Durban - I have lived in Durban all my life. I grew up in Clermont near Pinetown and in the late 1980s our family moved to KwaNdengezi township, also outside Pinetown.
And in all this time, I had never realised that we had such a rich history to tell the world.
I have made a note in my diary to one day take my children for a tour around Durban – and not just to the beach and other popular places, but to the heritage sites, the ignored and untouched areas that many Durbanites don’t know about.
World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on September 27, and Durban Tourism hosted a tour to various heritage sites around eThekwini to raise awareness of the importance of tourism and its impact on the city’s economy.
Durban Tourism head Phillip Sithole said it was vital for us to understand Durban’s history so that we could be ambassadors and help to sell the city.
“It is important for people to be familiar with the city’s tourism products as we use them to sell the city, since statistics indicate international visitor arrivals increased by 4 000 last year compared with the year before.”
The tour started in Inanda, where Nelson Mandela cast his first democratic vote, went to uMzinyathi Falls, where people picnicked, and proceeded to Wushwini Arts and Culture Heritage Centre, where you can drink in the culture with your coffee.
A highlight for me was learning about John Dube. I didn’t even know how important the Inanda Heritage Route was in South Africa’s history – from Dube’s contribution to Mandela casting his first vote in Ohlange.
Wushwini has amazing views of Durban. It’s picturesque and I will go back there when I have the time.
The uMzinyathi Waterfalls is another beautiful spot in Inanda.
I did not know these places.
We then continued to the KwaDabeka/Clermont region, where we were taught about prominent leaders who came from the area, such as former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Public Works ex-minister Thoko Didiza.
There’s a German link here. Germans put up buildings in the area such as the first Lutheran church and the local stadium, which is now called Sugar Ray Xulu, named after the veteran soccer star.
The excursion ended in the country’s second-biggest township, uMlazi, where the tour guide told tourists the area had been named by King Shaka Zulu after he tasted the sour water that flowed in the river.
The tourists were shown entertainment spots in the area and later treated to shisa nyama at Max’s Lifestyle in Umlazi.
There is more to Durban than the beaches and vibey, party atmosphere.
While it’s great being the party capital of Africa, it’s also important that we have a story to tell the whole world: the history and heritage that shaped Durban and South Africa, making it what it is right now.
I enjoyed the tour very much. It opened my eyes about our history, and I’m proud to be from Durban.
Sunday Tribune