AMatikulu

aMatikulu is a settlement in Uthungulu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

aMatikulu
aMatikulu Show map of KwaZulu-Natal aMatikulu Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 29.05°S 31.533333°E / -29.05; 31.533333
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Uthungulu
Municipality	uMlalazi
Area [1]
• Total	1.39 km2 (0.54 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	515
• Density	370/km2 (960/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	74.0%
• Coloured	3.3%
• Indian/Asian	16.9%
• White	5.4%
• Other	0.4%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Zulu	59.8%
• English	26.1%
• Afrikaans	5.7%
• S. Ndebele	4.7%
• Other	3.7%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)

Boat ride at Amatigulu Nature Reserve

The town is some 130 km north-east of Durban, near Gingindlovu, named after the Matigulu (also spelt Amatikulu) River. The name is derived from the Lala or Zulu phrase meaning "large water" (i.e. "large river") or "large spit", the latter possibly being an anecdotal reference to the periodic flooding of the river.

The approved form is aMatikulu.^[2]

History

During the particularly violent flooding during the 1984 tropical storm Domoina, several of the local bridges were destroyed with widespread flooding disrupting much of the local sugar growing growing and milling operations.

Prior to the current mill, the town was also home to first sugar mill in Zululand, established by J.L Hulett in 1908.

Industry

Located in the heart of the sugar cane growing region of South Africa, the town is home to Amatikulu Sugar Mill, one of three owned by the South African agricultural group Tongaat Hulett. ^[3]

The town is also located on the main trunk railway line connecting the ports of Durban and Richards Bay. The areas surrounding the town are rich in natural fauna and flora with the Ezemvelo Amatikulu Nature Reserve located approximately 10 km from the town, at the Amatikulu River mouth.

The town was also known for its commercial shrimp farming operation which operated from 1989 - 2004.