The village of Umhlali, inland from Salt Rock, was established by British and Scottish Byrne settlers in 1850 and was originally Fort William.

It was renamed Umhlali – the Zulu name for the Monkey Orange tree, which grew abundantly along the banks of the Umhlali River but locals also referred to it as the “place of waiting” because settlers and locals would have to wait on the banks before crossing the river on a northward journey.

South Africa produces 19.9 million tons of sugar cane a year, and most of it comes from the rolling green valleys of KwaZulu-Natal. Sugar cane has had an important and long history in South Africa, one that has had a big effect on the economy and culture of the country. We take a look at the history of this sweet plant on the east coast.