By Nangamso Mabindla
8 March 2005

WHAT started as a residential area for workers at Cyril Lord, the British textile company (now Da Gama Textiles), today is home to more than 200 000 Buffalo City residents.

There were originally 14 houses, so naturally visitors called the area "14". Themba Ngwenya, a resident of 14, says the increasing number of workers at Cyril Lord meant the housing development had to grow to 50 units; it was then called NU1.

"At that time there were no paved roads nor a CBD. We used to go to East London to shop," says Ngwenya, adding that buses were the main method of transport.

In 1961 the area was renamed Mdantsane and it grew to become the second biggest township in South Africa, after Soweto in Johannesburg. The township is named after a river that runs between Mtsotso Railway Station in NU1 and Greeniker in NU2.

In 1963 people from Mekeni and New Brighton (now Pefferville) were forcibly relocated to Mdantsane, 25km outside East London. "Then new units needed to be created to accommodate those families. NU3 and NU5 was mainly made up of people from Tsolo (now Braelyn)," says Ngwenya. The township now has 17 sections.

Mdantsane was a healthier and more hygienic environment than Mekeni and New Brighton, but it was farther away from the city, resulting in more unemployment. One of the consequences was an increase in levels of crime and violence. Unemployed youngsters formed gangs and roamed the streets.

However, according to one research article in the 1970s, there was a steady improvement in living conditions in Mdantsane. The improvement in public transport and the state subsidising commuting opened up access to the city. New schools and facilities affected the quality of life positively.

Today, the township is preparing for a major facelift after President Thabo Mbeki earmarked it for development. Structures are already in place for upgrading the area through the R1-billion Mdantsane Urban Renewal Project. The taxi rank in the CBD is undergoing refurbishments worth R4-million and a park was established in 2002. Further developments are expected, and some roads in NU17 are being paved.

"The future looks good for Mdantsane and I'm happy to be alive to witness our beloved township evolving into a respected urban area," says Ngwenya.