Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal


Inanda is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that is situated 30 km north-west of the Durban CBD; it forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan Municipality. Populated primarily by Zulu-speaking Black Africans, Inanda Township is the home of John Langalibalele Dube, first president of the African National Congress, as a residence/base of operations of Mahatma Gandhi, and as birthplace of the syncretic Nazareth Baptist Church

History

Brief Description
Inanda Township is one of the original townships in the EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. In the 1600s Inanda Township was nothing more than an oasis for the few local Indigenous farmers. Until in the late 1700s when white settlers arrived in the area. Then in the 1800s, Inanda Township was used as a 'Reserve' for Black & uneducated people. In 1936, Indian farmers joined life in Inanda. In 1951, July 7, the then government introduced the Group Areas Act, which meant more and more Black people influxed to Inanda Township. With no proper infrastructure from town-planning, housing, schools, clinics, roads, sanitation, and no water system. It meant life was downhill for the occupants of the township. Between 1984-1987, there were serious political and racial clashes/riots between the Indian & African communities, which drove away all Indian occupants to nearby areas such as Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, Phoenix, Durban, and Ottawa, KwaZulu-Natal. Inanda Township found itself greatly ignored by the EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality for a number of years even after South Africa first democratic elections in 1994 in terms of development. In 27 April 1994, Nelson Mandela voted in Inanda Township He was elected as the first Black President of the Republic the same year.

Mafukuzela

, nicknamed "Mafukuzela" and his wife Nokutela Dube were born here in the 1870s at an American-run Christian mission station in Inanda. The son of a highborn Zulu pastor, Dube was educated at Oberlin College in the United States. Upon returning to his native Inanda, Dube began to compose the first of his many thoughtful essays on the history and progress of Africans and founded the first bilingual Zulu/English newspaper, Ilanga laseNatali, in 1903. Throughout his life, Dube was an active, pioneering author of Zulu literature. He later became a vocal force for Black African advancement and liberation, serving from 1912-1917 as the first president of the South African Native National Congress, which was to evolve into the influential African National Congress.
Inspired by the work of African-American educator Booker T. Washington and his Tuskegee University, Dube and his wife founded several schools in Inanda, including Ohlange High School, Redfern Primary School, and Langalibalele High Primary School. Dube's home neighborhood in Inanda, Dube Village, now contains numerous memorials to his efforts.

Nazareth Baptist Church

In 1910, the Zulu mystic and charismatic preacher Isaiah Shembe founded the Nazareth Baptist Church, an African initiated church blending Christianity and indigenous Zulu traditions, in Inanda. Church doctrine emphasizes abstemious living and the Ten Commandments; its followers, themselves known as "Shembe", ascribe quasi-messianic powers to Isaiah Shembe and his descendants.
The Church has undergone several schisms in the over 100 years since its founding. Most Shembe still hail from KwaZulu-Natal, and the historic and venerated Inanda church headquarters site, ekuPhakameni, remains in use.

Racial Conflict

Between 1978 and 1994 Inanda was the site of violent clashes between the town's African and Indian residents. Much of the town's Indian population moved away from Inanda to nearly Phoenix or Verulam in this period.

Geography

Nearby communities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, in addition to the major city of Durban, include KwaMashu and Ntuzuma.
Inanda Township occupies an extensive area and is subdivided into multi-sections. These sections are primarily not in the form of letters, but rather in actual names. The sections include, but not limited, Inanda Newtowns A, B, and C, Dube Village, Ezimangweni, White City, Langalibalele, Ohlange, Amaoti, Lindley, Congo, Amatikwe, Phola, Ngoqokazi, Tafuleni, Ntanda, Emachobeni, Ngcungcwini, Soweto, & Glebe. While there's a great deal of debate whether from Umzinyathi, Manyaseni onwards falls within the Inanda perimeters. It actually doesn't, it falls under the Qadi Area. Be that as it may, the Qadi Area is not yet legally recognised as a 'stand-alone' Area. So the people from Qadi are forced to use Inanda for their post addresses, shopping centres and so forth. The Inanda section of Ohlange has become something of a tourist attraction because of its rich historical connection to the late Dr John Langibalele Dube.

Economy and infrastructure

In terms of economy, Inanda Township boasts the following. On the Northern part of the township is Inanda North Town Centre known as eMtshebheni to the locals. With stores like Shoprite, Checkout, Saverite, Furnco, Pep Store, Buildit, Cashbuild & so forth. There is also the Inanda SAPS Station nearby. On the Southern part of the township is the Dube Village Mall named in honour of the late Dr John Langalibalele Dube. The Mall has the Inanda Post Office, Shoprite & plently other stores. With franchise restaurants such as KFC & Debonairs Pizza. Also with local entertainment pubs such as Sbu's Lounge, Under The Moon Exclusive Lounge, Zack's Exclusive Lounge to name a few.
In terms of infrastructure, the township has multiple community health centres. With Inanda CHC Clinic situated on Umshado Rd, Newtown C. Inanda Newtown A & B Clinics, Sivananda Clinic in Ohlange, St. Joseph's Roman Clinic in Amatikwe, Bhekimpilo Clinic in Amatikwe to name a few. There's also the Abalindi Old Age & Orphanage Home in Amatikwe. There are also multiple recreational infrastructures such as Sporting fields with the Dr JL Dube Stadium as the biggest one, Children's Parks and the latest inventions by the EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality of Fitness Parks introduced in townships. There is also the Tafuleni Cemetery Park in Tafuleni Section which is one of the largest cemetery parks in the Ethekwini Metropolitan.

Education

There is also the Elangeni FET College''' situated in Ohlange, on Dr Langalibalele Dube Drive. Which is a tertiary college offering Business & Engineering Courses & Qualifications.

Media

Inanda is the headquarters of bilingual radio station Inanda FM, which broadcasts throughout KwaZulu-Natal. It also the original home of the Ilanga Newspaper which was founded by John Langalibalele Dube.