Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. Organisationally and administratively it forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and its South Municipal Planning Region.
It is the fourth largest township in South Africa, after Soweto, Tembisa and Katlehong. Umlazi is the only township in the country that has its own registration plate, which is NUZ. It is divided into 26 sections, A through to Z, with the exception of I, O and X, but with an addition of AA, BB and CC.
Etymology
According to legend, the name Umlazi comes from "umlaza", the Zulu word for the sour acid produced from fermented or sour milk. It is believed that when King Shaka was passing through the area, he refused to drink from a local river claiming it had the taste of "umlaza". The area was called Umlazi after this incident.
Geography
Umlazi is situated on undulated land at an average elevation of 101m above sea level bounded by the uMlaza River to the north and the uMbokodweni River to the south. The Siphingo River is a smaller river which also flows through the southern part of the township.
Umlazi is located approximately 15 km south-east of Durban and is bordered by Chatsworth to the north, the city of Durban to the north-east (excluding Isipingo and Prospecton), the defunct Durban International Airport and Isipingo to the east, Malukazi to the south-east, eZimbokodweni and Golokodo to the south and Esidweni, Inwabi and Ehlanzeni to the east.
Infrastructure
Umlazi, like many townships in the urban areas of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Johannesburg, is witnessing increased private and government investments, as seen in the construction of new shopping complexes, primary and secondary schools, universities of technology and libraries.
The new educational infrastructure is particularly , as an affordable, easily accessible quality secondary education is valuable for many children in Umlazi, particularly with regards to their search for employment following school. Most young residents do not attend tertiary institutions due to their family's limited financial resources.
There are now three shopping malls in Umlazi, the Mega-Philani Shopping Centre, Kwa-Mnyandu Shopping Centre and Umlazi Mega City Mall which is located just off the freeway that exits to Umlazi. The recently built KwaMnyandu Shopping Centre opened its doors on 5 June 2014.
Almost all sections in Umlazi have a clinic and a police station. The King Zwelithini Stadium, which is located on the Griffiths Mxenge Highway, has been revamped for the 2010 FIFA World Cup it is home to AmaZulu FC football club that is based in and around Umlazi.
Education
Umlazi has two FET Colleges, Umlazi Coastal College V and BB Campuses, which are the equivalent of American Community Colleges, and a university, Mangosuthu University of Technology. There are schools that produce 100% Matric (Grade 12) pass rate, including Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School Umlazi Comprehensive Technical High School (ComTech), Menzi High School, Velabahleke High School, Zwelibanzi High School and Qhilika High School. About 30% of homes in Umlazi are informal settlements (tin and wooden shacks). Most of these informal settlements have been demolished and replaced with brand new homes and roads that are part of the Residential Development Project (RDP).
Transport
Roads
Umlazi is serviced by two freeways, namely the N2 Outer Ring Road, which runs in a north-south direction from KwaDukuza (Stanger) to Port Shepstone and the M4 Inkosi Albert Luthuli Freeway (previously Southern Freeway) which also runs in a north-south direction from the R102/M30 interchange to Durban. The main arterial route intersecting Umlazi is the M30 Griffiths Mxenge Highway (previously Mangosuthu Highway) which connects the township with Durban (via the M4) to the north-east and with Umbumbulu to the west.
Other arterial routes of importance include the R102 regional route (South Coast Road) which bypasses Umlazi to the east and connects the township with Durban to the north-east and with Reunion, Isipingo and Prospecton to the south-east, as well as the M35 Sipho Mkhize Drive which connects the southern part of Umlazi with Lotus Park to the south-east and with Folweni to the south-west.