Page 86 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

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HERITAGE STREETS OF KWA-MASHU
branches. In African culture, giraffe is often associated with qualities such as beauty, gentleness, and wisdom. In African folklore, for example, the giraffe is revered as a symbol of intuition and spiritual insight due to its ability to see far into the distance from its elevated perspective.
iNyala – the nyala is a spiral-horned and middle-sized antelope. The coat skin is rusty or rufous brown in females and juveniles. It grows a dark brown or slate grey in adult males, often with a bluish tinge. Females and young males have ten or more white vertical stripes on their sides. Other markings are visible on the face, throat, flanks, and thighs. Stripes are very reduced or absent in older males. Both males and females have a white chevron between their eyes. Only the males have horns. The nyala has hairy glands on its feet, which leave their scent wherever it walks.
uBhejane – There are two species of rhinoceros in South Africa, the white rhinoceros (umkhombe) and the black rhinoceros (ubhejane omnyama). Rhinos are one of the “Big Five” animals popular on African safaris. The name rhinoceros means ‘nose horn’. The white and black rhinos are actually the same colour. Despite the names, both species of African rhino have a grey skin color. Rhinos are one of South Africa’s biggest draw cards as the country is home to the largest remaining population of these ancient animals. White Rhinos (umkhombe in isiZulu) are not white but grey, and the name is thought to be a misinterpretation of the Afrikaans word “weid” (lips) meaning wide, in reference to their square-shaped mouth which helps them graze. The Black Rhino (ubhejane) is slightly smaller than the White Rhino. It is a browser and has a pointed lip that is specially adapted for pulling leaves off branches. The rhino is a highly protected animal in South Africa and the world and is usually hunted for its “medicinal” horn in Asian countries.
iNgwe – the leopard is a solitary and territorial animal. Leopards are the least social - and perhaps the most beautiful - of the
African big cats. Leopards scratch trees and use urine to mark their turf. A male leopard will defend his territory against other males but will share territory with females. Male and female leopards spend only a brief time together while they are mating and then go their separate ways. The female will then raise the cubs on her own. Leopards can survive for long periods without drinking, satisfying all their moisture needs from their prey. These big spotted cats have long been hunted for their soft fur — used to make coats and ceremonial robes — as well as for their claws, whiskers, and tails, which are popular as fetishes. Its skin is revered in the royal Zulu kingdom – and when a leopard is killed in a community is usually taken to the royal house as only the royalty is supposed to wear its skin (in a way a method of prohibiting its hunting). It is well recorded that when a leopard is deposited to the royal family, compensation in the form of cattle is a reward to the hunter. It is part of the Big 5.
iBhubesi – The lion is a well-muscled cat with a long body, large head, and short legs. Size and appearance vary considerably between the sexes. It is native to Africa and India. African lions have been admired throughout history as symbols of courage and strength. These iconic animals have powerful bodies—in the cat family. For all of their roaring, growling, and ferociousness, lions are family animals and truly social in their own communities. Its skin is only used by the king in the Zulu Kingdom setup – as the lion is also the king of the jungle. Lions are the only cats that live in groups. When it comes to the lion skin this means it is the symbol of status, royalty, bravery, and prestige.
uMthini – The African clawless otter, also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater otter species. The African clawless otters love crabs, but they will settle for fish, frogs, insects, and sometimes birds and small mammals if crabs aren’t abundant. In marine habitats, they will eat more fish than crabs, and supplement that diet with octopus and lobster.