Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal
Province
Greytown is a town in the center of the South African province of KwaZulu -Natal. It lies on the River Umvoti at an altitude of 1015 meters above sea level. 2011, it had 9,090 inhabitants. In Greytown is the administration of the municipality Umvoti.
History
The village was founded in 1848 by the Land Commission and called Umvoti. 1854 was named in honor of the Governor of the Cape, Sir George Grey, renamed.
1906 Bambatha Rebellion took place in the sphere of influence of Greytown. The Zulu refused to pay taxes. These struggles are seen as the beginning of the revolt against racial segregation.
Economy
Since the 1890s, are planted in the area near Greytown acacia and used for timber production.
Sons and daughters of the town
- General Louis Botha, the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa
- Bobbie Heine, tennis player and winner of the double of the French Championships in 1927
Attractions
- Greytown Museum, a former building of the colonial administration; Since 1973 it houses the Museum
- Lilani sources, thermal sources
- Hall of Greytown, a building from the early 1900's
- Grave of Sarie Marais, a folk hero of the Afrikaans -speaking population
- Umvoti Vlei, a nature reserve with many species of birds of wetlands; this can be observed