Melmoth, officially renamed eMthonjaneni, is a picturesque small town situated at the intersection of the R68, R34, and R66 Provincial Routes in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, approximately 89 km north-west of Mtunzini and 194 km north-east of Durban.
Known as the gateway to the Zulu Highlands, Melmoth is the main town and administrative centre/seat of the Mthonjaneni Local Municipality, which is part of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
Referred to, in the SA edition of Trivial Pursuit, as having the cleanest air in the country, Melmoth was a ‘gold rush’ town, founded in 1888 and named after Sir Melmoth Osborn, the resident commissioner of Zululand at the time.
Melmoth is essentially regarded as a good base for travellers wanting to visit places of interest close to the town, all within an hour’s drive. These places include uMgungundlovu, the historic royal homestead of Dingaan, where Piet Retief and his party of Boer commandos were executed, and Ulundi, the capital of Zululand and the site of the last battle of the Anglo-Zulu War.
The Matatane Crocodile Ranch, on the banks of the White Umfolozi River, is a popular place for hikers and those wanting to experience crocodiles firsthand, particularly as lion cubs have recently been introduced.
Interestingly, Ntingwe Tea Plantations produce some of South Africa’s finest teas, solely for export, but the plantation is found in this remote corner of KwaZulu-Natal. Regarded as lighter than other African teas, such as those produced in Kenya, Ntingwe has gained an excellent reputation in the international market and is retailed as a breakfast or afternoon refreshment. It was established in 1987 and is the single biggest employer and source of financial stability in the region.
Nkandla Forest lies approximately 68 km from Melmoth. Throughout Zulu history, it has been regarded as a place of mystery and the supernatural, and the Chube, ironworkers associated with the Nkandla area, were never conquered by Shaka. The forest is a rare example of high wet rain forest, one of the very few surviving examples and remnants of a time when the climate was wetter and colder. It is also one of the best examples of surviving mist belt forest in South Africa. Steams that rise in the forest form deep gorges leading into the Nsuze River, running along the base of the ridge. To visit the forest, one needs permission from the Officer in Charge, as there are no visitor facilities as yet.
The district is also planted with sugar cane from the outskirts of the town and into the surrounding villages.
The Provincial Government-funded hospital in Melmoth is St Mary’s KwaMagwaza Hospital, which caters to the people of Melmoth and the surrounding villages.
In 2017, the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC) renamed Melmoth to eMthonjaneni, the same name as the local municipality it is in.
History
In 1887, when the British Empire annexed Zululand, they established several magisterial districts. One district was Mthonjaneni, and the centre of the district was what is known today as Melmoth, named after Sir Melmoth Osborn, the first British Chief Native Commissioner for Zululand. Melmoth was essentially a ‘gold rush town’.
Large wattle plantations were set up, and a wattle bark factory was established in 1926.
The Dutch Reformed Church of Melmoth was established in 1894 as the first Dutch Reformed Church in Zululand.
At the turn of the century, gold was mined at the Melmoth Gold Fields, 5 km out of town, but this was a short-term venture. Deserted diggings can still be found in some areas.
Number Plates
Vehicle registrations in Melmoth start with NO – N for Natal, O for Osborn.
