Pomeroy- Solomon Linda

Pomeroy is a small Town in KwaZulu-Natal which is some 72 km North of Greytown and 56 km South-South-East of Dundee. It falls under the jurisdiction of the; uMsinga Local Municipality. The uMzinyathi Municipality is the District Municipality. On the 26 of August 2022, Nathi Mthethwa (who is the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture); officially changed the name to Solomon Linda. His full name was Solomon Popoli Ntsele, (he was also known by his clan name “Linda”). He was a South African singer known for what is now called 'Isicathamiya', a type of South African 'a Capella' singing, later made World-famous by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. In fact, the style is also known as 'Mbube'. Solomon Linda was born in Pomeroy, in 1909. The original Town name of Pomeroy- was derived after Sir George Pomeroy-Colley who led the ill-fated British force during the Battle of Majuba Hill in 1881. It was established as the Gordon Memorial Mission in 1867 in memory of James Henry Hamilton-Gordon, the son of George Hamilton-Gordon, 5th Earl of Aberdeen. The mission worked with the Zulus. In the 1870’s the Church of Scotland sent Dr Gordon, a missionary, to uMsinga Area. Unfortunately he drowned at sea before reaching South Africa. Dr James Dalzell was sent as his replacement. Dr. Dalzell, a missionary, physician and surgeon was sent by the Church to spread the word of God to improve the health status of the community. Dr. Dalzell established the Gordon Memorial Mission. He brought a piece of land and recruited a number of kraal heads from the community of uMsinga to work this land, with the aim of improving the nutritional status of the community. Dr. Dalzell was also responsible for establishing a primary and secondary school. Shortly before his death Dr. Dalzell established a clinic. Dr Dalzell was succeeded by Dr Gale. He tried to develop the clinic but had difficulty due to the shortage of water in the area. In 1939, the clinic was moved closer to the Tugela River, where the present Church of Scotland Hospital is located. Dr. Gale was the first Medical Superintendent for the hospital. Dr McCutcheon was the last missionary Medical Superintendent to be the sent by the Church of Scotland. He left the hospital in 1978, when Church of Scotland Hospital was handed over to the government. Pomeroy was further developed by the Boodhoo family, first 2 stores by late; Mr Boodhoo who was succeeded by Herman Boodhoo who further established a Toy Manufacturing shop & first supermarkets. Boodhoo Bros and Boodhoo & Sons, was then succeeded by Puren Boodhoo who was a strong political figure, businessman farmer and sportsman, Golf and Tennis, supporting & hosting the local community sports. Was then succeeded by Rambally Boodhoo who also furthered the business which strongly supporting the Town growth also a strong sportsman in Golf & Tennis, Captain of the Tennis team. He was succeeded by Dan Boodhoo who was a great entrepreneur. The town is still held together by the supermarket's and stores built by the great Boodhoo Dynasty.