The eDumbe Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the northwestern region of the Zululand District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | Zululand |
| Municipal code: | KZN261 |
| Seat: | Paulpietersburg |
| Number of wards: | 10 |
| Total area: | 1,943 km² (750 square miles) |
| Population: | 96,735 (in 2022) |
| Population density: | 49.79 people/km² |
| Executive mayor: | Sibusiso Mkhabela |
About
The eDumbe Local Municipality was established after the Local government elections in the year 2000.
The municipality is named after the Dumbe Mountain, a big, triangular, flat-topped mountain found in the region. The name Dumbe means “mountain of Wonders”.
The eDumbe Local Municipality is geographically located in the northwestern region of the Zululand District Municipality in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The eDumbe Municipality covers an area of 1,943 km² (750 square miles), making it the smallest of five local municipalities in the Zululand District, as it accounts for 13% of its geographical area.
The eDumbe Local Municipality is bordered by:
- uPhongolo Local Municipality to the east
- AbaQulusi Local Municipality to the east and south
- eMadlangeni Local Municipality in the Amajuba District Municipality to the west
- Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme and Mkhondo Local Municipalities in the Gert Sibande District Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province to the north
The municipality comprises 10 electoral wards which are predominantly rural in nature. eDumbe is characterized by its scattered low-density rural settlements, especially in the western areas of the municipality and they surround communal grazing, forestry, and crop production grasslands.
The eDumbe Local Municipality comprises of 52 settlements in total, which includes 48 dispersed rural settlements, 3 urban areas and one major town (Paulpietersburg).
The town of Paulpietersburg is the administrative seat and economic centre of the eDumbe Local Municipality.
Paulpietersburg, the major town/urban centre in the municipality, is located in relation to Provincial road and rail networks.
The R33 Provincial Route traverses the eDumbe Local Municipality, passing through Paulpietersburg, and linking it to other important roads like the N1, N2, N3, N4, and N11 National Routes, and other significant commercial centres like Pietermaritzburg, Vryheid, Dundee, and eMkhondo (formerly Piet Retief).
eDumbe is a gateway to KwaZulu-Natal province, it is a shorter route from Mpumalanga Province to Durban or Pietermaritzburg. In that sense it attracts a lot of tourists who are exploring KwaZulu-Natal with its highly cultural assets with many heritage sites.
This includes the Residence and Grave of Mkabayi KaJama of the Zulu Nation kwaGamakazi and the Voortrekker Park at Paulpietersburg
The municipality is rich in eco-tourism, with the existence of Pongola Bush Nature Reserve, Ithala Game Reserve, and the Natal Spa Hot Spring and Leisure Resort.
The èDumbe Local Municipality is located in one of the poorest and poverty stricken district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the eDumbe Local Municipality has a population of 96,735 people, compared to 89,614 in 2016, and 82,053 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.6%.
According to the 2022 Census, 34% of the population is under the age of 15, 60.3% is between 15 and 64, and 5.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 97.8% of the population in the eDumbe Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 1.8% as White, 0.2% as Indian/Asian, and 0.1% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 93.5% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 1.3% speak English, 1.2% speak isiNdebele, 1.1% speak Afrikaans, and 2.9% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the eDumbe Local Municipality are mining, accommodation, agriculture, finance, catering, forestry, manufacturing, fishing, general government services, wholesale and retail trade, business services, construction, community, social, and personal services.
Municipal council and management
The eDumbe municipal council is comprised of 19 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Ten councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 10 wards, while the remaining 9 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 National Freedom Party won a plurality of seats.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – NFP: 6 – ANC: 5 – IFP: 5 – ABC: 1 – DA: 1 – EFF: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Sibusiso Mkhabela |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | S.J Kunene |
| Speaker | Duduzile Nhlengethwa |
| Chief Whip | V.A Mthethwa |
| Other Council Members | – R.C Gevers – J Dvr Lourens – D.D Maseko – D Masondo – M.S.E Mbokazi – N.D Mngomezulu (Public Relations) – Z.P Mtetwa – J.B Mthethwa – N.D Ndlangamandla – T.C Shabalala – N.D Sibiya (Exco Member) – D.F Sukazi – H.H Vilakazi (MPAC Chair) – M.S Zulu |
| Municipal Manager | J.F.K Khumalo (Deceased) |
| Chief Financial Officer | S.G.Z Sibiya |
| Senior Management | – Shaka Cele (Director: Technical Services and Director: Infrastructure Services, Planning and Development) – M.M Mathabela (Manager: Information Technology) – Vincent Mbatha (Director: Corporate and Community Services) – Nonkululeko Mbokazi (Acting Manager: Human Resources) – K.S Mkhwanazi (Manager: LED) – S.R Ntuli (Director: Planning and Development) |
| Communications Officers | Z.T Mazibuko |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the eDumbe Local Municipality.
- Blinkwater
- Eersteling
- Kambula
- Lüneburg
- Paulpietersburg
- Pivaanspoort
- Tamboekiesdraai
Contact details
The contact details of the eDumbe Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X308, Paulpietersburg, 3180 |
| Physical Address: | 10 Hoog Street, Paulpietersburg, 3180 |
| Telephone: | 034 995 1650 |
| Fax: | 034 995 1192 |
| Email: | edumbekz261@mweb.co.za |
| Website: | www.edumbe.gov.za |
