Amanzimtoti
|
Amanzimtoti Toti |
|
|---|---|
Amanzimtoti Main Beach
|
|
 Amanzimtoti
Amanzimtoti
Amanzimtoti
Amanzimtoti shown within KwaZulu-Natal
|
|
|
Location within Durban
Amanzimtoti
|
|
| Coordinates: 30°03′S 30°53′E / 30.050°S 30.883°ECoordinates: 30°03′S 30°53′E / 30.050°S 30.883°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Municipality | eThekwini |
| Government | |
| • Type | Ward 97 |
| • Councillor | Trent scrowther (DA) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.19 km2 (3.55 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 13,813 |
| • Density | 1,500/km2 (3,900/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 22.1% |
| • Coloured | 1.9% |
| • Indian/Asian | 8.2% |
| • White | 67.3% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 50.9% |
| • Afrikaans | 30.6% |
| • Zulu | 14.0% |
| • Xhosa | 1.3% |
| • Other | 3.1% |
| Postal code (street) | 4126 |
| PO box | 4125 |
| Area code | 031 |
Amanzimtoti is a coastal town just south of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The town is well known for its warm climate and numerous beaches, and is a popular tourist destination, particularly with surfers, and the annual sardine run attracts many to the Tyron beaches.
According to local legend, when the Zulu king Shaka led his army down the south coast on a raid against the Pondos in 1828, he rested on the banks of a river. When drinking the water, he exclaimed "Kanti amanzi mtoti" (isiZulu: "So, the water is sweet"). The river came to be known as Amanzimtoti ("Sweet Waters"). The Zulu word for "sweet" is actually mnandi, but, as Shaka's mother had the name Nandi, he invented the word toti to replace mnandi out of respect not to wear out her name. Locals frequently refer to the town as "Toti". In 2009 the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Geographical Names Committee recommended changing the town's name to aManzamtoti/eManzamtoti.
Legend holds that King Shaka named Amanzimtoti after drinking water from a river or stream in the area whilst on a raid down to Pondoland. This allegedly took place towards the end of his reign, which lasted from 1816 to 1828. When Shaka stopped to rest in the area, he had his personal attendant collect water from a nearby stream. This water was presented to King Shaka in a calabash. After drinking the water he exclaimed "Kanti amanz'amtoti"(isiZulu: "So, the water is sweet"). Extensions of the legend tell that King Shaka had sat under a large wild fig tree to drink the water, or that he used to meet local indunas (chiefs) under a specific fig tree. The exact tree is unknown; one tree laying claim to the distinction fell down in March 1972, and another fell down in June 1981.
Dick King passed through the Amanzimtoti area on his way to Grahamstown in 1842 in order to request help for the besieged British garrison at Port Natal (now the Old Fort, Durban). The route that Dick King took through Amanzimtoti later became a road named Kingsway.
...
Wikipedia