INANDA, Durban – Despite Inanda’s long-standing reputation as one of South Africa’s most violent crime hotspots, a group of determined young people from the area is refusing to let negative headlines define their community.
For years, the Durban township has consistently ranked among the country’s most dangerous places, with a high number of violent crimes making it a “no-go zone” in the eyes of many outsiders. But a local initiative is now working to change that narrative by exposing the positive stories that often go untold.
“People associate us with crime, associate this area with crime,” a spokesperson for the initiative said. “We want to abandon those stories and tell a different story.”
The group says they want outsiders to come and learn about the area—its small businesses, its heritage, and its community strength. What began as a conversation among friends has grown into a movement.
“We said, ‘Let’s give it a go,’” explained the managing director. “We don’t have equipment—just a cell phone. We went in, got onto social media.”
Despite being only a month old, the initiative has already gathered over 500 positive stories about Inanda.
One of the spokespersons shared a personal motivation: a young man applying for a job was told that people from Inanda are a certain way. “That hurt me,” he said. “We grew up here, we opened businesses here, we work here. We know Inanda. We cannot just sit and watch our township be destroyed by people only seeing negative things.”
The group has already started documenting heritage sites, including the Ohlange Institute, where President Dr. Nelson Mandela voted on April 27, 1994. They also note that Dr. J.L. Dube, the founding president of what is now known as the ANC, came from Inanda.
Other positive highlights they point to include the first Zulu-language newspaper, which still exists today, as well as local businesspeople, tourism sites, and even five-star hotels where visitors can stay comfortably.
“Some people are shocked when they hear these things,” one spokesperson said. “There is so much good here. In fact, if you look closely, the good far outweighs the crime.”
The group remains determined to spread the good news. “We cannot keep quiet and watch our township disappear like that,” they said. “People only come with negative things. We know what Inanda really means and how much it holds.”
