Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal

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Umzinto is a town 6 kilometres inland from Scottburgh on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africain the Umdoni Local Municipality which is under the Ugu District Municipality. It was a sugarcane growing area and the town was set up as the centre for a sugar mill. The first public company in Natal was established at Umzinto in 1858.Umzinto has grow and dwveloped to a self-sustain urban place.

Legend has it that the town's name derives from the encounters of two gentlemen, one of whom was named Um. Upon encountering a stream, the two decided to cross it, but Um did not notice the crocodile lurking beneath the surface. Subsequently Um was attacked by the crocodile, and bitten in half. "Um's in two!" his friend exclaimed. This is merely a story by Jonathan Swift and is not true.There is a dispute about the original name of Umzinto. History say it's Umenzi wezinto,a Zulu name meaning doer of things and due to continuous mis-pronunciation by white people it was convenient for everyone to say Umzinto, which we know today.But the other part of history says it was named after a river, Mzinto River,which passes the town.

Unofficially, Umzinto was at one time the 'Capital' of Alexandra County, a district that also includes the areas and suburbs surrounding the towns of Scottburgh, Umkomaas, and Sezela-Pennington. Umzinto hosted two class-A cricket matches at the Alexandra Memorial Ground, one on March 2, 1974, when Natal B hosted Griqualand West in the Currie Cup Section B, and again on March 19 1977, when Natal B faced Border in the same contest.

Today, Umzinto remains a semi-Urban town, with not much progress compared to its neighbouring town of Scottburgh. It was once the home of three Large Textile Mills that use to export abroad. Today only one survives and is not as productive as it use to be. Consequently, this has affected the economy of Umzinto negatively.

Umzinto is a peaceful, quiet town, tucked away into the country land offering serenity to all who visit. A few minutes drive takes you to Venon Crookes Nature Reserve for a family outing. Umzinto is a place of diversed cultures.There are many race groups all mixed together in peace, with a Indian race predominence but still it is one of those places you cannot die without seeing. P BHENGU, M Ally.