Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal
Phoenix | |
|---|---|
  Phoenix | |
| Coordinates: 29°42′04″S 31°00′14″E / 29.701°S 31.004°ECoordinates: 29°42′04″S 31°00′14″E / 29.701°S 31.004°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Municipality | eThekwini |
| Area | |
| • Total | 30.16 km2 (11.64 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 176,989 |
| • Density | 5,900/km2 (15,000/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 12.1% |
| • Coloured | 1.8% |
| • Indian/Asian | 85.0% |
| • White | 0.2% |
| • Other | 0.9% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 87.4% |
| • Zulu | 8.1% |
| • Other | 4.5% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 4068 |
| PO box | 4080 |
| Area code | 031 |
Phoenix is a South African town about 25 kilometres 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 black people from nearby Inanda, leading to the death of 20 people and increased racial tensions between the Indian and black communities in the area.
History[]
The township was founded initially as a sugarcane estate. After the passing of the Group Areas Act, a law which designated specific regions for occupation by specific races, Phoenix became an Indian township. Sections were initially labelled as precincts or units, and then later renamed with proper street addresses.[3]
2021 KZN riots[]
Following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma for contempt of court, riots broke out in KwaZulu-Natal on July 9, 2021. Phoenix was among the towns affected. Shops were looted and property was vandalised.[4] Due to a lack of police response during the riots, citizen militias formed to patrol the town and set up roadblocks to prevent rioters from entering the area and looters from absconding with stolen goods.[5] Physical altercations then occurred between the Phoenix community and interlopers from the nearby predominantly black community of Inanda.[6] Police Minister Bheki Cele claimed that 20 deaths happened in Phoenix as a result of such clashes.[7]
The riots exacerbated racial tensions between the Indian and black communities in the area,[8] and led to accusations of racism at the Indian community by the black community.[5]
Fake reports of further violence and killings sprung up on social networks in the aftermath.[9] Following the unrest, supporters of Zuma marched to protest the Phoenix killings.[10]
Places in Phoenix[]
Until the early 1990s, Phoenix was divided into 'units' by the local government. These units have since been given street and area names, such as:
- Grove End (Unit 17)
- Stanmore (Unit 18)
- Eastbury (Unit 7)
- Southgate
- Greenbury (Unit 2)
- Rainham (Unit 3)
- Stonebridge (Unit 4)
- Centenary Park
- Campbell's Town
- Centenary Heights
- Rockford
- Clayfield (Unit 5)
- Longcroft (Unit 8)
- Rydalvale (Unit 9)
- Brookdale
- Trenance Manor
- Sastripark
- Palmview
- Caneside (Unit 20)
- Foresthaven (Unit 21)
- Woodview
- Sunford (Unit 15)
- Redfern (Unit 10)
- Whetstone (Unit 11)
- Westham (Unit 12)
- Lenham (Unit 13)
However, many local people still refer to areas by their unit numbers.
There are many religious establishments such as masjids, temples and churches present in Phoenix.
Media and communication[]
Local news is distributed via regional newspapers such as the Rising Sun, the Post and Phoenix Tabloid. In terms of telecommunications and Internet access, 99% of Phoenix is covered by either wireless Internet connections such as LTE, UMTS, EDGE, and HSDPA, or have access to a landline/ADSL. The majority of ADSL users in Phoenix use Telkomsa as their Internet service provider.
There are also many local Facebook pages that are used to relay news and crime related incidents.
Health and education[]
Public education in the Phoenix area is provided by various primary and secondary schools, one technikon and various FET colleges. There is one major government hospital (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital), and one private hospital (Mount Edgecombe Hospital). Various clinics are also to be found, e. g. Grove End Clinic.
List of schools in Phoenix:
- Mahathma Primary School
- Sunford Primary School
- Avonford Secondary School
- Solvista Secondary School
- Rustic Manor Primary School
- Stanmore Secondary & Primary School
- Grove End Secondary School
- Woodview Primary & Secondary School
- Highstone Primary School (Unit 11)
- Grandmore Primary School
- Palmview Primary School
- Riverview Primary School
- Olimpia Primary School
- Palmview Secondary School
- Sastripark Secondary School
- Northmead Secondary School (Unit 10)
- Phoenix Secondary School (Unit 5)
- Stonebridge Primary School (Unit 4)
- Pioneer Primary School (Unit 4)
- Daleview Secondary School (Unit 2)
- Greenbury Primary School (Unit 2)
- Greenbury Secondary School (Unit 2)
- Clayhaven Primary School (Unit 5)
- Hopeville Primary School (Unit 3)
- Northlen Primary School (Unit 13)
- Crystal Point Secondary School (Unit 13)
- Brookdale Secondary School (Unit 12)
- Trenance Manor Secondary School
- Millview Primary School (Unit 7)
- Eastbury Secondary School (Unit 7)
- Rydalvale Primary School (Unit 9)
- Rydalpark Secondary School (Unit 9)
- Havenpark Secondary School
- Foresthaven Secondary school
- Earlington Secondary School
- Brailsford Primary School
Shopping centres[]
Phoenix Plaza, Gem City, Starwood Mall and The Acropolis are some of the few shopping centres that can be found in Phoenix's CBD. These centres cater for various needs from top brand shops to local products.
Phoenix Plaza[]
Phoenix Plaza owned by Vukile Property Fund is a shopping centre situated north of Durban. The centre is home to more than 105 independent and national retailers with Shoprite as its anchor tenant.
The shopping centre totalling a gross lettable area of 24,341 m² was built in 1993.
Transport[]
Three main means of public transport are available: private owned buses, taxis and the rail system including Uber & Taxify. Phoenix has its own railway station which connects to many towns in Durban. The King Shaka International Airport is a short drive away, which provides various outlets. Totaling at 175 at its peak in the mid-90s, Phoenix had one of the largest numbers of privately owned buses in South Africa. The two bus services that contributed to the transport landscape of the area were Mayville Coach Lines and Springfield Safari Tours (SOS).
Industrial sector[]
Phoenix also hosts a huge industrial area with big companies such as SAB Africa Miller, which produces beverages in the Coca-Cola family.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Main Place Phoenix". Census 2011.
- ^ Makhatini, Mack; Moodley, Samantha. "Phoenix". City of Durban, South Africa. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009.
- ^ "Phoenix". www.durban.gov.za. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
- ^ Ndou, Clive. "'There is just too much anger over what happened in Phoenix'". Witness. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ Jump up to: a b AfricaNews (2021-07-22). "KwaZulu-Natal riots highlight ethnic tensions". Africanews. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ "Phoenix and Inanda community leaders hope for peace following unrest in KZN". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ "South Africa violence, looting ebbs but death toll up to 117". Reuters. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ "Dividing lines: Phoenix at epicentre of looting, racial tension and violence in KZN". DispatchLIVE. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ "SAPS says news relating to shooting of man linked to Phoenix killings is fake". SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. 2021-07-24. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ "35 bodies unclaimed as Phoenix tensions simmer". The Mail & Guardian. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
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- Populated places in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
- Former Indian townships in South Africa
- Townships in KwaZulu-Natal