Alfred Nzo District Municipality

The Alfred Nzo District Municipality is a Category C municipality located in the northeastern region of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

Alfred Nzo District Municipality

Type of municipality:District (Category C)
Province:Eastern Cape
Municipal code:DC44
Seat:eMaxesibeni
Local municipalities:4
Wards:102
Total area:10,731 km² (4,143 square miles)
Population:936,462 (in 2022)
Executive mayor:Vukile Mhlelembana

About

The Alfred Nzo District Municipality is geographically situated in the northeastern part of the Eastern Cape. Its headquarters/seat is in eMaxesibeni.

The district was named after the late Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo, a former secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in former president Nelson Mandela‘s cabinet from 1994 to 1999.

Alfred Nzo District Municipality covers an area of 10,731 km² (4,143 square miles) and is the smallest district in the Eastern Cape, covering only 6% of the province’s geographical area. It is also among the poorest districts in the province.

The district is divided into four local municipalities namely;

  1. Matatiele Local Municipality
  2. Ntabankulu Local Municipality
  3. Umzimvubu Local Municipality
  4. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality

The Alfred Nzo District Municipality is bordered by the country of Lesotho to the northwest, Joe Gqabi District Municipality to the west, OR Tambo District Municipality to the south, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and KwaZulu-Natal’s Ugu District Municipality to the east and Harry Gwala District Municipality to the north.

The district is a gateway between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces as it is geographically located along the border of these two provinces.

Alfred Nzo District Municipality was historically part of the Transkei homelands.

The district is predominantly rural, with village settlements defined by the district’s geographical footprint through mountain ranges and river systems.

Map

A map of Alfred Nzo District Municipality with its four Local Municipalities
A map of Alfred Nzo District Municipality with its four Local Municipalities.

Population

According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Alfred Nzo District Municipality has a population of 936,462 residents, compared to 867,864 in 2016, and 801,344 in 2011.

The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.51%.

According to the 2022 Census, 35.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 57.6% is between 15 and 64, and 6.6% is over 65.

Racial makeup

According to the 2022 Census, 99.1% of the population in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.4% as Coloured, 0.2% as White, and 0.1% as Indian/Asian.

Languages

According to the 2022 Census, 84.6% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 8.8% speak Sesotho, 2.3% speak English, 1.2% speak isiZulu, and 3.1% speak other languages.

Economy

The district’s main economic sectors are community services (28%), wholesale/trade (15%), agriculture (12%), manufacturing (10%), transport (6.4%), and construction (6%).

District council and management

Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party)ANC: 13
EFF: 2
ATM: 1
DA: 1
Controlling PartyANC
Executive MayorVukile Mhlelembana
Deputy Executive MayorNomasomi Mshunqwana
SpeakerSixolile Mehlomakhulu
Chief WhipNophatheka Ndabeni
Other Council Members– E Diko (MMC: Monitoring and Evaluation)
– M Khuzwayo (MMC: Infrastructure and Planning)
– M Mbedla (MMC: Disaster and Fire Services)
– S Mnukwa (MMC: Budget and Treasury)
– TR Nkomo (MMC: Corporate Services)
– NN Nqoko (MMC: Water and Conservation)
– B Qwayede (MMC: Economic Development)
Municipal ManagerZamile Sikhundla
Chief Financial OfficerUnathi Paul Mahlasela
Senior Management– M Dubula (Manager: Legal Services)
– N Msebi (Senior Manager: Infrastructure Development and Municipal Services)
– N Ngxenge (Senior Manager: Community Development Services)
– S Ntshikilana (Senior Manager: Planning and Economic Development)
– Nelisile R Xolo (Senior Manager: Corporate Services)
Communications OfficersNomasomi Mshunqwana (Head: Communications and Media Liaison)

Main towns

Below are the major towns in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality.

  • Bizana
  • Cedarville
  • KwaBhaca (formerly known as Mount Frere)
  • Matatiele
  • Tabankulu
  • eMaxesibeni (formerly known as Mount Ayliff)

Contact details

The contact details of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality are listed in the table below.

Postal address:Private Bag X511, eMaXesibeni, 4735
Physical address:Erf 1400, Ntsizwa Street, eMaXesibeni
Disaster recovery number:039 254 0748
Customer care line:086 000 3781
Telephone:039 254 5000
Fax:039 254 0343
Email:customercare@andm.gov.za
Website:www.andm.gov.za