Bluff | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 29°55′29″S31°0′14″E / 29.92472°S 31.00389°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
Municipality | eThekwini |
Main Place | Durban |
Area | |
• Total | 21.68 km2 (8.37 sq mi) |
Population (2011) [1] | |
• Total | 68,124 |
• Density | 3,100/km2 (8,100/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 15.6% |
• Coloured | 36.6% |
• Indian/Asian | 30.1% |
• White | 17.1% |
• Other | 0.6% |
First languages (2011) | |
• English | 79.8% |
• Zulu | 8.1% |
• Afrikaans | 7.2% |
• Xhosa | 1.7% |
• Other | 3.3% |
Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
Postal code (street) | 4052 |
PO box | 4036 |
Bluff or The Bluff is a geographical area, containing eight suburbs in Durban, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The Bluff forms a large part of the South Durban Basin, a sub-region located south of Durban.
The promontory on which Bluff is situated is Durban's most prominent natural landmark. Accordingly, it probably served as an important visual reference for navigational approaches into Durban Harbour. [2]
Between 1907 and 1975, the exposed south-east side of The Bluff housed a whaling station. Since the mid-Nineteenth Century, the region has been purposed for navigational and military uses. This use has provided protection for much of the area's native vegetation. Today, the area is considered important in the ecological management of Durban and environment. [2]
The traditional Zulu name for Bluff is isibubulungu, meaning a long, round-shaped ridge. It also means "white man’s bluff", which may be a reference to habitation by shipwreck survivors. [2]
The name of the area is derived from the long bluff - two ancient sand dunes on which most of the suburbs lie.
The Bluff promonotory is a remnant of an extensive coastal dune system that formed along the shoreline of KwaZulu-Natal between two and five million years ago. [2]
Lying just south of the Durban city centre, the Bluff is one of the main enclosing elements of the Port of Durban from the Indian Ocean, and forms the southern quayside of the port. The coastal area is bounded by the Port of Durban (Island View) to the northwest, the defunct Durban International Airport and the SAPREF Petrochemical Refinery to the south, Mobeni to the southwest and the Port of Durban (Bayhead) and Clairwood to the west.
Within the area referred to as "The Bluff" lie the suburbs of Brighton Beach, Fynnland, Grosvenor, Jacobs, Merebank, Ocean View, Treasure Beach and Wentworth.
The Bluff is a popular holiday destination, with extensive accommodation and plentiful seaside recreation. The area is known for its abundant sea life, including dolphins, and, in the winter months, whales. [3]
The Bluff has access to six beaches including Ansteys Beach, Brighton Beach, Cuttings Beach, Garvies Beach and Treasure Beach. Amongst these beaches Ansteys and Brighton beaches are the most popular with Ansteys Beach home to two pools and Brighton Beach to three pools including one tidal pool. Most of the other beaches along the Bluff remain quiet and unspoilt.
Bluff National Park Golf Club is a large 18-hole golf course situated between the suburbs of Grosvenor and Ocean View. [4]
At the south end of the Bluff are two main residential suburbs: Wentworth and Merebank. Interspersed among the houses are a number of industries, including two of South Africa's largest oil refineries (Sapref and Engen facilities), the Mondi Paper Mill and other smaller factories. Durban's main airport was nearby until 2010. Durban International Airport moved and changed its name on 1 May 2010, relocating from the South Durban Basin to La Mercy on the North Coast.
The mixture of residential homes and large industries in the basin creates a challenge for all those who live and work in the area. Air pollution, water pollution, overcrowding and litter are some of the problems that residents and industries need to deal with. Community groups are attempting to resolve the issue by working with the large industries in the area.
There are two shopping centres in Wentworth serving the Bluff, namely Bluff Towers and Hillside Mall. Other shopping centres serving the area include Merebank Mall in Merebank and the Bluff Shopping Centre in Grosvenor. [5] [6]
Wentworth District Hospital is a government-funded hospital and is the sole hospital in the Bluff, aimed at serving the area. [7]
The Bluff is divided over two SAPS precincts with the southern part including Merebank, Merewent, Treasure Beach and Jacobs covered by Wentworth SAPS while the northern part including Wentworth, Brighton Beach, Ocean View, Fynnlands and Grosvenor covered by Brighton Beach SAPS. [8]
The main freeway passing the Bluff is the M4 (Inkosi Albert Luthuli Freeway), connecting the Bluff with Durban CBD to the north and the South Coast (via the N2) to the south. The M7 connects the Bluff with Queensburgh to the west and has many names through the area such as Solomon Mahlangu Drive (previously Edwin Swales VC Drive), Bluff Road, Old Mission Road and Grays Inn Road.
The main suburban routes in the Bluff include Marine Drive, the coastal road connecting Merebank and the coastal suburbs of Treasure Beach, Brighton Beach and Ocean View and Tara Road, the inland road connecting Merebank and the suburbs of Jacobs, Wentworth, Grosvenor and Fynnlands.
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu and Natal Province were merged. It is located in the southeast of the country, with a long shoreline on the Indian Ocean and sharing borders with three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho. Its capital is Pietermaritzburg, and its largest city is Durban. It is the second-most populous province in South Africa, with slightly fewer residents than Gauteng.
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".
Margate is a coastal resort town in the KwaZulu-Natal province, about 20 kilometres south-west of Port Shepstone and 127 kilometres south-west of Durban. The river which flows into the sea at Margate is called "Nkhongweni" (place of entreaty) as the original inhabitants of the area were reputed to be so mean resulting in travellers begging for hospitality.
Port Edward is a small resort town situated on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and lies on the border between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. It is situated on the R61 road between Port Shepstone and Lusikisiki.
Amanzimtoti, locally nicknamed Toti, and officially renamed to eManzimtoti, is a coastal town just south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Located at the mouth of the aManzimtoti River, the town is well known for its warm climate and numerous beaches, and is a popular tourist destination, particularly with surfers. Although Amanzimtoti is now incorporated into the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality or the Greater Durban metropolitan area, it is also a town in its own right.
Isipingo is a town situated 19 kilometres (12 mi) south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and currently forms part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The town is named after the Siphingo River, which in turn is thought to be named for the intertwining cat-thorn shrubs (Scutia myrtina) present in the area, or the river's winding course.
Kingsburgh is a coastal resort town along the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, approximately 32 kilometres south-west of Durban.
Winklespruit is a small seaside resort on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and now forms part of the coastal town of Kingsburgh and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, the Greater Durban metropolitan area.
Queensburgh is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that is situated inland (southwest) from Durban and now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban metropolitan area.
Westville is an area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and is just west and 10 km inland from the Durban CBD. It was a formerly independent municipality however it became part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 2002.
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.
Chatsworth is a large township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa established in the 1950s to segregate the Indian population and create a buffer between the white suburbs of Durban to the north and the black townships of Durban to the south. Located in the Southern Durban basin and roughly bordered by the Umhlatuzana River in the North and Umlaas River in the south, the suburb is made up mainly of Indian/Asian and Black African people.
uMhlanga, alternatively rendered Umhlanga, is a residential, commercial and resort town north of Durban on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which was created in 2000 and includes the greater Durban area. The name means "place of reeds" in the Zulu language, and the correct pronunciation of "hl" in uMhlanga is similar to the Welsh "ll".
Morningside is an affluent suburb of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Wentworth is an area of Durban, South Africa in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is completely located inside an area known as the South Durban Basin. The Wentworth area is located near major freeways M4 and M7 and is approximately 11km south of the Durban city center.
Umbogintwini is a suburb located approximately 23 km south-west of Durban, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
Southbroom is a coastal village on the South Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa situated approximately halfway between Port Shepstone – 23 km (14 mi) and Port Edward – 18 km (11 mi).
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.