Harding, South Africa

Harding is a town situated in the Mzimkulwana River Valley on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Harding
Harding Show map of KwaZulu-Natal Harding Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 30°35′S 29°53′E
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Ugu
Municipality	uMuziwabantu
Area [1]
• Total	25.18 km2 (9.72 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	9,544
• Density	380/km2 (980/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2023) [1]
• Black African	77.3%
• Coloured	19.5%
• Indian/Asian	11.3%
• White	3.1%
• Other	2.8%
First languages (2023) [1]
• Zulu	57.4%
• Xhosa	36.6%
• English	12.6%
• Afrikaans	3.8%
• Other	4.7%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	4680
PO box	4680
Area code	039

History

Harding was established as a military outpost following the British annexation of East Griqualand in 1874. Named after Sir Walter Harding (c. 1812–1874) who in 1858 became the first Chief Justice in Natal.^[2] It was declared as a township in 1911.^[3]

Geography

Harding lies at the foot of the Ingeli Range, 58 kilometres (36 mi) east of Kokstad, 34 kilometres (21 mi) north-west of Izingolweni, and 84 kilometres (52 mi) north-west of Port Shepstone.^[3]: 256

Economy

Timber and dairy farming form the backbone of the local economy, with extensive timber plantations surrounding Harding and the nearby town of Weza, located approximately 16 km to the south-west.

The abandoned 122 kilometres (76 mi) narrow gauge Alfred County Railway used to serve the farming areas, linking Harding with Port Shepstone.

Law and government

Harding is situated in the uMuziwabantu Local Municipality, forming part of the Ugu District Municipality and functions as the municipal seat for the uMuziwabantu Local Municipality which governs Harding, Weza and its surroundings.

Healthcare

St Andrews Hospital is a 210-bed district hospital situated east of the Harding CBD, that mainly serves the Harding, Weza and surrounding rural communities within the uMuziwabantu Local Municipality and in the neighbouring uMzimkhulu Local Municipality as well as nearby rural communities in the Eastern Cape Province such as Mbizana.^[4]

Transport

Roads

Harding is bypassed by the N2, routing traffic heading east from Kokstad towards Izingolweni and Port Shepstone. The town can be accessed by turning off the N2 onto three main access points, namely Murchison Street (from the east and west) and Hawkins Street (from the north). Hawkins Street continues further south towards Mbizana in the Eastern Cape as a small rural road named the P59.