Mission guide

South Africa Durban Mission

A warm coastal mission centered in Durban, where English and Zulu are part of everyday life.

English
Zulu

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South Africa Durban Mission shirts

Every style made for this mission, printed when you order.

South Africa Durban Mission T-Shirt

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South Africa Durban Mission Heart Map Shirt

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South Africa Durban Mission Flag Map Shirt

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I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission

2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.

I Glory in My Jesus Shirt

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I Glory in My Jesus script shirt in English, white ink on Dark Chocolate: “I glory in my Jesus”, 2 Nephi 33:6

I Glory in My Jesus Script Shirt (White Ink)

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I Glory in My Jesus shirt in Zulu on White: “Ngiyathokoza ngoJesu wami”, 2 Nefi 33:6

I Glory in My Jesus Shirt – Zulu

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I Glory in My Jesus script shirt in Zulu, white ink on Dark Chocolate: “Ngiyathokoza ngoJesu wami”, 2 Nefi 33:6

I Glory in My Jesus Script Shirt (White Ink) – Zulu

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About the mission

The South Africa Durban Mission is centered in Durban on South Africa’s east coast. Durban is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

English and Zulu are the mission languages. Zulu is widely spoken in KwaZulu-Natal, while English is commonly used in business, education, and public life.

At a glance

Country: South Africa
Main city: Durban, 595,061 people in 2011
Languages: English and Zulu
Time zone: South Africa Standard Time (UTC+2)
Climate: Humid subtropical, with hot, wet summers and mild, dry winters
Church in Africa: 1,046,270 members, 3,220 congregations, 54 missions, 665 family history centers, and 8 temples

A short history of the area

The Durban area has been inhabited since approximately 100,000 BP. In 1824, English traders led by Lt. Francis George Farewell and Henry Francis Fynn established a trading station at Port Natal after developing relations with the Zulu king Shaka. The settlement was later named D’Urban after Sir Benjamin D’Urban.

Durban became a borough in 1854 and received city status in 1935. Today, it is South Africa’s third-most populous city and a major port on the Indian Ocean. The Zulu name eThekwini comes from itheku, meaning “bay” or “lagoon.”

The Church here

1852Elders Jesse Haven, Leonard I. Smith, and William H. Walker were called to open a mission in South Africa.
1853The first branch in South Africa was organized at Mowbray near Cape Town on August 16.
1930The Durban district was one of seven districts in the South African Mission. On December 31, the districts had a combined membership of 769.
1956A chapel was constructed in Durban.
1972Church seminary and institute programs began in South Africa.
1981The Durban South Africa Stake was organized.
1988The South Africa Durban Mission was created.
2020The Durban South Africa Temple was dedicated, becoming the Church’s 168th operating temple worldwide and the fifth on the African continent.

Temples nearby

Durban South Africa Temple

Dedicated February 16, 2020 · Near Durban

The Book of Mormon here

Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.

English Read it free → Zulu Read it free →

Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Before you go

Phrases to learn

SawubonaHello
Unjani?How are you?
NgiyabongaThank you
NgiyacelaPlease

Fun facts

Durban has the busiest port in South Africa and one of the busiest ports in the Southern Hemisphere.
Durban is UNESCO’s first City of Literature in Africa.
Approximately 25 rickshaws remain in Durban, mostly serving tourists.

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