The University of Durban-Westville (UDW) was a

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...

situated in Westville, a town situated near

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 ...

, South Africa, which opened in 1972. It is now one of the campuses of the

University of KwaZulu-Natal The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is a university with five campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westvill ...

. It was initially established for Indians, as during

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 ...

there were few universities that admitted non-White students. Prior to the building of UDW, Indian students traveled by ferry to a facility at Salisbury Island, which had been established in 1961 as the University College for Indians UDW offered degrees in commerce, the arts, law, engineering, and health sciences and sciences in general. Later an indoor sports centre was built, which hosted national sporting events. UDW was the hub of many student anti-apartheid political rallies.

Campaign of intimidation

In 1995 it was reported that staff members had been subjected to death threats, violence, break-ins to their homes and offices and smear campaigns by other staff members.Sociology head is forced into hiding
''Times Higher Education'', 11 September 1995

Merger

On 1 January 2004 the University was merged with the University of Natal to create the

, as part of a broader reorganisation of South African universities.

Notable alumni

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, Minister of Finance *

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, commissioner for

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, prominent HIV prevention expert *

Roy Padayachie Radhakrishna Lutchmana "Roy" Padayachie (1 May 1950 – 5 May 2012) was the Minister of Public Service and Administration of the Republic of South Africa. He died in the early hours of 5 May 2012 in an Ethiopian hotel room, while on an offi ...

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in the

Kgosientso Ramokgopa Kgosientsho or Kgosientso "Sputla" Ramokgopa (born 25 January 1975) is a South African politician who was the Mayor of Tshwane from 2010 to 2016. He was also a Member of the Executive Council in the Gauteng provincial government in 2019 and c ...

, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane in 2010

References

Universities in KwaZulu-Natal University of KwaZulu-Natal Defunct universities and colleges in South Africa Educational institutions established in 1972 Educational institutions disestablished in 2004 1972 establishments in South Africa 2004 disestablishments in South Africa {{SouthAfrica-university-stub