Tongaat

Tongaat
Tongaat  Tongaat shown within South Africa
Location within Durban  Tongaat
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
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

Churches

• Tongaat hosts the Tongaat branch of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, founded by Rev John G. Lake in 1908.
• The Tongaat South Methodist Church was opened on 26 September 1979.
• The Anglican church of All Saints can be found in the historic Tongaat Sugar Company village of Maidstone.

Temples

• The Juggernathi Puri Temple which is a heritage landmark and tourist attraction. It was built in 1920 by the late Pandit Sirikishan Maharaj in a North Indian style.
• Sri Siva Soobramaniar Temple, which hosts what is arguably South Africa's largest Kavadi Festival, involving some of the oldest religious rituals in recorded history. also the Habibia Soofie Musjid which is 101 years old...
• The Vishwaroop Temple and Dharmashala was formally established in 1903.The temple hall is named after Mr Gopal Krishna Gokhalewho visited Tongaat and the Temple during his visit to South Africa on advise from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• The Brake Village Temple located in central Tongaat hosts the biggest Kavady festival on the continent during Autumn.

Tongaat's Victoria hospital opened in 1987.

Activities

Crocodile Creek, a crocodile farm where feedings can be viewed.

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.

Dudley Pringle Dam. A scenic venue north of the town; ideal for picnicking and watersports.

References

v t e Communities of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Seat: Durban Cities and towns Adams Mission Amanzimtoti Assagay Buffelsdraai Cato Ridge Chatsworth Chesterville Clermont Doonside Drummond Durban EkuPhakameni Hillcrest Illovo Illovo Beach Inanda Inchanga Karridene Kingsburgh KwaMashu La Mercy Lamontville Mount Edgecombe Mount Moreland Mpumalanga New Germany Ntuzuma Phoenix Pinetown Tongaat Umbogintwini Umbumbulu Umdloti Umgababa Umhlanga Umkomaas Verulam Warner Beach Winklespruit Suburbs of Durban Central Asherville (area) Berea (area) The Bluff (area) Cato Manor Essenwood Glenwood Mayville Morningside Overport (area) Stamford Hill Sydenham Windermere Yellowwood Park Northern Durban North KwaMashu Mount Edgecombe Phoenix Umdloti Umhlanga Western Botha's Hill Cowies Hill Gillitts Hillcrest Kloof New Germany Pinetown Queensburgh Westville Winston Park Shallcross Southern Amanzimtoti Chatsworth Isipingo Beach Umlazi Other Bellair Montclair Reservoir Hills Rossburgh Umbilo Woodhaven Woodlands