Isipingo Beach is a seaside resort town built on a high ridge of sand at the mouth of the Siphingo River. It currently forms part of eThekwini and is situated 19 km south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The town is named after the Siphingo River, which in turn is thought to be named (in isiZulu) for the intertwining cat-thorn shrubs (Scutia myrtina) present in the area, or the river's winding course. The town comprises Isipingo Rail, Isipingo Hills, Lotus Park, Orient Hills, Malakazi and Isipingo Beach.
The area has fine beaches and is regularly frequented by fishermen, especially during the sardine run. The town itself has a primary school, library and is close to major shopping centres. A main road connects the town to the M4 highway which provides easy access to Durban city. Isipingo Beach adjoins a major industrial area, Prospecton, which is the location of South Africa's largest automobile assembly plant, that of Toyota. The facility, covering almost 9 square kilometers, is a place of employment for many Isipingo Beach residents. Isipingo is also home to one of Durban's top schools, Isipingo Secondary.
The populace is predominantly of Indian origin, and the town houses mosques and a temple. Isipingo Beach was the only part of Apartheid South Africa that was taken away from the `whites´ and given to the `Indians´ under protest from the `whites´.
Neighbouring suburbs include Isipingo Hills, Isipingo Rail and Amanzimtoti. The Durban International Airport is situated on the fringes of Isipingo Beach. In South African history, Isipingo is known for the area where Dick King is buried.
Famous quotes containing the word beach:
“When the inhabitants of some sequestered island first descry the “big canoe” of the European rolling through the blue waters towards their shores, they rush down to the beach in crowds, and with open arms stand ready to embrace the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their bosoms the vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and the instinctive feeling of love within their breasts is soon converted into the bitterest hate.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)