The Maphumulo Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the northwestern region of the iLembe 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: | iLembe |
| Municipal code: | KZN294 |
| Seat: | Maphumulo |
| Number of wards: | 12 |
| Total area: | 896 km² (346 square miles) |
| Population: | 110,983 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Zibuyisile Khuzwayo- Dlamini |
About
The Maphumulo Local Municipality is geographically located in the northwestern region of the iLembe District Municipality and is bounded by the Tugela River to the north, and extends approximately 30 kilometres to its southern boundary with Ndwedwe Local Municipality.
The name Maphumulo is an isiZulu word meaning “place of rest”.
The Maphumulo Local Municipality comprises 12 electoral wards and covers an area of 896 km² (346 square miles), making it the second-largest of four local municipalities in the iLembe District, as it accounts for almost a third of its geographical area.
The Maphumulo Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Umvoti Local Municipality in the uMzinyathi District Municipality to the west and north
- Nkandla Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality to the north
- uMlalazi Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality to the north and east
- KwaDukuza Local Municipality to the east
- Ndwedwe Local Municipality to the east, south, and southwest
The administrative centre of the Maphumulo Local Municipality is in Maphumulo, the only major town in the municipality, and is located approximately 38 kilometres northwest of KwaDukuza Local Municipality.
The Maphumulo Municipality is situated on the R74 Provincial Route from KwaDukuza to Kranskop, bordered by Ndwedwe on the south, linked through the P711.
The R74 provides access from KwaDukuza to the hinterland and then leads on to Kranskop and Greytown. The linkage to the N2 is vital as it provides for migrant labour transport, and access to commercial and employment markets in the Durban Metro and the Tongaat/Maidstone, the Dolphin Coast, Darnall, KwaDukuza, and Isithebe areas.
Maphumulo Local Municipality is also traversed by the N3 National Road.
Maphumulo Local Municipality is predominantly rural, comprising mostly tribal land, which is administered by the Ingonyama Trust on behalf of local communities. The rest of the land in the municipality is under private ownership, while a very small percentage is directly under the control of the municipality.
Sugarcane cultivation is the main economic activity and land use in the municipality. Subsistence agricultural activities in the form of small cropping areas attached to traditional family units dominate land usage.
The biggest population in Maphumulo Local Municipality resides in urban and farming areas, but there are a few patches of high-density settlements within the informal areas.
The municipality boasts well-established industrial, commercial, and residential areas, and rich agricultural farmlands.
Maphumulo Local Municipality has several tourism opportunities which include many natural assets such as the main rivers, Tugela, which meanders along KwaShushu Hot Spring, Umvoti River, and the Die Kop Mountain.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Maphumulo Local Municipality has a population of 110,983 people, compared to 89,969 in 2016 and 96,724 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.34%.
According to the 2022 Census, 34.7% of the population is under the age of 15, 57.7% is between 15 and 64, and 7.6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.7% of the population in the Maphumulo Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.1% as Indian/Asian, 0.1% as White, and 0.1% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 95.4% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 1.4% speak isiNdebele, 1.2% speak English, and 2% speak other languages.
Economy
Agriculture is the main economic sector in Maphumulo Local Municipality to such an extent that 50% of the households in the area are involved in agricultural activities.
Other economic sectors in the municipality are government services and ….
Municipal council and management
The Maphumulo municipal council is comprised of 22 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twelve councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 12 wards, while the remaining 11 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 11 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 11 – IFP: 10 – EFF: 1 – IA: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Zibuyisile Khuzwayo- Dlamini |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Phathabakhe Sydney Shezi |
| Speaker | Christian Simphiwe Shange |
| Chief Whip | Nzo Nkosi |
| Other Council Members | – T.C Mathibela (Chairperson: MPAC) – N.L Nkosi (Chairperson: Youth and Sport Sub-Committee) – S.Z Nyatikazi (Chairperson: Economic Development Planning and Human Settlement) |
| Municipal Manager | T Khuluse |
| Chief Financial Officer | V Dube (Budget and Treasury) |
| Senior Management | – K Gumede (Director: Technical Services) – N.W Makhoba (Director: Corporate Services) – C.S Mhlongo (Director: Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | Nkosinathi Dube |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Maphumulo Local Municipality.
- Maphumulo
Contact details
The contact details of the Maphumulo Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X9205, Maphumulo, 4470 |
| Physical Address: | MR 711 Lot No. 152 Maphumulo, 4470 |
| Telephone: | 032 481 4500 |
| Fax: | 032 481 2068 |
| Email: | info@maphumulo.gov.za |
| Website: | www.maphumulo.gov.za |
| Complaints: | complaints@maphumulo.gov.za |
| Fraud Alert: | fraudhotline@maphumulo.gov.za |
