Richards Bay

Abstract

The development of Richards Bay, on the Mhlatuze Lagoon in Zululand, as a harbour was an event of the 1970s. Before this it had primarily been used as a fishing and vacationing spot by the inhabitants of nearby Empangeni. However, there had been numerous attempts to establish a harbour on the Mhlatuze Lagoon but none of them got beyond the planning stage. This article deals with the naming and development of Richards Bay. Starting as a trading store-cum-hotel, it became a favourite fishing spot and a holiday resort after World War II, and finally a thriving export harbour. It has now become the industrial growth point of Zululand.