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Pietermaritzburg

Pietermaritzburg (/ˌpiːtərˈmærɪtsbɜːrɡ/;[4] Zulu: umGungundlovu) is the capital and second-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838 and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its Zulu name umGungundlovu is the name used for the district municipality. Pietermaritzburg is popularly called Maritzburg in English and Zulu alike, and often informally abbreviated to PMB. It is a regionally important industrial hub, producing aluminium, timber and dairy products, as well as the main economic hub of Umgungundlovu District Municipality. The public sector is a major employer in the city due to the local, district and provincial governments being located here. It is home to many schools and tertiary education institutions, including a campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It had a population of 228,549 in 1991;[5] the current population is estimated at over 600,000 residents (including neighbouring townships) and has one of the largest populations of Indian South Africans in South Africa.

The city was founded by the Voortrekkers, following the defeat of Dingane at the Battle of Blood River, and was the capital of the short-lived Boer republic, Natalia. Britain took over Pietermaritzburg in 1843 and it became the seat of the Natal Colony’s administration with the first lieutenant-governor, Martin West, making it his home. Fort Napier, named after the governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Thomas Napier, was built to house a garrison. In 1893, Natal received responsibility for their own government and an assembly building was built along with the city hall.

On 7 June 1893, while Mahatma Gandhi was on his way to Pretoria, a white man objected to Gandhi’s presence in a first-class carriage. Despite Gandhi having a first-class ticket, he was ordered by the conductor to move to the van compartment at the end of the train: he refused, and he was removed from the train at Pietermaritzburg.

Shivering through the winter night in the waiting room of the station, Gandhi made the momentous decision to stay on in South Africa and fight the racial discrimination against Indians there. Out of that struggle emerged his unique version of nonviolent resistance, Satyagraha. Today, a bronze statue of Gandhi stands in Church Street, in the city centre.

In 1910, when the Union of South Africa was formed, Natal became a province of the Union, and Pietermaritzburg remained the capital.During apartheid, the city was segregated into various sections. 90% of the Indian population was moved to the suburb of Northdale while most of its Zulu inhabitants were moved to the neighbouring township of Edendale.

Kershwin Goldstone‚ the alleged serial killer accused of the brutal murders

Man admits to PMB old age home serial murders

August 4, 2018 Newsroom 0

Pietermaritzburg – Kershwin Goldstone‚ the alleged serial killer accused of the brutal murders of three retirement home residents‚ has made […]

police dog killed

Police dog killed in the line of duty as it brings down suspected criminal

July 28, 2018 Newsroom 0

A police dog was struck and killed by a truck on the N3 freeway following a high-speed chase of three […]

Jacaranda Lodge retirement

Terror in PMB old age homes as second victim is murdered in his flat

July 23, 2018 Newsroom 0

Elderly residents are concerned about their safety after an 89-year-old disabled man was stabbed to death in his room at […]

#FuelMustFall in Pietermaritzburg and Durban

WATCH: Nine arrested as fuel-protest causes traffic chaos on N3

July 18, 2018 Newsroom 0

Durban – Nine truck drivers were arrested on Wednesday morning for blockading the N3 outside Pietermaritzburg in protest against rising […]

kenywn old age home murder

92-year-old woman strangled to death at KZN old age home

July 13, 2018 Newsroom 0

Pietermaritzburg – A 92 year-old resident at the Kenwyn Old Age Home in Pietermaritz Street, Pietermaritzburg was found dead on […]

KZN domestic worker hides dead baby in basket

June 23, 2018 Newsroom 0

A KZN family was horrified to find their domestic worker’s dead baby wrapped in a plastic bag and hidden in […]

house fire pmb

Five killed in Pietermaritzburg house fire

April 12, 2018 Newsroom 0

Five people have lost their lives in a house fire in the Willowton area of Pitermaritzburg. Paramedics from ER24 and […]

five pedestrians die, driver killed

Alleged drunk driver stabbed to death after killing 5 in KZN horror crash

March 31, 2018 Newsroom 0

Pietermaritzburg – An alleged drunk bakkie driver was stabbed to death after smashing into some pedestrians killing five on Edendale […]

fatal crash pmb

80-year-old PMB motorcyclist dies in collision with light motor vehicle

February 26, 2018 Newsroom 0

Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal: At approximately 09H12 Sunday morning Netcare 911 responded to call of a collision on the corners of Retief […]

Crime and courts

Man gets 16 years in jail for raping a 10-year-old PMB girl

February 2, 2018 Newsroom 0

PIETERMARITZBURG – A 23-year-old man has been convicted and sentenced for raping a 10-year-old girl in the Peace Valley area. […]

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