Page 15 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

bearded man of Kwa Mashu). Some says this bearded man heard the gunshot from the hostel for the first time at Thembalihle rail station and fell down from the platform legs up – unfortunately - was hit by an approaching train – his head with its long beard was seen rolling and rolling and crying like hell on the other side of the rail line!! From then an idiomatic expression of “uyokhala ngaphansi okwentshebe yaKwa-Mashu” (you will fall under like a bearded man of Kwa-Mashu) - was born. Even today, there is no famous bearded man than the one from Kwa-Mashu Township.
Well, nowadays Kwa-Mashu is also famously known as “eShwini” (a nickname taken from e-si-Ma-Swhini = at Mashu)
Kwa-Mashu is the only township with its anthem, the famous “Ngeke Ngiye Kwa Mashu, Ngesaba Amavolovolo” which translates to mean “I will never set foot at Kwa Mashu as I am
scared of the guns”. This logically reflects terror in the hearts of many when “Kwa-Mashu” name is mentioned – a place formerly and hugely associated with harsh violences and aggressiveness over and above its uniqueness with famous artistic talents.
In terms of demarcations, Kwa Mashu Township is separated according to “Sections”. Indeed, some Sections in Kwa Mashu are more famous than others due to the historical violence associated with it: for example, “Section L” (Ezikhalini) has been known as the most violent area of them all. People of the area also nicknamed it “London” a found city in England and is alsoknownforproducinggreatpoliticalactivistsandleaders including the first-ever female KZN Premier Nomusa Dube- Ncube. Born in KwaMashu township, former Ambassador Nomusa Dube-Ncube made history on 10 August 2022 when she was sworn in as the first woman Premier of KwaZulu-Natal since the political developments that gave birth to South
HERITAGE STREETS OF KWA-MASHU 11