Page 25 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

ESITHEKU OR ETHEKWINI
Some argumentative oral narration relates that the reason why the area was referred to as eThekwini is taken from uMntwana Sitheku Zulu* – but now without an “s” to only “iTheku” – which gave birth to the name of
eThekwini – arguing the place should have been referred to as
eSitheku.
However, a practically accurate oral narration recounts that the story of “itheku” is taken from King Shaka reference to the Bluff hilltop edge as similar to “ithweka” of the bull (“isende” = testicle: “ithweka isende lenkunzi elilodwa, njengokuma kwentatshana yase Bluff”). Therefore, eThwekweni (written eThekwini by early translators), and it is further said even the Luthuli (under Mlalazi), the Qwabe (Gumede), and Magaye (Cele) cattle also used to graze along the area. (Although the Luthuli people were said to be just the overseers appointed by Shaka).
It is said when seated eThusini (today part of University of KwaZulu-Natal) under the tree and looking at the Bluff harbour area (“emtateni”), King Shaka once mentioned to Magaye people that he foresaw a different man-kind people appearing along that mouth of the harbour area (“kukhona abazolunguza laphaya, abangabelumbi” – “some strange people will appear, they are like magicians” – hence the whites when they first arrived in KwaZulu they were referred to as “Abelumbi” later “Abelungu”).
Oral narrations further remind us of the Khangelamankengane Royal Kraal of King Shaka under the guidance of the Luthulis (Madlanduna) under Shada. Some of the culprits (“izigangi” or “izilambi” or “amankengane”) used to illegally take and hide other people’s cattle along the “mthungulu forest trees” near the sea. When reported to King Shaka, he advised that the
HERITAGE STREETS OF KWA-MASHU 21