Natal (province)


The Province of Natal, commonly called Natal, was a province of South Africa from May 1910 until May 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. During this period rural areas inhabited by the black African population of Natal were organised into the Bantustan of KwaZulu, which was progressively separated from the province, becoming partially autonomous in 1981. For the significant population of Indian South Africans residing in Natal, the third-largest city of Durban was organised for them. Of the white population mostly in the largest city of Johannesburg, the majority were English-speaking people of British descent, causing Natal to become the only province to vote "No" to the creation of a republic in the referendum of 1960, due to very strong monarchist, pro-British Commonwealth, and anti-secessionist sentiment. In the latter part of the 1980s, Natal was in a state of violence between the Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress, with violence subsiding soon after the first non-racial election in 1994.
In 1994, the KwaZulu Bantustan was reincorporated into the territory of Natal and the province was redesignated as KwaZulu-Natal.

Districts in 1991

Districts of the province and population at the time of the 1991 census.
DistrictPopulation
Mount Currie 41,564
Alfred 8,794
Port Shepstone67,239
Umzinto46,919
Ixopo22,626
Polela4,364
Underberg9,584
Impendle2,815
Richmond23,476
Camperdown36,315
Pietermaritzburg228,549
Lions River43,060
New Hanover38,207
Mooirivier25,061
Estcourt49,493
Weenen12,485
Bergville22,552
Umvoti 41,160
Kranskop7,565
Durban473,826
Inanda 299,379
Pinetown184,216
Chatsworth179,957
Kliprivier64,782
Glencoe17,265
Dundee31,613
Dannhauser14,154
Newcastle53,584
Utrecht27,798
Paulpietersburg21,072
Vryheid85,518
Ngotshe26,382
Lower Tugela 96,702
Mtunzini18,455
Eshowe13,355
Mtonjaneni 10,577
Babanango3,069
Lower Umfolozi 56,082
Hlabisa18,211
Ubombo 2,929

Administrators