Umlazi
Encyclopedia
Umlazi 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
.
According to legend, the name Umlazi comes from "umlaza" (Zulu
for the sour acid produced from fermented milk or sour milk). It is believed that when Shaka
was passing through the area, he refused to drink from a local river claiming it had the taste of "umlaza", from that incident, the area has been called Umlazi.
AIDS
is a significant problem in Umlazi; 21% of women who visit clinics in the township are reported to be HIV
positive. Umlazi, like many townships in the urban areas of Cape Town
, Port Elizabeth, Durban
, and Johannesburg
, is witnessing increased private and government investment, as witnessed in the construction of new shopping complexes, primary
and secondary
schools, Universities of Technology and libraries.
The new educational infrastructure is particularly important, as an affordable, easily accessible quality secondary education is valuable for many children in Umlazi, particularly with regards to their search for employment following school (most do not attend tertiary institutions
due to their family's financial resources).
Umlazi is the second largest township in South Africa, the first being Soweto. Umlazi is divided into Alphabets from A rite through to Z with an addition of AA, BB, CC. It consist of Umlazi Coastal College and Mangosuthu University of Technology. Mangosuthu H/Way being the most popular road in Umlazi. It has two shopping malls recenlty built, the Philani Mega mall and the Mega city mall which is at the entrance of Umlazi. Almost each section Umlazi consists of its own clinic and police station. The Zwelithini Stadium has recently been revamped for the FIFA World Cup 2010 and is based also in the Mangosuthu H/Way road. Crime is a big factor for umlazi. There are many schools in Umlazi and most of the schools are being vandalised. Namely Mziwamandla high school, which is the heart of Umlazi. Many children in this area go to this particular school. About 70% of these children don't pay school fees. This particular school has been broken into more than five times last year alone. It has also been burnt more than two times in 2010 alone. There are other schools who do very well and get 100% pass rate namely Comtech high school, Menzi High school, Zwelibanzi high school etc. About 30% of house are skwatta camps; in this place most of them have been taken down due to the building of new house (RDP). Most of the children here do not have a future, thus they live school early because there is no money in their families to further their education. HIV/AIDS is also a big factor for this township. Many people die from AIDS
in this area. Children are also born with AIDS and most of them are orphans due to this disease. About 40% people are jobless here thus leading to the youth resorting to crime.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, 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...
. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. The township is located south-west 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...
.
According to legend, the name Umlazi comes from "umlaza" (Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
for the sour acid produced from fermented milk or sour milk). It is believed that when Shaka
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
was passing through the area, he refused to drink from a local river claiming it had the taste of "umlaza", from that incident, the area has been called Umlazi.
AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
is a significant problem in Umlazi; 21% of women who visit clinics in the township are reported to be HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
positive. Umlazi, like many townships in the urban areas of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, Port Elizabeth, 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...
, and Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, is witnessing increased private and government investment, as witnessed in the construction of new shopping complexes, primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
schools, Universities of Technology and libraries.
The new educational infrastructure is particularly important, as an affordable, easily accessible quality secondary education is valuable for many children in Umlazi, particularly with regards to their search for employment following school (most do not attend tertiary institutions
Tertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage, third level, and post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, university-preparatory school...
due to their family's financial resources).
Umlazi is the second largest township in South Africa, the first being Soweto. Umlazi is divided into Alphabets from A rite through to Z with an addition of AA, BB, CC. It consist of Umlazi Coastal College and Mangosuthu University of Technology. Mangosuthu H/Way being the most popular road in Umlazi. It has two shopping malls recenlty built, the Philani Mega mall and the Mega city mall which is at the entrance of Umlazi. Almost each section Umlazi consists of its own clinic and police station. The Zwelithini Stadium has recently been revamped for the FIFA World Cup 2010 and is based also in the Mangosuthu H/Way road. Crime is a big factor for umlazi. There are many schools in Umlazi and most of the schools are being vandalised. Namely Mziwamandla high school, which is the heart of Umlazi. Many children in this area go to this particular school. About 70% of these children don't pay school fees. This particular school has been broken into more than five times last year alone. It has also been burnt more than two times in 2010 alone. There are other schools who do very well and get 100% pass rate namely Comtech high school, Menzi High school, Zwelibanzi high school etc. About 30% of house are skwatta camps; in this place most of them have been taken down due to the building of new house (RDP). Most of the children here do not have a future, thus they live school early because there is no money in their families to further their education. HIV/AIDS is also a big factor for this township. Many people die from AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in this area. Children are also born with AIDS and most of them are orphans due to this disease. About 40% people are jobless here thus leading to the youth resorting to crime.