TheProvince of Natal (Afrikaans:Natalprovinsie), commonly calledNatal, was aprovince of South Africa from May 1910 until May 1994. Its capital wasPietermaritzburg. During this period rural areas inhabited by the black African population of Natal were organised into theBantustan ofKwaZulu, which was progressively separated from the province, becoming partially autonomous in 1981. For the significant population ofIndian South Africans residing in Natal, the third-largest city ofDurban was organised for them. Of the white population mostly in the largest city ofJohannesburg, the majority wereEnglish-speaking people of British descent, causing Natal to become the only province to vote "No" to the creation of arepublic in thereferendum of 1960, due to very strongmonarchist, pro-British Commonwealth, and anti-secessionist sentiment.[2] In the latter part of the 1980s, Natal was in a state of violence between theInkatha Freedom Party and theAfrican National Congress, with violence subsiding soon after thefirst non-racial election in 1994.[3][4]
In 1994, theKwaZuluBantustan was reincorporated into the territory of Natal and the province was redesignated asKwaZulu-Natal.
1 Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei were originally part of South Africa; they later declared independence with South African consent in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their independence was recognized by the South African government but they were internationally recognized as part of South Africa.
24Claimed in 1908; territory formed 1962; overlaps portions of Argentine and Chilean claims, borders not enforced but claim not renounced under theAntarctic Treaty.
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