The iLembe District Municipality is a Category C municipality situated on the east coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
iLembe District Municipality
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Municipal code: | DC29 |
| Seat: | KwaDukuza |
| Local municipalities: | 4 |
| Total area: | 3,269 km² (1,262 square miles) |
| Population: | 782,661 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Thobani Shandu |
About
Named in recognition of King Shaka, iLembe District Municipality is geographically situated on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, bordering the Indian Ocean.
The iLembe District Municipality covers an area of 3,269 km² (1,262 square miles) and is the smallest district municipality in KwaZulu-Natal making up just 3% of the province’s geographical area.
The district is divided into four local municipalities namely;
- KwaDukuza Local Municipality
- Mandeni Local Municipality
- Maphumulo Local Municipality
- Ndwedwe Local Municipality
Its headquarters/seat is KwaDukuza (previously known as Stanger). The town straddles the Tugela River, the traditional border between former Colonial Natal and the Kingdom of Zululand, the site of historical and cultural events.
The iLembe District Municipality is bordered by eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to the south, uMgungundlovu District Municipality to the west, uMzinyathi District Municipality to the northwest, King Cetshwayo District Municipality to the north, and the Indian Ocean to the east.
Most rural inland areas of iLembe District Municipality are tribal authority areas, characterised by subsistence farming.
At the border of the district is the Unicity of Durban in the immediate south, which is linked by the coastal highway to Richards Bay in the north, giving it access to both harbours for trade purposes.
The district is also a leading tourist attraction because of its rich Zulu Kingdom heritage.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the iLembe District Municipality has a population of 782,661 residents, compared to 657,612 in 2016, and 606,809 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.47%.
According to the 2022 Census, 28.9% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.8% is between 15 and 64, and 6.3% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 90.8% of the population in the iLembe District Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 5.9% as Indian/Asian, 2.4% as White, and 0.5% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 82.2% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 9.6% speak English, 3.3% speak isiXhosa, 1.2% speak isiNdebele, and 3.7% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sector of the district is agriculture.
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 7 – IFP: 3 – ACTIONSA: 1 – DA: 1 – EFF: 1 – IA: 1 |
| Executive Mayor | Thobani Shandu |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | James Gabangani Van Whye |
| Speaker | Dolly Shandu |
| Chief Whip | Sandeep Oudhram |
| Other Council Members | – Hlengiwe Makatha – Mxolisi Mthiyane – Nduduzo Ncube – Christopher Ngcobo |
| Municipal Manager | Sazi Mbhele |
| Chief Financial Officer | Dumisani Dlamini |
| Senior Management | – Geoffrey Kumalo (Director: Corporate Services) – Yvonne Mathonsi (Director: Corporate Governance) – Cingisa Mbola (Director: Technical Services) – Thuthu Ngcobo (CEO) – GM Nzuzu (Manager: Human Resources) – Cheryl Peters (Acting Manager: LED) |
| Communications Officers | Zee Nqala |
Main towns
Below are the major towns in the iLembe District Municipality.
- Dolphin Coast/Ballito
- KwaDukuza
- Nkwazi/Zinkwazi Beach
- Salt Rock
- Isithebe
- Mandeni
- Maphumulo
- Ndwedwe
- Glendale Heights
Contact details
Contact details of the iLembe District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | PO Box 1788, KwaDukuza, 4450 |
| Physical address: | iLembe House, 59/61 Mahatma Ghandi Street, KwaDukuza |
| Telephone: | 032 437 9300 |
| Fax: | 032 437 9589 |
| Email: | communications@ilembe.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ilembe.gov.za |
| Consumer enquiries: | 032 437 9375 |
| Disaster management: | 032 437 9594 |
| Water & sanitation call centre: | 032 437 9427 |
