KwaZulu-Natal commemorates 165 years since the arrival of indentured Indian workers
Attendees at last year's event to commemorate the arrival of Indian indentured workers offering marigold flowers into the ocean
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THE people of KwaZulu-Natal are gearing up to host events to mark the 165th anniversary of the arrival of the first indentured Indian workers on African soil.
November 16, 2025 marks 165 years when the first indentured Indian workers arrived in KwaZulu-Natal aboard the SS Truro in 1860.
In the years that followed, aboard 384 ships, 152,184 people were transported as human cargo from 1860 to 1911 to toil the sugarcane plantations and provide labour in other parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
The 1860 Heritage Centre, an agency under the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sports, Arts & Culture, will spearhead the commemorative activities. Events commence on Saturday, November 15, with the 1860 Memorial Lecture, at 2.30pm at the Centre in Derby Street in Durban.
Preceding the memorial lecture, Professor Rajend Mesthrie will deliver a public lecture at 1.30pm analysing the Durban ship lists of Indenture from 1860 to 1911.
This year’s 1860 Memorial Lecture, titled Making History, Writing History, Becoming History: An Ode to Surendra Bhana and Joy Brain, will be delivered by Professor Ashwin Desai.
The celebrations will culminate with a concert by leading Carnatic vocalist Karthiegasen Pillay in duet with child prodigy Kirthan Pillay singing Qawwali, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil devotional hymns in tribute to indentured workers.
The 1860 Indentured Labourers Foundation in Verulam, will launch its new headquarters “Girmit Centre” at the premises of the former Talwantsingh Primary School in Temple Valley, Verulam on Saturday.
The Foundation will also host their annual commemorative event with entertainment on the day.
Anand Jayrajh, the Foundation's president, said with the acquisition of the premises, the Foundation now has a place it can call home and will be able to safely store its belongings and records as well as have a venue for its meetings and other purposes.
"It is hoped that the Foundation will grow from strength to strength and continue to serve the community," said Jayrajh.
Selvan Naidoo, curator of the 1860 Heritage Centre, said as traditionally done every year, they will begin the morning on Sunday, November 16, at the Centre at 7am with a prayer and ringing of the bell in remembrance.
They will then move onto the Methodist Church in Lorne Street before proceeding to the historic Brook Street Cemetery that houses the grave of Muslim saint Badsha Peer.
Before heading to south beach for the main commemoration they will go to the Durban Hindu Temple in Somtseu Road.
The commemoration ceremony, hosted by the 1860 Heritage Centre, will begin at 10.30am at the site where the 1860 Indentured Workers’ Monument is still being constructed.
The programme includes an interfaith prayer, followed by the singing of the South African National Anthem.
The event will conclude with an address by officials from the provincial government and the symbolic offering of marigold flowers into the ocean to honour all indentured workers who contributed to nation-building in South Africa.
The event is open to the public, and traditional Indian snacks will be served, inviting attendees to share in the rich heritage. The gathering will take place in the vicinity next to uShaka Marine World South Beach car park entrance.