Pietermaritzburg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pietermaritzburg uMgungundlovu  (Zulu)
City
From top, left to right: St. Peter's Church, Post Office, City Hall, Kwa-Zulu Natal Museum, Airport
Nickname(s):  PMB, Maritzburg, Mirichbhag (Bhojpuri)
Pietermaritzburg Location in KwaZulu-Natal Show map of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg Location in South Africa Show map of South Africa Pietermaritzburg Location in Africa Show map of Africa
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	uMgungundlovu
Municipality	Msunduzi
Established	1839
Area
• Total	126.15 km2 (48.71 sq mi)
Elevation	596 m (1,955 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Total	839,327
• Density	6,653.40/km2 (17,232.2/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	70.0%
• White	14.2%
• Indian/Asian	8.4%
• Coloured	6.9%
• Other	0.3%
First languages (2011)
• Zulu	57.0%
• English	28.9%
• Afrikaans	4.2%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	3201
PO box	3200
Area code	033
Vehicle registration	NP

Pietermaritzburg (/ˌpiːtərˈmærɪtsbɜːrɡ/) is an important city in South Africa. It is the capital and second-largest city in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The city was named in 1838. It is often called Maritzburg or PMB for short.

Pietermaritzburg is a key industrial area. It produces things like aluminium, timber, and dairy products. Many government offices are also located here. This makes the public sector a big employer. The city has many schools and universities. One of them is the University of KwaZulu-Natal. In 2023, the city's population was estimated to be over 839,000 people. It has one of the largest groups of Indian South Africans in the country.

A Look at Pietermaritzburg's Past

Pietermaritzburg City Hall in 1924

The city was settled by Voortrekkers in April 1838. This happened after Piet Retief and his group were killed by the Zulu King Dingane. The Voortrekkers were looking for land to settle. They later defeated Dingane at the Battle of Blood River. Before this battle, they made a promise. If they won, they would build a sacred church. This church, called The Church of the Vow, still stands today.

Pietermaritzburg quickly became the capital of the short-lived Natalia Republic. In 1843, Britain took control. The city then became the main administrative centre for the Natal Colony. Fort Napier was built to house soldiers. In 1893, Natal gained more control over its own government. A new assembly building and city hall were built.

A statue of Gandhi in Church Street, Pietermaritzburg. It was unveiled in 1993.

A very important event happened here in 1893. A young Mahatma Gandhi was travelling by train. He had a first-class ticket. But he was told to move to a different part of the train because of his race. He refused and was removed from the train at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station. That cold night, Gandhi decided to stay in South Africa. He chose to fight against unfair treatment. This led to his famous idea of nonviolent resistance, called Satyagraha. Today, a statue of Gandhi stands in Church Street.

In 1910, the Union of South Africa was formed. Natal became a province, and Pietermaritzburg became one of the country's capitals. During the time of apartheid, the city was divided by race. Many Indian people moved to Northdale. Most Zulu people moved to Edendale township. White people moved out of those areas.

How Pietermaritzburg Got Its Name

There are two main ideas about where the city's name comes from. One idea is that it was named after two Voortrekker leaders: Piet Retief and Gerrit Maritz. The other idea is that it was first named only after Piet Retief's full name, "Pieter Mauritz' Burg." Later, this name changed to Pietermaritzburg.

Church Street in Pietermaritzburg around 1900

Interestingly, neither Retief nor Maritz ever reached Pietermaritzburg. Retief was killed by Dingane, the Zulu king. Maritz died from illness near Estcourt.

Before the city was built, the area was called uMgungundlovu by the Zulu people. This name means "Place of the Elephant." It might also mean "The elephant wins." This suggests it was a place where a Zulu king had a great victory. Legend says that King Shaka used to send his warriors to hunt elephants here. They would sell the ivory to traders in Durban. Today, the city still uses its Voortrekker name. But the local government area is called uMgungundlovu.

Key Moments in Pietermaritzburg's History

• The first newspaper in Natal, the Natal Witness, started in 1846. It is now called The Witness.
• The Botanic Gardens were created in 1872. They cover 46 hectares.
• The city hall was destroyed by fire in 1895. It was rebuilt in 1901. It is the largest red-brick building in the Southern Hemisphere.
• During the Second Boer War, the British built a concentration camp here. It housed Boer women and children.
• In 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested near Howick, north of Pietermaritzburg. This arrest led to his 27 years in prison. A small monument marks the spot of his arrest.

Pietermaritzburg as a Capital City

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature building

Pietermaritzburg was the capital of the Colony of Natal until 1910. Then, the Union of South Africa was formed. Natal became a province of the Union. Before 1994, Pietermaritzburg was the capital of Natal Province.

After the first elections in South Africa, Pietermaritzburg shared its capital status with Ulundi. Pietermaritzburg became the place where laws were made. Ulundi was the administrative capital. Some people wanted Ulundi to be the only capital. This was because it was the capital of the Zulu Kingdom before the British took over. However, Ulundi did not have enough buildings or services to be a good government centre.

In 2004, the African National Congress (ANC) took power in the province. They decided that Pietermaritzburg would be the only capital of KwaZulu-Natal. This led to many government offices moving to Pietermaritzburg. This move has helped the city grow. Many buildings in the city centre have been updated. New shops and homes have also been built.

What Drives Pietermaritzburg's Economy?

Until the late 1990s, Pietermaritzburg was known for making good quality textiles, clothing, and shoes. For example, Doc Marten shoes were made here. But these industries have become smaller. This is because it is cheaper to make these products in Asia.

The area around the city has many timber plantations and citrus farms. These contribute a lot to the city's economy. Big companies like Liberty Group have invested in the area. They built the Liberty Midlands Mall, which is the largest shopping centre here. Hulett's Aluminium and Willowton cooking oil are also big industrial businesses. Pietermaritzburg is also where the well-known South African pizza company, Debonairs Pizza, started.

City Symbols: The Coat of Arms

The Pietermaritzburg city council adopted a coat of arms in 1861. It showed an elephant standing on grass. There were five stars above the shield. The city's motto was Umgungunhlovu. Over time, the design changed. By 1931, the stars were placed on a shining sun.

The final version of the coat of arms was approved in 1961. It featured a gold elephant with silver tusks on a shield. The top part of the shield was blue, and the bottom was green. The crest showed a blue sun with gold and silver stars. Two black wildebeest were added as supporters. Each wildebeest held a shield. One shield had the Union Jack flag, and the other had the Natalia Republic flag.

Getting Around Pietermaritzburg

Roads

Pietermaritzburg is on the N3 highway. This is a very important road. It connects the harbour city of Durban, about 90 km away, to the big cities of Gauteng. Other main roads, like the R33 and R56, also connect Pietermaritzburg to other towns.

Air Travel

The city has its own airport, Pietermaritzburg Airport. You can fly from here to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. There are several flights each day.

Trains

Pietermaritzburg Railway Station has long-distance trains. These trains go on routes like Durban to Johannesburg and Durban to Cape Town. There are also plans to expand the local train system to Pietermaritzburg.

Buses

In the past, Pietermaritzburg had tram and bus services. These were closed down. Today, you can take daily bus services to other major cities in South Africa. The main bus station is on Burger Street. Companies like Greyhound and Intercape offer routes to Durban and Johannesburg.

Taxis

Pietermaritzburg has two types of taxi services. There are metered taxis, which you need to call to pick you up. They don't drive around looking for passengers. Many companies offer these services. There are also minibus taxis. These are a common way for many people to travel.

Future Transport Plans

A new bus rapid transit system is being built in Pietermaritzburg. This system will make public transport faster and easier. The first part will connect Edendale to Northdale. It will go through the city centre along Church Street.

Pietermaritzburg's Location and Weather

Upland savanna near Pietermaritzburg

Climate and Seasons

Pietermaritzburg has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm summers with a lot of rain. Winters are dry. Temperatures can change a lot between day and night. Light frosts are possible in winter.

Sports and Activities

Pietermaritzburg is a city that loves sports!

• It is home to Savages FC PMB, the oldest football (soccer) club in South Africa. It was founded in 1882.
• The famous Comrades Marathon happens every June. This long running race goes between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Thousands of people take part.
• The city used to have an international motor racing track called the Roy Hesketh Circuit. It hosted many important races.
• The yearly Amashovashova is a 106 km road cycling race. It starts in Pietermaritzburg and ends in Durban.
• In January, there is an annual Dusi Canoe Marathon. This canoe race goes from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
• The Midmar Mile is one of the world's largest open-water swimming events. It takes place at Midmar Dam every February. Over 16,000 swimmers come from all over the world.
• The Harry Gwala Stadium is used for football matches.
• The Pietermaritzburg Oval is a beautiful cricket ground. It even has a tree inside the playing area!

Places to Visit

Pietermaritzburg has many interesting places for tourists:

• The KwaZulu-Natal Museum
• The City Hall
• Old Colonial Buildings
• The Imperial Hotel
• Comrades House
• SANBI Botanical Gardens

Nearby attractions include:

• Albert Falls Nature Reserve
• Howick Falls
• Midmar Public Nature Reserve
• Queens Elizabeth Park
• World's View

Learning and Education

Schools in Pietermaritzburg

Pietermaritzburg has many well-known schools, including:

• Alexandra High School
• Carter High School (South Africa)
• Cordwalles Preparatory School
• Epworth School
• Hilton College
• MichaelHouse
• Maritzburg College
• Merchiston Preparatory School
• Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School
• Russell High School
• St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg
• St. John's Diocesan School for Girls
• St. Nicholas Diocesan School
• The Wykeham Collegiate

Universities and Colleges

The city has good options for higher education:

• University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Durban University of Technology
• Many private and public colleges, like Varsity College.

Famous People from Pietermaritzburg

Many well-known people have come from Pietermaritzburg, including:

• Neil Adcock, a famous cricketer.
• Kork Ballington, a World Motorcycle Champion.
• Melissa Carlton, a Paralympic swimmer.
• Jon Ekerold, another World Motorcycle Champion.
• Sarel Erwee, a South African cricket player.
• Adrian Furnham, a well-known psychologist.
• Archie Gumede, a political leader.
• Adam Habib, a university vice-chancellor.
• Bessie Head, a famous writer.
• Roy Hesketh, a racing driver.
• Butch James, a Springbok rugby player.
• Stratford Johns, a British actor.
• Craig Joubert, an international rugby referee.
• Jesse Kriel, a Springbok rugby player.
• Charlie Llewellyn, the first non-White Test cricketer for South Africa.
• Nduduzo Makhathini, a jazz musician.
• Thuso Mbedu, an actress.
• David Miller, a cricketer.
• Greg Minnaar, a professional mountain bike racer.
• Zweli Mkhize, a politician and former minister.
• Shaun Morgan, lead singer of the band Seether.
• Nina Myskow, a British journalist.
• Blade Nzimande, a South African national minister.
• Alan Paton, the author of Cry the Beloved Country.
• Kevin Pietersen, a cricketer for the England National Cricket Team.
• Jonty Rhodes, a national cricketer.
• Matthew Sates, an Olympic swimmer.
• Tom Sharpe, a novelist.
• Joel Stransky, a Springbok rugby player.
• Darian Townsend, an Olympic swimmer.
• Kevin Volans, a composer.

Interesting Facts About Pietermaritzburg

• The City Hall, built in 1900, was the largest all-brick building in the Southern Hemisphere at the time. It became a national monument in 1969.
• The statue of Pegasus at the Golden Horse Casino was once the largest horse statue in the world. It was 14 metres high. However, it was taken down in 2010 due to damage.

Sister Cities

Pietermaritzburg has special connections with other cities around the world:

See also

In Spanish: Pietermaritzburgo para niños