A book, "The Legacy of Merebank: Our People, Our Cultures, Our Stories", will be officially launched on September 13 at the MTSS Hall in Durban, marking the culmination of a project that began as an idea more than three decades ago.
For generations, the people of Merebank have carried with them stories of hardship and resilience, family and faith, education and enterprise, struggle and triumph.
Now, after four years of research, interviews and community contributions, those stories have been brought together in a 555-page book that seeks to preserve the history and spirit of one of south Durban’s most distinctive communities.
History of Merebank
The book traces the history of Merebank from the 1900s to 2000, drawing on personal memories, historical research, family archives, photographs and contributions from residents.
More than simply a historical record, it celebrates the people and institutions that helped shape the community.
Convenor of the Merebank Book Project and chairperson of the Merebank Book Legacy Trust, Viren Singh, said the team was looking forward to finally sharing the book with the community.
“It has stories relayed by a number of community members,” said Singh.
The idea of documenting Merebank's history dates back to the 1990s, when the late Govinden Ramsamy, then chairperson of the Merewent Ratepayers Association (MRA) and a member of the Merebank Residents’ Association, proposed that the community's history be recorded in a book.
The MRA had been active in Merebank since 1964, dealing with civic matters and community concerns.
Singh said interviews were conducted at the time, providing valuable first-hand accounts from residents. Most of those interviewed have since died.
“We then produced a 55-page skeleton of those interviews which got lost,” he said.
Book origins
About four years ago, the idea was revived as members of the community sought to honour the promise made to Ramsamy.
“Since 2022 we began researching and collecting information on Merebank. But the real spark came in 2023 when Ashok Madhunlall started a WhatsApp group to get the community to tell us their story,” said Singh.
The response was overwhelming.
Residents came forward with stories, photographs, documents and memories, creating what Singh described as a “kaleidoscope of stories”.
“That provided us the impetus to work hard to complete the project.”
"While the original intention was to document the history and development of Merebank, the wealth of material contributed by residents broadened the scope of the book. The project became not only a history of the area, but also a celebration of its achievements," said Singh.
The book describes life in Merebank in the 1930s:
"Orchards spruced the landscape. The youth roamed freely. Fruit, including avocado, strawberries, guavas, and mangoes, was plentiful. The vegetable gardeners were also generous souls, allowing the youngsters to help themselves to cucumbers and carrots with the ethos of ‘take enough but keep the place tidy’.
In truth, we helped ourselves to generous portions. We even had our own indigenous fruit, called ‘dub-dub’ or green monkey orange (botanical name Strychnos Spinosa) in our forest. We enjoyed a natural stretch of untouched coastline for many miles with abundant mutton gula fruit (Natal Plum or Carissa Macrocarpa).
Horses, cows, donkeys, sheep, goats and fowls were plentiful. The donkeys played an important role in the farming community, being used to till and plough the soil. The cows, which are sacred, gave us milk, while sheep, goats and chickens provided our meat. Small tadpoles were plentiful in the little natural pools that dotted the path. We would often be dazzled by a beautiful flower or an amazing sight. Merebank was a bushy, marshy area with simple beauty and a basic, rustic way of life."
The book explores the community's schools, football clubs, music, religious and cultural organisations, businesses and commerce, while also documenting the struggles that residents faced over the decades.
"The community not only provided research for the book but also wrote the book by adding their stories," he said.
How Merebank started in the 19th century
Merebank's story reaches back to the 19th century.
According to the project team, the area was originally established as a private sugar plantation in the 19th century. This was established by a British settler named Edward Parke Lamport, who bought land and established the Merebank Sugar Estate.
The area later became a market gardening community, with more than 300 acres used for growing produce.
As Merebank developed, so too did its institutions and civic structures.
The community became increasingly industrialised, while residents established schools and organisations to serve their needs. Among them was the Merebank Tamil School Society (MTSS), which this year marks 90 years.
The establishment of the Merebank township in 1959 brought another major change to the area's character.
The book also delves into lesser-known stories, including the origins of Cuttings Beach.
According to Singh, the beach is described as a man-made feature created during efforts to reshape the landscape. Workers cut into the area and used sand to solidify land associated with the old airport, creating the cutting from which the area takes its name.
A network of canals was also developed to drain the swampy land.
Merebank's proximity to heavy industry became another defining feature of its history. The community was home to two oil refineries and residents were repeatedly confronted with the threat of further industrialisation.
Singh said residents fought to protect their community.
“We fought those battles and we are still here, and those industries have now ceased,” he said.
Project manager and one of the people who helped take the publication to completion, Kumarasen Govender, said that one of the book's important themes is education.
“Education is one of the books important themes as the community helped themselves to ensure children were educated, hence a number of academics came from Merebank,” he said.
Govender said the community's commitment to education was evident as early as the 1920s, when residents established a school in someone's home.
The community eventually secured a government-aided school in 1927.
Merebank Primary, which later evolved into Ganges Secondary, will celebrate its 100-year legacy next year.
Legacy of human rights
The book also records what Govender described as a strong human-rights culture and robust civic structures within the community.
It includes stories from families and profiles of people who made significant contributions to Merebank over several decades.
“We couldn't incorporate everyone's input into the book,” Govender acknowledged, reflecting the sheer volume of material received from residents.
A quote from a resident in the book states: "I was very proud of my home, Merebank, which has been described as “part of a complex system of wetlands from the Durban Bay to Isipingo through Congella and Clairwood”. Our name is derived from the Latin word ‘mere’ referring to ‘near the lake’ or ‘place of still waters’."
The project has also evolved into an effort to create a lasting legacy beyond the publication itself.
Funded initially through the resources of those involved, the project was intended to bring residents together around a shared history.
The Merebank Book Legacy Trust was subsequently established, with proceeds from donations and book sales to be channelled into the trust.
The interim trustees, described by Singh as people of “impeccable integrity”, will be responsible for building the organisation and ensuring that its funds are protected and used for sustainable development initiatives in Merebank.
The trust aims to raise R2 million by November when it will be formally launched.
Its planned projects will focus on uplifting the community through youth and women's development, empowerment programmes and other initiatives.
For Singh, the trust represents the project's ultimate purpose.
“We are living in a time where there is so much negativity, we want to give hope,” he said.
That sentiment is reflected in the book itself, a record of a community that has repeatedly adapted, organised and fought to preserve its identity.
The 555-page book is available at R420 ahead of the launch and will cost R450 thereafter.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za