Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
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Ladysmith (2001: pop. 225,452) is a town on the banks of the Klip River, (stone river), in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is 230 km north-west of Durban and 365 km south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textiles, and tires. Tires are produced by the company next to Steadville called Dunlope. That company is employing many skilled and unskilled people which in turn increasing the economy in Ladysmith. Many people in Ladysmith do things with their own hands in order to get money, e.g they make crafts and sell them, hunting animals, fish in rivers and so on. Eskom is present in Ladysmith and providing poor people with electricity in areas like Driefontein, Gudlintaba, Tatane, Nkuthu and many more. Next to Ladysmith there is a town called Newcastle. In Newcastle there is Escor processing iron, and they are also employing many people.
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[edit] Ladysmith's Natural or Wildlife Attractions or Experiences
Ladysmith is not only ideally situated between two major cities (Johannesburg and Durban), it is also ideally set at the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains.
[edit] Qedusizi Dam
For many years Ladysmith has suffered from perennial flooding. It is only after the construction of the Qedusizi Dam that Ladysmith was safe from one of the violent effects of nature. The Qedusizi Dam brought an end to suffering in Ladysmith thus living up to its Zulu name which means “end of suffering”. There is another dam which is being built in Driefontein. It is believed that it will also bring changes because floods are not yet over in some parts of Ladysmith.
[edit] Spioenkop Nature Reserve
25 km from Ladysmith is one of South Africa’s popular wildlife sanctuaries, Spioenkop Nature Reserve. This 60 square kilometre reserve is home to animals such as the rhino, giraffe and zebra. The sporting activities that Spioenkop offers include hiking, horse riding, angling, yachting, water-skiing and power boating. Spioenkop is also supplying other parts of Gauteng with water because in Gauteng there is a shortage of water.
[edit] History
In 1847 a number of Voortrekkers settled in the area and the town was founded in 1850 by Boers as the capital of the Republic of Klip River with Andries Spies as their commandant. The republic was annexed by the British in the same year. It was named after "Juana Maria de los Delores de Leon Smith" also known as "Lady Smith", the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith, the Governor of the Cape Colony. Sir Harry Smith was the British general governor of Cape Colony and high commissioner in South Africa from 1847 to 1852. A fort was built in 1879 to protect the villagers from the Zulus.
Ladysmith made world headlines at the turn of the century when it was besieged for 118 days, from 2 November 1899 to 28 February 1900, during the most crucial stage of the Anglo-Boer War. 3,000 British soldiers died during the siege.
[edit] Trivia
- During the Boer War Mohandas Gandhi established a stretcher-bearing corps. His statue can be seen at the Lord Vishnu Temple in Ladysmith.
- It is the hometown of Joseph Shabalala, founder of the singing group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
- It is the birthplace of Thulane "Sugar Boy" Malinga, champion boxer.
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Province of KwaZulu-Natal |
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| Provincial Capital: | ||
| Major Metros: | ||
| District Municipalities: |
Ugu | Umgungundlovu | Uthukela | Umzinyathi | Amajuba | Zululand | Umkhanyakude | uThungulu | iLembe | Sisonke |
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| Local Municipalities: |
Amajuba Zululand Umkhanyakude uThungulu Umzinyathi Uthukela Umgungundlovu iLembe eThekwini Ugu Sisonke |
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| Smaller Cities: |
Empangeni | Kokstad | Ladysmith | Newcastle | Port Shepstone | Richards Bay | KwaDukuza | Tongaat | Vryheid |
