Page 128 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

124 HERITAGE STREETS OF KWA-MASHU
In the cultural and creative industries (CCI) space Kwa-Mashu boasts the best in KZN – from Dr. Madala Kunene (musician), Mr. Henry Cele (Shaka Zulu actor), Mr. Alfred Nokwe, Mrs Patti Nokwe, Ms. Tu Nokwe, Dr. Thembi-Mtshali Jones, Mr Ronald Mqwebu, Ms Leleti Khumalo, Ms. Nomzamo Mbatha, Brenda Mhlongo, Melusi Yeni, Deborah Fraser, Sipho Gumede, Mthunzi Namba, Mandla Masuku, Duze Mahlobo, Qunta Mbhele, Wake Mahlobo, Bongani Nkwanyana, Madoda Ncayiyana, Bheki Mkhwane, Faca Khulu, AVANTE, Thee Legacy, Zakes Bantwini (Grammy Award Winner), Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, etc.
In sports Kwa-Mashu always produced the best from Joel “Fire” Faya, Siyabonga “Bhele” Nomvete, Lucky Molefe (Section-J), Muthi Ngobese, Pa Gaxa, Siyanda Xulu, Thabo Cele, Thatente Mbatha to mention but a few.
In the business and entrepreneurship sphere, Kwa-Mashu has produced the Mnguni, Afrika, Mzi Khumalo, Khulubuse Zuma, Mhlongo, Hlabisa, Nkomo, Zodwa Msimango, Mfundo Thango, Thandazani Nyide (Ndabase), Ngwenya (Splash taxi business), KI Mbatha (also taxi business), and many, many deserving to be featured. A businessman like Sibonelo Mbatha has heavily invested in the garage business in Kwa-Mashu. Kwa-Mashu will transform even more with heavy inward investment by the endowed entrepreneurs of this location.
This is a township that has a lot of potential and great things to offer across all sectors including entrepreneurship.
Maybe one day the township will be renamed away from the Sir Marshal Campbel to something that resonates with the rightful owners of this land, AmaQadi/emaQadini (Ngcobos) or maybe even eMbelebeleni which was once King Shaka’s kraal at Section-A.
This book could not exhaust and cover so many things rich about this historic township. This provides a great scope for future volumes even by other authors from Kwa-Mashu. The book’s focus was more on the rich heritage as presented by the streets of Kwa-Mashu Township. African traditional wisdom and isiZulu in particular have historically provided a large body of knowledge about the environment, heritage, and culture. Reminding KwaMashu people about the wealth hidden in their street names could even prove a masterstroke when it comes to the awareness issue of climate change and environment preservation.
“Of making many books there is no end”