Marburg, South Africa
Marburg is a settlement in the Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, situated approximately  112 kilometres south-west of the city of Durban. Marburg was a Norwegian settlement given the name Marburg for a nearby German mission. The Norwegian founders played a significant role in the development of Marburg and Port Shepstone, which it forms part of today. The British colonial government gave the settlers a free voyage to South Africa and also houses and 100 acres of land. Marburg was the only successful Scandinavian settlement in South Africa. Marburg was established in 1882 by Norwegian immigrants and was likely named after Marburg, a city 74 km north of Frankfurt in Germany. History

Norwegian founding
The Land and Immigration Board contemplated bringing German settlers to the Marburg area in 1881, but met opposition from the German government. Consequentially, immigration agent Walter Peace suggested promoting settlement in Marburg by Norwegians. On July 20, 1882, the first Norwegians ventured aboard the steamship Lapland for their 39-day voyage from Hull, England to Mzimkulu near Port Shepstone, South Africa. Arriving in Africa on August 28, 1882, the Norwegians were brought ashore the following day. The 246 Norwegians onboard Lapland were first and foremost fishermen, but slowly adjusted to the agrarian lifestyle at their 100-acre agricultural Marburg community. Many of the original 1882 founders later left Marburg, including ten families which left for Australia. However, a number remained in South Africa though not all remained in Marburg. A number joined the Norwegian community in Durban, while others went to Johannesburg and other parts near Alfred County. Emigration to South Africa from Norway in 1876-85 was dominated by emigrants from Romsdal, and more specifically, from Sunnmøre. Marburg's founders were first and foremost from Ålesund in Sunnmøre. When Marburg settlers celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1932, there were twenty Norwegian families left in town. 84 original settlers were still alive, and the Norwegian community had produced 208 children, 425 grandchildren, and 130 great-grandchildren. Apartheid era 
In 1950, the Group Areas Act. racially divided Port Shepstone similar to many other towns and cities in South Africa in which Marburg was classified as the "Indian area" of Port Shepstone. Marburg was one of the four Indian proclaimed townships in the KwaZulu-Natal province and its neighbouring suburb of Merlewood to the west was classified as the "Coloured area" of Port Shepstone. Geography 
Marburg lies in a hilly area approximately 3 kilometres west of Port Shepstone Central or central business district (CBD) and is bounded by the N2 freeway to the east. Marburg is situated among the suburbs of Merlewood, Grosvenor, Umbango, Protea Park and Albersville. Industries
As the largest industrial centre along the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Marburg has a substantial auto sales and repair industry and has a number of small industries that service the Lower South Coast. Moreover, it is also home to a number of hardware stores and warehouses spanning across the industrial area. Transport 
Marburg lies at the meeting point of three major routes (N2, R61 and R102) known as the Marburg Interchange. The N2 is a national route that runs roughly N to S from Durban to Marburg and is tolled at the Oribi Toll Plaza before diverging to the west towards Kokstad. The R102 is the older section of the N2, now serving as the untolled alternative route to the current N2 and connects Marburg with Port Shepstone Central and the coastal towns of Melville and Hibberdene to the north as Harding Road and Marine Drive. The R61 is a provincial route connecting Marburg with Margate and Port Edward and is also tolled at the Oribi Toll Plaza. Smaller routes in Marburg include: Main Harding Road (one of the older sections of the N2) connects Marburg with Port Shepstone Central to the east. Izotsha Road connects Marburg with Izotsha and Gamalakhe to the south. Oscar Borcherds Road connects Marburg with Protea Park and the Umzimkhulu Sugar Mill to the north. References 

Populated places in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality