Nquthu Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the northeastern region of the uMzinyathi 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: | uMzinyathi |
| Municipal code: | KZN242 |
| Seat: | Nquthu |
| Number of wards: | 17 |
| Total area: | 1,962 km² (758 square miles) |
| Population: | 201,133 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | I.L Shabalala |
About
Nquthu Local Municipality was established in 2000, and is geographically located along the northeastern boundary of the uMzinyathi District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Nquthu is an isiZulu word meaning “the back of the head”.
The Nquthu Local Municipality comprises 17 electoral wards and covers an area of 1,962 km² (758 square miles), making it the second-smallest local municipality in the uMzinyathi District, as it accounts for a quarter of its geographical area.
The Nquthu Local Municipality is bordered by:
- eMadlangeni Local Municipality in the Amajuba District Municipality to the west
- Endumeni and uMsinga Local Municipalities to the west
- Nkandla Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality to the south and east
- Ulundi Local Municipality in the Zululand District Municipality to the east
- AbaQulusi Local Municipality in the Zululand District Municipality to the east and north
The administrative headquarters/municipal offices of the Nquthu Local Municipality are in Nquthu.
The town of Nquthu is a small but stable urban area that has established itself as the main administrative, commercial and service centre for the municipality as a whole.
The municipality is predominantly rural in nature, with expansive rural settlements being one of the main features.
Nquthu Local Municipality is mainly accessed through the R68 Provincial Route linking Ulundi to Newcastle andDundee.
Another relevant road that pass through the municipality is the R33 Provincial Route, which passes through the northern areas, passing east of Nondweni before linking Vryheid with the R68. A gravel road links Nquthu with Kranskop.
Isandlwana, the site of the historic Anglo-Zulu War battle which started in 22 January 1879, is a well known tourist destination worldwide.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Nquthu Local Municipality has a population of 201,133 people, compared to 171,325 in 2016, and 165,307 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.9%.
According to the 2022 Census, 36.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 57.7% is between 15 and 64, and 5.9% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.7% of the population in the Nquthu 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, 90.1% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 6.6% speak Sesotho, and 3.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Nquthu Local Municipality are agriculture, SMMEs, sheep and wool.
Municipal council and management
The Nquthu municipal council is comprised of 33 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Seventeen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 17 wards, while the remaining 16 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) won a majority of 19 seats.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – IFP: 19 – ANC: 14 – ABC: 3 – EFF: 1 |
| Controlling party | IFP |
| Executive Mayor | I.L Shabalala |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | M.R Ngobese |
| Speaker | N.M Buthelezi |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | S.B Mthembu |
| Chief Financial Officer | Sakhile Mpanza |
| Senior Management | – Mpume Jiyane (Director: Planning Service) – M Mnguni (Director: Corporate) |
| Communications Officers | Siyabonga Shaba |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Nquthu Local Municipality.
- Barklieside
- Nquthu
Contact details
The contact details of the Nquthu Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X5521, Nquthu, 3135 |
| Physical Address: | 83 Mdlalose Street, Nquthu, 3135 |
| Telephone: | – 034 271 6100 – 034 271 6132 |
| Fax: | 034 271 6111 |
| Email: | info@nquthu.gov.za |
| Website: | www.nquthu.gov.za |
