Page 18 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

14 HERITAGE STREETS OF KWA-MASHU
Kwa Mashu located about 20kms north of Durban, is a good venue for township tours and shebeen crawls. Kwa Mashu was originally established in 1958 (around October) through the forced removals of African people from Cato Manor (Mkhumbane) – and became the first township in Durban. The housing types found in the township range from the originally built red brick 2-roomed and 4-roomed houses. The 2-roomed houses are mainly found in Sections B, C and J. Then there are double-four-roomed (mainly sections E&F) and doubled- roomed – mainly L-Section. However, with residents earning extra income most houses have been developed into nice 5-6-roomed houses – some with quality face-bricks. During the late 1970s – a new set of rich housing development took place – mainly in Section D – with mansions like style.
Oral narrations indicate that originally Kwa Mashu was populated mainly by the Qadi (AmaQadi) people, the Ngcobos (oFuze) under their Ngcobo chieftainship – including all surrounding areas of uMhlanga (named after the river with lots of reeds along it). Their boundary ran along the uMngeni river (“mungeni” from “umunga” tree, as there were many “iminga” trees along the river, henceforth the name uMngeni. AmaQadi are the ones who ensured that King Shaka had a meeting place when he was around eThekwini areas and his main Royal Kraal was built to what is today, Section A (eHostela, eZinsizweni (it was specifically built for Zulu men only as migrant labourers for Durban Harbour and surrounding factories, no women was allowed), also known as “Ngaphakathi” for its enclosure). King Shaka’s royal kraal was named “eMbelebeleni” hence in his praises he is referred to as “uDlungwane woMbelebele” (“bele” is a tit, especially of a cow – and Shaka had many, as he continuously conquered nations to create more kraals for his followers to suckle).
In areas of Ballito, Mount Edgecombe, oral narration says the Nxumalo people resided there led by Mntwana Mkhungo, most from Nongoma (under King Zwide of the Ndwandwe