KwaZulu-Natal Province

KwaZulu-Natal, often referred to as "KZN", is a province of South Africa. It was previously known as Natal. South Africa's most populous province is called the garden province and is the home of the Zulu nation. It extends from the borders with Swaziland and Mozambique to the Eastern Cape in the south. Inland it is bound by the Kingdom of Lesotho, and the Free State and Mpumalanga provinces.

Law and government

Provincial Government

The KwaZulu-Natal's provincial government sits in the legislative buildings in Pietermaritzburg. The site where the legislative buildings are situated was occupied by St Mary's Church, which was built in the 1860's. A new church was built at the corner of Burger Street and Commercial Road, and opened in 1884. The old building was demolished in 1887 to provide space for the legislative complex. The foundation stone of the new legislative building was laid on 21 June 1887, to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The building was completed two years later. On 25 April 1889, the Governor of Natal, Sir Arthur Havelock, opened the first Legislative Council session in the new building.

Related Topics:
Pietermaritzburg - 1860 - 1884 - 1887 - 21 June - Queen Victoria - Golden Jubilee - 25 April - 1889

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When governance was granted to Natal in 1893, the new Legislative Assembly took over the chamber that was used by the Legislative Council since 1889. Further extensions to the parliamentary building were made. The building was unoccupied until 1902 when it was used without being officially opened, due to the fact that the country was engulfed in the Anglo-Boer war. The war also affected the Legislative Assembly, which had to move the venue of its sittings when the chamber was used as a military hospital.

Related Topics:
1893 - 1902 - Anglo-Boer war

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The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council buildings, both national monuments, formed a colonial Parliament of two houses: a Council of 11 nominated members and an Assembly of 37 elected members. The Natal Parliament was disbanded in 1910 when the Union of South Africa was formed, and the Assembly became the meeting place of the Natal Provincial Council. The Council was disbanded in 1986.

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The Provincial Legislature consists of 80 Members.

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Current Composition of the Legislature

The African National Congress (ANC) hold power in the provincial legislature, although they won the province by a very small majority in South Africa's 2004 elections. Their chief opponents were the Inkatha Freedom Party, allied with the Democratic Alliance.

Related Topics:
African National Congress - Inkatha Freedom Party - Democratic Alliance

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Breakup of the 80-seat legislature from the 2004 elections:

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: African National Congress (ANC) - 38

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: Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) - 30

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: Democratic Alliance (DA) - 7

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: African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) - 2

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: Minority Front (MF) - 2

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: United Democratic Movement (UDM) - 1

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Zulu Monarch

KwaZulu-Natal, as the name may suggest, is also the home to the Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu. Although not holding any direct political power, the Zulu king is provided a stipend by the government, and holds considerable sway over more traditionalist Zulu people in the province.

Related Topics:
Zulu monarch - Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu - Zulu

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