie behind the shield represent protection and peace. The base of the crown element is a type of headdress traditionally worn by Zulu elders, that represents wisdom and maturity. The element itself

2314-553: The Tugela , flows west to east across the center of the province. The coastal regions typically have subtropical thickets and deeper ravines; steep slopes host some Afromontane Forest . The midlands have moist grasslands and isolated pockets of Afromontane Forest. The north has a primarily moist savanna habitat, whilst the Drakensberg region hosts mostly alpine grassland . The province contains rich areas of biodiversity of

2403-463: The narrow gauge Alfred County Railway to Harding via Izotsha and Paddock. After the standard gauge Transnet passenger services shut down in 1986, the ACR continued operations until 2005, when the famous Banana Express ceased operation. Port Shepstone is situated at the meeting point of three major routes (N2, R61 and R102) known as the Marburg Interchange or Exit 45. The Marburg Interchange

2492-675: The 60’s is going to include the two “villages” of Boboyi and Murchison in the KwaZulu bantustan. Port Shepstone is located within the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality , forming part of the Ugu District Municipality and functions as the municipal seat for both municipalities. The town hosts a Magistrate's Court and most central and provincial government departments maintain regional branches or other offices here. The 2011 census divided

2581-1114: The Best Golf Course on the South Coast in the South Coast Herald’s Readers’ Choice Awards. The first school was opened in 1883 , but by 1950 , the school became too small. The Port Shepstone School split into two, the Port Shepstone Primary School and the Port Shepstone High School . There is also the Port Shepstone Secondary School. There are other schools in the surrounding areas such as Mlonde High School, Marburg Secondary School, Marburg Primary School, R.A Engar Primary School, Jai Hind Primary School , Margate Middle School, Margate Primary, Ingwemabala Comprehensive High School, Makhanda Secondary School and Insingizi Combined Primary School. Local newspapers in Port Shepstone include

2670-764: The British mainly to work in the sugar plantations on the coast. The colony acquired Zululand (the area north of the Tugela River) after the Zulu War of 1879. The lands north of the Buffalo River were added in 1902. Boer forces entered the area during the South African War (1899 to 1902) – also known as the second Boer War  – and laid siege to Ladysmith . They failed to build on their initial advantage and for three months

2759-560: The CBD such as near Port Shepstone High School, Shell petrol station and opposite the Oribi Plaza Shopping Centre. Bus companies that operate long-distance routes to and from Port Shepstone include Intercape, Intercity, Greyhound and Citiliner. Port Shepstone railway station opened in 1917, serving as both the southern terminus of the Cape gauge line from & to Durban, as well as the southern coastal terminus of

South Coast (KwaZulu-Natal) - Misplaced Pages Continue

2848-660: The Izotsha Ramp Plaza. Newspapers published on the South Coast include the South Coast Herald, South Coast Fever, South Coast Sun, Southlands Sun and Mid South Coast Rising Sun. In terms of radio, East Coast Radio and Ukhozi FM are the main radio stations mainly serving the whole province of KwaZulu-Natal . content://0@media/external/file/37900 KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal ( / k w ɑː ˌ z uː l uː n ə ˈ t ɑː l / , also referred to as KZN ; nicknamed "the garden province")

2937-741: The Legislative Council buildings have both been protected as provincial landmarks . They formed a colonial Parliament of two houses: a Council of 11 nominated members and an Assembly of 37 elected members. The Natal Parliament was disbanded in 1910 when the Union of South Africa was formed, and the Assembly became the meeting place of the Natal Provincial Council. The council was disbanded in 1986. The Provincial Legislature consists of 80 members. The 2024 election saw

3026-530: The Legislative Council since 1889. Further extensions to the parliamentary building were made. The building was unoccupied until 1902, when it was used without being officially opened, due to the country's being engulfed in the Anglo-Boer war . The war forced the Legislative Assembly to move the venue of its sittings, as its chamber was used as a military hospital. The Legislative Assembly and

3115-523: The Lower South Coast shifting towards macadamia nut farming instead. Coffee is a small-scale yet lucrative product grown along the Lower South Coast, with two speciality coffee farms including Mpenjati, near Munster and Beaver Creek Coffee Estate, near Port Edward . Due to the undulating nature of the South Coast, there is a substantial amount of timber plantations across the Lower South Coast, with extensive timber plantations surrounding

3204-637: The North of KwaZulu-Natal or central Durban . The nearest airport is Margate Airport , which is located in the namesake town and is about 20 km south-west of Port Shepstone. The airport is small-scale, and only offers one scheduled domestic route to Johannesburg . King Shaka International Airport , near Durban , is about 158 km north-east of Port Shepstone and has many domestic and international air routes. Nowadays regular daily bus services connect Port Shepstone to other major cities in South Africa. These buses normally terminate in different locations in

3293-611: The Portuguese word for Christmas, Natal . The Nguni branch of the Bantu occupied this area from the early 1300s The first European settlers, mostly British, established Port Natal , a trading post. They made almost no attempt to develop the interior, whose inhabitants had been decimated by the Zulu king, Shaka . The Afrikaner Voortrekkers entered the area via the Drakensberg passes in 1837. These Afrikaners defeated

3382-590: The R61 from Port Shepstone towards Port Edward . Large volumes of traffic also pass along the R612 from Park Rynie to Ixopo , and St Faith’s Road from Umtentweni (north of Port Shepstone) to St Faith’s . The South Coast Toll Road which comprises the N2 freeway between Hibberdene and Port Shepstone and the R61 freeway between Port Shepstone and Southbroom includes three toll plazas including Izotsha Ramp Plaza ( Shelly Beach ), Oribi Toll Plaza (Port Shepstone) and

3471-688: The Sapphire Coast: uMdoni Coast and Country better known as the Mid South Coast stretches from Scottburgh to Mtwalume . It is located south of the Greater Durban Metro . Its main town is Scottburgh . The following main towns form part of the uMdoni Coast and Country: The Lower South Coast, popularly known as the Hibiscus Coast, stretches along the southernmost coastline of KwaZulu-Natal from Hibberdene in

3560-479: The South Coast Herald and South Coast Fever which serve the entirety of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. The Ugu Youth Radio is a youth radio which is based in Port Shepstone and caters to the needs of the  Zulu-speaking community . Other radios which serve Port Shepstone and surroundings include East Coast Radio , Gagasi FM , Vuma FM and Ukhozi FM , all of which are based either to

3649-441: The South Coast, while Ballito , uMhlanga , Zimbali and Salt Rock are North Coast resort towns. Beaches of world-class quality are to be found along virtually every part of South Africa's eastern seaboard, with some of the least-developed gems found in the far southern and far northern ends of the province. Marina Beach (and its adjoining resort San Lameer) was recognised in 2002 as a Blue Flag beach . Some visitors come for

South Coast (KwaZulu-Natal) - Misplaced Pages Continue

3738-644: The Umtentweni Ramp Plaza (Port Shepstone). R102 serves as an alternative route between Durban and Port Shepstone and is commonly used by motorists wishing to avoid tolling at the Umtentweni and Oribi toll plazas in Port Shepstone whilst the R620 serves as an alternative route between Southbroom and Port Shepstone and is commonly used by motorists wishing to avoid tolling in Shelly Beach at

3827-482: The United States, but not quite as hot and rainy in the summer. As one moves further north up the coast towards the border of Mozambique, the climate becomes almost purely tropical. North of Durban is locally referred to as " The North Coast ", while south is " The South Coast ". The Kwazulu-Natal Tourist board includes towns such as Margate , Port Shepstone , Scottburgh and Port Edward in its definition of

3916-517: The White population is of British descent , making it one of only two provinces (along with the Eastern Cape ) where Whites of British descent outnumber Afrikaners . In the 2022 census, 81.8% of the population reported their first language as Zulu , 14.4% as English , 3.1% as Xhosa , and 1.0% as Afrikaans . KwaZulu-Natal is the only province in which native Zulu-speakers form a majority of

4005-439: The Zulu monarch is considered the monarch of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The King's constitutional powers are limited. This makes KwaZulu-Natal, uniquely among South African provinces, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. As of the 2022 census , KwaZulu-Natal had a population of 12,423,907, an increase of 21.0% from the prior census in 2011 . It is the second-most populous of South Africa's nine provinces. The median age

4094-593: The Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838 and thereafter established the Republic of Natal. Thus, the territory was once part of a short-lived Boer republic between 1839 and 1843 until its annexation by Britain. Many Afrikaner inhabitants left for the interior after the annexation and were replaced by immigrants, mainly from Britain. From 1860 onwards, increasing numbers of Indians, mainly Tamils , were brought in by

4183-489: The annual late autumn or early winter phenomenon on the KwaZulu-Natal coast of the " sardine run ". Referred to as "the greatest shoal on earth", the sardine run occurs when millions of sardines migrate from their spawning grounds south of the southern tip of Africa northward along the Eastern Cape coastline toward KwaZulu-Natal. They follow a route close inshore, often resulting in many fish washing up on beaches. The huge shoal of tiny fish can stretch for many kilometres; it

4272-466: The coastal region is highly seasonal, with a large proportion of second homes used exclusively during peak holiday periods which is usually from about mid-December to mid-January. The South Coast is home to a myriad of significant attractions such as: The South Coast has a substantial agricultural and forestry sector, with the main farming categories including sugarcane, bananas, macadamia nuts, tea tree oil, timber and coffee. The Lower South Coast

4361-415: The first Legislative Council session in the new building. This was the former site of St Mary's Church, built in the 1860s. The congregation built a new church in 1884 at the corner of Burger Street and Commercial Road. The old building was demolished in 1887 to provide space for the legislative complex. When governance was granted to Natal in 1893, the new Legislative Assembly took over the chamber used by

4450-808: The first non-white and the first person from outside Europe and the Americas to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1960); Pixley ka Isaka Seme , the founder of the African National Congress (ANC) and South Africa's first black lawyer; John Langalibalele Dube , the ANC's founding president; Harry Gwala , ANC member and anti-apartheid activist; Mac Maharaj , Grammy award-winning group Ladysmith Black Mambazo , Grammy award-winning DJ Black Coffee , ANC member, anti-apartheid activist and Little Rivonia Trial defendant ; Mangosuthu Buthelezi ,

4539-455: The first to include a portion of road that is made of partial plastic, the equivalent of nearly 40,000 recycled milk cartons. KwaZulu-Natal has a varied yet verdant climate thanks to diverse, complex topography. Generally, the coast is subtropical with inland regions becoming progressively colder. Durban on the south coast has an annual rainfall of 1009 mm, with daytime maxima peaking from January to March at 28 °C (82 °F) with

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4628-463: The forlorn crying of the titihoya , one of the birds of the veld. Below you is the valley of the Umzimkulu , on its journey from the Drakensberg to the sea; and beyond and behind the river, great hill after great hill; and beyond and behind them, the mountains of Ingeli and Griqualand East . On Christmas Day 1497, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama saw the coast of Natal and named the site after

4717-825: The former Port Shepstone taxi terminus on Nelson Mandela Drive in the CBD was demolished to make way for a new integrated intermodal facility. The construction of the R550-million Port Shepstone Mall (also known as the Port Shepstone Intermodal Facility) which began in November 2022 opened its doors on 24 October 2024, but is expected to officially launch on 15 November 2024. The facility is a four-level structure with gross retail area of 23 890m² comprising informal traders stalls and anchor stores such as Boxer, Shoprite and China Hyper. Although Port Shepstone serves as

4806-555: The founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP); Anton Lembede , the founding president of the ANC Youth League ; Jacob Zuma , the former President of South Africa ; Bhambatha , a 19th-century Zulu chief who became an anti-apartheid icon; and Shaka Zulu . At around 92,100 km (35,600 sq mi) in area, KwaZulu-Natal is roughly the size of Portugal. It has three different geographic areas and

4895-453: The gateway to the numerous attractions along the South Coast namely the Oribi Gorge (21 km west of Port Shepstone), Aliwal Shoal , Umtanvuma Nature Reserve , Pure Venom Reptile Farm and the Riverbend Crocodile Farm among others. Port Shepstone Country Club is a large 18-hole golf course located on the northern banks of the uMzimkhulu River in Umtentweni . Opened in 1912, the country club has been voted consecutively for 8 years as

4984-520: The highest peaks in summer. The Zululand north coast has the warmest climate and highest humidity, supporting many sugar cane farms around Pongola. KwaZulu-Natal borders the following areas of Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho: Domestically, it borders the following provinces: The KwaZulu-Natal Province is divided into one metropolitan municipality and ten district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 44 local municipalities . The local seat of each district municipality

5073-428: The hinterland. These serve as the main towns for the coastal region with the highest concentration of commercial activities. As of 2016, the Ugu District Municipality which governs within official boundaries of the South Coast has a population of 753,336 people compared to 2011 where it had a population of 689,051 which indicates that between 2011 and 2016 the population grew at about 8.5%. The annual population growth

5162-409: The largest concentration of retail activity in the town, with shopping characterised by typical high street shopping and shopping centres which include: For greater variety, residents usually head to Shelly Beach , which is home to the two largest shopping centres on the South Coast, Shelly Centre and Southcoast Mall . As part of the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality’s urban renewal programme,

5251-400: The late 19th century, when 246 Norwegians (along with 175 British and 112 German settlers) came ashore with a steamship which arrived in 1882. The soon-to-be settlers founded a nearby interior village within the same year, known as Marburg . The Norwegian settlers played a large role in the development of not only Marburg, but also Port Shepstone and nearby areas. Norwegian immigration to

5340-403: The line between the opposing forces followed the course of the Tugela River . In 1910, the colony became a province of the Union of South Africa and in 1961 of the Republic of South Africa. When the homeland of KwaZulu, which means "Place of the Zulu" was re-incorporated into the Natal province after the end of apartheid in 1994, the province of Natal, which had existed between 1910 and 1994,

5429-456: The majority of sugar production in South Africa takes place on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, the South Coast has historically been a sugar-producing area starting in 1846 with the establishment of a sugar mill in Umzinto . Today, the South Coast currently has two sugar mills, Umzimkhulu near Port Shepstone and Sezela near Pennington , both owned by Illovo Sugar . However, over the past few years, similarly to bananas there has also been

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5518-470: The north and Oslo Beach to the south. To the west, Marburg was classified as an " Indian area" which was one of the four Indian proclaimed townships in the KwaZulu-Natal province and Merlewood was classified as a " Coloured area" with 3000 Coloureds as its first people settling there. In the late 1960s, Albersville, just west of the Central Business District (CBD) was classified as an "Indian area". The N2 highway that cuts through Port Shepstone acted as

5607-428: The north to Port Edward in the south and Izingolweni in the west. The Hibiscus Coast is the ultimate economy booster of the South Coast due its location and is host to the region’s economic capital, Port Shepstone . It is known as the 'beach holiday mecca' of KwaZulu-Natal and is known for its 'unending' Hibiscus trees found along the coast. The following main towns/areas form part of the Hibiscus Coast: Harding

5696-464: The north to proceed on the R61 (in the direction of Port Edward ), traffic heading north on the N2 (in the direction of Durban ) or traffic turning off at exit 45 from the north must pass through the mainline of the Oribi Toll Plaza. Traffic heading south to join the R61 from exit 45 or turning off at exit 45 from the south must pass through ramp toll plazas of the Oribi Toll Plaza on the respective on and off-ramps. The R102 to Hibberdene serves as

5785-426: The north, Newcastle is the province's industrial powerhouse, with Mittal Steel South Africa (previously ISPAT/ISCOR) and the Karbochem synthetic rubber plant dominating the economy. In 2002, Newcastle became the largest producer of chrome chemicals in Africa with the completion of a chrome-chemical plant, a joint-venture project between Karbochem and German manufacturing giant Bayer. Other large operations include

5874-457: The north. The region is neighboured by East Griqualand to the west, Durban to the north, the Midlands to the north-west and the Wild Coast region of the Eastern Cape to the south. Major rivers of the South Coast include the uMtamvuna River , uMpenjati River, uMbizane River, uMzimkhulu River , uMzumbe River, uMthwalume River, uMpambanyoni River, uMkhomazi River, iLovu River and the uMbokodweni River to an extent. The uMtamvuna River marks

5963-499: The northern end of the R620 (Marine Drive) which runs south along the coast via Shelly Beach , Uvongo , Margate, Ramsgate to Southbroom . The town is also accessed via Rethman Drive (connecting Umtentweni with St Faith’s ) and Izotsha Road (connecting Marburg with Izotsha and Gamalakhe ). The N2 and R61 are the main routes forming the South Coast Toll Route (between Southbroom and Hibberdene ) which involves payment of toll . Traffic arriving in Port Shepstone from

6052-400: The northern part of what is now KwaZulu-Natal was established as the Zulu Kingdom . The southern part was, briefly, the Boer Natalia Republic before the British took over control in 1843, renaming it as the Colony of Natal in 1843. The Zulu Kingdom remained independent until 1879. KwaZulu-Natal is the birthplace of many notable figures in South Africa's history, such as Albert Luthuli ,

6141-414: The novel Cry, the Beloved Country , wrote: There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it. The road climbs seven miles (11 km) into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa. About you there is grass and bracken and you may hear

6230-472: The number of students at the Norwegian school became too low for the school to keep open, and it consequentially closed. In 1950, the Group Areas Act . racially divided Port Shepstone similar to many other towns and cities in South Africa. Port Shepstone proper (Sheppie) was classified "white" and was managed by its town board. The "white" suburbs of the town included the little coastal villages of Umtentweni , Sea Park, Southport, Anerley and Sunwich Port to

6319-464: The ongoing wreckages and arrival of the railway, was to see the gradual closure of the harbour and the start of the real Port Shepstone boom. When the railroad arrived in Port Shepstone in 1901, the travel time to Durban was reduced to five hours, and the town became far less isolated. The railway connection opened for increased immigration for other settlers, and the Norwegians were soon outnumbered by German and British settlers. Between 1911 and 1912,

6408-489: The outskirts of the city. Coal is mined in the Newcastle area. Offshore mining of heavy mineral sands including minerals with a concentration of significant economic importance at several locations, such as rutile , ilmenite and zircon are threatening the marine ecology of KwaZulu-Natal's coast, including the Tugela Banks. The fishing economy of the prawn and nurse fisheries are also threatened. Ecology tourism

6497-496: The population. The province also has the second-highest proportion of English speakers of South Africa's nine provinces (after the Western Cape ). According to the 2022 census , 74.9% of the population described themselves as Christians , the lowest proportion among South Africa's nine provinces. Substantial minorities of the population practice Traditional African religions , Hinduism , and Islam . KwaZulu-Natal has

6586-811: The province of KwaZulu-Natal include: Abahlali baseMjondolo (shackdwellers') movement, the Diakonia Council of Churches, the Right2Know campaign, and the Unemployed People's Movement. There are various game reserves found in the province; one notable example is Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park , where the southern white rhinoceros was saved from extinction. In many of these larger reserves, large animals ranging from several antelope species to elephant , Cape buffalo and hippopotamus can be found. Predators include lions , leopards , and Cape wild dogs . Port Shepstone Port Shepstone

6675-652: The province's ethnic Zulu majority. After the election, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which previously had been the province's official opposition party, formed a coalition government with the ANC, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the National Freedom Party . As part of the coalition agreement, the IFP's Thami Ntuli became premier , making him the first IFP member to hold the position in twenty years. Inkatha Freedom Party's Thami Ntuli

6764-820: The region was a result of the Natal Immigration Board ’s efforts to claim land for Europeans in South Africa. When the Norwegians first arrived, they were the largest European group in Alfred County . Remains of the Norwegian presence can still be seen today in certain places of the town, such as, Fredheim and Oslo Beach , with its main street King Haakon Drive . The Norwegians erected a Norwegian Lutheran church, school, cultural hall, choir, and rowing club. A newspaper in Norwegian language

6853-541: The regions joined to create KwaZulu-Natal. Besides its importance as a symbol of the Zulu monarchy, the lion is also featured in the state emblems of the India and the United Kingdom which together represent the three largest people groups in KwaZulu-Natal and also represents the unity between them. The zig-zag stripe represents the Drakensberg , which is green in summer, but snowcapped in winter. The star represents

6942-698: The second largest regional economy in the country after Gauteng . Durban is a rapidly growing urban area and is by most measures the busiest port in Africa. A good railway network links the city to other areas of Southern Africa. Sugar refining is Durban's main industry. Sheep, cattle, dairy, citrus fruits, corn , sorghum , cotton, bananas, and pineapples are also raised. There is an embryonic KwaZulu-Natal wine industry. Other industries, located mainly in and around Durban, include textile, clothing, chemicals , rubber, fertiliser , paper, vehicle assembly and food-processing plants, tanneries, and oil refineries. To

7031-442: The small towns of Harding and Weza in the far inland areas. The macadamia industry has seen a boom in the agricultural industry of the South Coast, during the past few years, with many farmers switching from farming sugarcane and bananas to macadamia nuts, offering highly attractive investment opportunities. Most of the macadamia nuts are farmed on the Lower South Coast, specifically around Port Edward and Oribi Flats. Although

7120-584: The southernmost border of the South Coast and the KwaZulu-Natal province bordering with the Eastern Cape province. The South Coast is officially governed by the Ugu District Municipality (consists of Ray Nkonyeni, uMuziwabantu, uMzumbe and uMdoni municipalities) with its seat in Port Shepstone , with the stretch of coastline between Clansthal and Amanzimtoti governed by the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality with its seat in Durban . The South Coast

7209-561: The town of Umzimkulu and its hinterland have been incorporated into KwaZulu-Natal following the 12th amendment of the Constitution of South Africa . The amendment also made other changes to the southern border of the province. The northwesterly line of equal latitude and longitude traverses the province from the coast at Hibberdene ( 30°34′35″S 30°34′35″E  /  30.57639°S 30.57639°E  / -30.57639; 30.57639 ) to northeast Lesotho . The province became

7298-450: The town to assert its industrial and labour-intensive identity amidst the predominantly tourism-driven region. Nevertheless, Port Shepstone is still able display itself as an administrative, industrial and economic centre. Owing to its regional status and strategic central location on the Lower South Coast, the town has become the major support hub and employment centre for surrounding rural communities and smaller towns. Port Shepstone has

7387-417: The urban area of Port Shepstone into 14 “sub places” including: Port Shepstone serves as the main economic node on the South Coast with a diverse economy, ranging from manufacturing, commerce, service, hospitality, mining and service providing companies. As the only small industrial town on the Lower South Coast, Port Shepstone is surrounded by a stretch of bustling coastal resorts, making it challenging for

7476-410: The “Golf Coast” of South Africa as it has more golf courses than any other section of South Africa ; many of them are 18-hole courses and are in the country's top 100 courses. They include: The South Coast is a major tourist destination with a sunny, subtropical climate and has become widely known for its world-class surfing beaches , with Margate as the “holiday capital” of the region. Most of

7565-409: Was 2.03% and the number of men per 100 females decreased from 91.8% in 2011 to 88.4% in 2016. The officially defined boundaries of the South Coast coincide with the boundaries of the Ugu District Municipality , stretching from Scottburgh in the north to Port Edward in the south and Harding in the west. Traditionally though, the South Coast has been understood to extend as far as Amanzimtoti to

7654-447: Was also distributed in Port Shepstone. Drinks such as akvavit and cuisine, including cheese from soured milk, were easily accessible. When the Norwegians arrived, few European settlers lived in the area and the town of Port Shepstone consisted of one hotel, two cabins, one shop, and little else. Port Shepstone was declared “a full fiscal port’ in 1893, and after Durban officially became the region’s second harbour. Eventually, though,

7743-522: Was founded in 1867 when marble was discovered near the Mzimkhulu River mouth and is named after Sir Theophilus Shepstone of the Natal government of the 1880s. William Bazley began building a harbour, and the work was later taken over by William Barnes Kinsey, who was the engineer in charge of building Port Shepstone harbour in 1898. The first coaster entered the harbour on May 8, 1880. In 1882

7832-597: Was officially inaugurated as the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal on 18 June 2024. KwaZulu-Natal is the home to the Zulu monarch , currently King Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini. As of 2015 , the King of the Zulu Nation is provided a stipend of 54 million South African rands by the provincial government. He is also the chairman of the Ingonyama Trust , which controls 32% of the area of the province. Under provincial legislation

7921-483: Was renamed KwaZulu-Natal. The province is home to the Zulu monarchy; the majority population speak Zulu . It is the only province in South Africa that has the name of its dominant ethnic group as part of its name. As with Eastern Cape , most White South Africans in KwaZulu-Natal are of British descent and less than a quarter of whites in the province are of Boer/Afrikaner descent. The lion and wildebeest supporters are symbols of, respectively, KwaZulu and Natal,

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