oThongathi, previously and still commonly known as Tongaat, is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Durban and 28 kilometres (17 mi) south of KwaDukuza. It now forms part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, or the Greater Durban area. The area is home to the oldest Indian community in South Africa, having been where the first indentured Indian laborers settled in 1860 to work in the sugar-cane plantations. Much of the architectural style in the town was the work of Ivan Mitford-Barberton, and many buildings are in the Cape Dutch style of architecture.
The Minority Front is a political party in South Africa. The party represents all minorities of South Africa, however, its support comes mainly from the South African Indian community. Its voter base is in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The eThekwini district, (Durban), is the cultural and demographic centre of South Africa's Indian community. The party was founded in 1993 and led by Amichand Rajbansi until his death in December 2011.
The Natal Indian Congress (NIC) was a political organisation established in 1894 to fight discrimination against Indians in the Natal Colony, and later the Natal Province, of South Africa. Founded by Mahatma Gandhi, it later served an important role in opposing apartheid. It was the oldest affiliate of the South African Indian Congress.
Sathiseelan Gurilingam "Ronnie" Govender was a South African playwright, theatre director and activist known for his community theatre efforts. He was known as a pioneer of Indian South African theatre in the country. Some of his notable works included Black Chin White Chin, Song of the Atman, and At the Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories. At the Edge won the 1997 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for best first book, Africa.
Preshanthan Moodley is a South African film and television director, producer and writer.
Kesaveloo Goonam, also known as Kesaveloo Goonaruthnum Naidoo (1906–1998) was a South African doctor and anti-apartheid activist. She was also called "Coolie Doctor", which became the title of her 1991 autobiography.
Leading Lady is a 2014 comedy-drama film directed by Henk Pretorius, produced by Llewelynn Greeff, and starring Katie McGrath, Bok van Blerk and Canadian actor Gil Bellows as the film's antagonist, Daniel Taylor, a fictional Hollywood movie director.
Keeping Up with the Kandasamys is a 2017 South African Indian comedy film directed by Jayan Moodley, and was the first South African Indian film to be screened widely in theaters. It stars Jailoshini Naidoo, Maeshni Naicker, Madhushan Singh, and Mishqah Parthiephal. The film grossed over R4 million at the box office in its first week and went on to gross over R16 million, becoming the highest-grossing film in South Africa for the year, and the highest grossing South African film worldwide in 2017. It also featured in film festivals in North America. The film's name is a reference to the American reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
Dr. Zainab Asvat was a South African anti-apartheid activist. Asvat was trained as a medical doctor, but was politically active most of her life.
Jaishini Naidoo is a South African television presenter, actress and stand-up comedian. She is best known for her role as Jennifer Kandasamy in the Kandasamys film series.
Kings of Mulberry Street is a 2019 South African comedy-drama film produced written and directed by Judy Naidoo. The film stars Aaqil Hoosen, Amith Sing, Rizelle Januk and Neville Pillay in the lead roles while Keshan Chetty, Chris Forrest, Kogie Naidoo and Thiru Naidoo play supportive roles. The film is distributed by Indigenous Film Distribution in association with Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. The theme of the film relates to the classic 1980s of Bollywood cinema in India. The film had its theatrical release in South Africa on 28 June 2019 and received positive reviews from the critics. The film has also been selected to be screened at few international film festivals notably at the 24th Schlingel International Film Festival and in the St. Louis Film Festival.
3 Days to Go is a 2019 South African Indian drama film written and directed by producer Bianca Isaac on her directorial debut. The film stars Bollywood actress Lillete Dubey, Kajal Bagwandeen, Leeanda Reddy in the lead roles. The film was set in Durban and had its theatrical release on 25 January 2019.
White Gold is a 2010 South African film, directed by Jayan Moodley and Paul Railton, produced by African Lotus Productions in association with Serendipity Productions and African Mediums. Its release was timed to coincide with the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Indian presence in South Africa. The film is a historical drama revolving around the experiences of Indian indentured labourers recruited for the sugar plantations of the 19th-century Colony of Natal, and their children and grandchildren. Jayan Moodley, who wrote the script and co-directed, was inspired by her own family history.
Mishqah Parthiephal is a South African actress, model and filmmaker. After her first film role in White Gold (2010), she primarily worked in television and advertising until 2015. She starred in the CTV and Netflix series The Indian Detective (2017) as well as the Kandasamys film series (2017–2023).
Narend Singh is a South African politician who is the chief whip of the Inkatha Freedom Party in the National Assembly and the treasurer-general of the party. Prior to joining the National Assembly in 2007, he was a Member of the Executive Council in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government from 1997 until 2006 and a member of the Senate from 1994 to 1996.
Rajesh Gopie, is a South African actor of Indian descent. He is best known for the roles in the television serials Stellenbosch, Professionals and The World Unseen.
Trippin' with the Kandasamys is a 2021 South African film directed by Jayan Moodley, written by Rory Booth and Jayan Moodley and starring Jailoshini Naidoo, Maeshni Naicker and Mariam Bassa. It's the third installment in the series, following Keeping Up with the Kandasamys and Kandasamys: The Wedding.
Sagadava "Manna" Naidoo was a South African politician. He represented the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the National Assembly from February to November 2000 and was also a former mayor of Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal.
Bryoni Natalie Govender is a South African model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe South Africa 2023. She was appointed Miss Universe South Africa 2023 after finishing as the first-runner-up at the Miss South Africa 2023. Govender represented South Africa, where she placed in the top 20, at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant by virtue of being the first runner-up as Natasha Joubert, the original winner of the pageant, previously competed at Miss Universe.
Kandasamys: The Baby is a 2023 South African family drama film directed by Jayan Moodley, written by Jayan Moodley, Jailoshini Naidoo and Yugan Naidoo and starring Jailoshini Naidoo, Maeshni Naicker and Mariam Bassa. It is the fourth installment in the series, following Keeping Up with the Kandasamys (2017), Kandasamys: The Wedding (2019) and Trippin' with the Kandasamys (2021).
