OThongathi

oThongathi
Tongaat
Aerial view of oThongathi
Aerial view of oThongathi
oThongathi is located in KwaZulu-Natal
oThongathi
oThongathi
oThongathi is located in South Africa
oThongathi
oThongathi
Coordinates: 29°34′00″S 31°07′00″E / 29.56667°S 31.11667°E / -29.56667; 31.11667
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceKwaZulu-Natal
MunicipalityeThekwini
Area
 • Total11.72 km2 (4.53 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total42,554
 • Density3,600/km2 (9,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African41.1%
 • Coloured1.2%
 • Indian/Asian56.7%
 • White0.4%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
 • English59.3%
 • Zulu32.3%
 • Xhosa3.6%
 • S. Ndebele1.0%
 • Other3.8%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
4399
PO box
4400
Area code032

oThongathi, previously and still commonly known as Tongaat, is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Durban and 28 kilometres (17 mi) south of KwaDukuza. It now forms part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, or the Greater Durban area. The area is home to the oldest Indian community in South Africa, having been where the first indentured Indian laborers settled in 1860 to work in the sugar-cane plantations.[2] Much of the architectural style in the town was the work of Ivan Mitford-Barberton,[3] and many buildings are in the Cape Dutch style of architecture.

Prior to 1 December 2023, vehicle registration plates in oThongathi started with NJ - N for Natal. It is still unknown exactly what the J stands for as this vehicle registration code also covered Verulam, Inanda and Ntuzuma.

  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Tongaat". Census 2011.
  2. ^ Watson 1960, p. 76, Ch 6.
  3. ^ Watson 1960, p. 200.