1 min read
The man who refused to be mayor of Durban
The O'Flaherty home on the corner of St Andrew's Street, circa 1887. Standing at the gate is Thomas O'Flaherty with two of his sons, Francis and Terence. The three children on the upstairs balcony are Lilian, Eileen and Dennis.
South Africa
As local elections approach, the story of Thomas Augustus O’Flaherty offers a fascinating glimpse into Durban’s municipal history. The Natal Bank manager reluctantly accepted the mayoralty in 1887, only to resign weeks later because of the demands of his career. His brief tenure formed part of Durban’s extraordinary “Year of the Three Mayors”, while his financial expertise helped stabilise the municipality’s troubled finances.
About this article
- Length
- 63 words · 1 min read
- Published
- October 6, 2026
- Source
- IOL