Photo-Essay: Guardians of a Growing City — The Durban Borough Police – Later Durban City Police
DURBAN BOROUGH POLICE
Compiled by Hennie Heymans and Darryl Newcombe
Introduction: Guardians of a Growing City — The Durban Borough Police
Long before the formation of the South African Police in 1913, the streets of Durban echoed with the steady footsteps of the Durban Borough Police—one of the longest-serving and most historically rich policing institutions in the country. Established in the 19th century, this force was not merely a municipal service; it was a pioneering body that shaped urban law enforcement in a rapidly modernizing colonial port.
This short photo-essay pays tribute to the men—African and European—who served with discipline and dignity under the Borough banner. From mounted patrols on Musgrave Road to traffic control platforms in West Street, their presence was woven into the daily rhythm of Durban life. The few images presented here are more than archival curiosities; they are visual testimonies to a force that predated national policing structures and laid the groundwork for civic order in one of South Africa’s most dynamic cities.
As we walk through these photographs, we remember not only the uniforms and stations, but the human stories behind them—the beat constables, the drill halls, the quiet resolve of peace officers sworn to serve. This is their legacy:
Central Police Station – West Street
Not to be confused with the old SAP Durban Central Police station in Smith Street.
Photo shows the Jubilee Fountain which stood on the site of the present Durban City Hall. (circa 1885). Old City Hall became the GPO Durban.
Mounted and Foot Police in West Street
Foot patrol in Albert Park
The Nongqai 1918-06-286
