Nongoma Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the eastern region of the Zululand 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: | Zululand |
| Municipal code: | KZN265 |
| Seat: | Nongoma |
| Number of wards: | 23 |
| Total area: | 2,182 km² (842 square miles) |
| Population: | 225,278 (in 2022) |
| Population density: | 103.24 people/km² |
| Executive mayor: | C.M Ndabandaba |
About
Nongoma Local Municipality was established in terms of the Constitution Act, no 108 1996, the Demarcation act 27 of 1998 and Section 12 Notice issued in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998.
The Nongoma Municipality is named after the original name of Inkosi Zwide’s kraal who reigned over the Ndwandwe tribe during King Shaka’s era. Inkosi Zwide’s grave is in the Central Buisness District of Nongoma.
The municipality shares its name with the town of Nongoma, which serves as the administrative seat of the municipality.
The current King of the Zulu nation resides in Nongoma, and therefore the municipality is considered as the Heart of the Zulu Kingdom (IHlalankosi)
Nongoma Local Municipality is strategically located on the R66 Provincial Route between Ulundi and Pongola, and the R618 Regional Route between Hlabisa at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Hlobane, near Vryheid.
The Nongoma Local Municipality is geographically located in the eastern region of the Zululand District Municipality in the northern region of KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The Nongoma Municipality has three traditional authorities which cover significant extents of the municipal area, these are; Mandlakazi to the north, Usuthu to the west, and Matheni located south east. It is the only area in the world which has six Royal Palaces.
The Nongoma Local Municipality comprises 23 electoral wards and covers an area of 2,182 km² (842 square miles), making it the second-smallest of five local municipalities in the Zululand District.
The Nongoma Local Municipality is bordered by:
- uPhongolo Local Municipality to the north
- AbaQulusi Local Municipality to the west
- Ulundi Local Municipality to the west and south
- Big 5 Hlabisa Local Municipality in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality to the south and east
- Jozini Local Municipality in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality to the east
Nongoma Town is the main centre in the municipality but there are also other smaller nodal areas of convergence which act as rural service centres. The town serves as a marketplace for the surrounding rural areas.
Nongoma is surrounded by international tourism attractions such as the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to the east, and by natural tourism attractions such as the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to the south.
The municipality is traversed by some important rivers namely; the Black Mfolozi River which flows about 15 kilometres south of town, the Mona River, and the Ivuna River.
The Nongoma Municipality is served by an airstrip at eBukhalini that fulfills the flight needs of the region. The airstrip is mainly used by specialist surgeons who visit the Benedictine Hospital located in Nongoma on a regular basis. The king of the Zulu nation and the local business community also use the airstrip.
Land Ownership
Nongoma Local Municipality consists almost entirely of Traditional Areas, with scattered settlements and villages.
The Nongoma municipal area includes vast tracts of land registered in the name of the Ingonyama Trust and falling under the jurisdiction of Traditional Councils. About 99% of the land is owned by Ingonyama Trust Board and 99% of the land is under Traditional Councils.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Nongoma Local Municipality has a population of 225,278 people, compared to 211,892 in 2016, and 194,908 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.41%.
According to the 2022 Census, 36.2% of the population is under the age of 15, 58.1% is between 15 and 64, and 5.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.5% of the population in the Nongoma Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.2% as Indian/Asian, 0.1% as White, and 0.1% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 96.5% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language and 3.5% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sector of Nongoma Local Municipality is agriculture, with the tourism sector also slowly showing positive progress.
Municipal council and management
The Nongoma municipal council is comprised of 45 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-three councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 23 wards, while the remaining 22 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 Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) lost its majority, winning a plurality of 21 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – IFP: 21 – NFP: 13 – ANC: 8 – EFF: 2 – NAPF: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | C.M Ndabandaba |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | G.S Nkosi |
| Speaker | Bhekinkosi Welcome Zulu |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | – K.M Dladla (Exco Member) – N.M Mthembu (Exco Member) – C.M Ndabandaba (Exco Member) – J.T Nkosi (Exco Member) – T.J Nsele (Exco Member) |
| Municipal Manager | Mpumelelo Mnguni |
| Chief Financial Officer | N.T Dludla |
| Senior Management | – N.F.T Buthelezi (HOD: Infrastructure and Planning Development) – M Khumalo (Manager: PMU) – S.G Khumalo (Library Services and Public Amenities) – L Maema (Manager: Asset and Fleet) – K Manqele (Acting Manager: SCM) – L.B Mhlungu (Manager: Risk and Compliance) – N Mthenjana (Manager: Revenue) – G.A Ndaba (Manager: IDP/PMS) – I.S Ndlela (Manager: Disaster and Fire Rescue) – D Ndlovu (Manager: ICT) – M Ngobese (Manager: Council Support) – H Ntombela (Manager: Legal Services) – F Ntshangase (Manager: Human Resources) – M Phakathi (Manager: Budget) – M.E Sithole (HOD: Corporate Services) – K Zulu (Acting HOD: Community Services) – N Zulu (Manager: Social Services) – P Zulu (Manager: Public Safety) |
| Communications Officers | N.P Ntuli (Manager: Mayoral Support and Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Nongoma Local Municipality.
- Mandlakazi
- Matheni
- Nongoma
- Usuthu
Contact details
The contact details of Nongoma Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 84, Nongoma, 3950 |
| Physical Address: | Lot 103, Main Street, Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, 3950 |
| Telephone: | 035 831 7500 |
| Fax: | 035 831 3152 |
| Email: | info@nongoma.gov.za |
| Website: | www.nongoma.gov.za |
| Police Department: | 10111 |
| Medical Emergency: | 035 831 7000 |
| Fire Department: | 064 754 3323 |
Tourism
Nongoma Local Municipality boasts tourist attractions such as the Royal Palace Routes and the Battlefields of Otshaneni, Msebe, Esokosoko, KwaNdunu, and eMajubaneni.
Other tourist attractons in the region that are worth visiting include Ulundi’s Emakhosini Heritage Park, the Ithala Game Reserve and associated private sector game farms in uPhongolo and the tourism initiatives around the Pongolapoort Dam.
Events and Attractions
Below are all the attractive events and tourist attractions in Nongoma Local Municipality.
Umkhosi woMhlanga
Revived in 1984 by the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, Umkhosi woMhlanga (sometimes called the Reed Dance) has become a popular cultural heritage and tourism attraction, which attracts thousands of tourists both domestic and international.
This spectacular ceremony has not only caught the attention of people all over the world but has brought in a sense of pride to the people of Nongoma Local Municipality and KwaZulu-Natal Province at large for their rich culture and heritage.
Mona Market
Mona Market is a traditional market which is held in the third week of every month. The market lures thousands of people from all over South Africa. People bring variety of wares like vegetables, fruits, cattle, traditional medicine, and crafts for selling.
Zululand Ultra Marathon 56 km
The race attracts so many runners, especially from neighbouring countries. It takes place every in March between Nongoma and Ulundi.
Nongoma Mayor’s 28km Marathon
This race attracts a huge number of local athletes and people from nearby Municipalities under Zululand District Municipality. It takes place every in February from Nokuvela Crèche to kwaGqikazi (Mthashana FET).
Nongoma
Nongoma town is well known as a Royal City of the Zulu Nation – IHlalankosi. This is where the reigning Monarch resides. Six of the King’s palaces are among the main tourist attraction
in the municipality.
SMME/Co-operatives exhibition
This is exhibition takes place every year in Nongoma and it attracts lots of people in Nongoma and surrounding areas.
Nongoma Tourism Friday
Nongoma Tourism Friday is a prestigious event that attracts tourists to Nongoma. It is the most entertaining events for domestic and foreign tourists who visits Nongoma at the first Friday of every month of the year.
Nongoma Flea Market
Nongoma Flea Market exposes cooperatives/SMMES from different sectors into markets by show-casing and selling their variety of products to potential buyers/customers. It is open to cooperatives/SMMES at every first Saturday of every month.
Other Events and Attractions
- King’s Birthday (July)
- First Fruit Ceremony (Decemer)
- Nguni Cattle
- INkosi Zwide Tree
- Tourism Awareness Programme
