Msunduzi Local Municipality is a Category B municipality within the uMgungundlovu District Municipality in the Southern region of the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B1 (secondary city) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | uMgungundlovu |
| Municipal code: | KZN225 |
| Seat: | Pietermaritzburg |
| Number of wards: | 41 |
| Total area: | 751 km² (290 square miles) |
| Population: | 817,725 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Mzimkhulu Thebolla |
About
Msunduzi Local Municipality was created in 2000, by amalgamating the municipal areas of Pietermaritzburg, Bishopstowe, Ashburton, Claridge, Msunduzi, Vulindlela.
The Msunduzi Municipality encompasses the city of Pietermaritzburg, which is the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal and the main economic hub of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality.
Msunduzi Local Municipality is geographically located in the southern half of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality.
The Msunduzi Municipality is situated on the N3 National Route at the junction of an industrial corridor (from Durban to Pietermaritzburg) and an agro-industrial corridor (stretching from Pietermaritzburg to Estcourt).
On a regional scale, Msunduzi Local Municipality is located at the cross-section of the N3 Corridor and the Greytown Road Corridor to the north, a tourist route to Drakensberg, and Kokstad Road to the south.
Msunduzi Local Municipality comprises 41 wards and covers an area of 751 km² (290 square miles), making it the smallest of seven local municipalities in the uMgungundlovu District.
Msunduzi Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Impendle Local Municipality to the west
- uMngeni and uMshwathi Local Municipalities to the north
- Mkhambathini Local Municipality to the east
- Richmond Local Municipality to the south
- Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality in the Harry Gwala District Municipality to the south
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Msunduzi Local Municipality is in Pietermaritzburg.
The city of Pietermaritzburg is a national and provincial centre of educational excellence. Pietermaritzburg is also the seat of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is home to several other institutions of higher learning.
In addition, Pietermaritzburg is home to a host of private and government-owned institutions of primary and secondary education.
Pietermaritzburg is the ‘City of Choice’ because it is only 45 minutes from Durban (Africa’s busiest port) by road, one hour away to the new King Shaka International Airport by road, one hour by air from Pietermaritzburg Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, and 90 minutes from the central Drakensberg resorts.
Pietermaritzburg is also home to great international events such as the Duzi Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, Cars in the Park, the Midmar Mile, and Art in the Park. The city also hosted the 2010 UCI BMX World Championships.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Msunduzi Local Municipality has a population of 817,725 people, compared to 679,039 in 2016, and 621,715 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.66%.
According to the 2022 Census, 23.5% of the population is under the age of 15, 69.7% is between 15 and 64, and 6.8% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 81.1% of the population in the Msunduzi Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 9.8% as Indian/Asian, 6% as White, and 2.9% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 72.4% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 19% speak English, 1.9% speak isiXhosa, 1.9% speak Afrikaans, and 4.8% speak other languages.
Housing
By September 2023, Msunduzi Local Municipality had identified 50 problem buildings, although in the aftermath of the 2023 Johannesburg building fire, inspections were ongoing and the number was expected to grow.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Msunduzi Local Municipality are manufacturing, community services, transport, finance, and trade.
Municipal council and management
The municipality is under S139 administration, effective from April 2019.
The Msunduzi municipal council is comprised of 81 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Forty-one councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 41 wards, while the remaining 40 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 40 seats.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 40 – DA: 16 – EFF: 10 – IFP: 8 – ABC: 2 – ACDP: 1 – AIC: 1 – INDEPENDENT: 1 – JEP: 1 – PA: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Mzimkhulu Thebolla |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Mxolisi Mkhize |
| Speaker | Eunice Majola |
| Chief Whip | Sandile Dlamini |
| Other Council Members | – Bongani Mbona (Exco) – Nokuthula Msimang (Exco and Chairperson: Community Services) – Zanele Ngcobo (Exco and Chairperson: Corporate Services Committee) – Bongumusa Nhlabathi (Exco) – Thinasonke Dennis Ntombela (Exco) – Phumelele Phahla (Exco) – Ntombizethu Sokhela (Exco and Chairperson: Sustainable Development Committee) – Ross Strachan (Exco) |
| Municipal Manager | Nelisiwe Ngcobo |
| Chief Financial Officer | n/a |
| Senior Management | – Sabelo Hlela (General Municipal Manager: Infrastructure Services) – A Khoali (Acting General Manager: Sustainable Development and City Enterprises) – Simphiwe Mchunu (Acting General Manager: Electricity) – Simtholile Myeni (Manager: LED) – M Zuma (Acting General Manager: Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | Ntobeko Mkhize |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Msunduzi Local Municipality.
- Ashburton
- Edendale
- Imbali
- Pietermaritzburg
Contact details
The contact details of Msunduzi Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X321, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 |
| Physical Address: | 333 Church Street, AS Chetty Building, Pietermaritzburg |
| Telephone: | – 033 392 3000 (Reception) – 080 000 1868 (Call Centre) |
| Fax: | 033 392 2397 |
| Email: | – communications@msunduzi.gov.za – call.centre@msunduzi.gov.za (Call Centre) |
| Website: | www.msunduzi.gov.za |
Financial mismanagement
By May 2023, Msunduzi Local Municipality owed Eskom R400 million for electricity services, but did not have the means to pay, and it approached the National Government for a bailout.
By August 2023, Msunduzi Municipality had fallen well below the National Treasury‘s benchmark of at least 90 days cash-on-hand, stating that it had between 27 and 30 days availability, although opposition African Christian Democratic Party councillor Niemand Reinu stated that the municipality only had 7 days cash available.
The municipality however intended to go ahead with a R27 million sponsorship to local soccer club Royal AM. The sponsorship was reported to be up for review in April 2024.
The municipality is struggling to collect revenue, with an estimated 25,000 illegal electricity connections.
In September 2023, R33 million was reported missing from a pension fund for retiring employees.
