Pietermaritzburg

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PIETERMARITZBURG

Province : KwaZulu-Natal
District Municipality : Umgungundlovu
Local Municipality : Msunduzi

Official blazon

(af)

Wapen: Deursnede van blou en groen, oor alles heen 'n staande olifant van goud, getand van silwer.
Helmteken: 'n Uitstralende son van blou belaai met vyf vyfpuntige sterre kruisgewys, die middelste van goud en die ander van silwer.
Wrong en dekklede: Goud en groen.
Skildhouers: Twee swartwildebeeste van natuurlike kleur, elk op die skouer belaai met 'n skild, die regterkantste met die Unievlag van Groot Brittanje en die linkerkantste met die vlag van die Republiek Natalia daarop.
Wapenspreuk: UMGUNGUNHLOVU

(en)

Arms: Per fess Azure and Vert, over all an elephant statant Or, tusked Argent.
Crest: A sun in his splendour Azure charged with five mullets in cross, that in the centre Or, the others Argent.
Wreath and mantling: Or and Vert.
Supporters: Two black wildebeest proper, each charged on the shoulder with an escutcheon, that on the dexter being a shield of the Union flag of Great Britain, that on the Sinister being a shield of the flag of the Republic of Natalia.
Motto: UMGUNGUNHLOVU

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on May 29, 1961 by the London College of Arms and registere din South Africa on May 5, 1973.

The motto, "Umgungunhlovu" means 'the place of the elephant'. The original kraal of Dingane, king of the Zulus was near Pietermaritzburg and had the same name. The arms can thus be considered canting. The town itself is named after Piet Retief and Gerrit Maritz, Boer leaders in the 19^th century.

The two shields on the supporters are the Union Jack for Great Britain, and the flag of the former Rpublic of Natalia, which existed for a short while in the 19^th century. The supporters are two wildebeest, the symbol of the (former) province of Natal.

The arms replaced former non-official arms which only showed an elephant.