Mduduzi Richard Shabalala (Mdu) Shabalala was born in Lamontville, Durban, Natal (now kwaZulu-Natal) on 24 July 1965. His father was a prominent civic rights leader in Lamontville Township. Shabalala completed his primary and secondary education in the township.

In 1982 Lamontville was one of first Black townships in Natal to protest against high rent and bus fare increases. Shabalala’s father was detained three times between 1983 and 1984. The hardship and police brutality endured by the residents during those years raised Shabalala’s political awareness.