The Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality (formerly Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality) is a Category B municipality located in the eastern region of the Harry Gwala District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | Harry Gwala |
| Municipal code: | KZN434 |
| Seat: | Ixopo |
| Number of wards: | 14 |
| Total area: | 1,669 km² (644 square miles) |
| Population: | 133,032 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Elizabeth Bathobile Ngubo |
About
The Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality is geographically located in the eastern region of the Harry Gwala District Municipality in southern KwaZulu-Natal.
The municipality is named in honour of ANC stalwart Cde Johannes Phumani Phungula (known as Passfour in ANC circles), a former anti-apartheid activist, fearless freedom fighter, and servant of the people.
The Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality comprises 14 wards and covers an area of 1,669 km² (644 square miles), making it the smallest of four local municipalities in the Harry Gwala District.
The Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality to the north and west
- uMzimkhulu Local Municipality to the west
- Umzumbe Local Municipality in the Ugu District Municipality to the south and southeast
- Umdoni Local Municipality in the Ugu District Municipality to the east
- Richmond Local Municipality in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality to the east and north
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality is in Ixopo (Stuartstown), approximately 85 kilometres southeast of Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal.
The town of Ixopo is strategically located at the intersection of four major provincial routes leading to Pietermaritzburg, the Drakensberg, the Eastern Cape, and the South Coast.
Ixopo forms the primary development node of the Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality and is also the seat of the Harry Gwala District Council.
The significance of Ixopo cannot be underestimated in the socio-economic development of the region as a whole. Ixopo plays an important role in terms of the possible location for industry, commerce, and other economic activity.
Ixopo is a major health and education centre, and assists in the diffusion of new ideas and technologies to rural areas. It is also the primary base for the operation of several service providers and departments.
In line with the KwaZulu-Natal Integrated Rural Development Policy, several secondary development nodes have been identified. These secondary development nodes intend to identify well-located settlements where government and municipal services, administrative functions, and commercial and residential development will be encouraged to locate in the future.
The secondary and tertiary development nodes identified are: Emgodi, Highflats, Hlokozi, Hlutankungu (previously Stuartsville), KwaBhidla, and Jolivet.
Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality is known for its beautiful landscapes that include rolling hills, grasslands, and wetlands, making it ideal for agri-tourism and outdoor activities like canoeing and river rafting along the Mkhomazi and Umzimkhulu Rivers.
The municipality is rich in history, including connections to Alan Paton’s novel Cry, the Beloved Country, which was set in Ixopo.
Name change
In June 2022, the Municipal Council of uBuhlebezwe Local Municipality announced and started the process of renaming the Municipality to Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality in honour of Johannes Phumani Phungula, a former anti-apartheid activist and ANC stalwart.
The decision to rename and rebrand the Municipality emanated from a suggestion that was inspired by the reconstruction of the Council Chambers on 29 Margaret Street in Ixopo.
As part of the name change process, the Municipality appointed a steering committee to facilitate the legislative requirements and processes of the name change.
The Municipality had initially advertised in various publications and other platforms to solicit proposals from the public and interested parties. As a result, the municipality received one proposal of the name of “Johannes Phumani ‘Past Four’ Phungula Municipality”.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in uBuhlebezwe Local Municipality consistently opposed the rebranding of the Municipality, stating that such efforts did not address the real and pressing challenges faced by municipal residents.
Despite opposition and backlash, on Tuesday 27 May 2025, uBuhlebezwe Local Municipality was officially renamed Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality as people paraded along Margaret Street in Ixopo, with ANC KZN Provincial Task Team Convenor Cde Jeff Radebe, ANC KZN Spokesperson Cde Fanle Sibisi, and ANC Harry Gwala District Municipality Chairperson and District mayor Cde Zamo Nxumalo leading from the front.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) made a conscious decision not to attend the name change event, as it represented blatant misuse of municipal funds and disregard for real needs of Ubuhlebezwe residents.
In the aftermath of the municipality’s name change, the Democratic Alliance in Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality (uBuhlebezwe) released a statement on Wednesday 28 May 2025, criticizing the leadership of the Municipality for spending a whooping R2.4 million on what they (the Democratic Alliance) branded as an ANC rally, thinly veiled as a name change and rebranding event for the Municipality.
The Democratic Alliance further wrote to the Municipal Manager, M.E Mkhize calling for a detailed report on how the R2.4 million was spent.
The DA also criticized the Harry Gwala District Municipal Mayor, Honourable Zamo Nxumalo, who they said had consistently failed to provide reliable water services to residents, but found the time to participate in what amounted to ANC promotional event, funded by public money.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) promised to hold the ANC accountable for its poor governance and mismanagement and that they (the DA) would continue working tirelessly to bring about real change in the municipality, as well as ensuring that the ANC is voted out in the 2026 Municipal Elections.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality has a population of 133,032 people, compared to 118,346 in 2016 and 110,925 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.76%.
According to the 2022 Census, 32.5% of the population is under the age of 15, 60.8% is between 15 and 64, and 6.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 97.5% of the population in the Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 1.2% as Coloured, 0.8% as White, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 91.6% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 3.1% speak English, 1.6% speak isiXhosa, 1.3% speak isiNdebele, and 2.4% speak other languages.
Economy
The economy of Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality is driven largely by agriculture, with key industries including forestry, citrus farming, sugar cane production, and livestock farming.
Tourism also contributes to the municipality’s economy.
Municipal council and management
The Ubuhlebezwe municipal council is comprised of 27 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Fourteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 14 wards, while the remaining 13 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) won a majority of 18 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 18 – EFF: 3 – IFP: 2 – AIC: 1 – DA: 1 – INDEPENDENT: 1 – NFP: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Elizabeth Bathobile Ngubo |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Z.L Miya |
| Speaker | Thulani Conrad Dlamini |
| Chief Whip | Hezekiel Christian Jili |
| Other Council Members | G.C Ngcongo (Exco Member) |
| Municipal Manager | M.E Mkhize |
| Chief Financial Officer | Siyasanga Sityata |
| Senior Management | – Sonia Adams (Director: Corporate Services) – Phumlani Gwala (Director: IPD) – N.C Mohua (Director: Social Development) – P Ndamase (Internal Audit Manager) – Z Khumalo Z Khumalo (Manager: IPD and Performance Management System) |
| Communications Officers | Zakhele Mtolo |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality.
- Ixopo (Stuartstown)
- Highflats
- Emgodi
- Hlokozi
- Hlutankungu (previously Stuartsville)
- KwaBhidla
- Jolivet
Contact details
The contact details of the Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Physical Address: | 29 Margaret Street, Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, 3276 |
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 132 Ixopo 3276 |
| Telephone: | 039 834 7700 |
| Fax: | 039 834 1168 |
| Email: | admin@ubuhlebezwe.gov.za |
| Website: | www.jppmunicipality.gov.za |
