Sport

  • Pietermaritzburg is home to the oldest football (soccer) club of South Africa and the African continent: Savages FC PMB, founded in 1882.
  • The Comrades Marathon takes place annually in June between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. It has been run since 1921 and attracts thousands of entrants. The start of the race alternates between the two cities.
  • Between December 1953 and November 1981, Pietermaritzburg had an international standard motor racing circuit located on the outskirts of the city. The Roy Hesketh Circuit measured . The circuit was named after South African driver Roy Hesketh. During its period of operation it hosted rounds of the South African National Drivers Championship, the Springbok Series and national Formula Atlantic races. The circuit was also like a second home to Mike Hailwood. The track was known for hosting the Easter races as well – a festival of racing over three days. The expansion of the town of Pietermaritzburg eventually led to the redevelopment of the site as a residential and business zone after racing ceased at the end of 1981. The section from Henry's Knee to the top of Beacon still exists, and is undergoing protection from further development as an important piece of Pietermaritzburg's history. From 1948 until 1953 races were held at the Alexandra Park Street Circuit on streets within the town of Pietermaritzburg.
  • Former Springbok and World Cup Winner Joel Stransky was born in Pietermaritzburg on 16 July 1967, he matriculated from Maritzburg College.
  • Former South African Cricketer Jonty Rhodes was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1969. He attended Merchiston Prep school and later matriculated from Maritzburg College.
  • The English cricketer Kevin Pietersen was born in Pietermaritzburg, as was Springbok cricketer Cuan McCarthy.
  • The yearly Amashovashova is a road cycling classic race held since 1986 which starts in Pietermartizburg and finishes in Durban. It is normally held in October.
  • South African cricketer David Miller was born in Pietermaritzburg on in 1989.
  • In 2010, the BMX Racing World Championship took place in the city of Pietermaritzburg between 15 July and 1 August.
  • In January there is an annual canoe race, the Dusi Canoe Marathon, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The route follows the Msunduzi River into the Mgeni River, through the Valley of a Thousand Hills into the Inanda Dam and from here to the mouth of the Mgeni River.
  • The Midmar Mile is one of the largest open-water swimming events in the world; taking place at Midmar Dam, north of Pietermaritzburg in February every year, it attracts over 16,000 swimmers from around the world.
  • The Harry Gwala Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, and is mostly used for football matches. Until 2023, it was used by Maritzburg United, after which it was reserved for Royal AM.
  • The Pietermaritzburg Msunduzi Athletics Stadium is currently being developed.
  • The Pietermaritzburg Oval is considered one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in South Africa, and it hosted two matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
  • Pietermaritzburg cricket ground is notable as one of the two grounds used regularly for first-class cricket that have a tree within the boundary (the other is St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, Kent).
  • Woodburn Stadium is currently used for most club rugby in Pietermaritzburg.
  • The Kershaw Park Tennis Complex is a tennis stadium.
  • The above facilities form the centre of the Pietermaritzburg sports precinct.

Tourism

Some of the area's tourist attractions include; the KwaZulu-Natal Museum, City Hall, Colonial Buildings, Imperial Hotel, Comrades House and SANBI Botanical Gardens.

Attractions in the surrounding areas include; Albert Falls Nature Reserve, Howick Falls, Midmar Public Nature Reserve, Queens Elizabeth Park and World's View.

Education

Schools

  • Alexandra High School
  • Carter High School (South Africa)
  • Cordwalles Preparatory School
  • Epworth School
  • Hilton college
  • Michaelhouse
  • Maritzburg College
  • Merchiston Preparatory School
  • Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School
  • Russell High School
  • St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg
  • St. John's Diocesan School for Girls
  • St. Nicholas Diocesan School
  • The Wykeham Collegiate

Tertiary institutions

Pietermaritzburg has a well-developed higher system of public universities. Pietermaritzburg is served by two public universities, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban University of Technology. There are also many private and public colleges operating in the city, such as Varsity College.

Civil society

Pietermaritzburg is home to a number of prominent civil society organisations including the Abahlali baseMjondolo (shackdwellers) movement, GroundWork, CINDI, PACSA, and the KwaZulu Natal Christian Council.

Notable people<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->

  • Don Armand, rugby player (born 1988)
  • Neil Adcock, Springbok cricketer and radio cricket commentator
  • Cade Carmichael, Irish cricketer (born 2002)
  • Arthur Bartman, (1972–2019), Premier Soccer League goalkeeper
  • Dale Benkenstein, former cricketer
  • Kork Ballington, World 250cc and 350cc Motorcycle Champion
  • Melissa Carlton, Paralympic swimmer who represented Australia
  • Amod Cassimjee, one of the earliest known Indian settlers
  • Pat Cilliers, rugby player (born 1987)
  • Brendon Dedekind, swimmer (born 1976)
  • Bathabile Dlamini, leader of the African National Congress Women's League and Minister of Women in the Presidency, and Minister of Social Development (born 1962)
  • Jon Ekerold, world 350cc motorcycle champion
  • Sarel Erwee, South Africa national cricket team player. Attended St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg.
  • Brett Evans, (born 1982) South African Football (soccer) player; attended Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College and played for Maritzburg City as an amateur
  • Adrian Furnham (born 1953), British-based organisational and applied psychologist and academic
  • Hayden Griffin (1943–2013), British stage designer
  • Tim Groenewald, Derbyshire and Warwickshire Cricketer (born 1984)
  • Archie Gumede, leader of the United Democratic Front (South Africa) and Member of the Parliament of South Africa
  • Adam Habib, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of the Witwatersrand (born 1965)
  • Jonathan Handley (born 1954), singer-songwriter, originally from Springs, founder of The Radio Rats; 1979 hit single "ZX Dan" on Radio 5 (now 5FM)
  • Bessie Head (born 1937), writer, born in Pietermaritzburg
  • Roy Hesketh (1915–1944), racing driver and South African Air Force pilot.
  • Butch James, Springbok and rugby player; attended Maritzburg College from 1994 to 1996
  • Stratford Johns (1925–2002), British actor
  • Peter Johnstone (born 1970), left PMB in 2004
  • Craig Joubert (born 1977), international rugby union referee; attended Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
  • Guy Kewney (1946–2010), technology journalist
  • Jesse Kriel (born 1994), Springbok rugby player; attended Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
  • Charlie Llewellyn (born 1876), cricketer, first non-White Test cricketer for South Africa
  • Mbulelo Mabizela (born 1981), South African national football team player
  • Nduduzo Makhathini, jazz musician
  • Clinton Marius (born 1966) writer, performer
  • Thuso Mbedu, (born 1991), actress; attended Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School
  • Jomu Mbili (born 1981), cricketer
  • Cuan McCarthy, fast-bowling The Proteas cricketer 1929–2000
  • Phyllis McCarthy, authority on and breeder of Rhodesian Ridgebacks
  • Ntuthuko Mchunu (born 1999), rugby union player; attended Piet Retief Primary School & Maritzburg College
  • Cathcart William Methven (1849–1925), painter, engineer, and architect
  • David Miller (born 1989), cricketer; attended Maritzburg College
  • Greg Minnaar, professional downhill mountain bike racer; attended Carter High School
  • Emmanuel Mkhize (born 1989), cricketer
  • Zweli Mkhize (born 1956), politician, former Kwazulu-Natal premier; lived in Ashburton, Pietermaritzburg
  • Bryce Moon, (born 1986) South Africa national football team (soccer) player was born in Pietermaritzburg and played for Pirates in his youth
  • Ryan Moon (born 1996), South Africa national football team player; attended Maritzburg College
  • Shaun Morgan, lead singer of Seether, former resident of Pietermaritzburg, attended both Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
  • Nina Myskow, British journalist and television personality; born in Pietermaritzburg; attended The Wykeham Collegiate
  • Siphesihle Ndlovu, Premier Soccer League and South Africa national football team player
  • Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Premier Soccer League
  • Blade Nzimande (born 1958), South African national minister and president of the South African Communist Party
  • Alan Paton, author of Cry the Beloved Country, born and schooled (Maritzburg College) in Pietermaritzburg
  • Vyvyan Pearse (1891–1956), cricketer
  • Kevin Pietersen (born 1980), cricketer for the England National Cricket Team. Attended Maritzburg College
  • Graeme Pope-Ellis, canoeist. Attended Alexandra High School.
  • Brian Raubenheimer, racing diver
  • Rowland Raw (1884–1915), cricketer
  • Jo-anne Reyneke, (born 1988), actress. Attended Russell High School (Pietermaritzburg)
  • Jonty Rhodes (born 1969), national cricketer
  • Matthew Sates (born 2003), Olympic games swimmer. Attended St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg
  • Lunga Shabalala (born 1989), TV presenter, TV personality and actor; Maritzburg College
  • Bandile Shandu, (born 1995), Premier Soccer League player; attended Maritzburg College
  • Tom Sharpe, novelist, who described the city as "half the size of a New York cemetery and twice as dead"
  • Peter Leslie Smith (born 1958), auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
  • Guy Spier (born 1966), value investor
  • Dale Stewart, bassist of Seether, former resident
  • Joel Stransky (born 1967), Springbok rugby player; born in Pietermaritzburg, attended Maritzburg College and University of Natal
  • Frank Talbot (1930–2024), Australian ichthyologist born in Pietermaritzburg; former director of the Australian Museum
  • Darian Townsend, Olympic swimmer. Attended Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
  • Kevin Volans, composer (born in Pietermaritzburg, 26 July 1949)
  • Lance Woolridge, rally driver
  • Philani Zulu, Premier Soccer League player
  • Dumisani Zuma, Premier Soccer League player
  • Lwandiswa Zuma (born 1996), South African first-class cricketer; attended Maritzburg College

Twin towns and sister cities

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; background:#FFFFEF; float:left;"

|-

! City

! Country

! Year

|-

| Taichung

| Taiwan

| 1983

|-

| Hampton

| United States

| 1998

|}

See also

  • Trams in Pietermaritzburg

Notes

Bibliography

  • Jenkins, G. 1971. A Century of History: the story of Potchefstroom. 2nd ed. AA Balkema. Cape Town. 120 p.
  • Pietermaritzburg
  • Pietermaritzburg Tourism
  • Pietermaritzburg News
  • Pietermaritzburg