A celebration of the rich history of Durban’s oldest township

KWAMASHU, Durban’s oldest township, celebrated its 60th anniversary this week with a series of events to mark its milestone.

Bonginkosi Zuma, a researcher at the Durban Local History Museums who hails from Kwamashu, gave his personal account on the formation of the township.

Addressing the audience who gathered at the Kwamashu indoor sports centre, Zuma spoke of the pain his parents endured when they were forcefully removed from Cato Manor, formerly known as Umkhumbane by the apartheid government.

Kwamashu was established in 1958, following the implementation of the Group Areas Act by the apartheid government. The township was built to physically separate people by race, especially Indians and blacks who lived together in Cato Manor.

“Our parents were forced to move into those houses.

“In some instances, if you were a widow you would get a two-room house or look for a husband in order to get a four-room house,” he said.

Zuma encouraged the youth and people in the community to visit the municipal museums to learn more about the history of the township which has produced artists, sports stars, politicians and academics.

Among the audience were Kwamashu-born musicians, academics and the cast from a popular TV drama aired on SABC1 daily that showcases life in the township.

The two-day celebration included the memorial lecture of apartheid activist Andrew Zondo, delivered by MEC for Health, Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

Zondo, a struggle stalwart from the township, was convicted and executed in 1985 after being found guilty of planting a bomb at a shopping centre in emanzimtoti that killed five people. Dhlomo was a friend and comrade of the late Zondo.

The celebrations ended with the Amahubo Dialogue aimed at promoting the rich arts and culture of the township.