# Timeline of Pietermaritzburg

The following is a timeline of the history of Pietermaritzburg. It is part of the Msunduzi Local Municipality in the Umgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

## 19th century

* 1839
** Pietermaritzburg founded by Voortrekkers; named after Gerrit Maritz and Piet Retief.
** October: Settlement becomes capital of the newly formed Natalia Republic.
* 1840 - Voortrekker Church of the Vow consecrated.
* 1843
** British Fort Napier [af] established.
** Natalier newspaper begins publication.
** Settlement becomes capital of the newly formed British Colony of Natal.
* 1846
** Natal Witness newspaper begins publication.
** Book Society founded.
* 1847 - Natal Independent newspaper begins publication.
* 1851
** Natal and East African Society and Agricultural Society founded.
** In vicinity of Pietermaritzburg, development of Edendale begins.
* 1856
** Pietermaritzburg incorporated as a borough.
** D. D. Buchanan becomes mayor.
** Pietermaritzburg officials issue "ordinance permitting the establishment of African locations" (i.e. racial segregation).
* 1862 - Prison built on Burger Street.
* 1863 - Mr. William Calder opens High School Maritzburg, later to become Maritzburg College, or, simply "College."
* 1868
** William Macrorie becomes bishop of Anglican diocese of Maritzburg.
** St Saviour's Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg opened.
* 1874 - Botanical Garden established.
* 1878 - February: Natal Society Museum opens.
* 1879 - Pietermaritzburg County Football Club formed.
* 1880 - Durban-Pietermaritzburg railway begins operating.
* 1885 - Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Commerce active (approximate date).
* 1888 - Alexandra Park established.
* 1893 - 7 June: Civil rights activist Gandhi removed from train in Pietermaritzburg for defying racial segregation law.
* 1897 - St. John's Diocesan School for Girls founded.

## 20th century

* 1901 - Town Hall rebuilt.
* 1904
** Electric tram begins operating.
** Natal Government Museum active.
** Population: 31,119.
* 1910
** Natal University College founded.
** Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly formed Union of South Africa (British dominion).
* 1911 - Population: 30,555.
* 1912 - Voortrekker museum founded.
* 1919 - Fort Napier becomes a hospital.
* 1920 - Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School founded.
* 1921 - Comrades Marathon (Durban-Pietermaritzburg) begins.
* 1924 - Beer hall in business on Pietermaritz Street.
* 1925 - Shuter & Shooter Publishers in business.
* 1927 - Afrikaansmediumskool (school) established.
* 1929 - "Native Village at Sobantu" built.
* 1931 - Natal Bantu Football Association formed.
* 1934 - Nux student newspaper begins publication.
* 1944 - Pietermaritzburg Italian P.O.W. Church built on Epworth Road.
* 1948 - Alexandra Park Street Circuit (motor race track) opens.
* 1951 - Dusi Canoe Marathon to Durban begins.
* 1953 - Roy Hesketh Circuit (motor race track) opens.
* 1954 - Edendale Hospital founded.
* 1960 - Alexandra High School for white boys opens.
* 1961 - Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly independent Republic of South Africa.
* 1962 - Statue of Piet Retief unveiled.
* 1972 - 6 April: "In the Natal Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg, at the end of the longest trial of its kind in South Africa, thirteen defendants...are sentenced...for contravening the Terrorism Act."
* 1979 - Maritzburg United F.C. (football club) formed.
* 1976 - St Saviour's Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg deconsecrated and demolished in 1981.
* 1981 - Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Nativity consecrated.
* 1985 - 5 August: Treason trial begins.
* 1987 - September: Flood.
* 1989 - Napierville prison begins operating.
* 1990 - March: "Seven Day War" occurs.
* 1991 - Population: 156,473 city; 228,549 metro.
* 1993
** April: Unrest.
** 6 June: Gandhi memorial unveiled.
* 1996 - Children in Distress Network (CINDI) organized.
* 2000
** Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly formed Msunduzi Local Municipality (which includes Edendale, Imbali, etc.).
** Hloni Glenford Zondi becomes mayor.

## 21st century

* 2001 - Population: 223,519.
* 2002 - Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business formed.
* 2004 - University of Natal becomes University of KwaZulu-Natal.
* 2005 - Website Msunduzi.gov.za launched (approximate date).
* 2006 - Zanele Hlatshwayo becomes mayor of Msunduzi.
* 2010 - May: Mike Tarr becomes mayor of Msunduzi.
* 2011 - Chris Ndlela becomes mayor of Msunduzi.
* 2013 - Spring Grove Dam at Mooi River begins operating in vicinity of city.
* 2016 - Themba Njilo becomes mayor of Msunduzi.
* 2021 - 2021 Pietermaritzburg power outage
* 2022 - 2022 Pietermaritzburg shooting