KwaMashu
Encyclopedia
KwaMashu is a township
twenty miles north of Durban
, South Africa
with very high levels of poverty and crime.
to live in the township, or for blacks to live in the nearby city of Durban.
Due to high rates of deprivation, unemployment and a turbulent political history these three townships have been grouped together for the purpose of State regeneration and poverty alleviation projects by the South African Government. The City of Durban or eThekwini Municipality
runs a system of governance called Area Based Management (ABM) as part of the South African government’s urban renewal program. INK ABM’s stated aims are to complement the services of the municipality whilst focusing on the mobilisation of actors and the coordination of secure integrated and sustainable development at the local level. Projects include the development of a shopping centre and health care clinics, providing microfinance to small business and creating agricultural opportunities for unemployed women, funding local development projects.
, violence, crime and high rates of HIV, within the township, a lively performing arts scene thrives including Maskandi, hip hop
, pansula dancing, dance, drama. Through performance the young people of KwaMashu are raising the cultural profile of KwaMashu, aided significantly by the skills, resources and direction of eKhaya Multi Arts Centre for Arts and Performance.
The township also boasts a community radio station at the eKhaya Multi Arts Centre, called Vibe 94.70 FM, which has been in operation for two years.
movement is very prominent in the informal settlements and transit camps in the KwaMashu area. They claim to have membership in K-section, Siyanda A, B, and B5, and in two Richmond Farm transit camps.
Township (South Africa)
In South Africa, the term township and location usually refers to the urban living areas that, from the late 19th century until the end of Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites . Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities...
twenty miles north of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with very high levels of poverty and crime.
History
The township was formed by the apartheid state to house the mass resettlement of Africans that were living in Cato Manor during 1958-65. It is the largest of 3 townships in the area (Inanda and Ntuzuma are more rural with a lower population density). Until 1994, apartheid rules meant that it was illegal for white peopleWhite people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
to live in the township, or for blacks to live in the nearby city of Durban.
Renewal
In total the Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) area is home to 500,000 people living on 9,572 hectares of land, with almost 25% having incomes below subsistence level - and a 30% unemployment rate. The area is associated with high levels of violence and crime, 17 times higher than the affluent areas of the urban core (Hindson, 2001).Due to high rates of deprivation, unemployment and a turbulent political history these three townships have been grouped together for the purpose of State regeneration and poverty alleviation projects by the South African Government. The City of Durban or eThekwini Municipality
Ethekwini
eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000 that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majority of its 3,090,126 people speak Zulu...
runs a system of governance called Area Based Management (ABM) as part of the South African government’s urban renewal program. INK ABM’s stated aims are to complement the services of the municipality whilst focusing on the mobilisation of actors and the coordination of secure integrated and sustainable development at the local level. Projects include the development of a shopping centre and health care clinics, providing microfinance to small business and creating agricultural opportunities for unemployed women, funding local development projects.
Arts
KwaMashu is notable for its lively performance arts scene. Although the people of KwaMashu have to cope with issues of high rates of sexual abuseSexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
, violence, crime and high rates of HIV, within the township, a lively performing arts scene thrives including Maskandi, hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, pansula dancing, dance, drama. Through performance the young people of KwaMashu are raising the cultural profile of KwaMashu, aided significantly by the skills, resources and direction of eKhaya Multi Arts Centre for Arts and Performance.
The township also boasts a community radio station at the eKhaya Multi Arts Centre, called Vibe 94.70 FM, which has been in operation for two years.
Civil Society
The Abahlali baseMjondoloAbahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
movement is very prominent in the informal settlements and transit camps in the KwaMashu area. They claim to have membership in K-section, Siyanda A, B, and B5, and in two Richmond Farm transit camps.
Public schools
- NqabakaZulu Comprehensive High School
- Sibonelo High School
- Sivananda FET School
- Zakhe High School
- Mzuvele High School
- Zeph Dlomo High School
- John Dube High School
- Mukelani Higher Primary
- Nkulisabantu Lower Primary
- Bhekilanga Lower Primary
- Phuthumani Primary
- Kwesethu High School
- Daluxolo Lower Primary
- Ngazane Lower Primary
- Nhlakanipho High School
- Phakama Higher Primary
- Shayamoya Lower Primary School
- Dumani Lower primary School
- Buhle Higher Primary school
- Ndabazezwe Lower Primary School
- Tholamandla Higher Primary School
- Thandimfundo Lower Primary School
- Khuphukani Lower Primary School
Related Townships
- InandaInanda, KwaZulu-NatalInanda is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that is situated 24 km inland from Durban and now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan Municipality...
- Ntuzuma
- uMlaziUmlaziUmlazi is a township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. The township is located south-west of Durban....
- Chesterville
- Lamontville
Famous People from KwaMashu
- Siyabonga NomvetheSiyabonga NomvetheSiyabonga Eugene Nomvethe is a South African soccer player who has played in several European leagues, and now represents Moroka Swallows in the Premier Soccer League...
- Leleti KhumaloLeleti KhumaloLeleti Khumalo is a Zulu South African actress who played the leading role in the movie Sarafina! alongside Whoopi Goldberg and who starred in the films Hotel Rwanda and Yesterday.-Early life and Sarafina!:...
- Henry CeleHenry CeleHenry Cele was a South African actor famous for his chilling performance as Shaka Zulu in SABC's Shaka Zulu miniseries. Born in Durban, South Africa, he landed the role of Shaka in the miniseries after acting out the same role in a South African stage production of Shaka Zulu.Henry also had a...
- Alfred/Tu Nokwe (Nokwe Family)
- Sipho Gumede
- Jeff RadebeJeff RadebeJeffrey Thamsanqa "Jeff" Radebe , is currently South Africa's Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development. He was born in Cato Manor, and lived there until 1958 when his family was forcibly removed to KwaMashu....
- Dumisani Makhaye
- Mandla Masuku
- Qunta Mbhele
- Bongani Nkwanyana
- Themba Gasa
- Eugine Mthethwa
- Mtholephi Mthimkhulu
- Lindiwe Ntuli
- Lucky Molefe
- Siphiwe Khanyile
- Sipho Mkhize
KwaMashu on film
- 2008 film "Kwa Mashu: Still my Home" by director Owen 'Alik ShahadahOwen 'Alik ShahadahOwen 'Alik Shahadah is a director, African writer, and scholar. He is best known for authoring works, which deal with African history, social justice, environmental issues, education and world peace...
in conjunction with South African arts centre Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre under K-CAP with Edmund Mhlongo (Executive Producer), based in KwaMashu. The film is about the history of the township.