Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal

Phoenix
Phoenix is located in KwaZulu-Natal
Phoenix
Phoenix
Phoenix is located in South Africa
Phoenix
Phoenix
Coordinates: 29°42′04″S 31°00′14″E / 29.701°S 31.004°E / -29.701; 31.004
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceKwaZulu-Natal
MunicipalityeThekwini
Area
 • Total30.16 km2 (11.64 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total176,989
 • Density5,900/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African12.1%
 • Coloured1.8%
 • Indian/Asian85.0%
 • White0.2%
 • Other0.9%
First languages (2011)
 • English87.4%
 • Zulu8.1%
 • Other4.5%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
4068
PO box
4080
Area code031

Phoenix is a South African town about 25 kilometres (15 mi) northwest of Durban Central, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was established as a town by the apartheid government in 1976, but it has a long history of Indian occupation. It is associated with the Phoenix Settlement, built by Mahatma Gandhi.[2]

In 2021, riots broke out in KwaZulu-Natal after the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma. The riots also occurred in Phoenix and armed citizen militias were formed. There were violent clashes between the community and rioters from nearby settlements like Inanda, which caused the deaths of 36 people[3] and increased racial tensions between Indian and black communities in the area.

  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Phoenix". Census 2011.
  2. ^ Makhatini, Mack; Moodley, Samantha. "Phoenix". City of Durban, South Africa. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009.
  3. ^ Erasmus, Des (16 November 2021). "Media played role in putting the 'fear of God into everybody' while police were outnumbered, Phoenix resident tells inquiry". July Riots. dailymaverick.co.za. Daily Maverick. Retrieved 16 November 2021.