Grey Street Shops in Durban | The Ulwazi Programme
1 Grey Street: The landmark of culture in Durban
2 Popular places in Grey Street
3 Grey Street Mosque
4 IsiZulu Summary – Izitolo ezitholakala kuGrey Street eThekwini
5 Izindawo ezabanedumela
6 Indlu yokukhonzela amaSulumane
Grey Street: The landmark of culture in Durban
Durban holds a treasure of cultural and architectural landmarks that shows the diversity of our cultures. It tells a story of where we have come from and the history we created amongst all odds.
One such landmark is the Grey Street complex, which is symbolic in generating a history for the Indian community in Durban. The Grey Street complex in Durban was the largest Indian business district, with various stores and traders. It was never a smooth ride for the Indians that occupied this part of town as it was controlled by the white authority and there was a threat of being moved to the outskirts of the city. In 1957, The Group Areas Act restricted the area to Indian business use only, creating Eastern and Western boundaries in the city; however in 1973, the area was declared an Indian business district. The Indians who lived in the flats above the shops were never removed, the complex became one of the few areas where Indians were allowed space in the city centre.
Popular places in Grey Street
Popular eating venues in Grey Street were Kapitan’s Balcony Hotel and GC Kapitan’s which was a vegetarian take away well known for their bunny chow. They were opened to cater for the Indian immigrants but became popular with black people as well.
In August 1881, a site was bought by Aboobaker Amod Jhaveri and Hajee Mohamed in Grey Street from K Munsamy for 115 pounds for the construction of a mosque. A tiny brick and mortar structure which stood on the site was converted into the mosque. Later the adjacent land was bought to expand the mosque.
The Juma Masjid was the first mosque to be built in Durban, and the oldest and largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It has a unique design and is geometric in shape. In 1884 it was expanded to accommodate 200 prayer mats and presently can accommodate about 6000 worshippers. Every Friday Grey Street in Durban is abuzz with over thousands of Muslims going to the mosque to pray.
IsiZulu Summary – Izitolo ezitholakala kuGrey Street eThekwini
Idolobha laseThekwini linomlando wezindawo nezakhiwo ezinhle ezimelelene nokwahlukana kobuhlanga kwabantu abalakhele. Enye yalezindawo ikuGrey Street lapho kunezitolo zabomdabu baseNdiya okwathi noma uhulumeni wesikhathi sobandlululo ebeka umthetho wokwahlukana ngezindawo ngokobuhlanga lendawo yanikezwa amaNdiya.
Izindawo zokudlela ezabanedumela kwakuyihhotela iKapitan’s Balcony kanye ne G.C. Kapitans eyayaziwa ngokudayisa amabhananatshawe. Kwababethanda ukuzihlalela nabangane ngaphambi kokuya emakhaya iGoodwill Lounge kaPumpy Naidoo kwakuyindawo yokuhlanganela abantu balalele umculo. Indawo yokuqala yebhayisikobho kuGrey Street yayaziwa ngokuthi yiRawat’s Bio okwathi ngonyaka ka 1953 uRamnikal Goshalia wavula iNaaz Cinema eyalandelwa ngukuvulwa kweShah Jehan Cinema ngonyaka ka 1956 izelamani zakwaRajab, lendawo yebhayisikobho yayiyinkulu kunazozonke ngoba yayimumatha abantu abangu800 inezindlu zalabo abadla izambane likapondo ezintathu.
Indlu yokukhonzela amaSulumane
NgoAgasti ka1881, o-Aboobaker Amod Jhaveri noHajee Mohamed bathenga umhlaba kuK Munsamy ngopondo abangama 115 ukuze kwakhiwe indlu yokukhonzela amaSulumane ekwaba ngeyokuqala ukwakhiwa eThekwini eyaziwa ngokuthi yiJuma Masjid. Njalo ngoLwesihlanu uGrey Street uyagcwala ngenxa yamasulumane asuke eyakothandaza.
City of Durban, Idolobha laseThekwini, Indian Community, Izindawo, Izindlu zesonto zamaSulumane, Mosques, Places, Political History, Umlando wepolitiki, Umphakathi wamaNdiya