The Alfred Duma Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the northern region of the uThukela District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B2 (large town) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | uThukela |
| Municipal code: | KZN238 |
| Seat: | uMnambithi |
| Number of wards: | 37 |
| Total area: | 3,764 km² (1,453 square miles) |
| Population: | 415,036 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Zama Sibisi |
About
The Alfred Duma Local Municipality was formed/established after the redetermination of boundaries in terms of section 21 of the Local Government, the Municipal Demarcation Act 1998 (Act No.27 of 1998) which resulted in the Emnambithi/Ladysmith and Indaka Local Municipalities being disestablished and merged to form a new municipality in August 2016.
The municipality is named after Alfred Duma, a struggle stalwart, a Umkhonto Wesizwe combatant, and a great son of Africa who lived all his life in the region.
In 2016, following the amalgamation of the Emnambithi/Ladysmith and Indaka local municipalities, residents decided to name the newly formed municipality after Alfred Duma in honour of their hero.
Alfred Duma was born in Mnambithi, KwaZulu-Natal. When he retired, he lived a peaceful life in KwaZulu-Natal until he passed away in February 2021, aged 94. He was laid to rest in Ezakheni Township, outside uMnambithi (formerly Ladysmith).
The Alfred Duma Local Municipality is geographically located in the northern region of the uThukela District Municipality in the western region of KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The Alfred Duma Local Municipality covers an area of 3,764 km² (1,453 square miles), making it the second-largest of three local municipalities in the uThukela District, as it accounts for a third of its geographical area.
The municipality comprises 37 electoral wards with 22 of those being rural and some of them administered by the Traditional Authorities namely Inkosi Shabalala in Matiwane and Inkosi Khumalo in Driefontein Block, Inkosi Kunene, Inkosi Zwane, Inkosi Mthembu and Inkosi Mabaso Mhlumayo area and Inkosi Nxumalo, Inkosi Sthole, Inkosi Mbhense and Inkosi Mchunu in the Limehill area.
Approximately 80% of the Alfred Duma Local Municipality is rural, which presents obstacles in terms of service delivery as the community access roads are in extremely poor condition, with some only existing as tracks. In fact, there is limited basic services and infrastructure characterised by chronic poverty.
The Alfred Duma Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Free State Province to the west
- The Drakensberg Mountain to the west
- Okhahlamba Local Municipality to the west and southwest
- Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality to the south
- uMsinga and Endumeni Local Municipalities in the uMzinyathi District Municipality to the east
- Dannhauser Local Municipality in the Amajuba District Municipality to the north
- Phumelela Local Municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Free State Province to the north
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Alfred Duma Local Municipality is in uMnambithi (previously known as Ladysmith).
Ladysmith (renamed uMnambithi) is the main town in the municipality. Ladysmith is accessed via the N11 National Route that connects it with the N3 National Route and traverse the town while making its way to the north. The R103 Regional Route from Colenso and Roosboom in the south intersects the N11 in the southeast.
Residential suburbs in uMnambithi include Reservoir Hill, Egerton, Rose Hill, Hospital Park, and Observation Hill. Residential settlements include Leonards Ville and Steadville, with a border of commercial activity on its westernmost edge closest to the river and the Central Business District (CBD).
The Alfred Duma Local Municipaliy is built around the town of Ladysmith (renamed uMnambithi) which serves as an administrative centre and service centre for the whole of Uthukela District, and a commercial hub for the northwestern region of KwaZulu-Natal Province. This true because majority of the regional offices and industries are located in the municipal area of Alfred Duma.
Industrial areas include the Nambiti industrial area to the southeast and further northeast is the Danskrall industrial area.
The south-westerly periphery of the Central Business District (CBD) over the Klip River is characterised by public recreational areas and open space, including Settlers Park, the Indoor Sports Complex and the Aerodrome. The remaining settlements are rural in nature with the exception of Ezakheni and Colenso, and other minor townships such as Ekuvukeni and Steadville.
The Alfred Duma Municipality is strategically located at the intersection of two major national development corridors and trade routes, that is: the N3 which links Durban to Johannesburg (in Gauteng) – South Africa’s economic powerhouse and the Free State Province, and the N11 which runs in a north-south direction linking KwaZulu-Natal with Mpumalanga Province.
The railway line linking KwaZulu-Natal and provinces such as Mpumalanga and Gauteng also runs through the municpal area creating opportunities for the Alfred Duma Local Municipality to benefit from the recently announced rail infrastructure development programme.
The Municipality is well located in relation to at least two of the major tourism destinations in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Alfred Duma serves as a base for the exploration of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park to the south and Battlefields to the north. The former is a World Heritage Site and a world acclaimed tourist destination.
The cultural attractions in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality include the certain parts of the Battlefields and Memorial, Monuments, Museums, Crafts, Rock Art, Recreation (Horse Riding) and tourism routes.
The municipality is located in a region with a rich heritage and military history ranging from the Mfecane period (early 1800s) to the turn of the century when the Boers tried to stem the tide of British imperialism. It includes Shaka’s predatory campaigns, the arrival of the Voortrekkers, the Anglo-Zulu War and the Anglo-Boer Wars.
The Battlefields Route provides a structured journey around the sites of various battles, skirmishes and sieges which are situated in a broad belt running through the central core of the region, from Estcourt in the south, through uMnambithi, Dundee and Newcastle, to Charlestown in the north.
This presents the Alfred Duma Local Municipality with a unique ‘tourism triangle’ character, consisting of three of the five B’s branding of provincial tourism – Berg, Bush and Battlefields. In addition to its three main destinations, there is a diversity of related attractions and accommodation facilities. This rich diversity allows tourists to experience a wide range of activities and scenes within a relatively small area, and is used as an important marketing element in the regional tourism industry.
The Alfred Duma Local Municipality is situated in the uThukela Water Management Area (WMA) with the Klip River and its tributaries traversing the municipality. This rivers drains into the Tugela River (also known as uThukela), which is the largest river system in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Tugela River forms part of the Tugela River Catchment, which is approximately 29,100 km² in extent. This is one of the important river catchments in South Africa, which drains from the Drakensberg escarpment into the Indian Ocean. There is substantial runoff from the Tugela catchment as a result of high rainfall. This presents the Alfred Duma Local Municipality with great opportunity in relation to agriculture.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Alfred Duma Local Municipality has a population of 415,036 people, compared to 356,274 in 2016, and 339,777 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.94%.
According to the 2022 Census, 29.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.2% is between 15 and 64, and 6% is over 65.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Alfred Duma Local Municipality are tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, quarrying, forestry, fishing, construction, water, electricity, wholesale, and retail trade.
Municipal council and management
The Alfred Duma municipal council is comprised of 73 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty-seven councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 37 wards, while the remaining 36 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the election of 1 November 2021, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) won a plurality of 33 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – IFP: 33 – ANC: 28 – EFF: 5 – DA: 3 – ABC: 1 – APEMO: 1 – NFP: 1 – NPA: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Zama Sibisi |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Sizwe Simelane |
| Speaker | Bhekinkosi Sithole |
| Chief Whip | Sabelo Sithole |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | Sibusisiwe Sixolile Ngiba |
| Chief Financial Officer | Riaz Ahmed Jhetam |
| Senior Management | – Sanelisiwe Bhengu (Assistant Manager: HRM and Administration) – Wayne Mbhele (Assistant Manager: Assets and Inventory) – Sizakele Qwabe (LED) – Videsh Ramkhelawan (Assistant Manager: Internal Audit) – Brian Xaba (Economic Development, Tourism, Arts and Culture and Museum Manager) |
| Communications Officers | Thabisile Mkhize (Acting Manager: Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality.
- Brakfontein
- Colenso
- Danskraal
- Driefontein Complex
- Ekuvukeni
- Elandslaagte
- Ezakheni
- Kleinfontein
- Kliprivier
- Limehill
- Mabhekazi
- Matiwaneskop
- Mhlumayo
- Rockcliff
- Roosboom
- Sahlumbe
- St Chads
- Steadville
- Tholeni
- Uitvall
- uMnambithi (formerly known as Ladysmith)
- Van Reenen
- Waaihoek
- Waayhoek
- Watersmeet
Contact details
The contact details of the Alfred Duma Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 29, uMnambithi (Ladysmith), 3370 |
| Physical Address: | Lister Clarence Building, 221 Murchison Street, uMnambithi (Ladysmith), 3370 |
| Telephone: | 036 637 2231 |
| Fax: | 036 631 1400 |
| Email: | tnmkhize@alfredduma.gov.za |
| Website: | www.alfredduma.gov.za |
