Inanda or eNanda (

isiZulu Zulu (), or isiZulu as an endonym, is a Southern Bantu language of the Nguni branch spoken in Southern Africa. It is the language of the Zulu people, with about 12 million native speakers, who primarily inhabit the province of KwaZulu-Natal of ...

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

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 South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

that is situated 30 km north-west of the

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 ...

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

Black African Black is a Racialization, racialized 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 ...

s, Inanda Township is the home of

John Langalibalele Dube John Langalibalele Dube (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 Congress ( ...

, first president of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...

(ANC), as a residence/base of operations of

Mahatma 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- ...

, and as 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, thu ...

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 t ...

History

Brief Description Inanda Township is one of the original townships in the

EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000, that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majo ...

. In the 1600s Inanda Township was nothing more than an oasis for the few local Indigenous farmers. Until in the late 1700s when white settlers arrived in the area. Then in the 1800s, Inanda Township was used as a 'Reserve' for Black & uneducated people. In 1936, Indian farmers joined life in Inanda. In 1951, July 7, the then government introduced 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 system of u ...

, which meant more and more Black people came to Inanda Township. With no proper infrastructure from town-planning, housing, schools, clinics, roads, sanitation, and no water system. It meant life was downhill for the occupants of the township. Between 1984-1987, there were serious political and racial clashes/riots between the Indian & African communities, which drove away all Indian occupants to nearby areas such as

Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal Verulam () is a town 24 kilometres north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and part of the eThekwini Metropolitan area. History In 1850 a party of 400 Methodists settled here and formed the town. The town was then named after the Earl of ...

Phoenix, Durban Phoenix is a South African town about 25 kilometres northwest of Durban Central, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was established as a town by the apartheid government in 1976, but it has a long history of Indian occupation. It is associated wi ...

, and

Ottawa, KwaZulu-Natal Ottawa is a suburb in Durban, 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 Zu ...

. Inanda Township found itself greatly ignored by the

for a number of years even after South Africa first democratic elections in 1994 in terms of development. In 27 April 1994,

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

voted in Inanda Township He was elected as the first Black President of the Republic the same year.

Mafukuzela

, nicknamed "Mafukuzela" and his wife Nokutela Dube were born here in the 1870s at an American-run

Christian mission A Christian mission is an organized effort for the propagation of the Christian faith. Missions involve sending individuals and groups across boundaries, most commonly geographical boundaries, to carry on evangelism or other activities, such ...

station in Inanda. The son of a highborn Zulu pastor, Dube was educated 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. It is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational liberal arts college in the United S ...

in the United States. Upon returning to his native Inanda, Dube began to compose the first of his many thoughtful essays on the history and progress of Africans and founded the first bilingual Zulu/English newspaper, '' Ilanga laseNatali'' (The Sun of Natal), in 1903. Throughout his life, Dube was an active, pioneering author of

Zulu literature Zulu may refer to: Zulu people * Zulu Kingdom or Zulu Empire, a former monarchy in what is now South Africa * Zulu language, a Bantu language spoken in southern Africa * Zulu people, an ethnic group of southern Africa Arts, entertainment, and m ...

. He later became a vocal force for Black African advancement and liberation, serving from 1912–1917 as the first president of the

South African Native National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...

, which was to evolve into the influential

. Inspired by the work of

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

educator

Booker T. Washington Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African-American c ...

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. It was founded on Independence Day in 1881 by the state legislature. The campus was d ...

, 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 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 1904,

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- ...

, who had resided in nearby Durban since 1893, established a small village-like settlement, Phoenix Settlement, on the northwestern outskirts of Inanda. Boasting residences, a clinic, a school, and a printing press, Phoenix served for a time as an important home to Gandhi, his family and his followers as they strove to follow a path of social change through

passive resistance Nonviolent resistance (NVR), or nonviolent action, sometimes called civil resistance, is the practice of achieving goals such as social change through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, satyagraha, const ...

. The activist newspaper ''

Indian Opinion The ''Indian Opinion'' was a newspaper established by Indian lawyer and future anti-colonial activist M. K. Gandhi (later known as the Mahatma). The publication was an important tool for the political movement led by Gandhi and the Natal Indian ...

'', which argued strenuously for the civil rights of

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

, was published here in four languages. Phoenix Settlement continued to serve as home to a number of residents and activists even after Gandhi's departure in 1914, including his son,

Manilal Gandhi Manilal Mohandas Gandhi (28 October 1892 – 5 April 1956) was the second son of Mohandas 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 ...

. By the early 1980s, a squatter camp, Bhambayi, occupied most of the area around the Settlement. In 1985, riots in the camp over

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

caused heavy damage to Phoenix Settlement's buildings, and the community was largely abandoned until February 2000, when then-President

Thabo Mbeki Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki KStJ (; born 18 June 1942) is a South African politician who was the second president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he resigned at the request of his party, the African National Congress (ANC ...

formally committed to its reopening and restoration.

Nazareth Baptist Church

In 1910, the Zulu mystic and charismatic preacher

Isaiah Shembe Isaiah Mloyiswa Mdliwamafa Shembe (c. 1865John Langalibalele Dube (1936) ''uShembe'' (Pietermaritzburg: Shuter & Shooter Publishers Pty Ltd) – 2 May 1935), was the founder of the Nazareth Baptist Church, Ibandla lamaNazaretha, South Africa, ...

founded the Nazareth Baptist Church, an

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: Af ...

blending

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 ...

and indigenous Zulu traditions, in Inanda. Church doctrine emphasizes abstemious living and the

Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments (Biblical Hebrew עשרת הדברים \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, ''aséret ha-dvarím'', lit. The Decalogue, The Ten Words, cf. Mishnaic Hebrew עשרת הדיברות \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְ� ...

; its followers, themselves known as "Shembe", ascribe quasi- messianic powers to Isaiah Shembe and his descendants. The Church has undergone several schisms in the over 100 years since its founding. Most Shembe still hail from KwaZulu-Natal, and the historic and venerated Inanda church headquarters site,

ekuPhakameni eKuPhakameni is a small town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that was set out by one of the largest African Christian sects, the Nazareth Baptist Church. INkosi Isaiah Shembe Isaiah Mloyiswa Mdliwamafa Shembe (c. 1865John Langalibalele Dube ...

, remains in use.

Racial Conflict

Between 1978 and 1994 Inanda was the site of violent clashes between the town's African and Indian residents. Much of the town's Indian population moved away from Inanda to nearby Phoenix or Verulam in this period."Violence in Inanda, August 1985", Heather Hughes, ''Journal of Southern African Studies'' 13.3 (1987), pp. 331-354

Geography

Nearby communities in the province of

, in addition to the major city of

, include

KwaMashu KwaMashu is a township (South Africa), township north of Durban, South Africa. The name is in honour of Sir Marshall Campbell and means ''Place of Marshall''. KwaMashu is bordered by Newlands East to the south, Newlands West to the west, Ntuzuma t ...

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 area and is subdivided into multi-sections. These sections are primarily not in the form of letters (like in neighboring Kwamashu), but rather in actual names. The sections include, but not limited, Inanda Newtowns A, B, and C (locally known as Ematendeni), Dube Village, Ezimangweni, White City, Langalibalele, Ohlange, Amaoti, Lindley, Congo (D.R), Amatikwe, Phola, Ngoqokazi, Tafuleni, Ntanda, Emachobeni, Ngcungcwini, Soweto, & Glebe. While there's a great deal of debate whether from Umzinyathi, Manyaseni onwards falls within the Inanda perimeters. It actually doesn't, it falls under the Qadi Area. Be that as it may, the Qadi Area is not yet legally recognised as a 'stand-alone' Area. So the people from Qadi are forced to use Inanda for their post addresses, shopping centres and so forth. The Inanda section of Ohlange has become something of a tourist attraction because of its rich historical connection to the late Dr John Langibalele Dube.

Economy and infrastructure

In terms of economy, Inanda Township boasts the following. On the Northern part of the township is Inanda North Town Centre known as ''eMtshebheni'' to the locals. With stores like Shoprite, Checkout, Saverite, Furnco, Pep Store, Buildit, Cashbuild & so forth. There is also the Inanda SAPS Station nearby. On the Southern part of the township is the Dube Village Mall named in honour of the late Dr

. The Mall has the Inanda Post Office, Shoprite & plenty other stores. With franchise restaurants such as

KFC KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is an American fast food restaurant chain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, that specializes in fried chicken. It is the world's second-largest restaurant chain (as measured by sales) after McDonald's, with 2 ...

Debonairs Pizza Debonairs Pizza is a South African based pizza restaurant chain franchise founded in 1991 by Craig MacKenzie and Andrew Harvey. MacKenzie came up with the idea and business model to found the company following a gap-year trip to Los Angeles when ...

. Also with local entertainment pubs such as Sbu's Lounge (Amatikwe), Under The Moon Exclusive Lounge (Lindley), Zack's Exclusive Lounge (Inanda Glebe) to name a few. In terms of infrastructure, the township has multiple community health centres. With Inanda CHC Clinic situated on Umshado Rd, Newtown C. Inanda Newtown A & B Clinics, Sivananda Clinic in Ohlange, St. Joseph's Roman Clinic in Amatikwe, Bhekimpilo Clinic in Amatikwe to name a few. There's also the Abalindi Old Age & Orphanage Home in Amatikwe. There are also multiple recreational infrastructures such as Sporting fields with the Dr JL Dube Stadium as the biggest one, Children's Parks and the latest inventions by the

of Fitness Parks introduced in townships. There is also the Tafuleni Cemetery Park in Tafuleni Section which is one of the largest cemetery parks in the Ethekwini Metropolitan.

Education

* Amandlakayise Primary School — founded by J.L. Dube * Inanda Seminary School — independent girls' secondary school, founded in 1869 by the

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

* Langalibalele High Primary School — founded by J.L. Dube *

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

— founded by J.L. Dube and his Nokutela Dube as Zulu Christian Industrial School;Nokutela Dube
Johannesburg City Parks, retrieved 8 April 2015 in 1994, site of the

polling place A polling place is where voters cast their ballots in elections. The phrase polling station is also used in American English and British English, although polling place is the building

where

cast his vote in South Africa's first racially integrated national election * Redfern Primary School — (though in Phoenix) but founded by Dr J.L Dube. *Mvaba High School, Mqhawe High School, Inanda Newtown Comprehensive School, No-7 High School, JG Zuma High School, Intshisekelo High School, Nkosinathi High School and Sithabile High School to name a few. There is also the Elangeni FET College situated in Ohlange, on Dr Langalibalele Dube Drive. Which is a tertiary college offering Business & Engineering Courses & Qualifications.

Media

Inanda is the headquarters of bilingual (English/Zulu) radio station Inanda FM, which broadcasts throughout KwaZulu-Natal. It also the original home of the Ilanga Newspaper which was founded by

Notable residents

, educator, politician, publisher, editor, novelist and poet. Founder of

Ilanga lase Natal ''Ilanga lase Natal'' (''The Natal Sun'' or ''Sun of Natal'') is a Zulu language newspaper, published in KwaZulu-Natal. It was the first ever newspaper to be published in the language. It was co-founded in 1903 by John Langalibalele Dube.

& co-founder of Inanda Seminary School &

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

.He was the founding president of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), which became the

. * Nokutela Dube, first South African woman to found a school. Co-founder of Ilanga lase Natal newspaper, Ohlange Institute and Natal Native Congress (the precursor to the South African Native National Congress). Wife of

* Ndaba Mhlongo, actor and comedian. Husband of actress

Mary Twala Mary Kuksie Twala (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 productio ...

, brother of musician

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

& father of actor, TV personality & choreographer

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

, singer, dancer and composer. Sister of comedian Ndaba Mhlongo & aunt of TV personality

Mxolisi Kaunda Thomas Mxolisi Kaunda (born 13 September 1972) is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal serving as the Mayor of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality since 2019. He was the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaiso ...

, politician, Mayor of

eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000, that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majo ...

Bertha Mkhize Bertha Mkhize (6 June 1889 – 3 October 1981) was a South African teacher, who gained legal emancipation as a ''feme sole'' operating a business in her own right. As the government began implementing Apartheid in the late 1940s and early 1950s, ...

, teacher, businesswoman, woman's rights activist,

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 persecuted by the policie ...

activist. Born in Embo,

Umkomaas Umkomaas, a small coastal village on the subtropical south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa was formed when a harbour was built in 1861 to export sugar. The village rests beside the mouth of the navigable uMkhomazi River, also known as the Mk ...

, schooled at Inanda Seminary School &

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

, and lived most of her life in 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 unti ...

, former Mayor of the

, member of 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 ...

* Makoti Khawula,

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 persecuted by the policie ...

activist & 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 syste ...

for the

Economic Freedom Fighters The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African left-wing to far-left pan-Africanist and Marxist–Leninist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema, and hi ...

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 ...

, pilot and

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

hero. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and posthumously the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

. *

Sibusiso Khumalo (footballer, born 1989) Sibusiso Khumalo (born 8 September 1989) is a South African professional association football, soccer player who plays as a Defender (association football), defender for Black Leopards F.C., Black Leopards. References External links

* * ...

, footballer *

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 Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C., Golden Arrows in the South African Premier Soccer League. References

, footballer

References

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