Umlazi is a

township A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...

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, located south-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 ...

. Organisationally and administratively it forms part of 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 ...

and its South Municipal Planning Region. It is the fourth largest township in South Africa, after

Soweto Soweto () is a Township (South Africa), township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western T ...

Tembisa Thembisa, formerly Tembisa, is a large Township (South Africa), township situated to the north of Kempton Park, Gauteng, Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1957 when black people were resettled from Alexandr ...

and

Katlehong Katlehong is a large township in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It is 28 km south-east of Johannesburg and south of Germiston between two other townships of Thokoza and Vosloorus next to the N3 highway. It forms part of the City of E ...

. Prior to 1 December 2023, Umlazi was the only township in the country that had its own registration plate, which was NUZ. It is divided into 26 sections, A through to Z, with the exception of I, O and X, but with an addition of AA, BB and CC.

Etymology

According to legend, the name Umlazi comes from "umlaza", the Zulu word for the sour acid produced from fermented or sour milk. It is believed that when

King Shaka Shaka kaSenzangakhona (–24 September 1828), also known as Shaka (the) Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms ...

was passing through the area, he refused to drink from a local river claiming it had the taste of "umlaza". The area was called Umlazi after this incident.

Geography

Umlazi is approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) south-west of the

CBD, between the uMlaza River to the north and eZimbokodweni River to the south, with the smaller Siphingo River flowing in the southern parts of the township. It lies at an average altitude of approximately 101 m (331 ft) above sea level in the hills south-east of Durban. Its neighbouring towns are Chatsworth to the north,

Mobeni Mobeni is a suburb of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and forms part of the heavily industrialised South Durban Basin, a sub-region south of Durban. Subdivisions Mobeni is a collective of three suburbs that lie between Chatsworth and the ...

to the north-east, Malukazi to the south-east, the defunct

Durban International Airport Durban International Airport (formerly Louis Botha Airport) was the international airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban. His ...

and

Isipingo Isipingo is a town situated south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and currently forms part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The town is named after the Siphingo River, which in turn is thought to be named (in the Zulu language) ...

to the east, eZimbokodweni and Golokodo to the south and Esidweni, Inwabi and Ehlanzeni to the east.

Infrastructure

Umlazi, like many townships in the urban areas of

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

Port Elizabeth Gqeberha ( , ), formerly named Port Elizabeth, and colloquially referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipal ...

, and

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

, is witnessing increased private and government investments, as seen in the construction of new shopping complexes,

primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Work ...

and secondary schools,

universities of technology An institute of technology (also referred to as technological university, technical university, university of technology, polytechnic university) is an institution of tertiary education that specializes in engineering, technology, applied science ...

and libraries. The new educational infrastructure is particularly, as an affordable, easily accessible quality secondary education is valuable for many children in Umlazi, particularly with regards to their search for employment following school. Most young residents do not attend tertiary institutions due to their family's limited financial resources. There are now three shopping malls in Umlazi, the Mega-Philani Shopping Centre, Kwa-Mnyandu Shopping Centre and Umlazi Mega City Mall which is located just off the freeway that exits to Umlazi. The recently built KwaMnyandu Shopping Centre opened its doors on 5 June 2014. Almost all sections in Umlazi have a clinic and a police station. The

King Zwelithini Stadium King Zwelithini Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Umlazi, a township south-west of Durban, South Africa. It is used mostly for football matches and was initially set to be utilized as a training field for teams participating in the 2010 FIFA ...

, which is located on the Griffiths Mxenge Highway, has been revamped for the

2010 FIFA World Cup The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national Association football, football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. ...

it is home to

AmaZulu FC Amazulu FC was a Association football, football club based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The club played in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League. The team was founded in 1996 by Charles Mhlauri and after nine years the club was dissolved. In 2003 the tea ...

football club that is based in and around

Umlazi Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. Organisationally and administratively it forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and its South Municipal Planning Region. It is the fourth largest ...

Education

Umlazi has two FET Colleges, Umlazi Coastal College V and BB Campuses, which are the equivalent of American Community Colleges, and a university, Mangosuthu University of Technology. There are schools that produce 100% Matric (Grade 12) pass rate, including Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School Umlazi Comprehensive Technical High School (ComTech), Menzi High School, Velabahleke High School, Zwelibanzi High School and Qhilika High School. About 30% of homes in Umlazi are informal settlements (tin and wooden shacks). Most of these informal settlements have been demolished and replaced with brand new homes and roads that are part of the Residential Development Project (RDP).

Transport

Roads

Umlazi is serviced by two

freeways A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway, and expressway. Other similar terms ...

, namely the N2 Outer Ring Road, running in a north–south direction from

KwaDukuza KwaDukuza, previously known as Stanger, is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 2006, the municipal name was changed to KwaDukuza (which incorporates towns such as Stanger, Ballito and Shakaskraal), but the Zulu people in the area called ...

Port Shepstone Port Shepstone is a large town situated on the mouth of the Mzimkhulu River, the largest river on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast of South Africa. It is located halfway between Hibberdene and Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, Margate and is positioned 120&nbs ...

and the M4 Inkosi Albert Luthuli Freeway, running in a north–south direction from the R102/M30 interchange towards

in the north-east. The main arterial route intersecting Umlazi is the M30 Griffiths Mxenge Highway (previously Mangosuthu Highway) which connects the township with Durban, via the M4, to the north-east and with Umbumbulu to the west. Of importance is also the R102 South Coast Road, bypassing Umlazi to the east and connects it with

to the north-east and with

and

Prospecton Prospecton is an industrial suburb located south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. History Since 1931, the open flat undeveloped land of Prospecton which separates the two residential areas of Isipingo, Isipingo Rail inland and Isiping ...

to the south-east, and the M35 Sipho Mkhize Drive, connecting the southern parts of Umlazi with Lotus Park to the south-east and with Folweni to the south-west.

Notable people

* Andile Khumalo (Composer and a music lecturer) *

Baby Cele Baby Cele-Maloka ( nee Cele;born 22 March 1972) is a South African actress born in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. Career Cele gained recognition for her role as Kaltego Rathebe, a character she portrayed for eight years on the now defunct e.tv youth ...

(Actress) *

Big Nuz Big Nuz was a South African Kwaito trio from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, founded in 2002. The group was composed of three members known by their stage names Mampintsha, R Mashesha, and Danger. History 2003–2006: Early years The founding member ...

(Music group) *

Black Coffee Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content, but decaffeinated coffee is also commercially ava ...

* Brilliant Khuzwayo (Soccer player) * Griffiths Mxenge (anti-apartheid activist) * Japhet Zwane (Soccer player) *

Khanyi Dhlomo Khanyi Dhlomo (born 17 December 1972) is a South African journalist and magazine editor. Early life Dhlomo was born in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, the daughter of Oscar Dhlomo. She went to school at Durban Girls' College, in Durban, while there she ...

Khaya Mthethwa Khaya Mthethwa (born 25 November 1987) is a South African singer-songwriter, musician, composer, arranger, and a multi-instrumentalist. Prior his solo career, was a choir member of the gospel group Joyous Celebration. Born and raised in Durban, ...

(Singer & Pastor) * Gabisile Nkosi (artist) * Linda Sikhakhane (Saxophonist and composer) * Linda Sokhulu (Actress) *

Okmalumkoolkat Simiso Zwane (born Brian Simiso Zwane; 27 July 1983), commonly known by his stage name Okmalumkoolkat (sometimes stylized as OkMalumKoolKat) is a South African rapper and half of the rap/ electronic duo Dirty Paraffin from Umlazi Township in D ...

(Musician & producer) *

Promise Mthembu Sethembiso Promise Mthembu (born 1975) is a South African human rights activist and researcher, best known for her work on HIV/AIDS and women's rights. One of the first women in South Africa to publicly share that she was living with HIV, Mthembu ...

(HIV/AIDS activist) *

Samke Makhoba Samkelisiwe "Samke" Makhoba (born 25 July) is a South African actress who has a leading role in two series of MTV Shuga when it was set in South Africa. Life Samke Makhoba was born in Pinetown. She first chose to study science at the Universit ...

, Actress * Senzo Meyiwa (Soccer player) * Sifiso Mzobe (Author) *

Siyabonga Shibe Siyabonga Mlungisi Shibe (born 23 February 1978) is a South African actor from Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. Early life Shibe was born and raised in Umlazi, Kwazulu-Natal. He attended Ganges Secondary School, where his teachers encouraged him to pur ...

(Actor) * Usimamane (Rapper) *

Victoria Mxenge Victoria Nonyamezelo Mxenge (1 January 1942, Qonce, Eastern Cape – 1 August 1985, Umlazi, Durban, Natal) was a South African anti-apartheid activist; she was trained as a nurse and midwife, and later began practising law. Life Mxenge was born ...

(anti-apartheid activist) *

Zanele Muholi Zanele Muholi (born 1972) is a South African artist and visual activist working in photography, video, and installation. Muholi's work focuses on race, gender and sexuality with a body of work that dates back to the early 2000s, documenting and ...

(Artist and visual activist)

References

External links

Umlazi OnlineBBC Radio 5 Live's Umlazi projectA short documentary following Lucas back to his home town in Umlazi Township
{{Authority control Townships in KwaZulu-Natal Suburbs of Durban