The KwaDukuza Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the eastern region of the iLembe District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B2 (large town) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | iLembe |
| Municipal code: | KZN292 |
| Seat: | KwaDukuza |
| Number of wards: | 30 |
| Total area: | 735 km² (284 square miles) |
| Population: | 324,912 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Ali Ngidi |
About
The KwaDukuza Local Municipality is geographically located in the eastern region of the iLembe District Municipality, stretching from the Zinkwazi River in the north to the Tongaat River in the south.
The municipality occupies a coastal and inland stretch of approximately 50 kilometres in length and 14 kilometres in width, with a variety of clustered and ad hoc settlements and small towns.
The KwaDukuza Local Municipality comprises 30 wards and covers an area of 735 km² (284 square miles), making it the second-smallest of four local municipalities in the iLembe District.
The KwaDukuza Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Ndwedwe Local Municipality to the west
- Maphumulo Local Municipality to the north
- uMlalazi Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality to the north
- Mandeni Local Municipality to the northeast
- The Indian Ocean to the east and south
- eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to the south
The administrative headquarters/seat of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality is in KwaDukuza (formerly known as Stanger).
The town of KwaDukuza also serves as the district node and dominant commercial centre in the iLembe District Municipality.
The KwaDukuza Local Municipality is linked with a well-developed network of roads and rail infrastructure. The key feature of KwaDukuza is the N2 Development Corridor.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the KwaDukuza Local Municipality has a population of 324,912 people, compared to 276,719 in 2016 and 231,125 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 3.31%.
According to the 2022 Census, 24.7% of the population is under the age of 15, 68.9% is between 15 and 64, and 6.4% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 71.4% of the population in the KwaDukuza Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 18.6% as Indian/Asian, 8.6% as White, and 1.1% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 66.1% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 20.8% speak English, 7% speak isiXhosa, 1.5% speak Afrikaans, and 4.6% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality are tourism and agriculture.
Municipal council and management
The KwaDukuza municipal council is comprised of 59 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 30 wards, while the remaining 29 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, obtaining a plurality of 29 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 29 – DA: 9 – ACTIONSA: 5 – IA: 5 – EFF: 4 – IFP: 4 – ACDP: 1 – AIC: 1 – ATM: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Ali Ngidi |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Sicelinjabulo Cele |
| Speaker | Dolly Govender |
| Chief Whip | Humphrey Mbatha |
| Other Council Members | – Sicelinjabulo Cele – Cynthia Dumakude – Joyce Magwaza – Nkanyiso Mdletshe – Duduzile Mthembu – Thobisile Nkosi – Melisizwe Ntleko – Nel Sewraj – Musa Sibisi |
| Municipal Manager | Nhlanhla Mdakane |
| Chief Financial Officer | S Rajcoomar |
| Senior Management | – Sikhumbuzo Hlongwane (Executive Director: Economic Development, Planning and LED) – Sibusiso Jali (Electrical Engineering Services) – Siyabonga Khanyile (Community Services and Public Amenities) – Nonhlanhla Khumalo (LED and Tourism Manager) – Mandla Manzini (Chief Operations Officer and ED: Corporate Governance) – Pamela Mntaka (Executive Director: Corporate Services) – Cecil Viramuthu (Community Safety) |
| Communications Officers | Sifiso Zulu (Director: Corporate Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the KwaDukuza Local Municipality.
- Ballito (Dolphin Coast)
- Darnall
- Groutville
- KwaDukuza (previously known as Stanger)
- New Guelderland
- Salt Rock
- Sans Souci
- Shaka’s Rock
- Shakaskraal
- Zinkwazi Beach (Nkwazi)
Contact details
The contact details of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 72, KwaDukuza, 4450 |
| Physical Address: | 14 Chief Albert Luthuli Street, KwaDukuza |
| Telephone: | 032 437 5000 |
| Fax: | 032 437 5098 |
| Email: | communications@kwadukuza.gov.za |
| Website: | www.kwadukuza.gov.za |
Corruption
In February 2025, ActionSA laid a charge of corruption to the SIU (Special Investigating Unit) after Absa Bank noticed that large sums of money, amounting to R30 million rands were withdrawn from the municipal bank account.
