Durban was also one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.ĭurban was formerly named Port Natal due to its position as the chief seaport of South Africa, and its location on the Natal Bay of the Indian Ocean. Durban forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which includes neighbouring towns and has a population of about 3.44 million, making the combined municipality one of the largest cities on the Indian Ocean coast of the African continent. Durban ( / ˈ d ɜːr b ə n/ DUR-bən Zulu: eThekwini, from itheku meaning 'the port' also called eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area) is the third-most populous city in South Africa after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal.
