Inanda or eNanda (

isiZulu Zulu ( ), or isiZulu as an endonym, is a Southern Bantu language of the Nguni branch spoken in, and indigenous to, Southern Africa. Nguni dialects are regional or social varieties of the Nguni language, distinguished by vocabulary, pronunciatio ...

: ''pleasant place'', also possibly, ''level-topped hill'') is a township in Durban

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

that is situated 21 km north-west of

Durban Durban ( ; , from meaning "bay, lagoon") is the third-most populous city in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in the Provinces of South Africa, province of KwaZulu-Natal. Situated on the east coast of South ...

. It forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan Municipality. Populated primarily by Zulu-speaking

Black African Black is a racial classification of people, usually a Politics, political and Human skin color, skin color-based category for specific populations with a mid- to dark brown complexion. Not all people considered "black" have dark skin and ofte ...

s, Inanda is the home of

John Langalibalele Dube John Langalibalele Dube OLG (22 February 1871 – 11 February 1946) was a South African essayist, philosopher, educator, politician, publisher, editor, novelist and poet. He was the founding president of the South African Native National Cong ...

, first President of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a political party in South Africa. It originated as a liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid and has governed the country since 1994, when the 1994 South African general election, fir ...

(ANC), a former residence and base of operations of

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...

, and the birthplace of the

syncretic Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus ...

Nazareth Baptist Church The Nazareth Baptist Church (Alternatively called "The Nazarite Church" "iBandla lamaNazaretha") is the second largest African initiated church based in South Africa, founded in 1910. It reveres Shembe as a prophet sent by God to restore the te ...

History

Brief Description Inanda Township, situated within the

eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality () is a metropolitan municipality (South Africa), metropolitan municipality, created in 2000, that includes the city of Durban and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 Districts of South Africa, di ...

, 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 Group Areas Act was the title of three acts of the Parliament of South Africa enacted under the apartheid government of South Africa. The acts assigned racial groups to different residential and business sections in urban areas in a syste ...

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 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. This region is a culturally rich blend of old and new, sha ...

Phoenix, Durban Phoenix is a South African town about 25 kilometres (15 mi) northwest of Durban Central, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was established as a town by the apartheid government in 1979, but it has a long history of Indian occupation. It is ...

, and Ottawa, KwaZulu-Natal. Despite South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, Inanda Township continued to experience relative neglect from the

in terms of developmental initiatives. Notably, on April 27, 1994, Inanda Township gained recognition as the location where

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( , ; born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa f ...

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.

Mafukuzela

, affectionately known as "Mafukuzela," alongside his wife

Nokutela Dube Nokutela Dube (1873 – 25 January 1917) was the first South African woman to found a school. She cofounded the '' Ilanga lase Natal'' newspaper, Ohlange Institute and Natal Native Congress (the precursor to the South African Native National C ...

, were born in the 1870s at an American-operated

Christian mission A Christian mission is an organized effort to carry on evangelism, in the name of the Christian faith. Missions involve sending individuals and groups across boundaries, most commonly geographical boundaries. Sometimes individuals are sent and a ...

station located in Inanda. As the son of a respected Zulu clergyman, Dube received his education at

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1833, it is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational lib ...

in the United States. Upon his return to his birthplace of Inanda, Dube embarked on a path of intellectual exploration, composing a series of insightful essays concerning the history and advancement of Africans. In 1903, he made a significant contribution to media by establishing the inaugural bilingual Zulu/English newspaper, titled '' Ilanga laseNatali'' (The Sun of Natal). He assumed the role of the first president of the South African Native National Congress, from 1912 to 1917. This organization later evolved into the influential

. Inspired by the work of

African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...

educator

Booker T. Washington Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, and orator. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the primary leader in the African-American community and of the contemporary Black elite#United S ...

and his

Tuskegee University Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU; formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute) is a private, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It was founded as a normal school for teachers on July 4, 1881, by the ...

, Dube and his wife founded several schools in Inanda, including

Ohlange High School Ohlange High School is a secondary school in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1901 by John Dube and Nokuthela Dube (''née'' Mdima).

, Redfern Primary School, and Langalibalele High Primary School. Dube's home neighborhood in Inanda, Dube Village, now contains numerous memorials to his efforts.

Gandhi and the Phoenix Settlement

In the year 1903,

, who had established his residence in the nearby city of Durban in 1893, founded a modest settlement known as Phoenix Settlement on the northwestern periphery of Inanda. This village-like community featured residences, a clinic, a school, and a printing press, and played a pivotal role as a dwelling place for Gandhi, his family, and his supporters. Their collective mission was to advocate for societal transformation through nonviolent resistance. The influential newspaper ''

Indian Opinion The ''Indian Opinion'' was a newspaper established by Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. The publication was an important tool for the political movement led by Gandhi and the Natal Indian Congress to fight racial discrimination and ag ...

'', which vigorously championed the civil rights of both

Indian South Africans Indian South Africans are South Africans who descend from indentured labourers and free migrants who arrived from British Raj, British India during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The majority live in and around the city of Durban, making it ...

and

native Africans The indigenous people of Africa are groups of people native to a specific region; people who lived there before colonists or settlers arrived, defined new borders, and began to occupy the land. This definition applies to all indigenous groups, whe ...

, was published from this site in four different languages. Even after Gandhi's departure in 1914, Phoenix Settlement continued to be a home for various residents and activists, including his son,

Manilal Gandhi Manilal Mohandas Gandhi (28 October 1892 – 5 April 1956) was the second son of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi. Biography Manilal was born in Rajkot, British India, the second of four sons of Mohandas Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi. He had an ...

. As the 1980s unfolded, the vicinity of the Settlement witnessed the emergence of a squatter camp named Bhambayi, which eventually encompassed much of the area. The year 1985 witnessed riots within the camp, driven by opposition to apartheid policies, resulting in significant damage to the structures of Phoenix Settlement. Subsequently, the community largely fell into disuse until February 2000, when then-President

Thabo Mbeki Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (; born 18 June 1942) is a South African politician who served as the 2nd democratic president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he resigned at the request of his party, the African National Cong ...

formally committed to its reestablishment and restoration. This commitment materialized within the same year, leading to the successful restoration of Phoenix Settlement. Phoenix Settlement was declared a National Heritage Site by the South African government in 2020.

Nazareth Baptist Church

In the early 20th century, Isaiah Shembe, a prominent Zulu mystic and charismatic preacher, established the Nazareth Baptist Church in Inanda. This

African initiated church An African-initiated church (AIC) is a Christian church independently started in Africa by Africans rather than chiefly by missionaries from another continent. Nomenclature A variety of overlapping terms exist for these forms of Christianity: ...

elements of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

with indigenous Zulu traditions. Central to the church's teachings are principles of abstemious living and adherence to the

Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments (), or the Decalogue (from Latin , from Ancient Greek , ), are religious and ethical directives, structured as a covenant document, that, according to the Hebrew Bible, were given by YHWH to Moses. The text of the Ten ...

. The followers of this faith, commonly referred to as "Shembe," quasi-messianic attributes to Isaiah Shembe and his descendants. Over the course of more than a century since its inception, the Church has experienced multiple divisions. The majority of Shembe adherents continue to originate from the KwaZulu-Natal region, and the revered historical site of the Inanda church headquarters, known as ekuPhakameni, remains in active use.

Racial Conflict

During the period spanning from 1978 to 1994, Inanda witnessed a series of intense confrontations between its African and Indian communities, leading to significant upheaval. A notable outcome of these events was the relocation of a substantial portion of the town's Indian populace to the neighboring areas of Phoenix and Verulam."Violence in Inanda, August 1985", Heather Hughes, ''Journal of Southern African Studies'' 13.3 (1987), pp. 331-354

Geography

Adjacent communities within the

province, including the prominent city of

, encompass

KwaMashu KwaMashu is a township north of Durban, South Africa. The name honours Sir Marshall Campbell and means ''Place of Marshall''. KwaMashu is bordered by Newlands East to the south, Newlands West to the west, Ntuzuma to the north, Phoenix to the ...

and

Ntuzuma Ntuzuma is a town in eThekwini in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. With a population of 114,231 (Census 2001), Ntuzuma is the youngest of the four "PINK" (Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) programme townships, and was built by th ...

. 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.

Economy and infrastructure

In the realm of economics, Inanda Township exhibits a range of features. To the northern extent of the township lies Inanda North Town Centre, colloquially referred to as eMtshebheni by locals. This hub encompasses various establishments including well-known stores. Adjacent to this commercial zone is the Inanda SAPS Station. On the southern fringes of the township stands the Dube Village Mall, a tribute to the late Dr.

. Within this mall, one finds amenities such as the Inanda Post Office and a variety of other stores. Turning to infrastructure, the township has several community health centers catering to residents' healthcare needs. Notable among these are the Inanda CHC Clinic on Umshado Road, Newtown C, as well as the Inanda Newtown A & B Clinics, Sivananda Clinic in Ohlange, St. Joseph's Roman Clinic in Amatikwe, and Bhekimpilo Clinic in Amatikwe, among others. The Abalindi Old Age & Orphanage Home is located in Amatikwe. Additionally, the township offers various recreational facilities, including sporting fields with the Dr. JL Dube Stadium being a prominent landmark. These are complemented by children's parks and innovative Fitness Parks introduced by the

, aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle within the township. Notably, the Tafuleni Cemetery Park in the Tafuleni Section holds significance as one of the largest cemetery parks within the eThekwini Metropolitan area.

Education

Ohlange High School Ohlange High School is a secondary school in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1901 by John Dube and Nokuthela Dube (''née'' Mdima).

— situated in the Inanda district, holds historical significance as an educational institution founded by Dr.

and his wife,

, as Zulu Christian Industrial School.Nokutela Dube
Johannesburg City Parks, retrieved 8 April 2015 Notably, it gained distinction as the polling venue where

cast his vote in South Africa's first racially integrated national election during South Africa's inaugural post-apartheid elections in 1994. This pivotal event marked a significant milestone in the nation's democratic transition. Presently, Ohlange High School maintains its dual role as a daily functioning secondary school, providing education to students, while also serving as a designated polling station for provincial and national elections. *

Inanda Seminary School Inanda Seminary School is one of the oldest schools for girls in South Africa. It was founded in 1869 at Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, Inanda, a settlement just over north of Durban, by Daniel Lindley, Daniel and Lucy Lindley, an American missionary cou ...

— established in 1869, is an independent girls' secondary school. Founded by Daniel and Lucy Lindley under the auspices of the

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) was among the first American Christian mission, Christian missionary organizations. It was created in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College. In the 19th century it was the l ...

, the institution ranks among the oldest educational establishments in South Africa. It holds the position of being the second oldest school in Durban, succeeding only the Durban High School. * Langalibalele High Primary School — Langelibalele High Primary School, situated in the Inanda region, owes its establishment and nomenclature to tDr.

, a prominent figure in the community, the school bears the name of its founder. * JG Zuma High School — The institution, named after former President

Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan names Nxamalala and Msholozi. Zuma was a for ...

, was established to honor his contributions and legacy. The decision to name the school after President Zuma reflects a desire to recognize his role in the nation's history and his impact on the broader societal landscape. * Redfern Primary School — Despite its geographical location in Phoenix, which is closely connected to Inanda through the Mahatma Gandhi Settlements, Redfern Primary's origins trace back to its founding by Dr.

. *Inanda Newtown Comprehensive School *Amandlakayise Primary School — also founded by Dr.

. *No-7 High School, Intshisekelo High School, Nkosinathi High School, Emachobeni Secondary School, Sithandimfundo High School, Mvaba High School, Mqhawe High School and Sithabile High School are other notable schools located in Inanda. There is also the Elangeni FET College, located in Ohlange along Dr. Langalibalele Dube Drive, stands as a tertiary educational institution. The college is dedicated to providing courses encompassing Business and Engineering qualifications among its offerings.

Media

Inanda serves as the central hub for the bilingual (English/Zulu) radio station, Inanda FM, which airs across the entirety of KwaZulu-Natal. Additionally, it holds historical significance as the birthplace of the ''Ilanga laseNatal'', an esteemed newsletter publication founded by

Notable people

made notable contributions as an educator, politician, publisher, editor, novelist, and poet. He holds credit as the founder of '' Ilanga lase Natal'' and as a co-founder of both the

and

Ohlange High School Ohlange High School is a secondary school in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1901 by John Dube and Nokuthela Dube (''née'' Mdima).

. Furthermore, he played a significant role as the inaugural president of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), a pivotal organization that would later evolve into the

. *

, the first South African woman to establish a school. She also played a role as a co-founder in initiatives such as the '' Ilanga lase Natal'' newspaper, the Ohlange Institute, and the Natal Native Congress, which eventually served as a precursor to the establishment of the South African Native National Congress. She was also the wife of

. *

Ndaba Mhlongo Ndaba Walter Mhlongo (3 July 1933 – 29 October 1989) was a South African actor and choreographer best known for his role of ''Mshefane'' in the 1977 production ''Inyakanyaka''. Ndaba is widely regarded as one of South Africa's most promin ...

, renowned for his contributions to the entertainment industry, as an actor and comedian. He held a significant personal connection as the husband of actress

Mary Twala Mary Kuksie Twala OIS (14 September 1939 – 4 July 2020) was a South African actress. In 2011, she was nominated for Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Career Twala featured in several South African local produc ...

, while also being a sibling to the musician

Busi Mhlongo Busi Mhlongo (28 October 1947 – 15 June 2010), born Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo, was a singer, dancer and composer originally from Inanda in Natal, South Africa. Biography Mhlongo drew on various South African musical styles such as Mbaqanga, ...

. Within his familial sphere, he held the role of a father to actor, television personality, and choreographer

Somizi Mhlongo Somizi Buyani Mhlongo (born 23 December 1972) is a South African media personality, actor and socialite. In 1992, he appeared on the musical and political film, '' Sarafina!'' which gained him prominence. Mhlongo became lead choreographer for n ...

. *

, distinguished for her talents in the realm of music, dance, and composition, she made her mark as a singer, dancer, and composer. Notably, she is the sister of comedian

and holds the role of aunt to television personality

. *

Mxolisi Kaunda Thomas Mxolisi Kaunda (born 13 September 1972) is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal serving as a Permanent Delegate to the National Council of Provinces since 2024. Prior to serving in parliament, he was the Mayor of the eThekwini Me ...

, a figure in the realm of politics, he holds the position of Mayor within the

. * Bertha Mkhize, recognized for her multifaceted contributions, she embodied roles as a teacher, businesswoman, advocate for women's rights, and a dedicated participant in the

anti-apartheid movement The Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) was a British organisation that was at the centre of the international movement opposing the South African apartheid system and supporting South Africa's non-white population who were oppressed by the policies ...

. Her origins trace back to Embo, Umkomaas, and she received her education at the esteemed

and

Ohlange High School Ohlange High School is a secondary school in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1901 by John Dube and Nokuthela Dube (''née'' Mdima).

. Throughout her life, she predominantly resided in the community of Inanda. *

Zandile Gumede Zandile Ruth Thelma Gumede (born 12 May 1961) is a South African who has been serving as a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature since 2020. She served as the Executive Mayor of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality from 2016 until ...

, a notable South African figure, she has held the position of a Member of the

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is unicameral in its composition and elects the premier and the provincial cabinet from among the leading party or coalition members ...

since 2020. Prior to this, she assumed the role of Executive Mayor within the

, serving diligently from 2016 to 2019. * Makoti Khawula, an influential advocate against apartheid and a dedicated participant in the

, she also holds the distinction of being a Member of the

National Assembly of South Africa The National Assembly is the directly elected house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape. It consists of four hundred members who are elected every five years using a party-list proportional representation sy ...

, representing the

Economic Freedom Fighters The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African communist and black nationalist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema, and his allies, on 26 July 20 ...

party. *

Ted Swales Edwin (Ted) Essery Swales VC DFC (3 July 1915 – 23 February 1945) was a South African pilot and Second World War hero. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and posthumously the Victoria Cross. Early life and career Edwin Essery Sw ...

, hailing as a British-South African

fighter pilot A fighter pilot or combat pilot is a Military aviation, military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, Air-to-ground weaponry, air-to-ground combat and sometimes Electronic-warfare aircraft, electronic warfare while in the cockpit of ...

and a

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

veteran, he earned recognition for his courageous actions in the defense of his nation. His achievements led to the awarding of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and he was posthumously bestowed with the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

in his honor. * Sibusiso Khumalo, an accomplished South African professional footballer, he occupies the role of a defender within the ranks of

Black Leopards Black Leopards FC is a South African professional association football, football club based in Thohoyandou, Vhembe, Vhembe Region, Limpopo, that plays in the National First Division. History The club was founded in 1983 by business people in ...

in the

Premier Soccer League The Premier Soccer League (PSL) is the administrative body for professional soccer leagues and cups in South Africa. It is based in Johannesburg, and was founded in 1996 following an agreement between the National Soccer League and the remnant ...

. Furthermore, he contributes his skills to the South African men's national team. *

Andile Fikizolo Andile Eugene Fikizolo (born 13 May 1994), also known as Carot, is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder and right wing for Golden Arrows Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C. are a South African soccer club based in Durban that ...

, also known as Carot, is a South African soccer player who plays as a

midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...

and

right wing Right-wing politics is the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position b ...

for

Golden Arrows Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C. are a South African soccer club based in Durban that plays in the Premiership. History It was founded in 1943 in the streets of Lamontville, a township in Durban. The club played in the defunct National Profes ...

in the

References

{{Authority control Populated places in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality Townships in KwaZulu-Natal