Tongaat

Tongaat

Aerial view of Tongaat
Tongaat
Tongaat
Tongaat

 Tongaat shown within KwaZulu-Natal

Coordinates: 29°34′00″S 31°07′00″E / 29.56667°S 31.11667°E / -29.56667; 31.11667Coordinates: 29°34′00″S 31°07′00″E / 29.56667°S 31.11667°E / -29.56667; 31.11667
Country South Africa
Province KwaZulu-Natal
Municipality eThekwini
Established 1945
Area[1]
  Total 11.72 km2 (4.53 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 42,554
  Density 3,600/km2 (9,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
  Black African 41.1%
  Coloured 1.2%
  Indian/Asian 56.7%
  White 0.4%
  Other 0.5%
First languages (2011)[1]
  English 59.3%
  Zulu 32.3%
  Xhosa 3.6%
  S. Ndebele 1.0%
  Other 3.8%
Postal code (street) 4399
PO box 4400
Area code 032

Tongaat is a sugarcane growing township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, that is situated on the banks of the Tongati River about 37 km north of Durban and 28 km south of Stanger. It now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban metropolitan area. Its population is predominantly people of Indian descent. Aesthetically English colonial but distinctly cosmopolitan in flavour, Tongaat, part of the Sugar Coast, now supports one of the largest sugar-producing districts in the world.

History

Tongaat was established in 1945 and its name was corrupted from the river's name, Tongati, the Zulu word for the Strychnos mackenii trees that flourish on its banks.


Commerce

The town is the centre for the Tongaat Hulett Sugar and the Moreland Molasses Companies. Maidstone Sugar Mill, one of the country's first mills, completed in 1850. Some original sugar-crushing methods are still employed.

Places of worship

Mosques

- Railway street mosque. 16 Railway St, Tongaat, KWAZULU NATAL, South Africa

- Ghandi's hill mosque.... Gopalall Hurbans Road, Gandhis Hill, Tongaat 4399

Churches

Temples

Activities

Crocodile Creek, a crocodile farm where feedings can be viewed. Ndolondolo reptile park. Where you can view many different types of reptilian.

Scenic drives. Many drives in the area are picturesque including the road from Verulam, the parks and gardens of Amanzimyama on the approach into Tongaat. Westbrooke beach about 10 mins from tongaat. For shopping purposes, visit Ballito, almost like a smaller version of umhlanga. Just 7 minutes to ballito. - Ballito is Lined with many shopping centres and beautiful beaches. An atrraction for many tourists. Tongaat is 15 minutes away from Umhlanga. Tongaat is very close to the airport. Roughly 5–7 minutes from Tongaat..

Accommodation - Rain farm lodge. Picturesque. And with different game/wildlife on the property.... And Many other hotels and guests houses in ballito or umhlanga

Notable people

The award winning scientist Quarraisha Abdool Karim was born here inn 1960.[2] There is a statue of Dr. Ansuyah Ratipul Singh near the town hall in Tongaat.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Tongaat". Census 2011.
  2. Gerald M. Oppenheimer; Ronald Bayer (4 June 2007). Shattered Dreams: An Oral History of the South African AIDS Epidemic. Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 247–. ISBN 978-0-19-530730-6.
  3. "Ansuyah Ratipul Singh" South African History Online" (2011).
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