Pietermaritzburg, city in eastern South Africa, capital of KwaZulu-Natal province. Located near the Umsunduzi River and the city of Durban, Pietermaritzburg is one of the world centers of the wattle industry; wattle-tree bark yields tannin extract which is used in leather processing. Pietermaritzburg is a commercial center and is also noted for the manufacture of footwear, furniture, and metal, rubber, and canvas products. It is the site of one campus of University of Natal (founded in 1910) and a teachers college. Dutch immigrants founded the city in 1838 and named it after two of their leaders, Pieter Retief and Gerrit Maritz. Pietermaritzburg was the capital of the former province of Natal until 1994 when Natal was combined with the former bantustan (or black homeland) Kwa Zulu to form KwaZulu-Natal. Population (1991) 156,473.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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