Sezela

Sezela

Sezela Sugar Mill
Sezela
Sezela
Sezela

 Sezela shown within KwaZulu-Natal

Coordinates: 30°25′S 30°41′E / 30.417°S 30.683°E / -30.417; 30.683Coordinates: 30°25′S 30°41′E / 30.417°S 30.683°E / -30.417; 30.683
Country South Africa
Province KwaZulu-Natal
District Ugu
Municipality Umdoni
Established 1915
Area[1]
 • Total 5.53 km2 (2.14 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 1,203
 • Density 220/km2 (560/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 25.7%
 • Coloured 1.7%
 • Indian/Asian 66.2%
 • White 5.8%
 • Other 0.6%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • English 75.6%
 • Zulu 15.1%
 • Xhosa 2.1%
 • Afrikaans 1.7%
 • Other 5.5%
Postal code (street) 4215
PO box 4215

Sezela is a small town with a big sugar mill on the mouth of iSezela River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 1828, Shaka hunted down a man-eating crocodile here called iSezela meaning the one who smells out, for it was said that it hunted like a wild dog following a trail. The river and town are named after the crocodile. 78.7 km South of Durban, you will find this friendly town of iSezela.

History

In 1915 Reynolds Brothers opens the Sezela mills. It was later purchased by C G Smith then by Illovo Sugar and finally by Associated British Foods. In his book, Duncan du Bois gives detail on the ill treatment of the Indian indenture labour that was brought from India(below reference, a very good read). The workers had a choice to return to India after their indenture contract has expired, yet they chose to stay behind to develop this 'unknown area' into Sezela. Sezela was the only Indian settlement alongside the sea in those early years of the Indian colonisation in Natal.

The town(village) sprung up, initially separated by race/employment band. Originally, management position was reserved for the white race Apartheid legislation. Sezela is subdivided into district being, New Dheli, Oceanvale, Lower Sezela, Upper Sezela(latter 2 district does not exist). Sezela boasts 2 country clubs(Club Blue Horizon and Sezela Country Club), 2 primary school (Sezela State Aided Indian & Sezela Primary....but sadly, the names of school has changed after 1994 to climatise with the current political atmosphere). The state aided school was heavily subsidized by the local sugar mill. The school in honor of the subsidy named the school athletics'houses' after the pioneer sugar magnates.

Geography and culture

Sezela is blessed with endless shore's of the Indian Ocean.The fishing ground is extremely good and the annual sardine run is enjoyed both by the locals and visitors. Famous Sezela fishing grounds, nDazingaan, Shad Cutting(place where shad get stranded when tide goes out), Mamba drain(locals use to spot black mamba's frequently swimming in this channel), Mill Rock(these rocks are directly opposite the mill), Gornna Rock(local engineer favourit fishing rock), Ruben Bay(Late uncle Titus son Ruben drowned in this bay), "A" Frame(the 'A' steel structure of the rail way siding) and Washing Rocks(where locals use to wash their cloths).

Sezela is also very rich in terms of culture and religion. In this small town you would find the friendly church's Adonai Baptist (Pst.M Mariemuthu), Emmanuel (ECSA) and Prevailing Word Fellowship (Pst.N Sivalingam). There is also a local Siva Subramaniam Temple. The temple host the Kavadi Attam around January/February annually. All these religious institutions are well run by the local community.

Well known Sezela soccer clubs are Eagles & Dheli Falcons. Sezela is also home to Massam's Confectionery

Sezela Temple

Prevailing Word Fellowship

The original Temple was built during the early 1930s with brick walls and a metal roof. A wood and iron hall was built adjacent to the Temple. This hall was used for weddings,bioscopes and cultural functions. During the early 1940s this hall was used as an English Primary school. The premises was also used by the Saiva Sithantha Sungam on a Sunday morning to conduct their Sunday Services.

During the year 1969 the Temple was demolished and relocated to the present site Lot 70, Syringa Lane. The Temple observes all the festivals in accordance with the Tamil Panchangam. In the context of Murugan worship, the Thaipoosam Kavady Festival is observed annually. During the year 2015 approximately 35 Kavady-bearers offered the Kavady to Lord Murugan on the Main Thaipoosam Kavady Festival Day.

Notable people

Well known Sezela family are the Muthus(I am the grandson of the Muthu's only sister Mariemah #proud), George's, Sivalingams, Mariemuthu, Mudrai, Kandasami, Visser. The family 3rd generations(and some 4th) are still residents of Sezela. Well known Sezela State Aided Primary School educators are, Mr.AA Govender, MR.KK Arumugaam, Mrs.MAV Ramiah, Ms.A Puckree, Late Mr.A Banjan, Mrs.SS Banjan, Late Mr. B Naidoo, Mrs.V Reddy (née Naidoo), Mr.KP Reddy

Sezela has produced many doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants, engineers and other profenional individuals. Commonwealth finalist(2016), Lucy Peters has her roots in Sezela. [2]

Sezela barracks

One of the old residents who was born in the Sezela Barracks is 89-year-old Poinamma Pillay, whose father had three wives and 11 children – three daughters and eight sons. "We all grew up in Sezela barracks where we had to share communal toilets and bathing facilities with other neighbours," she said. "It was a hard life and my grand-father, who was from India, didn't want me to attend school. He was of the view that even if girls get educated they must finally get married and serve their husbands. "I was married at the age of 11 to my husband who was from the Beneva sugar estate nearby. We stayed in Beneva for some time before we moved to Lower Sezela and Esperanza. "I had ten children – four boys and six girls," she said. Her husband, two sons and three daughters are now late. She now lives with a daughter in the New Delhi area of Sezela. Another field hand and sugar factory worker who grew up in Sezela barracks is 74-year-old Chellan Chinappen. He retired in 1997 after working for Illovo Sugar for 44 years. He was part of a large family of four brothers and three sisters. His father, Chinnakanu, and mother, Muniamma, moved to Sezela barracks from the Nagoli sugar estate when he was about 10- years-old. He attended the local Sezela State Aided Indian School and started work as a field hand at the age of 15. "Life was very tough for all of us where we all had to live in compounds made of wood and iron and had to use communal toilets and water," he said. "It was only sometime later that the company built the block houses. But we still did not have inside toilets and water. For many years we had to stand in long queues to use the toilets and bathing facilities. It was not good. "Only after many representations and petitions that the company thought we deserve our own toilets, water and electricity," said Mr Chinappen. Mr Chinappen, who was the chairman of the Sezela Barracks Indian Council for 20 years, said in the early days about 20 000 people lived in the Sezela Barracks, Lower Sezela, Upper Sezela, Bazley and Brake Barracks. Like other sugar estates, Sezela residents had also built their own temples and churches. "Today there are only about 200 families living in the old Sezela barracks and in the recently-established New Delhi area," he said. A number of young people have followed in the footsteps of their parents and work at the Sezela sugar mill as technicians, clerks and managers. One of the young men working at the mill is 42-year-old Sidney Murthy. He has worked at the mill for the past 17 years and lives in one of the original block houses, which he has improved and renovated. "My father was born here and my three sisters and I were born here. My grand-father came from India," he said. "I have purchased this house from the company and we love this place because it is quiet, peaceful and right next door to the beach."A number of outside people have purchased property here after the old residents moved out," he said. The remaining Sezela residents still send their children to the local Sezela Primary School and maintain and promote their cultures and traditions through the local Sezela Siva Subramaniam Temple and three churches. Like other sugar estates – Sezela had also produced its fair amount of teachers, doctors, lawyers, and business people. Most of the young people have migrated to other areas – especially Durban and Johannesburg. (Simple life back in the days submitted by:Treio Pilay)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Sezela". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ "Former Sezela lass is a finalist in Mrs Commonwealth Pageant".


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