Umlazi

Umlazi is a township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. The township is located south-west of Durban.
According to legend, the name Umlazi comes from "umlaza" (Zulu for the sour acid produced from fermented milk or sour milk). It is believed that when Shaka was passing through the area, he refused to drink from a local river claiming it had the taste of "umlaza", from that incident, the area has been called Umlazi.
AIDS is a significant problem in Umlazi; 21% of women who visit clinics in the township are reported to be HIV positive^{[citation needed]}. Umlazi, like many townships in the urban areas of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Johannesburg, is witnessing increased private and government investment, as witnessed in the construction of new shopping complexes, primary and secondary schools, Universities of Technology and libraries^{[citation needed]}.


The new educational infrastructure is particularly important, as an affordable^{[citation needed]}, easily accessible quality secondary education is valuable for many children in Umlazi, particularly with regards to their search for employment following school (most do not attend tertiary institutions due to their family's financial resources)^{[citation needed]}.
Umlazi is the second largest township in South Africa, the first being Soweto. Umlazi is divided into Alphabets from A rite through to Z with an addition of AA, BB, CC. It consist of Umlazi Coastal College and Mangosuthu University of Technology. Mangosuthu H/Way being the most popular road in Umlazi. It has two shopping malls recenlty built, the Philani Mega mall and the Mega city mall which is at the entrance of Umlazi. Almost each section Umlazi consists of its own clinic and police station. The Zwelithini Stadium has recently been revamped for the FIFA World Cup 2010 and is based also in the Mangosuthu H/Way road. Crime is a big factor for umlazi. There are many schools in Umlazi and most of the schools are being vandalised. Namely Mziwamandla high school, which is the heart of Umlazi. Many children in this area go to this particular school. About 70% of these children don't pay school fees. This particular school has been broken into more than five times last year alone. It has also been burnt more than two times in 2010 alone. There are other schools who do very well and get 100% pass rate namely Comtech high school, Menzi High school, Zwelibanzi high school etc. About 30% of house are skwatta camps; in this place most of them have been taken down due to the building of new house (RDP). Most of the children here do not have a future, thus they live school early because there is no money in their families to further their education. HIV/AIDS is also a big factor for this township. Many people die from AIDS in this area. Children are also born with AIDS and most of them are orphans due to this disease. About 40% people are jobless here thus leading to the youth resorting to crime.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umlazi