The University of Durban-Westville was initially created as an apartheid-era institution aimed at providing tertiary training for the South African Indian population.

Over the years it has gone through three phases of transformation.

The University College for Indians (1961-1971)

The institution

Situated on Salisbury Island, in Durban Harbour, this institution was established under the apartheid government for the tertiary education of South African Indians and was inaugurated in 1961. This facility served Indian students for eleven years, till the institution was upgraded to a full-scale university and became known as the University of Durban-Westville, when it moved to the newly built campus in Westville.

Drama training

Among its facilities was the Department of Speech and Drama, that was opened with Mr. A. Francis as acting head of Department and a year later David Horner was appointed as full-time Head of Department.

The University of Durban-Westville (UDW, 1972-2003)

The institution

Established in 1972 as the successor to the University College for Indians,

In 2004 UDW became one of the campuses of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, referred to as the Westville Campus.

Drama training

Like the University, the Department of Speech and Drama also moved to the new campus, given a home in the Asoka Theatre complex. In 1975 David Horner became the first Professor of Speech and Drama at UDW, and was succeeded in the same year by Devi Bughwan, who was the first person of colour to be professor of drama in South Africa. Retiring in 1985, her post was taken over by Dennis Schauffer. At the end of 2000 the University decided to close the Department and the staff were redeployed or retrenched, the students sent to other institutions.