Umhlali eMhlali | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 29°28′39″S31°13′07″E / 29.47750°S 31.21861°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
District | iLembe |
Municipality | KwaDukuza |
Area | |
• Total | 2.26 km2 (0.87 sq mi) |
Population (2011) [1] | |
• Total | 338 |
• Density | 150/km2 (390/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 48.2% |
• Indian/Asian | 14.8% |
• White | 36.7% |
• Other | 0.3% |
First languages (2011) | |
• English | 45.0% |
• Zulu | 31.7% |
• Afrikaans | 6.5% |
• Other | 6.1% |
Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
Postal code (street) | 4390 |
PO box | 4390 |
Umhlali (Zulu: eMhlali) is a village on the North Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, just inland from Salt Rock and approximately 50 km north-west of Durban. The name of the village, "Umhlali" derives from the Zulu name of the Monkey Orange tree - a small semi-deciduous tree that is predominant along the banks of the uMhlali River, north of the village. [2]
The village of Umhlali, was established by British and Scottish Byrne settlers in 1850 and was originally Fort William, as it was the site of a fort. [4]
It was later renamed Umhlali which is the Zulu name for the Monkey Orange tree, which grew plentifully along the banks of the uMhlali River but it was also locally referred to it as the “place of waiting” because settlers and locals would have to wait on the banks before crossing the river on a northward journey.
At that time, the nearby coastal town of Ballito was a small coastal village consisting of a few beach shacks whilst Umhlali was the hub of the farming community with the heart of the village being the bustling main road (the current R102 route) consisting of a bank, post office, supermarket, hairdresser, car dealership, farmers’ co-op and the Lali Hotel. Until the new retail developments launched in Ballito, Umhlali was initially one of the only places in the Dolphin Coast locally to buy groceries, collect post, do banking, fill up with petrol and go to school.
A significant landmark in Umhlali, Umhlali Preparatory School, which opened its doors on 11 February 1918, still exists alongside the R102 main road and is still a highly esteemed and popular school on the Dolphin Coast today. [5]
Today Umhlali still remains a quaint farming village, mostly supported by the surrounding sugarcane farms and industry and has remained largely unaffected by the rapid urban growth in the nearby Ballito/Shaka’s Rock/Salt Rock area.
Umhlali consists of a post office, petrol station, Coastal Farmer's Co-Op, a small lifestyle centre named Sugar Village, small cafes and restaurants, automotive services and agricultural stores amongst other facilities. [6] [7] [8]
Located in the hilly countryside, Umhlali lies just south of the uMhlali River after which it is named after. The village is positioned approximately 3 km south of Shakaskraal (north of the uMhlali River), 3 km west of the coastal village of Salt Rock and 9 km north-west of the coastal town of Ballito. [9]
Umhlali also forms part of the Dolphin Coast which incorporates Ballito, Shaka’s Rock, Salt Rock, Tinley Manor, Zinkwazi Beach and Shakaskraal.
The main Metrorail route between Durban in the south-east (via oThongathi) and KwaDukuza in the north-east (via Shakaskraal), known as the North Coast Line, has a station in the village, namely the Umhlali railway station.
Umhlali lies at the junction of the R102 and Salt Rock Road. The R102 bisects the village in a north–south direction, connecting Shakaskraal with oThongathi, while Salt Rock Road connects Umhlali with Salt Rock to the east and provides access to the N2 highway which runs north–south from KwaDukuza to Durban.
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu and Natal Province.
KwaDukuza, previously known as Stanger, is a city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 2006, the municipal name was changed to KwaDukuza, but the Zulu people in the area called it "Dukuza" well before then.
Ballito is an affluent coastal town located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ballito is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Durban and 24 kilometres south of KwaDukuza. It forms part of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, and iLembe District Municipality. Dolphins and Whales are common on this stretch of the North Coast shoreline, hence the nickname Dolphin Coast. The name of the town Ballito is named after the Italian word for "small ball".
Hibberdene is a small coastal town on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast in South Africa, approximately 23 km north-east of Port Shepstone and 90 km south-west of Durban and halfway between coastal towns of Scottburgh and Margate.
Mount Edgecombe or Mt Edgecombe is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, situated just north of Durban, which forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan area. Much of the suburb is cordoned off as a gated settlement comprising resorts, golf courses and a retirement home. It was previously a sugar growing area. The population increased by 89% between 2001 and 2011 from 3,874 to 7,323. Its name is derived from the Earl of Mount Edgecombe in Cornwall, United Kingdom.
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.
eMdloti, alternatively rendered Umdloti and also known as Umdloti Beach, is a small resort village situated along the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, South Africa. It lies at the mouth of the Mdloti River approximately 24 km north-east of Durban and 11 km north-east of uMhlanga and now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan Municipality.
Verulam is a town 24 kilometres north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, governing the Greater Durban metropolitan area.
The R102 is a Regional Route in South Africa. It is the route designation for all old sections of the N2, thus it is a discontinuous road that resumes in areas where a new N2 has been constructed.
The N2 is a national route in South Africa that runs from Cape Town through George, Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha, Port Shepstone and Durban to Ermelo. It is the main highway along the Indian Ocean coast of the country. Its current length of 2,255 kilometres (1,401 mi) makes it the longest numbered route in South Africa.
Salt Rock is a small coastal village just north of Ballito and Shaka's Rock situated along the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is a favorite holiday destination for many local South Africans. It is approximately located 52 kilometres north-east of Durban and 19 km south-east of KwaDukuza. Salt Rock owes much of its history to Basil Hulett and his wife Gwen who started not only the Salt Rock Hotel but went on to develop the town of Salt Rock as found today.
The M4 is a north–south metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and partially in the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, South Africa. It runs from the N2 at the defunct Durban International Airport to Ballito via the Durban Central Business District (CBD) and uMhlanga. The sections between the airport and the southern edge of the CBD, and between the northern edge of the CBD and the exit to uMhlanga are classified as freeway. On the section from the southern edge of the CBD to the Bram Fischer Street/Soldier's Way junction, the M4 is cosigned with the R102.
Shaka's Rock is a beachside town situated along the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Shakaskraal is a town in Ilembe District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The town is dominated by local businesses and informal traders and main activities located in and nearby is sugar cane farming.
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is a region along the southern stretch of coastline of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, south of the coastal city of Durban.
The KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, better known as the North Coast is a coastal region north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It stretches from Zinkwazi Beach in the north to Zimbali near Ballito in the south. The coastal region is governed by the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, forming part of the iLembe District Municipality.
The M65 also named Dube Boulevard is a short metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa linking the N2 and R102 to King Shaka International Airport and Dube TradePort in La Mercy, north of Durban.
The M27 also known as Jabu Ngcobo Drive or Old Inanda Road is a metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa linking Inanda to Verulam and eMdloti, north of Durban.
Westbrook, also known as Westbrook Beach is a coastal village on the North Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) north-east of Durban and 7 kilometres (4 mi) east of oThongathi.