University of Natal

The University of Natal was a university in Natal, and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, that is now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was founded in 1910 as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg, and expanded to include a campus in Durban in 1931. In 1947, the university opened a medical school for non-white students in Durban. The Pietermaritzburg campus was known for its agricultural engineering course, hence the nickname 'the farmers' while the Durban campus was known as 'the engineers' as it concentrated on other forms of engineering.

Howard College Campus Tower in Durban, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Durban campus. The campus is strung out along the Berea, a ridge to the north of the Durban city centre. Under apartheid, the Durban university was known for the activism of its staff and students against government-imposed racial segregation. In the 1970's and 1980's many of its students were members of the often-banned NUSAS (National Union South African Students), centered on the main arts centre of the campus at Howard College. In addition, the university magazine Dome (named for the dome of Howard College), was active against apartheid and was often banned, with the printing press being moved around to prevent its being confiscated by police. In 1980 there was a brief boycotting of the food hall for the college residences because of the unfair treatment of black staff by the food supply contractor FEDICS. The Durban campus had many onsite residential colleges, named for prominent South Africans including Ernest Jansen, Louis Botha and Mabel Palmer. The main science block, completed in the early 1980's, was a pivotal location for biological research and game conservation for the province.

The main clock tower of Old Main Building, located on the Pietermaritzburg campus.

Pietermartizburg campus was the original campus, though it later became the smaller of the two main campuses. The campus is in a suburban location, centered around the library and administration buildings. The library houses many historic books, including colonial history and Boer war history. Unlike the Durban campus, most students do not live in residence on campus.

On 1 January 2004, the university was merged with the University of Durban-Westville to form the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Alumni

For full list, see Category:Alumni of the University of Natal

References