Umlazi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Umlazi is a township on the east coast of South Africa. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. AIDS is a significant problem in Umlazi; 21% of women who visit clinics in the township are HIV positive. In this township roads are being built as well as new shopping complexes and schools. Libraries and technikons have been been built , which is vital for the place as many kids after finishing matric look for employment as they find it difficult to proceed to tertiary education. This situation has improved with the availability of a local institution which is both cheaper and better accessible to the locals. A positive development at Umlazi has been that the Reunion section the Mega City shopping mall has been finished and proved to be a success as people from Umlazi and Lamontville flocked into the mall at the opening day of the mall.
According to legend, the name Umlazi comes from "umlaza" (zulu for rotten milk). It is believed that Shaka when passing through the area, refused to drink water from the a river in the area, claiming that it tasted like "umlaza". It is from that incident that the place gets its name.
