Currently the fourth-largest township in South Africa, Umlazi got its name, according to legend, from a time when Shaka passed through the area.
Originally known as the Umlazi Mission Reserve and owned by the Anglican Church, it was earmarked by the government in 1940 as a relocation point for Cato Manor residents.
In 1967 Umlazi was declared a township, divided into 26 sections named for letters of the alphabet.
In 1974 the Chief Minister of KwaZulu, Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, began discussing the idea of a dedicated tertiary educational institution specialising in technical subjects for black students, to meet the urgent and growing demand for expertise in these subjects.
Given the urgency of the demand for technicians, and the need to build up the institution in an orderly fashion, it was decided to open its doors as soon as possible.