Situated on the east coast of South Africa, on the Natal Bay of the Indian Ocean, Durban is the busiest port city in sub-Saharan Africa and was formerly named Port Natal. Durban is the seat of the larger eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which spans an area of 2,556 km2 (987 sq mi) and had a population of 4.2 million in 2022, making the metropolitan population one of Africa's largest on the Indian Ocean.
Durban has a rich, diverse heritage, with large Zulu, Indian, White, and Coloured populations. The timeline of human habitation in Durban goes back to long before the advent of recorded history in the region.
Early History and Inhabitants
Archaeological evidence from the Drakensberg mountains suggests that the Durban area has been inhabited by communities of hunter-gatherers since 100,000 BP. These people lived throughout the area of KwaZulu-Natal until the expansion of agro-pastoralists and pastoralists from the north saw their gradual incorporation. Prior to the arrival of the Nguni people and subsequent European colonialists, the area was populated by the original people of Southern Africa - now collectively called the Khoi/San.
Oral history has been passed down from generation to generation by the Zulu nation, who were inhabitants of the land before European colonisers, but there is no written history of the area until it was sighted by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who sailed parallel to the KwaZulu-Natal coast at Christmastide in 1497 while searching for a route from Europe to India. During Christmas 1497, Vasco da Gama saw the coast and named it Natal, the Portuguese word for Christmas.
Early European Encounters
In 1686, a ship from the Dutch East India Company named Stavenisse was wrecked off the eastern coast of South Africa. Some of the survivors made their way to the Bay of Natal (Durban) where they were taken in by the "Abambo" tribe (Hlubi people), which was led by Chief Langalibalele. The crew became fluent in the tribe's language and witnessed their customs.
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On 28 October 1689, the galiot Noord travelled from Table Bay to the Bay of Natal to fetch the surviving crew of the Stavenisse and to negotiate a deal for purchasing the bay. The Noord arrived on 9 December 1689, whereafter the Dutch Cape Colony purchased the Bay of Natal from the Abambo people for £1,650.
By 1822, James Saunders King, captain of the British ship Salisbury, together with Lt. Francis George Farewell, both men being former Royal Navy officers from the Napoleonic Wars, were engaged in trade between the Cape and Delagoa Bay. On a return trip to the Cape in 1823, they were caught in a severe storm and decided to risk the Bar and anchor in the Bay of Natal.
Establishment of Port Natal
In 1824 Lt. Farewell, together with a trading company called J. R. Thompson & Co., decided to open trade relations with Shaka the Zulu King, and establish a trading station at the Bay. On a visit to King Shaka, Henry Francis Fynn succeeded in befriending the king by helping him recover from a stab wound that he had suffered as a result of an assassination attempt by one of his half-brothers. As a token of his gratitude King Shaka granted, by document dated the 7th of August 1824, to “F. G. Farewell took possession of this grant and raised the Union Jack with a Royal Salute, which consisted of four cannon shots and twenty musket shots.
Only six of the original eighteen would-be settlers remained, and these six can be regarded as the founders of Port Natal as a British colony. These six were joined by Lt. Tension between the Voortrekkers and the Zulus prompted the governor of the Cape Colony to dispatch a force under Captain Charlton Smith to establish British rule in Natal, for fear of losing British control in Port Natal. The force arrived on 4 May 1842 and built a fortification that was later to be The Old Fort.
On the night of 23/24 May 1842, the British attacked the Voortrekker camp at Congella. The attack failed, and the British had to withdraw to their camp, which was put under siege. A local trader Dick King and his servant Ndongeni were able to escape the blockade and rode to Grahamstown, a distance of 600 km (370 mi) in fourteen days to raise reinforcements.
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In 1835, the settlement was named after Sir Benjamin D'Urban, then governor of Cape Colony, and became a borough in 1854. In the late 1830s and early ’40s the Boers clashed with the British over control of Durban.
Evolution of Durban's Coat of Arms
When the Borough of Durban was proclaimed in 1854, the council had to procure a seal for official documents. The seal was produced in 1855 and was replaced in 1882. The new seal contained a coat of arms without helmet or mantling that combined the coats of arms of Sir Benjamin D'Urban and Sir Benjamin Pine.
An application was made to register the coat of arms with the College of Arms in 1906, but this application was rejected on grounds that the design implied that D'Urban and Pine were husband and wife. Nevertheless, the coat of arms appeared on the council's stationery from about 1912. The following year, a helmet and mantling was added to the council's stationery and to the new city seal that was made in 1936.
The blazon of the arms registered by the South African Bureau of Heraldry and granted to Durban on 9 February 1979. The coat of arms fell into disuse with the re-organisation of the South African local government structure in 2000.
Post-Apartheid Era
With the end of apartheid, Durban was subject to restructuring of local government. In 1996, the city became part of the Durban UniCity in July 1996 as part of transitional arrangements and to eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 1999, with the adoption of South Africa's new municipal governance system. In July 1996, Obed Mlaba was appointed mayor of Durban UniCity; in 1999 he was elected mayor of the eThekwini municipality and re-elected in 2006. Following the May 2011 local elections, James Nxumalo, the former speaker of the council, was elected as the new mayor.
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Geography and Climate
Durban is located on the east coast of South Africa, looking out upon the Indian Ocean. The city lies at the mouth of the Umgeni River, which demarcates parts of Durban's north city limit, while other sections of the river flow through the city itself. The extent of urban sprawl the Greater Durban agglomeration has experienced, virtually adjoining surrounding smaller towns, has made boundaries in the metropolitan area quite complicated.
Durban has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with hot, humid summers and mild to warm, moderately dry winters, which are frost-free. Durban has an annual rainfall of 1,009 millimetres (39.7 in).
A 2019 paper published in PLOS One estimated that under Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5, a "moderate" scenario of climate change where global warming reaches ~2.5-3 °C (4.5-5.4 °F) by 2100, the climate of Durban in the year 2050 would most closely resemble the current climate of Kigali. Moreover, according to the 2022 IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Durban is one of 12 major African cities which would be the most severely affected by future sea level rise. It estimates that they would collectively sustain cumulative damages of US$65 billion under RCP 4.5 and US$86.5 billion for the high-emission scenario RCP 8.5 by the year 2050.
Demographics
Durban is ethnically diverse, with a cultural richness of mixed beliefs and traditions. Zulus form the largest single ethnic group. It has a large number of people of British and Indian descent. From 1860 onwards, indentured labourers from British India arrived in Durban, as well as later passenger Indians. In the years following the end of apartheid, there was a population boom as black Africans were allowed to move into the city.
The population grew by an annual average of 2.34% between 1996 and 2001. The population of the city of Durban and central suburbs such as Durban North, Durban South and the Berea increased 10.9% between 2001 and 2011 from 536,644 to 595,061. The proportion of black Africans increased while the proportion of people in all the other racial groups decreased.
Population Changes (2001-2011):
| Racial Group | 2001 (%) | 2011 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Black Africans | 34.9 | 51.1 |
| Indians or Asians | 27.3 | 24.0 |
| Whites | 25.5 | 15.3 |
| Coloureds | 10.26 | 8.59 |
Economy and Industry
Sugar refining is one of Durban's main industries. Durban has a number of informal and semi-formal street vendors. The city's main position as a port of entry onto the southern African continent has led to the development of national roads around it.
Culture and Attractions
Durban has numerous parks including the Botanic Gardens with its orchid house, Jameson Park and its rose gardens, and Snake Park with its collection of poisonous reptiles. The city is home to the University of KwaZulu-Natal, formed in 2004 through the merger of the University of Durban-Westville and the University of Natal.
There are several museums and black and Indian markets. Cultural and sporting events are held in Moses Mabhida Stadium, part of the larger King’s Park Sporting Precinct, a commercial, retail, and leisure district.
The Phansi Museum is located in the historic Roberts House, a 19th-century colonial mansion and former home of Esther Roberts, a librarian and collector of Africana, member and supporter of the Black Sash anti-apartheid group. The collection and library is now linked to the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It is one of the most extensive Southern African art museums in the world, founded by Paul Mikula, who purchased artefacts from traditional craftspeople through Southern Africa over 30 years. The collection includes 19th-century beadwork, pottery, carvings, and textiles.
The Playhouse Theatre is located on Anton Lembede Street (formerly Smith Street). The original building on the site was a cinema built in 1896, which was rebuilt in 1935 in Tudor Revival style. The cinema reopened on 7 June 1935 and finally closed in the 1970s. After being taken over by the Performing Arts Council in the 1980s, the building was restored in 1985-6, and with the former Colosseum Theatre (or Prince's Theatre) is now a performing arts centre with five venues.
Among the places of worship, there are predominantly Christian churches and temples.
This is the Durban GOLDEN MILE in South Africa
South Beach and the Golden Mile
Located at the south end of the Durban Golden Mile is the scenic South Beach. Golden sands and warm blue waters are irresistible for swimmers, surfers and sunbathers that want to get the most out of their South African summer vacation. This beach is particularly popular, not only for its undeniable aesthetic appeal, but also for the safety afforded to it by the presence of shark nets and lifeguards.
The small waves make it a hotspot for aspiring surfers to learn, as well as for body-boarders and stand-up paddlers. Little ones can splash around in the shallower waters while the others play Frisbee or read a good book on the warm, inviting beach. Lazy walks with the soft sand underfoot are a must for the summer days when all that matters is sunshine, fresh air, and the tune of the waves as they lap the shore.
Because this part of the South African coastline is fed by the Indian Ocean, the water is much warmer than on the west coast, making it ideal for children or visitors that just aren't ready for icy dips. This stretch of the Durban coastline is occupied by a host of restaurants and bars, which are just a few minutes away from the beach. So, after a day spent enjoying South Beach, head out for a night of good food and great vibes.
There is a flea market on the beachfront too, where visitors will find great deals and unique items. This part of the Golden Mile is home to a water park, an aquarium, a surf museum, and a theme park. The uShaka Marine World is a must for families that want to get up close to a variety of impressive marine species. Watch dolphin performances, meet a seal, go cage diving with sharks, and feed the rays. There are also waterslides here for the ultimate in fun and excitement for the whole family.
South Beach is less than 10 minutes from the CBD of Durban, and 30 minutes from the King Shaka International Airport.
Transportation
King Shaka International Airport services both domestic and international flights, with regularly scheduled services to Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Harare, Manzini and Gaborone as well as eight domestic destinations. The airport's position forms part of the Golden Triangle between Johannesburg and Cape Town, which is important for convenient travel and trade between these three major South African cities. The airport opened in May 2010.
King Shaka International Airport handled 6.1 million passengers in 2019/2020, up 1.8 percent from 2018/2019. King Shaka International was constructed at La Mercy, about 36 kilometres (22 mi) north of central Durban.
Durban has a long tradition as a port city. The Port of Durban, formerly known as Port Natal, is one of the few natural harbours between Port Elizabeth and Maputo, and is also located at the beginning of a particular weather phenomenon that can cause extremely violent seas. MSC Cruises bases one of their cruise ships in Durban from November to April every year. From the 2023/2024 Southern Africa cruise season MSC Cruises will be basing the MSC Splendida in Durban.
Durban is the most popular cruise hub in Southern Africa. Cruise destinations from Durban on the MSC Splendida include Mozambique, Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar and other domestic destinations such as Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Many other ships cruise through Durban every year, including some of the world's biggest, such as the RMS Queen Mary 2, the biggest ocean liner in the world.
Durban has built a brand new R200 million cruise terminal that has been in operation since October 2019, the Durban Cruise Terminal.
Naval Base Durban on Salisbury Island (now joined to the mainland and part of the Port of Durban), was established as a naval base during the Second World War. It was downgraded in 2002 to a naval station.
Shosholoza Meyl, the passenger rail service of Spoornet, operates two long-distance passenger rail services from Durban: a daily service to and from Johannesburg via Pietermaritzburg and Newcastle, and a weekly service to and from Cape Town via Kimberley and Bloemfontein.
Metrorail operates a commuter rail service in Durban and the surrounding area.
The N3 Western Freeway, which links Durban with the economic hinterland of Gauteng, heads west out of the city. The N2 Outer Ring Road links Durban with the Eastern Cape to the south, and Mpumalanga in the north. The N3 Western Freeway starts in the central business district and heads west under Tollgate Bridge and through the suburbs of Sherwood and Mayville. The N2 Outer Ring Road cuts through the city from the north coast to the south coast.
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