04-07-2025
Celebrating 165 years: construction begins on monument to honour indentured Indians in South Africa
AFTER many delays and debate, construction of the monument to commemorate the arrival of indentured Indian to South Africa has commenced.
November 16 will mark the 165th anniversary since the first group of Indians landed in Natal aboard the SS Truro from Madras, to work in the sugar cane plantation of the then Port-Natal in 1860.
The original design concept proposed was an arch of unity with a bell tower. However, following a meeting with various stakeholders earlier this year, it was decided that the bell would not be included in the design.
Instead, a bronze sculpture of an indentured couple with a child would be placed on a plinth and included as part of the original arch of unity design concept.
