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, 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.Taylor, Rupert. "Justice denied: political violence in Kwazulu‐Natal after 1994." African Affairs 101, no. 405 (2002): 473–508.
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.
DistrictPopulationMount Currie (main town Kokstad) 41,564Alfred (main town Harding) 8,794Port Shepstone 67,239Umzinto 46,919Ixopo 22,626Polela 4,364Underberg 9,584Impendle 2,815Richmond 23,476Camperdown 36,315Pietermaritzburg 228,549Lions River 43,060New Hanover 38,207Mooirivier 25,061Estcourt 49,493Weenen 12,485Bergville 22,552Umvoti (main town Greytown) 41,160Kranskop 7,565Durban 473,826Inanda (main town Verulam) 299,379Pinetown 184,216Chatsworth 179,957Kliprivier 64,782Glencoe 17,265Dundee 31,613Dannhauser 14,154Newcastle 53,584Utrecht 27,798Paulpietersburg 21,072Vryheid 85,518Ngotshe 26,382Lower Tugela (main town Stanger) 96,702Mtunzini 18,455Eshowe 13,355Mtonjaneni (main town Melmoth) 10,577Babanango 3,069Lower Umfolozi (main town Empangeni) 56,082Hlabisa 18,211Ubombo (main town Jozini) 2,929
Administrators
Politics The province was a strong hold of the United party. Province National United/New Republic/Progressive/Democratic Labour Other Total1943 South African general election0628151948 South African general election111221953 South African general election21120151958 South African general election21400161961 South African general election21400161966 South African general election51300181974 South African general election51500201981 South African general election71300201989 South African general election10100020align=left
See also Coat of arms of Natal Mtetwa Empire (c. 1750–1817) Zululand (1816–1897) Natalia Republic (1839–1843) Colony of Natal (1843–1910) KwaZulu-Natal (1994–)
References
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