eMuziwezinto, previously and still commonly known as Umzinto, is a town located approximately 40 kilometres (23 miles) south-west of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. It was a sugarcane growing town, that was set up as the centre for a sugar mill.
Before December 1st, 2023, vehicle registration plates in Umzinto began with "NX", where the "N" represented Natal. The exact meaning of the "X" remains unclear, as this vehicle registration code also covered areas such as Park Rynie, Scottburgh & Umkomaas. The plates have now been updated to the provincial code "ZN", which stands for KwaZulu-Natal. [2]
Suburbs
Alexandra
Archibald
Asoka Heights
Billie Farm
Braemar
Dumisa
Esperanza
Gandhinagar
Hazelwood
Hibiscus
Humberdale Farm
Nishaat Gardens
Riverside Park
Roshen Heights
Roseville
Sanathan
Shayamoya
Sonti
St. Patricks
Umzinto CBD
Umzinto Heights
Etymology
"Umzinto" is said to be derived from the Zulu"umenzi wezinto", meaning "the kraal [or place] of accomplishment".[3]
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.[4] 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[5] 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 sugarcane fields on the outskirts of Umzinto are owned & run by The Crookes Brothers, a JSE listed company. Umzinto was named the last town in Durban in 1963.
The town was called "Alexandra County" which was also a collection of other towns such as Park Rynie, Scottburgh, Pennington, & Sezela, during the apartheid-era.
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 (8km), Amandawe (10km), Scottburgh (12km), Pennington (16km) and Amahlongwa (16km).
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.[citation needed]
Sport
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.[citation needed]
Law & Government
The municipality has not maintained the roads and currently the roads are in a deplorable condition.[according to whom?] In 1995, low cost housing was developed on the outskirts called Gandhi Nagar.[citation needed]
Education & Community
Schools:
Umzinto Primary School
Braemar Primary School
Umzintovale Primary School
Scholar Amoris School
Umzinto Islamic School
St. Annes Primary School
St. Patricks Primary School
Umzinto Secondary School
Roseville Secondary School
Umzinto also houses a Darul-Uloom called "Madrassa Da'watul Haq" that has produced many graduates who have memorised the entire Quraan.[citation needed]
Nelson Mandela Road (P197-3) is the north–south main road connecting Umzinto with Esperanza and Amandawe that passes through the Umzinto CBD and provides access to the R612, while the R612 is an east–west regional route connecting Park Rynie with Ixopo that by-passes Umzinto to the south and provides access to the N2 freeway (to Durban and Port Shepstone) by-passing Umzinto to the east. Umzinto can also be accessed by turning off the R612 onto Park Rynie Road from the south-east.
Notable residents
Devi Sankaree Govender (Anchorwoman), a South African Media Icon & Investigative Television Journalist. She's Known Especially For Her Work In Carte Blanche.[6]
Bruce Gounder, Professionally Known As "Bush Knife Bobby", Is A Nationally Recognised Actor & Comedian.[7]
Muthu Murugan, Is Celebrated As The Most Renowned Indian Comedian of All Time In South Africa. Born In Umzinto & Raised In Chatsworth, He Has Become a Beloved Figure In The Comedy Scene.[8]
Bavelile Hlongwa (1981–2019), South African politician and chemical engineer.
Loganathan Peter Govender (Colonel) The SAPS National Programme Manager for Gender-Based Violence and Victim Empowerment at the National Office and former Crime Prevention Commander at SAPS Umzinto and received numerous awards and accolades for Community Policing.
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).
Yashik Maharaj (Actor) known for his appearances in various television commercials, including being the lead actor in the popular KFC Zinger Pops television commercial (2008). Also known for his appearances in the science fiction movies District 9 (2009) and Chappie The Movie (2015).
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