The King Cetshwayo District Municipality (previously uThungulu District Municipality) is a Category C municipality located in the northeast region of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
King Cetshwayo District Municipality
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Municipal code: | DC28 |
| Seat: | Richards Bay |
| Local municipalities: | 5 |
| Total area: | 8,213 km² (3,171 square miles) |
| Population: | 1,021,344 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Arthur Thamsanqa Ntuli |
About
King Cetshwayo District Municipality is geographically situated in the northeastern region of KwaZulu-Natal province on the eastern seaboard of South Africa.
It is named after Cetshwayo kaMpande, King of the Zulu Kingdom from 1872 to 1879, who led his nation to victory against the British in the Battle of Isandlwana.
King Cetshwayo District Municipality covers an area of 8,213 km² (3,171 square miles) and is divided into five local municipalities namely;
- City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality
- Mthonjaneni Local Municipality
- Nkandla Local Municipality
- uMfolozi Local Municipality
- uMlalazi Local Municipality
Three of the above local municipalities, uMhlathuze, uMfolozi, and uMlalazi are coastal local municipalities.
King Cetshwayo District Municipality is bordered by Zululand District Municipality to the north, uMzinyathi District Municipality to the west, iLembe District Municipality to the south, the Indian Ocean to the east, and uMkhanyakude District Municipality to the northeast.
The district covers the area from the uMfolozi River in the north to the agricultural town of KwaGingindlovu (previously known as Gingindlovu) in the south, and inland to the mountainous beauty of rural Nkandla.
The N2 highway links King Cetshwayo District Municipality to other significant economic centres, such as Johannesburg and Durban. It also offers a direct route to Maputo in Mozambique.
King Cetshwayo District Municipality comprises the best and worst of the two economies of South Africa. It is home to several of the largest industrial giants in the world, the retail sector in our urban areas is burgeoning with economic activity, the agricultural and tourism potential is boundless and there are ever-increasing opportunities for local economic development.
On the other hand, crippling droughts and deep rural communities living in abject poverty are also strong characteristics of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, with a backlog of water and sanitation service delivery topping our list of priorities.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, King Cetshwayo District Municipality has a population of 1,021,344 residents, compared to 971,135 in 2016, and 907,519 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.15%.
According to the 2022 Census, 29.9% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.6% is between 15 and 64, and 5.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 94.4% of the population in King Cetshwayo District Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 3.2% as White, 1.6% as Indian/Asian, and 0.6% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 89.1% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 5.1% speak English, 2.3% speak Afrikaans, 1.3% speak isiNdebele, and 2.2% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the district are; manufacturing (40.9%), mining (15.2%), community services (11.9%), finance (8.7%), transport (8.5%), trade (6.5%), agriculture (5.3%), and construction (2.1%).
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – IFP: 9 – ANC: 7 – DA: 1 – EFF: 1 |
| Executive Mayor | Arthur Thamsanqa Ntuli |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Sikhumbuzo Zephania Dlamini |
| Speaker | SH Mkhwanazi |
| Chief Whip | AM Mtshali |
| Other Council Members | Pinky Cele (Exco) NM Madida (Exco) SW Mgenge (Exco) PP Xulu (Exco) IN Zwane |
| Municipal Manager | n/a |
| Chief Financial Officer | Cheryl Reddy |
| Senior Management | Mr Brian Masondo (Deputy Municipal Manager: Community Services) Mr Richard Mazibuko (Planning and Economic Development) Charles Mmaretel (Chief Operations Officer) Zenzele Ndlovu (Technical Services) Zandile Nhlabathi (Manager: LED) |
| Communications Officers | Rekha Naidoo |
Main towns
Below are the major towns in King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
- Empangeni
- Eshowe
- KwaGingindlovu
- KwaMbonambi
- Melmoth
- Mtunzini
- Nkandla
- Ntambanana
- Richards Bay
Contact details
Contact details of King Cetshwayo District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | Private Bag X1025, Richards Bay, 3900 |
| Physical address: | King Cetshwayo House, Kruger Rand, Richards Bay |
| Telephone: | 035 799 2500 |
| Fax: | 035 789 1409 |
| Email: | info@kingcetshwayo.gov.za |
| Website: | www.kingcetshwayo.gov.za |
