The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality is a Category B municipality in the eastern part of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B1 (secondary city) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | King Cetshwayo |
| Municipal code: | KZN282 |
| Seat: | Richards Bay |
| Number of wards: | 34 |
| Total area: | 1,233 km² (476 square miles) |
| Population: | 412,075 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Xolani Ngwezi |
About
The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality was established on 5 December 2000, after the demarcation process and the South African municipal elections of 2000.
The City of uMhlathuze assumed city status on 21 August 2001, and was enlarged at the time of the 2016 South African municipal elections when part of the disbanded Ntambanana Local Municipality was merged into it.
The municipality is named after the Mhlathuze River that meanders through the municipal area and symbolically unifies the towns, suburbs, and traditional areas.
The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality is geographically located in the eastern region of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, on the north-east coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province, approximately 175 kilometres northeast of Durban.
The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality incorporates the economic powerhouse of Richards Bay and Empangeni and its supporting areas of Esikhawini, Nseleni, Ngwelezana, Felixton, Vulindlela, Port Durnford, Mandlanzini, Buchanana, and Mzingazi.
The municipality also comprises rural areas which are under traditional authorities of KwaDube (Inkosi Dube), KwaBhejane (Inkosi Khoza), KwaDlangezwa (Inkosi Mkhwanazi), KwaMadlebe (Inkosi Zungu), Obizo (Inkosi Cebekhulu), Buchanana (Inkosi Mthiyane and Inkosi Biyela), Somopho (Inkosi Mthembu in Macekane), Luwamba, and Fatima (Inkosi Biyela).
The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality comprises 34 wards, the largest number in the district. It covers an area of 1,233 km² (476 square miles), making it the smallest of five local municipalities in the King Cetshwayo District.
The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality is bordered by:
- uMfolozi Local Municipality to the east and north
- Mthonjaneni Local Municipality to the north and west
- uMlalazi Local Municipality to the west
- The Indian Ocean to the south and east, with a coastline that spans approximately 45 kilometres
The administrative headquarters/seat of the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality is in Richards Bay, a city considered to be the industrial and tourism hub of the municipality.
Empangeni is the commercial hub, Esikhaleni is the largest suburb, while Ntambanana is the home of safari tourism as it hosts the renowned Thula Thula Private Game Reserve.
The City of uMhlathuze is the third-largest municipality in KwaZulu-Natal and is a strategically placed aspirant metropolitan due to its proximity to Durban, rapid economic growth, and ability to generate sustainable revenue.
It is also the best secondary city in KwaZulu-Natal and the seventh in South Africa.
The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality is also the third economic hub in the province after eThekwini and Msunduzi Municipalities, respectively, as well as being the fastest-growing and best-performing municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, with a good governance record of four consecutive Clean Audits.
The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality is home to one of South Africa’s largest deep-water ports, the Port of Richards Bay in Richards Bay, which contains the largest coal terminal in Africa, the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT).
The municipality has vast land for heavy-duty industries like Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), Foskor, BHP Billiton/South32, and many others are situated and effectively operate within the City of uMhlathuze.
The municipality also has a vast track of serviced land under the auspices of the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ), set aside for foreign direct investments, which drives the inward investment into the City of uMhlathuze.
The Provincial Main Road – the John Ross Parkway (R34), is the major access road to the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality from the inland provinces. This is the road that carries the economy of the City of uMhlathuze since it links the harbour with the N2 towards Mpumalanga Province, Eswatini, and Mozambique to the north, Durban and Pietermaritzburg to the south, and Gauteng and other inland provinces on the western side.
The link to these entire Provinces through the rail and road network makes the City of uMhlathuze and its harbour and industries easily accessible for commercial purposes, especially imports and exports.
The City of uMhlathuze also has a very busy regional airport, the Richards Bay Airport, which will soon be developed into an international airport, thereby expanding its capacity to accommodate more facilities in a new location convenient to commercial and leisure travellers.
Several natural and man-made features have and continue to shape the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality. The area is inundated with an ecosystem of wetlands and natural water features such as Lakes Nsezi, Cubhu, Nhlabane, and Mzingazi.
Two major rivers traverse the municipal area; these are the Mhlathuze and Nsezi Rivers.
The City of uMhlathuze is rich in diversity and is the ideal holiday destination where nature lovers can explore the internationally acclaimed game reserves and visit the spectacular wetlands.
Thula-Thula Private Game Reserve, eNseleni Game Reserve, Alkantstrand Blue Flag Beach, The Water Front precinct, Birding bushes, and ample private accommodation establishments with internationally acclaimed hotel brands in our City are created to cater for all travellers, ranging from researchers, business, and leisure.
Outdoor and sporting enthusiasts can take advantage of the subtropical climate and endless beaches, while cultural heritage seekers can visit Zulu cultural villages, markets, and museums.
Apart from the areas of natural significance, there are large tracts of land under commercial agricultural production.
The City of uMhlathuze also boasts luxurious urban residential settlements of Arboretum, Mereensee, Birdswood, and Aquadene in Richards Bay and Hillview, Panorama, Grantham Park, Kidare, Richem, and Nyala Park in Emangeni.
Apart from being an industrial and economic hub, the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality enjoys a diverse natural environment. Importantly, the City of uMhlathuze is a progressive municipality that appreciates the need to achieve a successful balance and synergy between industry, its rich environmental assets, and the community.
The City of uMhlathuze is open for business and poised for economic growth.
Climate
Climate conditions are typically sub-tropical to tropical. The average daily temperature in summer is 28oC and in winter 24oC (Empangeni) and 22°C (Richards Bay). The humidity levels tend to be very high and the annual rainfall is 1100mm (Empangeni) and 1200mm (Richards Bay).
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality has a population of 412,075 people, compared to 410,465 in 2016 and 370,256 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.04%.
According to the 2022 Census, 26.9% of the population is under the age of 15, 69.4% is between 15 and 64, and 4.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 87.7% of the population in the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 7.5% as White, 3.7% as Indian/Asian, and 0.9% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 61.3% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 19.7% speak English, 15.1% speak Afrikaans, 1.2% speak isiNdebele, and 2.7% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality are mining, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, quarrying, trade, real estate, communication, financial, business, transport, fishing, forestry, community, social, and personal services.
Investments
Richards Bay and Empangeni are the most important economic centres in the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality and the King Cetshwayo District as well.
Richards Bay, as an industrial town and a harbour, attracts people from surrounding towns, rural settlements, and from beyond the district.
Empangeni’s role as a commercial, industrial, and service centre to the settlements of Esikhaleni, Nkandla, Eshone, Ntambanana, and other rural settlements attracts many people to the range of higher-order services available in town.
The vast majority of economic performance in the King Cetshwayo District is vested in the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality, notably in Richards Bay and Empangeni. This area is the third most important in the KwaZulu-Natal Province in terms of economic production (GGP) and total employment.
Safety and Security
Although most people in the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality are peace-loving, one needs to maintain awareness levels and practice security measures. All visitors are asked to be alert at all times.
Health and Medical
Together, Richards Bay and Empangeni boast excellent medical practitioners and two first-class private hospitals: The Bay Hospital and Empangeni Garden Clinic.
The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality is a low-risk malaria area however, it is advisable to apply insect repellent in the evenings to avoid mosquito bites.
Municipal council and management
The City of uMhlathuze municipal council comprises 67 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty-four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 34 wards, while the remaining 33 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 African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority, winning a plurality of 27 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 27 – IFP: 23 – DA: 8 – EFF: 6 – ACDP: 1 – NFP: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Xolani Ngwezi |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Christo Botha |
| Speaker | Tobias Gumede |
| Chief Whip | Dr Nkonzoyakhe Donda |
| Other Council Members | Barend de Lange (Chairperson: MPAC) |
| Municipal Manager | Nkosenye Zulu |
| Chief Financial Officer | Mxolisi Kunene (Deputy Municipal Manager: Financial Services) |
| Senior Management | – Thembeka Khumalo (Chief Operations Officer) – Dolf Marais (Deputy Municipal Manager: Electricity and Energy Services) – Phakama Mhlongo (Deputy Municipal Manager: Community Services) – Nontsundu Ndonga (Deputy Municipal Manager: City Development) – Sibusiso Ngcobo (Deputy Municipal Manager: Infrastructure and Technical Services) – Mpilo Sibiya (Deputy Municipal Manager: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | Bongani Gina |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality.
- Bhucanana (also Bhukhanana)
- Empangeni
- Esikhawini
- Felixton
- Heatonville
- Ngwelezane
- Richards Bay
Contact details
The contact details of the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X1004, Richards Bay, 3900 |
| Physical Address: | 5 Mark Strasse Civic Centre, Richards Bay, 3900 |
| Telephone: | 035 907 5000 |
| Call Centre: | 0800 222 827 |
| Fax: | 035 907 5444 |
| Email: | talk2us@umhlathuze.gov.za |
| Website: | www.umhlathuze.gov.za |
