uMlalazi Municipality
Contact:
Tel: 035 473 3474
|
District Municipality
Contact:
Tel: 035
799 2500
|
HENRY
BIRD
Registered
Tour Guide |
| • Battlefields
• Shaka Country
• Martyr's Cross
•
KwaMondi
•
Museum Village
|
|
|
|
Tourism
News - Winter 2007
|
|
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr
Sbu Ndebele, was recently in Eshowe to mark
the 130th anniversary of the death of South
Africa's first Christian martyr, Maqhamusela
Khanyile, who was killed on a hillside outside
Eshowe on 9 March 1877 for refusing to fight
in King Cetshwayo's army.
A new memorial was unveiled on the site of
the old Martyr's Cross overlooking the Umlalazi
River valley outside Eshowe to mark the occassion.
Further down the hill a grave stone has been
erected to mark the exact site of Maqhamusela's
execution.
|
Local
guide Henry Bird relates the fascinating story
of South Africa's first Christian martyr, at
the
newly-unveiled Martyr's Cross outside Eshowe. |
New
Martyr's Cross unveiled overlooking uMlalazi
River valley |
In
1977, the Eshowe Minister's Fraternal, which
included the late Dean Shobede of KwaMondi
Lutheran Church, as well as the late Mr.
"Bill" Lee, son of the Anglican
Bishop of Zululand, The Right Rev. Albert
Lee, who was Bishop between 1935 and 1946,
erected a cross at the site of the first
Zulu Martyr, Maqhamusela Khanyile.
The original sandstone cross, which dated
back to a much earlier time, had weathered
badly and it was decided to replace it with
another structure.
In its place, a simple Cross, constructed
from steel railway line, was erected, using
the original sandstone plinth, and dedicated
on 9 March 1977 to mark the 100th anniversary
of Maqhamusela Khanyile's execution by King
Cetshwayo's soldiers.
This replacement cross has stood on the
site for the intervening 30 years as a tribute
to Khanyile's faith, and his loyalty to
God, as well as his affection for the man
and family who he had served for so long,
and who had convinced him of The Faith,
which he then claimed, and for which he
died.
Maqhamusela Khanyile's body was never found,
but it is a long-standing belief by many
people that his remains was transfigured
in the same way that Christ's Body was transfigured,
and that Khanyile is now numbered with all
the other Christian Martyrs in Heaven.
Martyr's Cross stands on Mpondweni Hill,
with a spectacular view in all 360 degrees
around it, including the sea, and a huge
stretch of coast for at least 80 kms, and
the Ongoye Forest to the north, as well
as the town of Eshowe.
Although it is easily accessible from the
R66, prospective visitors are recommended
to check with the local Publicity Officer
as to how to get there, or alternatively
to hire the services of a local guide, who
should be able to enhance any visit with
other information about other places of
interest relevant to the history of Eshowe
in the area.
- Henry
Bird |
The simple steel cross has now
been replaced by the granite memorial.
The original stone cross.
|
|
UTA
at the Travel Shows
. . . . |
 
uMlalazi
Tourism has been well represented at some recent
shows. The team from the Twinstreams Environmental
Education Centre at Mtunzini carried the flag
(and our brochure!) at the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg
while UTA members, Jane Chennels, Willie Axford
and Kobus du Toit, held the fort at the Zululand
stand at the international Travel Indaba at
Durban's ICC.
|
 New
uThungulu Travel Guide Launched
uThungulu
District Municipality launched the second
edition of Zululand Unwrapped travel guide
at Indaba in Durban recently.
Marketed as the 'definitive guide to Zululand',
the 140-page book covers all the attractions
and accommodation to be found between
Amatikulu and Kwambonambi and Richards
Bay and Melmoth.
It offers something for those that seek
unspoilt forests for birdwatching as well
as adrenalin junkies seeking thrills and
extreme adventures.
'We've included hundreds of listings to
suit every taste and budget', says editor
Anita Tait. 'It is packed with new information
and I hope that visitors will find it
informative and easy to use.' |
|
|
|
|
|
