Inanda

History

Inanda Township, situated within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, holds historical significance as one of the original townships in the region. Initially, during the 17th century, it served as a vital oasis for local Indigenous farmers. The landscape transformed with the arrival of white settlers in the late 1700s, and by the 1800s, Inanda Township became designated as a 'Reserve' for Black and less educated individuals. Indian farmers became part of the community in 1936, further enriching its cultural fabric. The year 1951 marked a pivotal shift with the introduction of the Group Areas Act by the government. This legislation led to an influx of Black residents into Inanda Township, accompanied by challenges arising from inadequate infrastructure encompassing housing, schools, clinics, roads, sanitation, and water systems. The lack of proper planning detrimentally impacted the quality of life for the township's inhabitants. Tensions escalated between the Indian and African communities between 1984-1987, resulting in significant political and racial clashes. As a consequence, many Indian residents relocated to nearby areas such as Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, Phoenix, Durban, and Ottawa, KwaZulu-Natal. Despite South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, Inanda Township continued to experience relative neglect from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in terms of developmental initiatives. Notably, on April 27, 1994, Inanda Township gained recognition as the location where Nelson Mandela cast his vote, marking a momentous occasion in the country's history. This event coincided with his election as the first Black President of the Republic later that same year. John Langalibalele Dube, affectionately known as "Mafukuzela," alongside his wife Nokutela…

Geography

Adjacent communities within the KwaZulu-Natal province, including the prominent city of Durban, encompass KwaMashu and Ntuzuma. Inanda Township occupies an extensive geographical area and is segmented into multiple sections. Unlike neighboring KwaMashu, these divisions are denoted by actual names rather than letters. Among these sections are Inanda Newtowns A, B, and C (locally referred to as Ematendeni), Dube Village, Ezimangweni, White City, Langalibalele, Ohlange, Amaoti, Lindley, Congo (D.R), Amatikwe, Phola, Ngoqokazi, Tafuleni, Ntanda, Emachobeni, Ngcungcwini, Soweto, and Glebe. Although there exists ongoing discourse concerning whether the area extending from Umzinyathi to Manyaseni falls within Inanda's boundaries, it is situated within the Qadi Area. However, the Qadi Area lacks official standalone recognition, necessitating its residents to employ Inanda for postal addresses and commercial purposes. Notably, the Inanda section of Ohlange has evolved into a notable tourist destination due to its significant historical association with the esteemed late Dr. John Langalibalele Dube.

Most-observed species

• Hadada Ibis

  Bostrychia hagedash (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  6,399
• Red-eyed Dove

  Streptopelia semitorquata (Rüppell, 1837) · Aves
  5,693
• Red-winged Starling

  Onychognathus morio (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,898
• Bronze mannikin

  Lonchura cucullata (Swainson, 1837) · Aves
  4,338
• Cape White-eye

  Zosterops virens Sundevall, 1850 · Aves
  4,216
• Black-collared Barbet

  Lybius torquatus (Dumont, 1805) · Aves
  4,091
• Egyptian Goose

  Alopochen aegyptiaca (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  3,758
• Village Weaver

  Ploceus cucullatus (Statius Muller, 1776) · Aves
  3,642

Most recent

• M 3.7 — 2016-02-06
  South Africa
• M 4.3 — 2015-06-16
  19 km ESE of Sundumbili, South Africa