Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal

Tongaat is a sugarcane growing town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that is situated on the banks of the Tongati River about 37km north of Durban and 28km south of Stanger. It now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban metropolitan area. It's population is predominantly people of Indian descent. Aesthetically English colonial but distinctly cosmopolitan in flavour, Tongaat, part of the Sugar Coast, now supports one of the largest sugar-producing districts in the world. [http://www.places.co.za/html/tongaat.html]

History

Tongaat was established in 1945 and its name was corrupted from the river's name, Tongati, the Zulu word for the "Strychnos mackenii" trees that flourish on its banks.

Commerce

The town is the centre for the Tongaat-Hullett Sugar Limited and the Moreland Molasses Companies. [http://www.hullets.co.za/default.asp?pp=financial_info/financial_info.htm] Maidstone Sugar Mill, one of the country's first mills, completed in 1850. Some original sugar-crushing methods are still employed. [http://www.places.co.za/html/tongaat.html]

Places of worship

Tongaat also host the Tongaat branch of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, founded by Rev John G. Lake in 1908. The Juggernathi Puri Temple which is a national monument and tourist attraction. [http://www.routes.co.za/kn/tongaat/index.html] It was built in 1920 by the late Pandit Sirikishan Maharaj in a North Idian style. [http://www.places.co.za/html/tongaat.html] The Tongaat South Methodist Church was opened on 26 September 1979. Sri Siva Soobramaniar Temple, which hosts what is arguably South Africa's largest Kavadi Festival, involving some of the oldest religious rituals in recorded history. [http://www.places.co.za/html/tongaat.html]

Tongaat's Victoria hospital opened in 1987.

Activities

Crocodile Creek, a crocodile farm where feedings can be viewed.

Scenic drives. Many drives in the area are picturesque including the road from Verulam and the parks and gardens of Amanzimyama on the approach into Tongaat.

Dudley Pringle Dam. A scenic venue north of the town; ideal for picnicking and watersports. [http://www.places.co.za/html/tongaat.html]