Ugu District Municipality

The Ugu District Municipality is a Category C municipality located on the South Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Ugu is isiZulu for “coast”.

Ugu District Municipality

Type of municipality:District (Category C)
Province:KwaZulu-Natal
Municipal code:DC21
Seat:Port Shepstone
Local municipalities:4
Total area:4,791 km² (1,850 square miles)
Population:773,402 (in 2022)
Executive mayor:Sikhumbuzo Mqadi

About

The Ugu District Municipality geographically lies in the far south of the KwaZulu-Natal province.

It lies south of Durban, and it is bordered by a spectacular coastline of 112 kilometres, which forms its Eastern border. On the southern side, it borders with the Eastern Cape province.

The district stretches along the Indian Ocean coast from Scottburgh in the north to Port Edward in the south and Harding in the west (interior).

Ugu District Municipality covers an area of 4,791 km² (1,850 square miles) and its headquarters/seat is Port Shepstone.

The district is divided into four local municipalities namely;

  1. Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality
  2. Umdoni Local Municipality
  3. Umuziwabantu Local Municipality
  4. Umzumbe Local Municipality

The Ugu District Municipality is bordered by Harry Gwala District Municipality to the west, uMgungundlovu District Municipality to the north, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Eastern Cape‘s Alfred Nzo District Municipality to the south.

The district consists of 85 municipal wards and 40 traditional council areas within its jurisdictional area.

The Ugu District has Blue Flag Status beaches, which have marked tourism as a major economic cultivator. The improvement of its infrastructure, education, health, and recreational facilities contributes immensely to its appeal.

The nurturing of the local economy highly features tourism and agriculture and includes the district’s very own Ugu Jazz Festival. It also includes other renowned annual activities, such as the Africa Bike Week, which have gained momentum worldwide.

Relative to the rest of the Districts in the province, the Ugu District’s location in the southern part of the KwaZulu-Natal provides it with many strategic opportunities and features such as the following:

  • It is easily accessible by the N2 and R61 routes, which connect the area with several towns within the KwaZulu-Natal province as well as the Eastern Cape province and beyond
  • It is situated within a highly admired coastal strip, affectionately referred to as the South Coast by tourists, residents, and general travellers
  • It shares borders with eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which is the economic powerhouse of KwaZulu-Natal and a very notable economic nodal point within the country
  • It accommodates the first coastal commercial hubs from both the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal Provinces

Map

A map of Ugu District Municipality with its four Local Municipalities
A map of Ugu District Municipality with its four Local Municipalities.

Population

According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Ugu District Municipality has a population of 773,402 residents, compared to 753,336 in 2016, and 689,051 in 2011.

The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.12%.

According to the 2022 Census, 29.2% of the population is under the age of 15, 62.4% is between 15 and 64, and 8.4% is over 65.

Racial makeup

According to the 2022 Census, 90.6% of the population in the Ugu District Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 4.9% as White, 3.4% as Indian/Asian, and 0.8% as Coloured.

Languages

According to the 2022 Census, 82.7% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 8.3% speak English, 4.3% speak isiXhosa, 2.1% speak Afrikaans, and 2.6% speak other languages.

Economy

The main economic sectors of Ugu District Municipality are tourism and agriculture, with the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality being the main economic hub due to its location.

Commercial agriculture in the district produces one-fifth of all bananas consumed in South Africa, with numerous companies successfully exporting these and other products to some of the most exclusive packers in the United Kingdom.

District council and management

Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party)ANC: 8
IFP: 3
DA: 2
EFF: 2
Executive MayorSikhumbuzo Mqadi
Deputy Executive MayorVM Chiya
SpeakerSR Ngcobo
Chief WhipMP Shozi
Other Council Members– SN Caluza
– GD Henderson
– SP Mthethwa
– D Nciki
– NA Njenga
Municipal ManagerVela Owen Mazibuko
Chief Financial OfficerKushi Audan
Senior Management– Makhosi Gobhozi (Manager: Corporate Services)
– Sonwabile Kati (Manager: Internal Audit)
– Bright Khumalo (Manager: Environmental Management Services)
– Sizwe Malinga (Acting General Manager: Water Services)
– Ntombi Mbambo (Manager: Legal Services)
– Arthur Mbhele (Manager: Administration and Auxiliary Services)
– Faith Mbili (Senior Manager: Strategy and Shared Services)
– Nonhlanhla Msomi (Manager: Policy and Research)
– Patrick Mzele (Manager: Fleet Management)
– Ntabiso Mzoto (Acting Manager: Supply Chain Management)
– Mondli Ncane (Manager: Youth Development)
– Deidre Jayne Rankin (General Manager: Economic Development and Environmental Services)
Communications Officers– Zimbini Mpurwana (Manager: Communications and Customer Relations)
– France Zama (Senior Manager: Mayoralty and Communications)

Main towns

Below are the major towns in the Ugu District Municipality.

  • Harding
  • Hibberdene
  • Marburg
  • Margate
  • Pennington
  • Port Edward
  • Port Shepstone
  • Ramsgate
  • Scottburgh/Umzinto North
  • Southbroom

Contact details

Contact details of the Ugu District Municipality are listed in the table below.

Postal address:PO Box 33, Port Shepstone, 4240
Physical address:28 Connor Street, Port Shepstone
Telephone:039 688 5700
24 Hour Toll free number: 08000 928 37
Fax:039 682 4820
Email:info@ugu.gov.za
Website:www.ugu.gov.za