Ladysmith is a city in the
Uthukela District of
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
, South Africa. It lies north-west of
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
and south-east of
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...
. Important industries in the area include food processing, textiles, and tyre production.
Ladysmith is the seat for both the
Alfred Duma Local Municipality
Alfred Duma Local Municipality is a local municipality of South Africa. It was established for the August 2016 local elections by the merging of Emnambithi/Ladysmith and Indaka local municipalities.
Politics
The municipal council consists ...
and
Uthukela District Municipality
uThukela is one of the 11 districts of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The seat of uThukela is the city of Ladysmith. The majority of its 668,848 people speak IsiZulu (2011 Census). The district code is DC23.
Geography Neighbours
uT ...
.
In 1900, the unincorporated town of Oyster Harbour (established c. 1898) on the east coast of
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...
, British Columbia, Canada, was renamed
Ladysmith Ladysmith may refer to:
* Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
* Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada
* Ladysmith, Wisconsin, United States
* Ladysmith, New South Wales, Australia
* Ladysmith, Virginia, United States
* Ladysmith Island, Queenslan ...
by
James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir (July 8, 1851 – June 6, 1920) was a Canadian industrialist and politician in British Columbia. He served as the 14th premier of British Columbia from 1900 to 1902 and the eighth lieutenant governor of British Columbia from 19 ...
, in honour of the British lifting the siege of Ladysmith in South Africa (28 February 1900) during the
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...
.
History
In 1847, after buying land from the
Zulu king
Mpande
Mpande kaSenzangakhona (1798–18 October 1872) was monarch of the Zulu Kingdom from 1840 to 1872. He was a half-brother of Sigujana, Shaka and Dingane, who preceded him as Zulu kings. He came to power after he had overthrown Dingane in 1840.
...
, a number of
Boer
Boers ( ; af, Boere ()) are the descendants of the Dutch-speaking Free Burghers of the eastern Cape Colony, Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. From 1652 to 1795, the Dutch East India Company controll ...
s settled in the area and called it the Republic of Klip River with
Andries Spies Andries is a Dutch and Afrikaans masculine given name or surname equivalent to Andrew.
Given name
People with this name include
* Andries van Artvelt (1590–1652), Flemish painter
* Andries Beeckman (1628–1664), Dutch painter
* Andries Bekker ...
as their commandant. The republic was annexed by the British in the same year and on 20 June 1850 was proclaimed a township called Windsor.
On 11 October 1850, the name was changed to Ladysmith after
Juana María de los Dolores de León Smith
Juana María de los Dolores de León Smith, Lady Smith (27 March 1798 – 12 October 1872) was the wife of General Sir Harry Smith, Governor of the Cape Colony.
Biography
Born into an old Spanish noble family, she was a descendant of Juan Po ...
, also known as "Lady Smith," the Spanish wife of
Sir Harry Smith
Lieutenant-General Sir Henry George Wakelyn Smith, 1st Baronet, GCB (28 June 1787 – 12 October 1860) was a notable English soldier and military commander in the British Army of the early 19th century. A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, he is a ...
, the Governor of the
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony ( nl, Kaapkolonie), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British Empire, British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope, which existed from 1795 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1910, when i ...
and high commissioner in South Africa from 1847 to 1852.
A fort was built in 1860
to protect the villagers from the Zulu.
The Second Boer War
Battle of Ladysmith
During the
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...
, British commander Lieutenant General Sir
George White George White may refer to:
Politicians
* George White (died 1584) (c. 1530–1584), MP for Liverpool
* George White (Liberal politician) (1840–1912), British Liberal member of parliament, 1900–1912
* George E. White (politician) (1848–1935), ...
made Ladysmith his centre of operations for the protection of Natal against the Boer forces.
Starting on 29 October 1899, a number of short-lived battles were fought for control of the town, but after suffering heavy casualties the British forces retreated to Ladysmith and the Boer forces did not make use of the opportunity to follow up the attack and take control of the town.
Siege of Ladysmith
Following the
Battle of Ladysmith
The Battle of Ladysmith was one of the early engagements of the Second Boer War. A large British force which had concentrated at the garrison town of Ladysmith launched a sortie on 30 October 1899, against Boer armies which were slowly surround ...
, while British forces under White regrouped in the town, Boer forces surrounded Ladysmith. The siege lasted 118 days, from 2 November 1899 to 28 February 1900, during the most crucial stage of the
war
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
. Approximately 3,000 British soldiers died during the siege.
Relief of Ladysmith
Three attempts by General Sir
Redvers Buller
General Sir Redvers Henry Buller, (7 December 1839 – 2 June 1908) was a British Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forc ...
to break the siege resulted in defeat for the British forces at the battles of
Colenso,
Spion Kop and
Vaal Krantz
The Battle of Vaal Krantz (5 February to 7 February 1900) was the third failed attempt by General Redvers Buller's British army to fight its way past Louis Botha's army of Boer irregulars and lift the Siege of Ladysmith. The battle occurred durin ...
. On 6 January 1900, the Boer forces of Commandant-General
Piet Joubert
Petrus Jacobus Joubert (20 January 1831 – 28 March 1900), better known as Piet Joubert, was Commandant-General of the South African Republic from 1880 to 1900. He also served as Vice-President to Paul Kruger from 1881 - 1883. He served in Fir ...
attempted to end the siege by taking the town before the British could launch another attempt to break the siege. This led to the
battle of Platrand
The siege of Ladysmith was a protracted engagement in the Second Boer War, taking place between 2 November 1899 and 28 February 1900 at Ladysmith, Natal.
Background
As war with the Boer republics appeared likely in June 1899, the War Office ...
(or Wagon Hill) south of the town.
Buller finally broke the siege on 28 February 1900 after defeating the Boers by using close cooperation between his infantry and artillery.
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 Winston Churchill in the Second World War, dur ...
, then a young war correspondent for ''
The Morning Post
''The Morning Post'' was a conservative daily newspaper published in London from 1772 to 1937, when it was acquired by ''The Daily Telegraph''.
History
The paper was founded by John Bell. According to historian Robert Darnton, ''The Morning Po ...
'' of London, was present at the relief of Ladysmith after having been taken prisoner (between Ladysmith and Colenso) and escaping earlier during the war.
Mohandas Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...
, along with the stretcher-bearing corps that he had established earlier during the war, was involved in a number of actions that took place in and around Ladysmith during the relief.
Military units involved in the siege and relief
*
Light Horse Regiment
*
Manchester Regiment
The Manchester Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1958. The regiment was created during the 1881 Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot and the 96th ...
*
Devonshire Regiment
The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...
*
Gordon Highlanders
Gordon may refer to:
People
* Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters
* Gordon (surname), the surname
* Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War
* Clan Gord ...
*
Leicestershire Regiment
The Leicestershire Regiment (Royal Leicestershire Regiment after 1946) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, with a history going back to 1688. The regiment saw service for three centuries, in numerous wars and conflicts such as both W ...
*
King's Regiment (Liverpool)
The King's Regiment (Liverpool) was one of the oldest line infantry regiments of the British Army, having been formed in 1685 and numbered as the 8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot in 1751. Unlike most British Army infantry regiments, which were ...
*
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
The Royal Dublin Fusiliers was an Irish infantry Regiment of the British Army created in 1881, one of eight Irish regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland, with its home depot in Naas. The Regiment was created by the amalgamation of two Brit ...
*
5th Royal Irish Lancers
*
5th Dragoon Guards
The 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Dragoon Guards was a British army cavalry regiment, officially formed in January 1686 as Shrewsbury's Regiment of Horse. Following a number of name changes, it became the 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) ...
*
18th Royal Hussars
*
19th Royal Hussars
*
Natal Carbineers
The Ingobamakhosi Carbineers (formerly Natal Carbineers) is an infantry unit of the South African Army.
History Origins
The regiment traces its roots to 1854 but it was formally raised on 15 January 1855 and gazetted on 13 March of that year, ...
*
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the ...
Geography
Ladysmith is located on the banks of the
Klip River
The Klip River is the main river draining the portion of Johannesburg south of the Witwatersrand, and its basin includes the Johannesburg CBD and Soweto. The mouth of the river is at Vereeniging where it empties into the Vaal River, which is a tri ...
("stone river"), with the central business district and a large part of the residential areas located within the flood basin of the river. It is on the foothills of the
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg (Afrikaans: Drakensberge, Zulu: uKhahlambha, Sotho: Maluti) is the eastern portion of the Great Escarpment, which encloses the central Southern African plateau. The Great Escarpment reaches its greatest elevation – within th ...
mountains, about 26 km from the
Van Reenen's Pass
Van Reenen's Pass is a pass through the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa. The N3 freeway, the main road between Durban and Johannesburg, was constructed through the pass with the northern end of the pass lying at the border of the provinces ...
.
Flooding
Since it was established the town has suffered severely from flooding of the
Klip River
The Klip River is the main river draining the portion of Johannesburg south of the Witwatersrand, and its basin includes the Johannesburg CBD and Soweto. The mouth of the river is at Vereeniging where it empties into the Vaal River, which is a tri ...
. During the 110 years up to 1997 with the completion of the
Qedusizi Dam
Qedusizi Dam, previously known as the Mt Pleasant Dam, is a composite type dam with a roller-compacted concrete (RCC) or 'rollcrete' spillway and earth-fill embankments. It is located on the Klip River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa upstream of th ...
, 29 serious floods occurred.
Minor flooding occurred almost every year.
The worst flooding in 30 years occurred in 1996 leading to
R500 million in damages and the evacuation of 400 families. Efforts to control the flooding date back to the 1940s. In 1949 the
Windsor Dam
Windsor Dam was originally built to control flooding of Ladysmith, in KwaZulu-Natal by the Klip River, but silt buildup quickly reduced its efficiency. The Windsor Dam was commissioned in 1950, has a capacity of , and a surface area of , the da ...
was completed, but this dam silted up very quickly and was not an effective means of flood control.
Climate
Ladysmith has a
subtropical highland climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ...
(''Cwb'', according to the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
), with warm summers and cool, dry winters. It borders on a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
(''Cwa''). The average annual precipitation is , with most rainfall occurring during summer.
Cityscape
Architecture
The Soofi
Mosque
A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
on the banks of the
Klip River
The Klip River is the main river draining the portion of Johannesburg south of the Witwatersrand, and its basin includes the Johannesburg CBD and Soweto. The mouth of the river is at Vereeniging where it empties into the Vaal River, which is a tri ...
was built some time between 1895 and 1910, but it was greatly extended in the 1960s.
Other buildings of interest are the Siege Museum, built in 1884 as a marketplace and the Town Hall, damaged by Boer artillery during the
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...
.
Transport
Air
Ladysmith is served by a small airport, is located on the outskirts of town just below Platrand at . The Aerodrome is managed and operated by JetVision Holdings Pty Ltd.
Rail
The Danskraal Yard is located on the
Free State main line and the
Glencoe–
Vryheid
Vryheid ( zu, IVryheid) is a coal mining and cattle ranching town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Vryheid is the Afrikaans word for "freedom".
History
After Boer farmers, who lived in the Vryheid area, had helped King Dinuzulu defeat his ...
line and acts as a depot for train marshalling and maintenance as well as rail maintenance.
The passenger station is located some distance away from Danskraal close to the Central Business District.
Road
The
N11 links Ladysmith with
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to:
*Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England
*Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England
*Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...
in the north and with the
N3 Freeway in the south-west, while the
R103 provides access to
Colenso in the south and the
N3 Freeway in the west.
Traffic traveling between
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
and
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...
used to pass through Ladysmith up until the late 1980s, but the completion of the
N3 Toll Highway, bypassing Ladysmith to the west, has caused a dramatic drop in traffic volumes through this town as well as others that are now bypassed. In that regard, the old main road through Ladysmith is now designated as the
R103.
Education
Primary
* Acaciavale Primary School
* Aloe Park Primary School.
* Amancamakazane Primary School
* Andante Independent School
* Baldaskraal Primary School
* Blue Bank primary
* Burford Primary School
* Damu Junior primary school
* Douglas Primary School
* Egerton
* Good Hope Primary School
* Gqama Senior School
* Hamilton Preparatory School
* Hollywood Primary School
* Hursley Primary School
* Ifalethu Primary School
* Imbizo Primary School
* Incwaba Junior Primary School
* Ingcebo Yesizwe Primary
* Inkuthu Primary School
* Insungulu Lower Primary School
* Isiqophamithi Primary School
* Islamic Educational Centre
* Keate Street Primary School
* Kirkintulloch Combined school
* Kleinfontein Primary School
* Limit Hill Combined
* Mabhumane Primary School
* Madlala Combined Primary School
* MC Varman Primary School
* Mcitsheni Junior Primary School
* Mhlanganyelwa Combined school
* ML Sultan
* Mnambithi Primary
* Monument Primary School
* Namakazi Combined Primary School
* Nikela Primary School
* Peace Town Combined School
* Sidingulwazi Primary School
* St. Chad's Primary School
* Umbulwane Primary
* Umvulo Primary School
* Veyisi Primary School
*phoweni high School
* Bhekintuthuko Secondary School
* Dr Joseph Shabalala secondary School
* Ekukhuleni High School
* Emhlwaneni High School
* Entonjeni High School
* Ezakheni High School (Junior)
* Harvest High School
* Hlope Secondary
* Indakane High School
* Ingula High School
* Intababusuku Secondary
* Intandoyesizwe High School
* Islamic Educational Centre
* Ladysmith High School (LHS)
* Ladysmith Secondary (LASEC)
* Limehill Junior High School
* Limit Hill Combined
* Masoyi Secondary School
* Maweni High School
* Mbango High School
* Mhlwaneni high school
* Mzimela High School
* Ndalela High School
* Ndalela High School
* Phayikeni High School
* Qophindlela Secondary
* Sakhelwe High School
* Sgweje High School
* Sicelokuhle High School
* Silindokuhle Secondary School
* Siphimfundo Secondary
* St. Chad's High School
* Steadville High School
* Tatane Secondary
* Uxolo Nokuzwana secondary
* Windsor Secondary School
Special schools
* Inkanyezi Special School
Tertiary
*
Boston City Campus
* Mnambithi FET College is a public college offering Further Education & Training.
*
Qualitas Career Academy caters for full-time and part-time studies for students as well as corporate training and consulting services for businesses and government departments. There are a variety of academic divisions.
Society and culture
Media
The only sold local newspaper in Ladysmith is the ''Ladysmith Gazette''.
The ''Ladysmith Gazette'' is believed to have been established in 1902.
The ''Ladysmith Gazette'' is part of the Caxton Group of newspapers.
One of two free local newspapers is the ''Ladysmith Herald''.
The other free newspaper is the ''Times of Ladysmith''.
Museums, monuments and memorials
The Second Boer War
A large number of the
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...
Battlefields around Ladysmith have been preserved as memorial sites. Monuments and memorials to those who died during the battles have been erected at most of them.
= Siege museum
=
Located next to the town hall there is a small museum detailing the battles and history at the time of the Siege. The museum was opened in 1985 and holds around 60,000 documents related to the Siege and Boer War.
= Platrand/Wagon Hill
=
Located just south of the town, this area saw action during the Relief of Ladysmith. The Burgher Memorial on Wagon Hill, a sculpture of six hands pointing upwards and one downwards, was erected in 1979 in honour of 781 Boer forces killed in the battles in
Natal
NATAL or Natal may refer to:
Places
* Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Brazil
* Natal, South Africa (disambiguation), a region in South Africa
** Natalia Republic, a former country (1839–1843)
** Colony of Natal, a former British colony ( ...
during the
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...
. A crypt at the center contains the remains of 310 re-interred burghers.
On Platrand there are memorials to the
Imperial Light Horse
Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism.
Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to:
Places
United States
* Imperial, California
* Imperial, Missouri
* Imperial, Nebraska
* Imperial, Pennsylvania
* Imperial, Texas ...
, the
Devonshire Regiment
The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...
, the
Earl of Ava and a number of others.
= Castor and Pollux
=
Two
RML 6.3 inch Howitzer
The British ordnance terms#RML, RML 6.3-inch howitzer was a British Rifled muzzle-loader, rifled muzzle-loading "siege" or "position" howitzer/mortar proposed in 1874 and finally introduced in 1878 as a lighter version of the successful RML 8 inch ...
s used by the British during the Siege stand in front of the Town Hall.
= Mohandas Gandhi statue
=
A statue of
Mohandas Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...
can be seen at the
Lord Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
Temple.
Music
Ladysmith is the hometown of
Joseph Shabalala
Joseph Shabalala (28 August 1940 – 11 February 2020), was a South African singer and musician who was the founder and musical director of the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Early life and career
Shabalala was born in the town of ...
, founder of the group
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won m ...
.
Sport
Thulani "Sugar Boy" Malinga, a champion boxer, was born in Ladysmith.
Elmer Symons
Elmer Symons (14 February 1977 – 9 January 2007) was a motorcycle enduro racer.
Symons was born in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He began enduro racing in 1996 and moved to the United States in 2003. He had placed well in numerous re ...
, Dakar Rally rider, was killed in the 2007 edition while leading the Marathon class.
Diyo Sibisi, soccer player, was born in Sahlumbe, under Uthukela district in KwaZulu Natal.
Thamsanqa Gabuza, soccer player, plays for Orlando Pirates, was born in Ladysmith.
Religion
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
has a strong presence in and around Ladysmith. It can be seen through the beautiful places of worship built around the time of the Anglo Boer wars. One such structure includes the Anglican All Saints Church, built in 1902 from cut flagstones from a quarry in the area.
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
also has a strong presence in the town, which is well known for the Soofie Mosque and its astounding architecture. Built in 1969, it is regarded as one of the finest in the country. The origins of the marvellous structure date back to 1895 when
Hazrath Soofie Saheb arrived in South Africa. He made it his mission to build as many as 12 mosques along the east coast of Durban. Ladysmith was also the home of a revered saint known as
Hazrath Soofie Sayed Mahomed Abed Mia Osmani, who is buried in the Ladysmith Muslim Cemetery.
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
. In 1902, Sanathan Dharma Sabha was inaugurated to promote religious, social, cultural and education activities in Ladysmith.
The oldest Hindu temple resulted from the amalgamation of Hindu Thirukootam (1910) with the Shree Ganaser Temple and hall erected in 1916. It was declared a national monument in November 1990.
The present site of the SDS temple (Sanathan Dharma Sabha aka Lord Vishnu Temple) also housed Mahatma Gandhi who established a non-White Stretcher-bearer service in the Ambulance Corps in the Ladysmith and Spioenkop during the Anglo-Boer War.
There are also
Rastafarian
Rastafari, sometimes called Rastafarianism, is a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion. There is no central authority in control ...
devotees within the areas surrounding Ladysmith, residing in Waters Meet, Peace Town, eZakheni, Steadville, Saint Chads, Acaciaville and Roosbom. They are spiritual people, scholars of black consciousness and African liberation. They run businesses, and are musicians, poets, artists and writers. They are the keepers of different African philosophies.
Military
5 South African Infantry Battalion is based in Ladysmith.
A military
shooting range
A shooting range, firing range, gun range or shooting ground is a specialized facility, sports venue, venue or playing field, field designed specifically for firearm usage qualifications, training, practice or shooting sport, competitions. So ...
is located on the outskirts of the town between the Aerodrome and Platrand.
Notable people
* Cici - singer
*
Blaq Diamond - Music duo consisting of Ndumiso Mdletshe and Sphelele Dunywa
*
Sipho Hlomuka -
Kwazulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, member of the
KwaZulu-Natal 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 i ...
*
André Joubert
André Johan Joubert (born 15 April 1964 in Ladysmith) is a former South African rugby union player, widely known as "The Rolls-Royce of Fullbacks" for his pace, class, and seemingly effortless style. He was capped 34 times at fullback for the Sp ...
- rugby union player
*
Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga - boxer and WBC middleweight champion
*
Abednego Mazibuko - member of
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won m ...
*
Thapelo Mokoena
Thapelo Mokoena is a South African actor, television producer and presenter. He is best known for his role on UKs Bulletproof S3 as William, Trackers the series and presenting the first season of the South African version of the reality competit ...
- actor, presenter, filmmaker
*
Beverly Mould
Beverly Mould (born 13 March 1962) is a South African former tennis player who was active in the first half of the 1980s. Tennis career
During her career, Mould won three WTA Tour doubles titles.
Her best singles result at a Grand Slam tourn ...
- international tennis player
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Russel Mthembu - member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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Menzi Ngubane
Menzi Ngubane (28 August 1964 – 13 March 2021) was a South African actor, best known for playing the role of Sibusiso Dlomo in the soap opera '' Generations'' from 2003 to 2014. Ngubane played numerous roles on other South African TV shows, i ...
- ''Generations'' actor
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Headman Shabalala - singer, member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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Joseph Shabalala
Joseph Shabalala (28 August 1940 – 11 February 2020), was a South African singer and musician who was the founder and musical director of the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Early life and career
Shabalala was born in the town of ...
- singer, founder of world renowned isicathamiya music group
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won m ...
* Msheng Shabalala - member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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Msizi Shabalala - member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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Sibongiseni Shabalala - member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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Solomon Linda
Solomon Popoli Linda (19098 September 1962), also known as Solomon Ntsele ("Linda" was his clan name),Gilmore, Inigo"Penniless sisters fight record industry over father's hit song" ''The Telegraph'' (UK), 11 June 2000. was a South African musici ...
- singer, composer, best known for composing the song “
Mbube” later known as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
*
Thamsanqa Shabalala - member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
* Thembinkosi Thwala - actor ''most well-known as Mondli Mdlalose on TV series,
Uzalo
''Uzalo'' is a South African soap opera produced by Stained Glass Productions, which is co-owned by Kobedi "Pepsi" Pokane and Gugu Zuma-Ncube. It began airing in 2015, quickly becoming a hit due to its compelling narrative, writing, direction an ...
''
*
Thishiwe Ziqubu - actress
See also
*
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in South Africa
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...
Bibliography
*
* ''
Ladysmith Ladysmith may refer to:
* Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
* Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada
* Ladysmith, Wisconsin, United States
* Ladysmith, New South Wales, Australia
* Ladysmith, Virginia, United States
* Ladysmith Island, Queenslan ...
'' — a novel by
Giles Foden
Giles Foden (born 11 January 1967)George Stade and Karen Karbiener (eds), ''Encyclopaedia of British Writers, 1800 to the Present'', 2nd edn, Infobase Publishing, 2010, p. 176. is an English author, best known for his novel ''The Last King of S ...
that is set in Ladysmith
* ''
London to Ladysmith via Pretoria
''London to Ladysmith via Pretoria'' is a book written by Winston Churchill. It is a personal record of Churchill's impressions during the first five months of the Second Boer War. It includes an account of the Relief of Ladysmith, and also the ...
'' — a book by
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 Winston Churchill in the Second World War, dur ...
that includes an account of the
Relief of Ladysmith
When the Second Boer War broke out on 11 October 1899, the Boers had a numeric superiority within Southern Africa. They quickly invaded the British territory and laid siege to Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking. Britain meanwhile transported th ...
* Available as
* Available as
* available as
* Available as
* Available as
* Available as
*
''The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi'' — contains a number of chapters dealing with Ladysmith:
** Volume II - Indians in Ladysmith (29-10-1903); Indian Store-Keepers in Ladysmith (5-11-1903); Indian Licences in Ladysmith (10-12-1903)
** Volume IV - Ladysmith Licences (11-2-1904)
** Volume V - The Ladysmith Licensing Board (21-4-1906); Indentured Indians in Ladysmith (23-6-1906)
** Volume VI - Ladysmith Licences (23-2-1907); Ladysmith Appeals (20-4-1907); Licence Case in Ladysmith (11-5-1907); Ladysmith Struggle (18-5-1907)
** Volume VII - The Ladysmith Traders (31-8-1907); Licences in Ladysmith (31-8-1907); Indian Merchants of Ladysmith (26-10-1907)
References
External links
*
Ladysmith BattlefieldsLadysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
{{Authority control
Populated places in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality
Populated places established in 1850
1850 establishments in the Colony of Natal