Nongqai Album 4/2026

Nongqai Photo Album: April 2026

Keywords

The Castle Cape Town,

Durban Borough Police,

The Anglo Boer War,

1900’s German Camel Police, GSWA,

1913 Mine Workers strike – Kleinfontein,

1913 – The Red Flag in Revolutionary Booklet,

1930’s – SWA Police camel & SAR Bus,

1930’s Special Service Battalion UDF South Africa,

1666: The Castle Cape Town

The Castle Cape Town circa 1900.

A Short Historical Overview of the Durban Borough Police

The Durban Borough Police (Durban Gemeente Politie) was established in 1854, the same year that Durban was formally proclaimed a borough under the Natal colonial administration. The force was created in terms of Ordinance No. 1 of 1854, which provided for a locally controlled police service under a Borough Police Board. According to the Durban City Council Archives, the first Chief Constable appointed was Edwin Lee, followed in 1855 by William Harrison.

During the mid‑19th century, the Borough Police was responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing municipal by‑laws, and supporting colonial authorities in a rapidly growing port town. As Durban expanded, the police force evolved in structure and capability, reflecting the broader development of policing in the Colony of Natal.

By the early 20th century, the Durban Borough Police had grown into a more formalised urban police service. In 1935, following Durban’s elevation to full city status, the force was renamed the Durban City Police. It continued to operate as a municipal police service until the late 20th century, when it was eventually incorporated into the modern Durban Metro Police after municipal restructuring in the post‑apartheid era.

The Durban Borough Police is historically significant as one of the oldest organised municipal police forces in South Africa, predating many later colonial and national policing structures.

References

These are publicly accessible, non‑copyrighted reference points:

1. Durban City Council Archives – Records on the establishment of the Borough and early municipal services.

2. Natal Ordinances, 1854, Ordinance No. 1 – Legal framework for the creation of the Borough Police.

3. Laband, J. The Rise and Fall of the Natal Police (contextual background on policing in Natal).

4. Swanson, M. W. “The Rise of Multiracial Durban: Urban History in Natal, 1850–1910.” Journal of African History.

5. eThekwini Municipality Heritage Notes – Historical summaries of Durban’s municipal institutions.

6. A History of the Durban City Police – Revd. J Jewell, Durban City Council, 1989

1854: Durban Borough Police / Durban City Police