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%
• Xhosa	3.5%
• Other	6.3%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	3201
PO box	3200
Area code	033
Vehicle registration	NP

Pietermaritzburg (/ˌpiːtərˈmærɪtsbɜːrɡ/; Zulu: uMgungundlovu) is the capital and second-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa after Durban. It was named in 1838 and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. The town was named in Zulu after King Dingane's royal homestead uMgungundlovu. Pietermaritzburg is popularly called Maritzburg in Afrikaans and is 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 local, district and provincial government offices located here.

The city has many schools and tertiary education institutions, including a campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It had a population of 228,549 in 1991; 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.

Pietermaritzburg is an emerging metropolitan area.

History

Pietermaritzburg City Hall found on a photo album dated 1924

The city was occupied by Voortrekkers, in April 1838 following the murder of Piet Retief and his seventy-strong party at the Zulu Capital, Mgungundlovu (6 February 1838), when seeking land to settle around Port Natal (The Natal-Land Treaty), and from where the reprisal Wenkommando departed (November 1838) to defeat Dingane at the Battle of Blood River (16 December 1838). Pietermaritzburg is approximately 160 km (100 mi) direct from the Zulu capital, Mgungundlovu. Prior to the battle (9 December 1838) a vow was taken that if the Boers were granted victory over the Zulu, then a sacred church would be built which still stands today, The Church of the Vow. It was Jan Gerritze Bantjes, Secretary General to Andries Pretorius, Commander of the campaign who arranged the financing of the church by the Boer towns folk which by then had taken a low priority after the war. The town grew rapidly to become the capital of the short-lived Boer Republic or 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 its own government, and an assembly building was built along with the city hall.

Bronze statue of Gandhi commemorating the centenary of the incident at the Pietermaritzburg Railway Station, unveiled by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Church Street, Pietermaritzburg, in June 1993

On 7 June 1893, while the young 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 center.

In 1910, when the Union of South Africa was formed, Natal became a province of the Union, and Pietermaritzburg became one of the capitals of the country. 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 and white inhabitants were moved out of those areas.

Name

There exist two interpretations about the origin of the city's name. One is that it was named after Piet Retief (Pieter Mauritz Retief) and Gerrit Maritz (Gerhardus Marthinus Maritz), two Voortrekker leaders. The other is that it was originally named after Piet Retief's full name alone. In this interpretation the original name was "Pieter Mauritz' Burg", later transliterated to the current name. In 1938, the city announced officially that the second element Maritz should also honour Gert Maritz.

A view of Church Street in central Pietermaritzburg, c. 1900

In fact, neither Retief nor Maritz ever reached Pietermaritzburg. Retief was killed by Dingane, successor to Shaka, king of the Zulus. Maritz died of illness on 23 September 1838 near the present-day town of Estcourt, some eighty kilometres northwest of Pietermaritzburg, after the battle with the Zulus at Bloukranz.

At the time of the rise of the Zulu Empire, the site that was to become Pietermaritzburg was called uMgungundlovu. This is popularly translated from the Zulu as "Place of the Elephant", although it could also be translated to mean "The elephant wins". Umgungundlovu is thus thought to be the site of some Zulu king's victory since "Elephant" (Indlovu) is a name traditionally taken by the Zulu monarch. Legend has it that Shaka had his warriors hunt elephant there to sell the ivory to English traders at Durban (then called Port Natal). Today, the town is still called by its Voortrekker name, although the municipality of which it is part bears the Zulu name.

Education

Clock tower of the university's Collin Webb Hall

The University of Natal was founded in 1910. In 1922 the University extended to Durban. The two campuses were incorporated into the University of Natal in March 1949. It became a major voice in the struggle against apartheid and was one of the first universities in the country to provide education to African students. It became the University of KwaZulu-Natal on 1 January 2004.

Other historical events

• The first newspaper in Natal, the Natal Witness (now known as The Witness), was published in 1846.
• The 46 hectare Botanic Gardens were created in 1872 by the Botanic Society of Natal.
• The city hall, which is the largest red-brick building in the Southern Hemisphere, was destroyed by a fire in 1895, but was rebuilt in 1901. It houses the largest pipe organ built by the Sheffield organ building company, Brindley & Foster.
• The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women and children.
• In 1919 communist activist David Ivon Jones was arrested for distributed an anti-segregation leaflet he co-authored in Pietermaritzburg. His trial became the first major court case against communism in South African history.
• During the Second World War, Italian prisoners of war were housed in Pietermaritzburg. During their stay, they built a church, which remains standing as a heritage site today.
• In 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested in the nearby town of Howick to the north of Pietermaritzburg. The arrest marked the beginning of Mandela's 27 years of imprisonment. A small monument has been erected at the location of his arrest. Immediately after his arrest Mandela was taken to the Old Prison in Pietermaritzburg. After a night in the prison, he was taken to Magistrate J. Buys's office in the old Magistrates Court Building in Commercial Road (now Chief Albert Luthuli Road), and was remanded for trial in Johannesburg.

Capital status

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature building

Pietermaritzburg was the capital of the Colony of Natal until 1910, when the Union of South Africa was formed, and Natal became a province of the Union. Prior to 1994, Pietermaritzburg was the capital of Natal Province. Following the first post-apartheid elections in South Africa, as a result of which the Inkatha Freedom Party won a majority in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, Pietermaritzburg shared its status as capital of the (then newly created) province of KwaZulu-Natal with Ulundi. Pietermaritzburg became the legislative capital of the new province, while Ulundi became the administrative capital. The IFP, being strongly Zulu nationalist, desired that Ulundi, the capital of the Zulu Kingdom at the time of its fall to the British in the Anglo-Zulu War, be the post-apartheid capital of the province. Ulundi had also been the capital of the bantustan KwaZulu, which makes up a portion of modern KwaZulu-Natal. However, Ulundi severely lacked the infrastructure to be an effective seat of government, and the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Party, the two other strong political parties in the province, among others, called for Pietermaritzburg alone to be the capital. The debate came to an end when the ANC came to power in the province in 2004, and named Pietermaritzburg the sole capital of KwaZulu-Natal. This has resulted in the relocation of several government offices to Pietermaritzburg, an action that has generally been welcomed as a positive development for the region. Since 2004, progress such as the modernisation of several buildings in the city centre and a proliferation of retail and housing developments in the suburbs are results of recent investment in the city by both the public and private sectors.

Economy

Until the late-1990s, the region was renowned for the production of high quality textile, clothing and footwear products. An example of the latter included the production of Doc Marten shoes. However, these industries have declined in the area due to lower production costs in Asia. Extensive timber plantations and numerous citrus farms surround the city, contributing a significant share of the city's output.

The Liberty Group has made major investments in several phases in the region since 2002 with the development of the Liberty Midlands Mall (the area's largest shopping centre by gross lettable area and its most prestigious) and Stay Easy hotel. Hulett's Aluminium and Willowton cooking oil contributes a substantial part of the region's industrial output.

Pietermaritzburg is also the city where major South African pizza franchise Debonairs Pizza was founded.

Coat of arms

The Pietermaritzburg borough council assumed a coat of arms in 1861. The shield depicted an elephant standing on grass, and a cross of five stars was placed above the shield. The motto was Umgungunhlovu. It is unclear what the original colours were, but by 1910 the shield had been coloured blue. By 1931, the council had approved new artwork in which the stars were placed on a radiant sun. The arms were registered with the Natal Provincial Administration in November 1950. Many early renditions of the coat of arms, visible on older public building and wrought iron lampposts, features an elephant which is clearly an Asian elephant rather than an African elephant. More recent versions reflect an African elephant.

The final version of the arms was granted by the College of Arms in May 1961. It was registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in May 1973. The blazon was: Per fess Azure and Vert, over all an elephant statant Or, tusked Argent (i.e. the shield was divided horizontally into blue over green, and displayed a gold elephant with silver tusks). The crest was changed to a blue sun displaying gold and silver stars, and two black wildebeest were added as supporters. Each had a shield on its shoulder, the dexter supporter's shield displaying the Union Jack and the sinister supporter's the flag of the Natalia republic.

Transport

Road

Pietermaritzburg is on the N3 highway, the primary route between the harbour city of Durban, some 90 kilometres (56 mi) away, and the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging conurbation.

The R33 connects Pietermaritzburg with Greytown and Paulpietersburg, while the R56 connects Pietermaritzburg with Ixopo and Kokstad.

Air

The city is served by Pietermaritzburg Airport, which has regular scheduled services to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. There are 4 flights to Johannesburg and 4 return flights daily, with a reduced number of weekend flights. It once operated flights to Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town – this route was terminated in 2019.

Rail

Pietermaritzburg Railway Station is served by long distance trains on the Durban-Johannesburg and Durban-Cape Town routes of Shosholoza Meyl.

It has been proposed that the Metrorail commuter rail system be expanded from Cato Ridge to Pietermaritzburg.

Bus

The Pietermaritzburg Municipality historically operated a tram service, which was closed down in the 1940s, and a bus service, which was closed down in the 1980s.

Nowadays regular daily bus services connect Pietermaritzburg to other major cities in South Africa. The bus station is located on Burger Street, opposite the McDonalds Centre, and it serves major bus companies. Greyhound and Intercape are the most reliable and they operate several round-trips from Durban to Johannesburg daily, where Pietermaritzburg is the second to last stop before Durban.

Taxis

Pietermaritzburg has two types of taxi services: metered taxis and minibus taxis. Unlike in many cities, metered taxis are not allowed to drive around the city to solicit fares and instead must be called and ordered to a specific location. A number of companies service Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas. These taxis can also be called upon for airport transfers, point to point pickups and shuttles.

Minibus taxis are the standard mode of transport for the majority of the population who cannot afford private vehicles.

Integrated Rapid Public Transport (IRPT)

A bus rapid transit system is currently being developed in Pietermaritzburg.

The initial phase would see the development of a west to east corridor from Edendale to Northdale. The BRT route will traverse the CBD along Church Street.

Geography

Upland savanna near Pietermaritzburg

Climate

Pietermaritzburg has a dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cwa). Summers are warm and occasionally hot, with frequent rainfall. Winters are dry with high diurnal temperature variation, with light air frosts being possible.

Sport

• Pietermaritzburg is home to the oldest football (soccer) club of South Africa and the African continent: Savages FC PMB, founded in 1882.
• The Comrades Marathon takes place annually in June between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. It has been run since 1921 and attracts thousands of entrants. The start of the race alternates between the two cities.
• Between December 1953 and November 1981, Pietermaritzburg had an international standard motor racing circuit located on the outskirts of the city. The Roy Hesketh Circuit measured 2.902 kilometres (1.803 mi). The circuit was named after South African driver Roy Hesketh. During its period of operation it hosted rounds of the South African National Drivers Championship, the Springbok Series and national Formula Atlantic races. The circuit was also like a second home to Mike Hailwood. The track was known for hosting the Easter races as well – a festival of racing over three days. The expansion of the town of Pietermaritzburg eventually led to the redevelopment of the site as a residential and business zone after racing ceased at the end of 1981. The section from Henry's Knee to the top of Beacon still exists, and is undergoing protection from further development as an important piece of Pietermaritzburg's history. From 1948 until 1953 races were held at the 5.5-kilometre (3.4 mi) Alexandra Park Street Circuit on streets within the town of Pietermaritzburg.
• Former Springbok and World Cup Winner Joel Stransky was born in Pietermaritzburg on 16 July 1967, he matriculated from Maritzburg College.
• Former South African Cricketer Jonty Rhodes was born in Pietermaritzburg on 27 July 1969. He also attended Merchiston Prep school and later matriculated from Maritzburg College.
• The English cricketer Kevin Pietersen was born in Pietermaritzburg on 27 June 1980, as was the Springbok cricketer Cuan McCarthy.
• The yearly Amashovashova is a 106 km (66 mi) road cycling classic race held since 1986 which starts in Pietermartizburg and finishes in Durban. It is normally held in October.
• South African cricketer David Miller was born in Pietermaritzburg on 10 June 1989.
• In 2010, the BMX Racing World Championship took place in the city of Pietermaritzburg between 15 July and 1 August.
• In January there is an annual canoe race, the Dusi Canoe Marathon, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The route follows the Msunduzi River into the Mgeni River, through the Valley of a Thousand Hills into the Inanda Dam and from here to the mouth of the Mgeni River.
• The Midmar Mile is one of the largest open-water swimming events in the world; taking place at Midmar Dam, north of Pietermaritzburg in February every year, it attracts over 16,000 swimmers from around the world.
• The Harry Gwala Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, and is mostly used for football matches. Until 2023, it was used by Maritzburg United, after which it was reserved for Royal AM.
• The Pietermaritzburg Msunduzi Athletics Stadium is currently being developed.
• The Pietermaritzburg Oval is considered one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in South Africa, and it hosted two matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
• Pietermaritzburg cricket ground is notable as one of the two grounds used regularly for first-class cricket that have a tree within the boundary (the other is St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, Kent).
• Woodburn Stadium is currently used for most club rugby in Pietermaritzburg.
• The Kershaw Park Tennis Complex is a tennis stadium.
• The above facilities form the centre of the Pietermaritzburg sports precinct.

Tourism

Some of the area's tourist attractions include; the KwaZulu-Natal Museum, City Hall, Colonial Buildings, Imperial Hotel, Comrades House and SANBI Botanical Gardens.

Attractions in the surrounding areas include; Albert Falls Nature Reserve, Howick Falls, Midmar Public Nature Reserve, Queens Elizabeth Park and World's View.

Education

Schools

• 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

Tertiary institutions

Pietermaritzburg has a well-developed higher system of public universities. Pietermaritzburg is served by two public universities, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban University of Technology. There are also many private and public colleges operating in the city, such as Varsity College.

Civil society

Pietermaritzburg is home to a number of prominent civil society organisations including the Abahlali baseMjondolo (shackdwellers) movement, GroundWork, CINDI, PACSA, and the KwaZulu Natal Christian Council.

Notable residents

• Don Armand, rugby player (born 1988)
• Neil Adcock, Springbok cricketer and radio cricket commentator
• Arthur Bartman, (b.1972 - d.2019), Premier Soccer League goalkeeper.
• Dale Benkenstein, former cricketer
• Kork Ballington, World 250cc and 350cc Motorcycle Champion
• Melissa Carlton, Paralympic swimmer who represented Australia
• Amod Cassimjee, one of the earliest known Indian settlers
• Pat Cilliers, rugby player (born 1987)
• Brendon Dedekind, swimmer (born 1976)
• Bathabile Dlamini, leader of the African National Congress Women's League and Minister of Women in the Presidency, and Minister of Social Development (born 1962)
• Jon Ekerold, world 350cc motorcycle champion
• Sarel Erwee, South Africa national cricket team player. Attended St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg.
• Brett Evans, (born 8 March 1982) South African Football (soccer) player attended Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College and played for Maritzburg City as an amateur
• Adrian Furnham (born 1953), British-based organisational and applied psychologist and academic
• Hayden Griffin (1943–2013), British stage designer
• Tim Groenewald, Derbyshire and Warwickshire Cricketer (born 1984)
• Archie Gumede, leader of the United Democratic Front (South Africa) and Member of the Parliament of South Africa
• Adam Habib, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of the Witwatersrand (born 1965)
• Jonathan Handley, singer-songwriter (born 1954), originally from Springs, founder of The Radio Rats who in 1979 had a hit single "ZX Dan" on Radio 5 (now 5FM)
• Bessie Head, writer, was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1937.
• Roy Hesketh, (1915–1944) racing driver and South African Air Force pilot.
• Butch James, Springbok and Sharks rugby player attended Maritzburg College from 1994 to 1996. He played for Colleges' 3rd team.
• Stratford Johns, (22 September 1925 – 29 January 2002) British stage, film and television actor. Left for Britain in 1948.
• Peter Johnstone, Park Villa FC (born 1970), left PMB in 2004
• Craig Joubert, international rugby union referee (born 8 November 1977). Attended Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
• Jesse Kriel, Springbok rugby player (born 1994). Attended Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
• Charlie Llewellyn, cricketer (born 1876), first non-White Test cricketer for South Africa.
• Mbulelo Mabizela, South African national football team player (born 1981)
• Nduduzo Makhathini, jazz musician
• Clinton Marius, writer, performer (born 1966)
• Thuso Mbedu, actress (born 1991). Attended Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School
• Jomu Mbili, cricketer (born 1981)
• Cuan McCarthy, fast-bowling The Proteas cricketer 1929–2000
• Phyllis McCarthy, authority on and breeder of Rhodesian Ridgebacks
• Ntuthuko Mchunu, (born 1999), rugby union player. Attended Piet Retief Primary School & Maritzburg College.
• Cathcart William Methven (1849–1925), painter, engineer and architect
• David Miller, cricketer (born 1989). Attended Maritzburg College.
• Greg Minnaar, professional downhill mountain bike racer. He attended Carter High School.
• Emmanuel Mkhize, cricketer (born 1989)
• Zweli Mkhize, politician, former Kwazulu-Natal premier, national minister and South African current minister of health (born 2 February 1956). Born and raised in Willowfountain. Lived in Ashburton, Pietermaritzburg
• Bryce Moon, (born 1986) South Africa national football team (soccer) player was born in Pietermaritzburg and played for Pirates in his youth
• Ryan Moon, South Africa national football team player (born 15 September 1996). Attended Maritzburg College
• Shaun Morgan, lead singer of Seether, former resident of Pietermaritzburg, attended both Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College while he lived there.
• Peggy Mullany, South African water-colorist. Born (27 August 1916) in Pietermaritzburg and attended Wykeham School before it became The Wykeham Collegiate.
• Nina Myskow, British journalist and television personality. Born in Pietermaritzburg and attended The Wykeham Collegiate, before moving to Scotland with her family aged 15.
• Siphesihle Ndlovu, Premier Soccer League and South Africa national football team player.
• Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Premier Soccer League
• Blade Nzimande (born 1958), South African national minister and president of the South African Communist Party. He attended Georgetown High School, Edendale & the University of Natal.
• Alan Paton, author of Cry the Beloved Country, was born and schooled (Maritzburg College) in Pietermaritzburg.
• Vyvyan Pearse (1891–1956), cricketer
• Kevin Pietersen, (born 1980), cricketer for the England National Cricket Team. Attended Maritzburg College
• Graeme Pope-Ellis, canoeist. Attended Alexandra High School.
• Brian Raubenheimer, racing diver
• Rowland Raw (1884–1915), cricketer
• Jo-anne Reyneke, (born 1988), actress. Attended Russell High School (Pietermaritzburg)
• Jonty Rhodes, national cricketer (born 1969)
• Matthew Sates, (born 2003), Olympic games swimmer. Attended St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg
• Lunga Shabalala, (born 1989), TV presenter, TV personality and actor. He attended Maritzburg College.
• Bandile Shandu, (born 1995), Premier Soccer League player. Attended Maritzburg College.
• Tom Sharpe, novelist, who described the city as "half the size of a New York cemetery and twice as dead".
• Peter Leslie Smith, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon (born 1958)
• Guy Spier, value investor (born 4 February 1966 in Grey's hospital).
• Dale Stewart, bassist of Seether, former resident of Pietemaritzburg.
• Joel Stransky, Springbok rugby player (born 1967). Born in Pietermaritzburg then attended Maritzburg College and University of Natal
• Darian Townsend, Olympic swimmer. Attended Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
• Kevin Volans, composer (born in Pietermaritzburg, 26 July, 1949)
• Lance Woolridge, rally driver
• Philani Zulu, Premier Soccer League player
• Dumisani Zuma, Premier Soccer League player
• Lwandiswa Zuma South African first-class cricketer (born 11 July 1996) attended Maritzburg College

Various

• Built in 1900, the City Hall was then the largest all-brick building in the southern hemisphere. It was declared a national monument in 1969.
• At 14 metres high, the statue Pegasus adorning the entrance of the Golden Horse Casino was the largest statue of a horse in the world. However, as of July 2010, the statue has been demolished due to internal structural damage.

Twin towns and sister cities

See also

In Spanish: Pietermaritzburgo para niños