Founded in 1910 as 'The Natal University College', in Pietermaritzburg. The University of Natal was granted independent University status in 1949. This was owing to its rapid growth in numbers. This University offered a wide range of courses and "Its achievements and opportunities in research were remarkable!" By that time, the Natal University Campus was already a Multi-Campus Institution, after having been extended to Durban after World War 1. The distinctive Howard College Building was opened in 1931. This was following a donation by Mr. T B Davis, whose son Howard Davis was killed during the Battle of Somme in World War I. In 1946, the Government also approved a Faculty of Agriculture, in Pietermaritzburg. Then in 1947, a Medical School for African, Indian and Coloured students, in Durban.

As of the 2001 Census 22.9% of the Population in KwaZulu-Natal aged 20 years or more had received no Education, while only 4.8% had Higher Education. Even though KwaZulu Natal has: 'Traditional and Comprehensive' Universities.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) was formed on 1 January 2004 as a result of the merger between the University of Durban-Westville and the University of Natal. The new University brought together the rich Histories of both, these former Universities.

The University of Durban-Westville, (UDW), was established in the 1960's. This University or College was for Indians on Salisbury Island in the Bay of Durban. Student numbers throughout the 1960's were low as a result of: the Congress Alliances Policy'. This policy gave way in the 1980's to the strategy of: “education under protest”. This sought to transform Apartheid Institutions into: 'Sites of struggle. Student numbers grew rapidly and in 1971, the College Campus in Westville was a site of major anti-Apartheid struggle. UDW became an autonomous institution in 1984, opening up to students of all races. The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is a university with five Campuses in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. These two KwaZulu-Natal Universities were among the first batch of South African institutions. This was in accordance with the Government’s Higher Educational Restructuring. This was eventually supposed to see plans that will increase the number of Higher Educational Institutions, in South Africa. This, however, reduced the Higher Education Facilities, from 36 to 21. This was confirmed by a Parliament decision, in December 2002.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal aims to be a truly South African University that reflects the society, in which it is situated. Not only in terms of race, gender and class – but in terms of how it structures its values and priorities and how it responds to social needs. As an institution of higher learning, it is committed to academic excellence, innovation in research and critical engagement with society.

The University of Zululand (also known as Unizulu) has been designated to serve as the only comprehensive tertiary educational institution North of the uThukela River in KwaZulu-Natal. This new status is in accordance with South Africa's National Plan for Higher Education and aims at eradicating: 'Inequity and Costly Duplication'. As a result, Unizulu, offers career-focused programs as well as a limited number of relevant university degree courses that have been structured with potential employees and employers in mind.

The Suburb of Tokai took its name from Tokaj, a range of Hills in Hungary. It was built in the late 1940's due to the urgent need for housing for South African soldiers, returning from World War II.

A 'Tokai' is the ancient Malabaris's ( who originated from the State of Kerala) word for the tail of a peacock. (The name represents the importance of the Malabar region where, rumour has it, the British spotted a peacock for the first time. Hence the nickname of 'Blue'.)
Tokai is alongside the M3 Blue Route highway, within easy reach of the City and the Coastal Road running towards to Cape Point. It only takes a mere 23 minutes via this M3 Highway, (21 Kilometers) to get there. This drive is very scenic as you pass: Tokai Forest; Pollsmoor Prison; University of Cape Town and see much of the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town. Tokai is a suburb in the Constantia valley, surrounded by majestic Mountains, South of the Cape Town City. It’s best known for the Forest that carpets the slopes of the Constantiaberg Mountain at the Western end, of the suburb.

The forest is a hive of activity on most days ,with walkers enjoying the peace and quiet, hikers climbing the trails and mountain bikers attempting the tracks graded from novice to expert. The lovely arboretum was established in 1886. and planted with trees from around the World to find the best trees for repairing ships. Horse riding is popular in these parts. Baboon troops are common in the area. The Cape Dutch style Manor House was built in 1796 is a National Monument and currently occupied by the Table Mountain National Park admin offices.

'Nquthu' is an isiZulu name meaning: "the back of the head", also spelt 'Nqutu'. The Battle of Isandlwana was the first engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War, on 22 January 1879. Umzinyathi District has a total area of 8 079 square Kilometres and is located; in the North of KwaZulu-Natal. The District lies between the main N3 corridor between Durban and Gauteng and the Coastal Corridor, running along the East coast. Umzinyathi is one of the 11 District Municipalities, of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The seat of Umzinyathi is Dundee. The majority of its 456 452 people speak Zulu (2001 Census). Umzinyathi District includes some of the poorest and most underdeveloped, Rural Areas of KwaZulu-Natal. (The most notable being the Msinga and Nquthu Municipalities.) The Population of this Region numbers about 456 454 people. Of the population, 93% are Rural and 7% are Urban. The more developed urban areas include: Dundee and Greytown.

In Nquthu and Msinga there is a dominance of the three peri-urban Settlements of Tugela Ferry, Pomeroy and Keates Drift. The Population densities of these three Areas are higher than those of the rest of the Area. The District has 17 Tribal Authorities. Endumeni is the only B Municipality that does not have any Tribal Land. The majority of the land (60%) is under the control of the Ingonyama Trust and situated mainly in Nquthu and Msinga.

Rorke's Drift, situated 46 km South East of Dundee; on the Battlefields Route. Is the site of one of the most famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu War!
In 1847, an Irishman named; Jim Rorke, bought some Land alongside a Fjord, in the Buffalo River. This was the boundary between what Britain controlled the Natal Province and the Zulu Kingdom- (a State which was founded by King Shaka Zulu). Just up from the Fjord, Rorke built a typical frontier home, comprising of two long single-storey stone Buildings with thatched roofs. These original Buildings at Rorke’s Drift were destroyed after the Anglo Zulu War. A Museum stands there today, modest though it is. Fascinating artifacts are presented, which record of the events of the War where; 140 British 'Redcoats' fought off an attack from about 4,000 Zulu warriors!

From here, he hunted and traded with the locals, both the white settlers and native Zulus. He became a popular figure. colonists would buy from his stores or take a drink in his simple café. With the Zulus he would trade blankets, beads, gin, and the occasional illegal rifle, usually bartering them, for cattle. To the Zulus. His trading centre became; 'kwaJim'- (Jim’s Place) but to the settlers, it was known simply as Rorke’s Drift.

Jim Rorke died in the mid-1870s; Otto de Witt, a Swedish missionary acquired the property in what was now becoming a tense border Region. It was from the adjacent fjord that British forces, under Lord Chelmsford, launched their invasion of Zululand on 11 January 1879.

The Trading Post became a temporary Field Hospital and was itself the site of a battle on the late afternoon and evening of 22 January. A few hours earlier, Zulu warriors had massacred 1,400 British and native troops, at nearby Isandlwana.