Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal

Melmoth
View from the north
Melmoth Melmoth Melmoth  Melmoth shown within KwaZulu-Natal
Coordinates: 28°35′S 31°23′E / 28.583°S 31.383°ECoordinates: 28°35′S 31°23′E / 28.583°S 31.383°E
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Uthungulu
Municipality	Mthonjaneni
Established	1888
Area[1]
• Total	13.36 km^2 (5.16 sq mi)
Elevation	740 m (2,430 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	7,814
• Density	580/km^2 (1,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
• Black African	95.0%
• Coloured	1.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.8%
• White	2.6%
• Other	0.1%
First languages (2011)[1]
• Zulu	87.5%
• English	4.5%
• S. Ndebele	2.7%
• Afrikaans	2.3%
• Other	3.1%
Postal code (street)	3835
PO box	3835
Area code	035

Melmoth is a small town situated in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The town was established in the Mthonjaneni district after the annexation of Zululand by the United Kingdom in 1887 and was named after Sir Melmoth Osborn.^[2] Large wattle plantations were set up and a wattle bark factory was established in 1926. The district is also planted with sugar cane from the outskirts of the town and into the surrounding villages. The government-funded hospital in Melmoth is St Marys kwaMagwaza Hospital that caters for the people of Melmoth and surrounding villages.^[3]

The main road to Piet Retief is extremely busy during holiday periods.

Vehicle registrations in Melmoth start with NO - N for Natal, O for Osborn.^[4]

Notable Residents

Shaka Zulu was born near modern-day Melmoth.

References

1. "Main Place Melmoth". Census 2011.
2. "Gateway to Zululand". www.melmoth.co.za. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
3. "KwaMagwaza Hospital". www.kznhealth.gov.za. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
4. "Melmoth Information | Tourism Guide". www.wheretostay.co.za. Retrieved 2015-08-31.