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, textile and tire production. Tires are produced by Dunlop near to Steadville. Dunlop employs many skilled and unskilled labourers, contributing to Ladysmith's economy.
Many people in Ladysmith use their hands to make a living: they are involved in crafts, hunting animals, fishing in rivers and so on.
Eskom is present in Ladysmith and are providing poor people with electricity in areas such as Driefontein, Gudlintaba, Tatane, Nkuthu and many more. Iskor have a plant in the neighbouring town of Newcastle, and they too are employing many people from the area.
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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.
- Ladysmith is also a little town by delfzijl-noord
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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 |
