Residents worked hard to educate children

ALTHOUGH Merebank existed from the early 1900s, its development as a separate township for Indians began only in the late 1950s.

The residents of the township were made up of Indians who opted to remain in South Africa after being freed from indenture in 1911. In a short period, Indian immigrants settled into a new life, becoming traders, market gardeners and so on.

Unfortunately, the authorities did little to assist the community in settling into their adopted country. If anything, they made it more difficult for Indians to develop economically, passing law after