Madadeni is a township in the city of Newcastle, in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Located on the outskirts of Newcastle, Madadeni is situated approximately 16 km from the Newcastle Central Business District.
Madadeni township falls within the Newcastle Local Municipality, which is part of the Amajuba District Municipality.
The name Madadeni is the Zulu translation of Duck Ponds. Before the establishment of the Township of Madadeni near Newcastle, this area was known as Duck Ponds. The old farm had several ponds inhabited by wild ducks. One or two of the bigger ponds still exist, but the ducks have been threatened by human habitation.
After the establishment of the Group Areas Act in 1950, Duckponds/Madadeni was established as a black residential area. African people in Newcastle were then removed to this area. It was initially administered by the Bantu Affairs Department. From 1972 to 1994, the KwaZulu-Natal Government was responsible for the administration; today it forms part of the greater Newcastle Local Municipality.
Madadeni is divided into sub-places referred to as sections, which are listed below;
- Madadeni A
- Madadeni B
- Madadeni C
- Madadeni D
- Madadeni E
- Madadeni F
- Madadeni G
- Madadeni H
- Madadeni J
- Madadeni K
- Madadeni L
- Madadeni M
- Madadeni N
- Madadeni P
- Madadeni R
There is a story of a treasure that exists in Madadeni. This treasure can be found in a place known as KwaMathakuza.
The fable goes that there is an opening in the ground at this place. When a person enters it, a flight of narrow stairs in a tunnel leads down to a large cave-like room. In this place, the treasure can be found. It consists of gold-like coins or mali yezipoko in Zulu, which means “ghost money”. These are kept in large black three-legged pots. When a person takes some of this money, the opening in the ground suddenly closes up, so that it is impossible for a person to exit. Only after the money is returned and put back in the pot does the opening appear again in order for the person to exit.
