Ladysmith, South Africa

Ladysmith (1991: pop. 30,532) is a town on the banks of the Klip river in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is 230 km west of Durban and 365 km east of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textiles, and tires.

History

Founded in 1851 by Boers, it was named after the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith, Lady Juana Smith. Sir Harry Smith was the British general governor of Cape Colony and high commissioner in South Africa from 1847 to 1852.

Ladysmith made world headlines at the turn of the century when it was besieged for 118 days during the most crucial stage of the Anglo-Boer War.

Trivia

• During the Boer War Mohandas Gandhi established a stretcher-bearing corp. His statue can be seen at the Lord Vishnu Temple in Ladysmith.
• It is the hometown of Joseph Shabalala, founder of the singing group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.