An artist's impression of the much-anticipated 1860 Indentured Indian Monument that will be erected near Durban's uShaka beach.
Image: Supplied 1860 Heritage Centre
The much-anticipated design for the 1860 Indentured Indian Monument has finally been revealed, offering a glimpse into the tribute that will soon take shape in Durban.
Set to be constructed at Durban’s South Beach, the monument will honour the first group of Indian indentured labourers who arrived in South Africa aboard the SS Truro in 1860. The vessel, which sailed from Madras (now Chennai), carried workers brought by the then-government of the Natal colony to labour in the region’s sugar cane fields.
The final design will feature a male sugarcane cutter, a female sugarcane cutter carrying a child on her back, and a bale of sugarcane.
KwaZulu-Natal Arts and Culture MEC Mntomuhle Khawula is expected to lead a sod-turning ceremony at the construction site in the near future, marking the beginning of this historic project.
Initially, the construction was delayed due to disagreements among community members regarding the monument’s design. The original proposal included a slave bell, symbolising the harsh treatment endured by indentured Indian labourers under sugarcane farm owners.
However, some community members found the inclusion of the bell demeaning, leading to prolonged discussions and delays.
A breakthrough was reached last month during a consultative meeting convened by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture. Stakeholders unanimously agreed on a revised design that “respectfully honours the history of Indian indentured labourers”.
The eThekwini Municipality allocated over R4.6 million for the monument in 2015.