The Mpofana Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the northern region of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | uMgungundlovu |
| Municipal code: | KZN223 |
| Seat: | Mooi River |
| Number of wards: | 5 |
| Total area: | 1,757 km² (678 square miles) |
| Population: | 37,392 (in 2025) |
| Executive mayor: | Xolani Magnificent Duma |
About
The Mpofana Local Municipality is geographically located in the northern region of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality.
The Mpofana Local Municipality covers an area of 1,757 km² (678 square miles), making it the second-largest of seven local municipalities in the uMgungundlovu District.
Mpofana Local Municipality comprises 5 electoral wards, each characterized by its rural and semi-rural setting. These wards encompass a diverse range of landscapes and communities, contributing to the municipality’s unique character and economic potential.
The Mpofana Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality in the uThukela District Municipality to the west and north
- uMsinga Local Municipality in the uMzinyathi District Municipality to the northeast
- Umvoti Local Municipality in the uMzinyathi District Municipality to the east
- uMshwathi Local Municipality to the east
- uMngeni Local Municipality to the south
- Impendle Local Municipality to the southwest
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Mpofana Local Municipality is in Mooi River, a small town that was formed from a small farm.
Mooi River would later become the principal node of the Mpofana Municipality when a railway line linking Durban with Johannesburg, as well as the Drakensberg Mountains, was established in order to cater for the needs of the farmers in the area.
Mooi River is a strategically significant town due to its location alongside the N3 National Route, which is the busiest road in South Africa. This major highway serves as a vital transport corridor, linking major cities such as Durban and Johannesburg, and thereby facilitating trade and commerce in the Mpofana Municipality.
Therefore in general, the Mpofana Municipality benefits from its strategic position as it has easy access to rail, KwaZulu-Natal provincial roads and the N3 National Route.
The Mooi River sits at the heart of the Midlands Meander with interesting attractions such as the Sharrow Weaving and Linen Loft.
Stretches of the Mooi River offer boating facilities whilst the upper reaches are a fly fisherman’s paradise. Further upstream, the Mooi River Falls are a marvellous site to watch when the river is flooded.
The above two paragraphs suggest that Mpofana Local Municipality has great potential for development through tourism.
As one of the seven local municipalities within the uMgungundlovu District, Mpofana Local Municipality plays a crucial role in the region’s economic and social landscape.
Agriculture forms the backbone of Mpofana’s economy, with the municipality being a significant producer of meat, dairy products, and textiles.
Almost 50% of the land in Mpofana has the potential for rural farming, with products set for the international market.
The fertile land and favorable climate support a thriving agricultural sector that not only meets local demand but also presents substantial opportunities for investment and business development.
In addition to traditional farming, there are ongoing efforts to explore and expand other areas of economic opportunity, which could further enhance the municipality’s growth and prosperity.
Nestled in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpofana Local Municipality is an integral part of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Mpofana Local Municipality has a population of 33,382 people, compared to 37,391 in 2016, and 34,913 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -0.44%.
According to the 2022 Census, 26.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 68% is between 15 and 64, and 5.2% is over 65.
As of 2025, Mpofana Local Municipality has an estimate of 37,392 people, with 53% being female while 47% are male.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 92.1% of the population in the Mpofana Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 5.2% as White, 1.8% as Indian/Asian, and 0.6% as Coloured.
As of 2025, 89% of the population is Black, 8% is White, while 2% is Indian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 87% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 7% speak English, 1.2% speak isiNdebele, and 4.8% speak other languages.
Households
The total number of households in Mpofana Local Municipality is 10,927. Complete household ownership is at 68% while informal dwellings are 1.1%.
Service Delivery
An estimated 71.2% of the population in Mpofana Local Municipality gets water from Jojo Tanks, and 47% from piped water.
About 71% of the population has access to electricity, about 62% has access to flush toilets, 2.1% has no access to any toilets and the rest have chemical toilets.
As of 2025, refuse disposal in the municipality is at 57.2%.
Employment
The unemployment rate in Mpofana Local Municipality is estimated at 67%. The average annual income is R15,000.
An estimated 61% of the population is employed in the informal sector.
Education
In Mpofana Local Municipality, education levels of grade 9 and higher are estimated at 70.6%. Matric or higher is at 41.5%. Tertiary education is estimated at 6% and higher.
Internet
The portion of Mpofana’s population with access to the internet from cell phones is at a high of 38%.
Only 8% of the population in Mpofana Local Municipality has access to the internet in their dwelling while 30%+ has no access to the internet.
Economy
The main economic sector of the Mpofana Local Municipality is agriculture, with a wide range of agricultural products being produced. Dairy and stock farming are, however, the main farming activities in the municipal area.
Tourism is also another economic sector that benefits the municipality although it has not yet been fully explored.
Municipal council and management
The municipality is under S139 administration, effective from December 2017.
The Mpofana municipal council is comprised of 10 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Five councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 5 wards, while the remaining 5 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 7 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 7 – DA: 1 – EFF: 1 – IFP: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Xolani Magnificent Duma |
| Speaker | Z.A Dladla |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | – E.S Buthelezi (Chairperson: MPAC) – E.M Majola (Chairperson LLF) – Z Mchunu (Chairperson: Infrastructure and Development) – M.S Mchunu (Chairperson: MPAC) – L.W Wynne (District Representative) |
| Municipal Manager | E.H Dladla |
| Chief Financial Officer | na |
| Senior Management | – M Mkhize (Acting Director: Economic and Community Development) – S Nyuswa (Acting Director: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | Thandeka Dlamini |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Mpofana Local Municipality.
- Bruntville
- Mooi River
- Rosetta
- Townview
- Mooi River
Contact details
The contact details of the Mpofana Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 47, Mooi River, 3300 |
| Physical Address: | 10 Claughton Terrace, Mooi River, 3300 |
| Telephone: | 033 263 1221 |
| Fax: | 033 263 1127 |
| Email: | – info@mpofana.gov.za – enquiries.customers@mpofana.gov.za |
| Website: | www.mpofana.gov.za |
