Page 7 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

PART I
1. ABOUT THE BOOK
Astreet, like a path – is like blood vessels in the body of a living. A street connects people to their everyday different journeys in pursuance of feeding their important basic needs. Streets connect people, and
as they walk on them, they leave permanent footprints – their legacy, their selves and their heritage. From time immemorial even pathways had names – and some known or membered about their famous “deeds” or occurrences. Growing up at my rural eNtembeni home of Kwa-Qubuka at Nkwenkwe under Mthonjaneni I remember a famous pathway “KwaNdlalazibopho” – right inside the KwaSintongwe forest! Etymological means a place where the ropes for tying woods are just laid as woods are plenty! So, anyone going to “KwaNdlalazibopho” was guaranteed woods and just needed ropes to lay down! Some pathways were named after the river passing through it (eg. “indlela yaseMgovuzweni” – “a path of Mgovuzo river” or a forest, a stone (“eMachotshaneni path” – a footpath passing through the small shiny stones that get easily crushed (we used these stones to make craftwork as young school boys transforming them to beautiful ashtrays, or decorating shinny ornaments), or a historic tree next to the footpath (“indlela yaseNqunyeni” – a path of imiNqumo trees). These were indigenous ways of mapping pathways, a” GPS” of the past, long before modern streets and roads were built and given names. Kwa Mashu street names are more than just for directions – they are embedded with a rich heritage that is an important preservation of our historic past as AmaZulu and African natives.
This coffee-table book is about the importance of conserving our history and heritage. It is written to preserve the history of the Kwa-Mashu, a township northside of Durban, South Africa. This township has a rich and complex history that is often overlooked
in mainstream historical narratives. The book documents the stories and experiences of the people who have lived and continue to live in the township, as well as the social, cultural, and political movements that have shaped its development over time. More specifically, the book seeks clarity on the naming of the streets and place of Kwa-Mashu, and how these have in a sense shaped (or linked to) the future of those streets.
The importance of this book lies in its ability to provide a more complete and nuanced understanding of the history of the township, which has often been marginalized or ignored in official historical accounts. By documenting the lived experiences and perspectives of the people who call the township home, the book offers a valuable counter-narrative to dominant historical discourses, which have tended to privilege the perspectives of those in positions of power.
Furthermore, the book serves as an important tool for promoting social justice and equity. By acknowledging and centering the voices and experiences of those who have been historically marginalized, the book helps to challenge and disrupt existing power structures and narratives that perpetuate inequality and oppression.
In terms of the distinction between “official” and “unofficial” history, it is important to recognize that official historical accounts are often shaped by those in positions of power, and may reflect a particular political or ideological agenda. In contrast, unofficial histories, such as those documented in the coffee table book, are often produced by those who have been excluded from dominant historical narratives and may offer a more diverse and inclusive perspective on the past.
HERITAGE STREETS OF KWA-MASHU 3