Page 126 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

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HERITAGE STREETS OF KWA-MASHU
CLOSING REMARKS
Kwa-Mashu is a township in transition, with many developmental initiatives and plans awaiting implementation. This includes the construction of the KwaMashu Cultural Precinct as part of the Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre, which will boast a bigger theatre facility and a space for cultural creative industries entrepreneurship.
The Cottonon Foundation of Australia has made serious investments in Kwa-Mashu by rebuilding two schools and transforming them into state of the art – the eThekwini Primary School under Principal Zulu (section B opposite K-CAP) and Dr JL Dube High School (section B) under Principal Magwaza.
Many great business developments have seen the emergence of Bridge City Mall, the inimitable Ntuzuma Court next to the Mall, and the state-of-the-art Prixley Ka Isaka Seme Hospital. A modern-style residential block building is emerging opposite the Bridge City Mall.
Princess Magogo Stadium (P-section) was given a facelift and huge transformation in 2010 as part of the historic Soccer World Cup event in South Africa. Princess Magogo (who was a daughter of King Dinuzulu and mother of Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi) earned for herself the distinction of being acknowledged as the greatest exponent of Zulu music during her lifetime – also an honor for Kwa-Mashu to be associated with this great legendary creative of the past.
Kwa-Mashu Shopping Centre and Kwa-Mashu Station have been given a reconstruction boost.
Kwa-Mashu has an opportunity to transform the four abandoned and closed schools into state-of-the-art multi- purpose academies of sports, arts, and even youth business hubs. The number one SA TV soapie of UZALO has continuously filmed in various Kwa-Mashu sites, providing sustainable jobs to many local people and small businesses.
Kwa-Mashu is part of the key stakeholder in the eThekwini Municipality’s Area-based Management (ABM) strategy in the form of Inanda-Ntuzuma-KwaMashu (INK) which is to include Phoenix to make it a PINK area.
Kwa-Mashu as a revolutionary township has indeed produced greats in politics including the KZN Housing MEC Dumisani Makhaye (with a street even named after him), Mr. Jeff Radebe (first Minister of Public Works under democracy from 1994), Ms. Baleka Mbete (former Speaker of National Assembly), Mrs Nomusa Dube-Ncube (first woman Premier of KZN), Mr Curnick Ndlovu, Mrs Gladys Mazibuko, Mr Dumisani Ngema, and so many political activists. Even former President Jacob G Zuma once stayed in Kwa-Mashu. A daughter of Chief Albert Mvumbi Luthuli (the first Africa Nobel Peace Prize Winner) Mrs. Jane Thembekile Luthuli-Ngobese stayed at Kwa Mashu Section B.