Who was Moss Kolnik? The story behind Amanzimtoti’s M37
Moss Kolnik was born in Poland, and in the 1930s his family emigrated to South Africa to seek a better life when he was still a child.
EVER wondered who Moss Kolnik was, who has a road named after him in Amanzimtoti? You might not be the only one.
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Also known as the M37, Moss Kolnik Drive begins at the Andrew Zondo Road (R102) traffic lights in Athlone Park near Galleria Mall and continues westwards for 8.8km, passing Southgate Business Park, Ezimbokodweni, KwaMakhutha, and ending at the R603 intersection in Adams Mission.
But who was Moss Kolnik and why is he so important, apparently? According to available information that was provided by his son Alan on a Jewish genealogy website, his father, Moss, was a civil engineer. He was also a prolific chess player and a dedicated member of the Durban Chess Club for many years.
Moss was born on February 2, 1921, in Kozanhorodok, Poland, and some time in the 1930s, his family emigrated to South Africa to seek a better life when he was still a child. The family settled in Cape Town, where Moss later graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1942 with an engineering degree.
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His civil engineering work took him all over the country, and he was involved in the construction of the Durban and Simonstown harbours, and Jan Smuts, Kimberley, and Port Elizabeth airports. He also oversaw the construction of the Umhlanga Lighthouse. After getting married and having three children, he later settled his family in Durban.
In his later years, he was the district engineer in charge of roads in the coastal areas. Moss died in 1981 of a brain tumour and was buried at the Stellawood Cemetery in Durban. The then Roads Department decided to name a road after him in his honour.
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