ESHOWE, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. — With territory detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of Natal, on 27 Aug. 1921 the Apostolic Prefecture of Zululand was erected. On 11 Dec. 1923 it was enlarged with other territories likewise detached from Natal and raised to the status of an Apostolic Vicariate entrusted to the Benedictines of St Ottilia (Bavaria).
Over an area of approximately 32,152 sq. km. there lives a population of about 560,000 inhabitants, of whom 15,300 are of European origin: English, Dutch, German. The indigenous people are of Zulu stock and several thousand of Basuto and Tonga stock, who generally speak Zulu and Sestwana; a few speak Afrikaans. Catholics number 14,537 in all, of whom 13,393 are indigenous, 46 Indian, 687 coloured, and 151 European. There are 1,324 catechumens. Protestants number about 120,000, Jews about 500, Muslims 700, pagans about 433,000. There are (1949) 29 missionaries, of whom one is indigenous; 32 lay brothers; 53 European sisters, 46 indigenous sisters; 32 catechists; 87 churches, 3 districts, 12 primary stations, 139 secondary stations. There are 4 hospitals with 302 beds; 7 dispensaries, 4 orphanages with 986 boys. There are 70 elementary schools with 4,973 pupils, 7 middle schools with 463 pupils, 1 higher school with 182 pupils; 7 vocational schools with 26 pupils. The mission seeks especially to develop Catholic Action through the schools.