Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal
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Amanzimtoti Toti |
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Amanzimtoti Main Beach
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 Amanzimtoti
Amanzimtoti
Amanzimtoti
Amanzimtoti shown within KwaZulu-Natal
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Location within Durban
Amanzimtoti
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| 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 | Andre Beetge (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.
King Shaka visited the area whilst on a raid down to Pondoland towards the end of his reign (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" 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.
In 1847 Dr Newton Adams moved from Umlazi (where he had established a mission station in 1836) to Amanzimtoti and started a new mission station. Dr Adams died in 1851, and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent Rev. Rood to Amanzimtoti in 1853 with the express object of opening up a school.Adams Mission Church was built inland of Amanzimtoti in 1852, and Adams College was built in 1853. The college was first named "Amanzimtoti Institute" and was later renamed after Dr. Adams in the 1930s.
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Wikipedia