Ballito
Ballito is an affluent town located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ballito is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Durban and 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of KwaDukuza. It forms part of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, and iLembe District Municipality. Dolphins are common on this stretch of the North Coast shoreline, hence the nickname Dolphin Coast.
Ballito | |
|---|---|
 Ballito Beach | |
  Ballito  Ballito  Ballito | |
| Coordinates: 29°32′S 31°13′E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District | iLembe |
| Municipality | KwaDukuza |
| Area | |
| • Total | 22.16 km2 (8.56 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 19,234 |
| • Density | 870/km2 (2,200/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 50.6% |
| • Coloured | 1.2% |
| • Indian/Asian | 5.7% |
| • White | 42.0% |
| • Other | 0.4% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 42.7% |
| • Zulu | 27.1% |
| • Xhosa | 14.9% |
| • Afrikaans | 9.3% |
| • Other | 6.0% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 4420 |
| PO box | 4420 |
| Area code | 032 |
History
The town was established in 1954 as a private township, by the Glen Anil Development Corporation/Investments which was headed up by Dr Edward (Eddie) Rubenstein (1903–1972). The town's name was borrowed from a glossy advert for Ballito hosiery made by Ballito Hosiery Limited of St. Albans, England. The area was originally portion of a sugar cane farm at Compensation Beach owned by Basil Townsend.
The Sunday Tribune printed in 1954 an advert for Ballito Bay inviting potential investors to the North Coast with prices of land from R790.00 (395 SA Pounds). By 1964 the zonings for Ballitoville's residential buildings, hotels and a caravan park had already been incorporated into the town plan known as Compensation Beach and this area stretched out from Willard Beach to Clark Bay, Salmon Bay and Port Zimbali. A brochure with the first marketing pictures of Ballito, was put out to attract the holiday makers to invest in the area with the slogan: "Buy, Build & Play at Ballito Bay, The Caribbean of the North Coast – Natal". Ballito, Salt Rock and Shaka's Rock are favourite holiday destinations for local South Africans and also foreign tourists on their way to Zululand and the historical battlefields.
Jack Nash (1914–2016) gives a personal history[2] from the early beginning of Ballito through to 1986 when he left the area and includes a history of some of the early pioneers and characters of the town. These include his father-in-law, Reg Fripp, who built many of the early houses. Jack Nash, who lived until shortly before his death in Amber Valley, Howick, own history includes being the Estate Agent for Glen Anil in Ballito through to him being the Chairman of the Ballito and the North Coast Publicity Associations. Jack's wife Gaye Nash née Fripp, the young ballet dancer holding the "little ball" or ballito above her head in the full page press release to publicise the then new township in the Sunday Tribune of 23 November 1954, still lives in Howick.[2]
Geography
Ballito is perched on the coastal hills of the Dolphin Coast overlooking the Indian Ocean with the elevation gradually climbing westwards to the interior where the town centre is based.
The Greater Ballito region has grown to include the seaside villages of Shaka's Rock, Salt Rock and Sheffield Beach to the north which have merged together along with Ballito to form a continuous coastal urban area and regard themselves as extensions of Ballito.[3] The region also extends to the more isolated settlements of Umhlali and Shakaskraal to the interior and Tinley Manor Beach on the coast.
Suburban areas
The administrative boundaries of Ballito include Ballito proper (the main town) and seven smaller suburbs and estates which include Port Zimbali Estate and Zimbali Coastal Estates to the south, Umhlali Golf and Country Estate, Shaka's Head and Caledon Estate to the west of the N2 highway, and Shaka's Rock and Simbithi Eco Estate to the north.[4]
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Ballito is solely served by the Netcare Alberlito Hospital, a private hospital near the town centre owned by one of South Africa's largest healthcare groups, Netcare. In terms of public health, Ballito is served by the Ballito Clinic, which falls under the jurisdiction of the General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital (previously Stanger Provincial Hospital) in KwaDukuza.[5][6]
Transport
Ballito is mainly accessed by three arterial routes, the N2 highway, M4 and R102. Bordering to the west, the major north–south N2 highway is the sole freeway providing access to Ballito, connecting the town with KwaDukuza to the north-east and with oThongathi and Durban to the south-west. The main access from the N2 is via the M4 Ballito Drive through the Exit 210 interchange, and alternatively via Shaka's Rock Road through the Exit 212 interchange and Salt Rock Road through the Exit 214 interchange, north of Ballito.
The north–south metropolitan route of the M4 (Ballito Drive) is the main thoroughfare through Ballito connecting the coastal town with uMhlanga and Durban to the south-west as well as Compensation and the R102 to the west. The M4 also serves as an alternative route to eMdloti, uMhlanga and Durban for motorists avoiding paying toll at the oThongathi Toll Plaza.
Bordering further to the west, the R102 is a north–south regional route that connects the town with oThongathi (Tongaat) and Verulam to south-west and Umhlali, Shakaskraal and KwaDukuza to the north-west. The R102 also serves as an alternative route to KwaDukuza and oThongathi for motorists avoiding paying toll at the Mvoti (near KwaDukuza) and oThongathi Toll Plazas.
Tourism
Today Ballito is a thriving community of its own with ties to primary and high schools in and around Ballito, uMhlanga, KwaDukuza (Stanger) and oThongathi (Tongaat). Ballito has grown exponentially in recent times and has two shopping malls, Lifestyle centre and The Junction. Fantastic family adventure attractions such as the crocodile farm and microlight flights and tours. It is a holiday destination with hotels and self-catering accommodation, swimming (Willard) and surfing beaches (Boulder). A promenade about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) long along the beach front allows for walking and jogging. The Gunston 500 surfing contest, renamed Ballito Pro sponsored by Billabong, has been shifted from the Bay of Plenty in Durban's Golden Mile to Ballito where it is held annually in July.
Economy
Business sector
Ballito's business sector has also grown significantly with a large commercial business park bordering the N2 freeway. With a full service industry within the commercial business park, Ballito now caters to a growing business community on the North Coast. Enterprise iLembe, the region's investment arm, has been formed to develop Ballito and the iLembe area as an investment destination of choice. The development of the King Shaka International Airport and Dube TradePort to the south have also contributed significantly to the growth of Ballito.
Retail
Ballito has developed to become the largest and main retail node on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast with a large concentration of shopping centres, motor delearships and other retail centres. The most prominent shopping centre in Ballito is the Ballito Junction Regional Mall, a regional shopping centre (serving the North Coast region) located along Ballito Drive in the town centre and is categorised as the second largest shopping centre north of Durban after Gateway Theatre of Shopping in uMhlanga.[7] Other shopping centres located within the Ballito region include Ballito Lifestyle Centre located adjacent Ballito Junction in the town centre, New Salt Rock Shopping Centre and Tiffany's Shopping Centre, the latter both located in Salt Rock.[8]
Growth
In recent years, there has been a population boom in Ballito. Various secure or gated estates, the largest being Zimbali Coastal Resort and Estate followed by Simbithi, have been built in and around the town on land that was previously used as sugar cane farms. Many new hotels and resorts have opened, drawing even more tourists into this picturesque part of the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Plans are currently on the table for new schools to be constructed, a new town centre, a taxi rank, and a larger clinic. The main entrance to Ballito from the N2 highway has been upgraded, with the construction of an multi level interchange to ease traffic, the widening of the road to four lanes in Ballito Drive, and proper pedestrian walkways.
Ballito beach view
Ballito beach
Early morning fishing
Surfer off Ballito Beach
Airborne surfer off Ballito Beach
References
- "Main Place Ballito". Census 2011.
- Nash, J. (2005). The Birth of Ballito: Pearl of Natal North Coast. ISBN 978-0-620-35147-8.
- "Ballito Area Profile". www.century21.co.za. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- "Census 2011: Main Place: Ballito: Map". census2011.adrianfrith.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- "Clinics in Ilembe district". www.kznhealth.gov.za. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- "Netcare Group > netcare-facilities". www.netcare.co.za. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- "Welcome to Ballito Junction". Ballito Junction. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- "Home". Ballito Lifestyle Centre. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
External links
