The Richmond Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the southern region of the uMgungundlovu 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: | uMgungundlovu |
| Municipal code: | KZN227 |
| Seat: | Richmond |
| Number of wards: | 7 |
| Total area: | 1,231 km² (457 square miles) |
| Population: | 62,754 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Siminenkosi Samora Ndlovu |
About
Richmond Local Municipality was established in terms of Section 155 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa following the 2000 local government elections.
The Richmond Municipality is geographically located in the southern region of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, approximately 42 kilometres south of Pietermaritzburg (the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal Province) along the R56 Provincial Route.
The municipality was named after the Earl of Richmond, father-in-law of General Sir Peregrine Maitland, Governor of the Cape from 1844 to 1847.
Richmond Local Municipality comprises 7 wards and covers an area of 1,231 km² (457 square miles), making it the fifth-largest of seven local municipalities in the uMgungundlovu District.
Richmond Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Msunduzi Local Municipality to the northwest and north
- Mkhambathini Local Municipality to the east
- Umdoni Local Municipality in the Ugu District Municipality to the south
- Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality in the Harry Gwala District Municipality to the south
- Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality in the Harry Gwala District Municipality to the west
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Richmond Local Municipality is in Richmond.
Richmond enjoys a competitive advantage in the field of agriculture that contributes to more than 50% of the gross geographic product and employment in the area.
Historically, Richmond was one of the main destinations of the Bambatha Rebellion and the Byrne Settlers.
The Richmond Municipality has been classified as a place of great natural beauty with significant tourist attractions and immense aspirations to be the preferred destination to live, work and visit.
For tourists the local museum, the old court building and the prison are great attractions, while the Umkomazi River is a popular venue for white river rafting.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Richmond Local Municipality has a population of 62,754 people, compared to 71,322 in 2016, and 65,540 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -0.42%.
According to the 2022 Census, 27.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 66.6% is between 15 and 64, and 6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 95.2% of the population in the Richmond Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 2.6% as White, 1.1% as Indian/Asian, and 0.9% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 86.3% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 5.2% speak English, 2.6% speak isiXhosa, 2.2% speak Sesotho, and 3.7% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Richmond Local Municipality are agriculture, finance, trade, and community services.
Municipal council and management
The Richmond municipal council is comprised of 14 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Seven councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 7 wards, while the remaining 7 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 9 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 9 – EFF: 2 – DA: 1 – IFP: 1 – INDEPENDENT: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Siminenkosi Samora Ndlovu |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Bandumile Mbanjwa |
| Speaker | Khonziwe Mkhize |
| Chief Whip | Lungisani Ngubo |
| Other Council Members | – Msawakhe J Jili (Chairperson: MPAC) – Bongumusa Kunene – Thembokwakhe G Madondo (Exco) – Vincent Maphumulo – Badumile Mbanjwa – Sibusiso J Mchunu (LED) – Nomfundo W Mjwara – SJ Mkhize – Sibongiseni Ngcobo – Bonginkosi B Ngcongo – Sicelo T Ngubo – Mzwandile Ntanzi (Strategic Manager: Technical Services) – Shakes L Shange – Bonginkosi R Shange |
| Municipal Manager | Bhekani Mswane |
| Chief Financial Officer | Msizi Ngcobo |
| Senior Management | – Sinegugu Ngubane (Acting Manager: LED) – Mzwandile Ntanzi (Manager: Technical Services) – Vusumuzi Sibisi (Acting Strategic Manager: Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | Sibonelo Bhengu |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Richmond Local Municipality.
- Hopewell
- Richmond
- Thornville
- Nhlakuza
Contact details
The contact details of the Richmond Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X1028, Richmond, 3780 |
| Physical Address: | 57 Shepstone Street, Richmond, 3780 |
| Telephone: | 033 212 2155 |
| Fax: | 033 212 2102 |
| Email: | info@richmond.gov.za |
| Website: | www.richmond.gov.za |
| Ambulance / Fire: | 10177 |
| Police: | 10111 |
| Fraud Line: | 080 070 1701 |
