AMatikulu

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{lowercase title}} {{Infobox settlement | name = aMatikulu | pushpin_map = South Africa KwaZulu-Natal#South Africa | coordinates = {{coord|29.05|S|31.533333|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[South Africa]] | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = [[KwaZulu-Natal]] | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = [[Uthungulu District Municipality|Uthungulu]] | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = [[uMlalazi Local Municipality|uMlalazi]] | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | established_title = Established | leader_title = Councillor | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = <ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/589138 |title = Main Place aMatikulu |work=Census 2011}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 1.39 | population_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | population_total = 515 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto  | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics1_title1 = [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Black African]] | demographics1_info1 = 74.0% | demographics1_title2 = [[Coloureds|Coloured]] | demographics1_info2 = 3.3% | demographics1_title3 = [[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]] | demographics1_info3 = 16.9% | demographics1_title4 = [[White South African|White]] | demographics1_info4 = 5.4% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 0.4%  | demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics2_title1 = [[Zulu language|Zulu]] | demographics2_info1 = 59.8% | demographics2_title2 = [[South African English|English]] | demographics2_info2 = 26.1% | demographics2_title3 = [[Afrikaans]] | demographics2_info3 = 5.7% | demographics2_title4 = [[Southern Ndebele language|S. Ndebele]] | demographics2_info4 = 4.7% | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 3.7%   | timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in South Africa|Postal code]] (street) | postal_code = | postal2_code_type = [[Post-office box|PO box]] | postal2_code = | area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa|Area code]] }} [[File:Boat ride amatigulu.jpg|thumb|left|Boat ride at Amatigulu Nature Reserve]] '''aMatikulu''' is a settlement in [[Uthungulu District Municipality]] in the [[KwaZulu-Natal]] province of [[South Africa]].

The town is some 130 km north-east of [[Durban]], near [[Gingindlovu]], named after the Matigulu (also spelt Amatikulu) River. The name is derived from the Lala or Zulu phrase meaning "large water" (i.e. "large river") or "large spit", the latter possibly being an anecdotal reference to the periodic flooding of the river.

The approved form is aMatikulu.<ref name="dsapn">{{cite web|title=''Dictionary of Southern African Place Names'' (Public Domain)|url=https://archive.org/details/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames|publisher=Human Science Research Council|page=299}}</ref>

== History == During the particularly violent flooding during the 1984 tropical storm [[Tropical Storm Domoina|Domoina]], several of the local bridges were destroyed with widespread flooding disrupting much of the local sugar growing and milling operations.

Prior to the current mill, the town was also home to first sugar mill in Zululand, established by J.L Hulett in 1908.

== Industry == Located in the heart of the sugar cane growing region of South Africa, the town is home to Amatikulu Sugar Mill, one of three owned by the South African agricultural group [[Tongaat Hulett]]. <ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa |url=https://www.tongaat.com/our-business/sugar/south-africa/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Tongaat Hulett |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

The town is also located on the main trunk railway line connecting the ports of [[Durban]] and [[Richards Bay]]. The areas surrounding the town are rich in natural fauna and flora with the [[Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife|Ezemvelo]] [[Amatikulu Nature Reserve]] located approximately 10 km from the town, at the Amatikulu River mouth.

The town was also known for its commercial shrimp farming operation which operated from 1989 - 2004.

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Populated places in the uMlalazi Local Municipality]]