The establishment and growth of Empangeni.
Abstract
• Opsomming:
Die naam Empangeni is aan Zoeloe ontleen, maar oor die betekenis
daarvan is die menings uiteenlopend. Die eerste Blanke inwoner van
die gebied was Aldin Grout, 'n sendeling van die Amerikaanse Sendinggenootskap
wat in 1841 in Empangeni aangekom het. Sy verblyf
was van korte duur en in 1851 is hy gevolg deur eerwaarde H.P.S.
Schreuder van die Noorweegse Sendinggenootskap. In 1887 is Zoeloeland
tot Britse gebied verklaar en A.J. Shepstone is as die eerste
magistraat van die distrik Lower Umfolozi aangestel. In 1894 is die
distriksetel van Patane na die teenswoordige Empangeni verskuif.
In 1905-06 het die eerste setlaars hulle opwagting in die distrik
gemaak, terwyl die sogenaamde Empangeni-konsessiegronde tussen
1909 en 1911 aan nedersetters toegeken is. Die dorp Empangeni is
in 1905-06 amptelik geproklameer en deur die magistraat geadministreer.
Van 1917 het 'n dorpsadviesraad hom bygestaan, en 'n dorpsraad
is eers in 1931 ingestel. Munisipale status is in 1960 toegestaan en
met die aankondiging van die voorgestelde ontwikkeling van die
Richardsbaai-hawe in 1965 het Empangeni 'n nuwe groeifase in sy
geskiedenis tegemoetgegaan. • Summary:
The name Empangeni is a Zulu word of which there are various interpretations
as to its origin. In 1841 Aldin Grout, a missionary of the
American Mission Society, was the first White to arrive in the area.
He only remained a short time and was followed in 1851 by the Rev.
H.P .S. Schreuder of the Norwegian Mission Society. In 1887 Zululand
was declared British territory and A.J. Shepstone was appointed
the first magistrate of the Lower Umfolozi district. The magisterial
seat was moved from Patane to the present day Empangeni in 1894.
In 1905-06 the first White settlers arrived in the district, and the
so-called Empangeni concession lands were granted between 1909
and 1911. In 1906 Empangeni was officially declared a village and
was under the control of the magistrate. From 1917 he was assisted
by a village advisory board. In 1931 the village received a town board
and borough status was finally granted in October 1960. With the
announcement in 1965 of the proposed harbour development at
Richards Bay Empangeni entered a dynamic growth phase in its
history.