Izotsha is a small rural settlement situated at the intersection of the P55 and P200 roads on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, just inland from Shelly Beach and approximately 5 km south-west of Marburg and 7 km south-west of Port Shepstone.
Located in the hilly countryside of the Lower South Coast, approximately 3 km north-west of Shelly Beach, Izotsha lies just south of the Zotsha River, after which it is named.
The name ‘Izotsha’ translates to “it will burn” in the Zulu language.
Izotsha is essentially a small settlement that mainly involves a group of commercial and residential farms, as well as light industrial property, that have been built around the P55 and P200 roads. It also forms part of the Izotsha Industrial Development Corridor, which is a series of small industrial activities stretching along the section of the P200 Izotsha Road from Izotsha to Marburg.
Izotsha falls within the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, which is part of the Ugu District Municipality.
Education
Izotsha Primary School, situated in the centre of the settlement, is one of the oldest schools on the South Coast, established in 1883, around the same time the Port Shepstone School (present-day Port Shepstone Primary School and Port Shepstone High School) was also established. In 1991, the primary school made history by becoming the first “only-whites” school on the Lower South Coast to open its doors to children of other racial groups.
Attractions
Touted as the largest reptile farm in Africa, Pure Venom Reptile Park is situated just south of Izotsha on the P200 Izotsha Road and includes guided tours and daily demonstrations of the variety of snakes, iguanas, and crocodiles on the farm.
Religion
The Bethany Lutheran Church, situated on the P55 Izotsha Road, was established in 1903 by German missionary Reverend Peter Stoppel, who arrived on the South Coast to do missionary work after being sent by the Hermannsburg Mission to start a mission station in the area. Today, the Lutheran church stands as a testament to the strong German heritage that remains on the Lower South Coast.
Transport
Rail
Izotsha once formed part of the Alfred County Railway, which was a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway that ran from Port Shepstone in the north-east, through Izotsha, to Paddock and Harding in the north-west. After the standard gauge Transnet passenger services shut down in 1986, the ACR continued operations until 2005, when the famous Banana Express ceased operation.
Roads
Izotsha lies at the intersection of the P55 and P200. The P55 (Izotsha Road) connects Izotsha with Shelly Beach to the south-east and with Paddock to the north-west and provides access to the R61 Provincial Route (to Port Shepstone and Port Edward). The P200 (Izotsha Road) connects Izotsha with Marburg to the north and with Gamalakhe and Ramsgate to the south.
Tolling
The R61 Provincial Route, forming part of the South Coast Toll Route, involves the payment of toll at the toll booths of the Izotsha Ramp Toll Plaza, situated on the off and on-ramps of the Izotsha Road interchange (Exit 39). Traffic arriving from the south to turn off at exit 39 and traffic joining the R61 S from Izotsha Road must pass through the respective ramp plazas. The R620 Regional Route from Shelly Beach to Margate and Port Shepstone serves as the untolled alternative route to the R61.
