The Ulundi Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the southern 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: | KZN266 |
| Seat: | Ulundi |
| Number of wards: | 24 |
| Total area: | 3,250 km² (1,255 square miles) |
| Population: | 221,977 (in 2022) |
| Population density: | 68.30 people/km² |
| Executive mayor: | W.M Ntshangase |
About
Established in 2000, Ulundi Local Municipality is geographically located in the southern region of the Zululand District Municipality in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Ulundi is the power hub of central Zululand. It is rich in cultural, historical and wildlife experiences.
Ulundi Local Municipality covers an area of 3,250 km² (1,255 square miles), making it the second-largest of five local municipalities in the Zululand District, as it accounts for almost a quarter of its geographical area.
The municipality comprises 24 electoral wards which are mainly rural with a population that is predominantly Zulu in ethnicity and culture.
The Ulundi Local Municipality is bordered by:
- AbaQulusi Local Municipality to the northwest and north
- Nongoma Local Municipality to the east
- Big 5 Hlabisa Local Municipality in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality to the east
- Mthonjaneni Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality to the south
- Nkandla Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality to the southwest
- Nquthu Local Municipality in the uMzinyathi District Municipality to the west
The administrative centre/seat of the Ulundi Local Municipality is in Ulundi town, approximately 112 kilometres northwest of Richards Bay and 238 kilometres northeast of Durban.
The tourism potential of Ulundi Local Municipality remains largely undeveloped, however, the municipal area is home to several activities and places of interest. These include cultural events, game reserves, guest lodges, as well as historical and cultural sites.
The Ulundi Museum is just a few minutes from the centre of town, and the R700 Regional Route leads to the Ondini Cultural Reserve.
Just 10 kilometres out of Ulundi town lies the eMakhosini Ophathe Heritage Park, with the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park being accessible through the new Cengeni Gate just 35 kilometres away.
Other game reserves include the Emakhosini (Valley of the Zulu Kings), the planned Emakhosini-Ophathe Conservancy, and the ThakaZulu Game Reserve.
Historical and cultural sites include Ulundi Battlefield, Nodwengu (King Mpande’s residence and grave), Amafa and Dingaan Stat/Piet Retief’s grave.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Ulundi Local Municipality has a population of 221,977 people, compared to 205,762 in 2016, and 188,317 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.6%.
According to the 2022 Census, 34.9% of the population is under the age of 15, 59.5% is between 15 and 64, and 5.6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.5% of the population in the Ulundi Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.2% as White, 0.1% as Indian/Asian, and 0.1% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 95.9% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 1.3% speak English, 1.1% speak isiNdebele, and 1.7% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Ulundi Local Municipality are retail, agriculture, and commercial.
Municipal council and management
The Ulundi municipal council is comprised of 47 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 24 wards, while the remaining 23 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 32 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – IFP: 32 – NFP: 7 – ANC: 5 – EFF: 2 – DA: 1 |
| Controlling party | IFP |
| Executive Mayor | W.M Ntshangase |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | T.G Madela |
| Speaker | N.J Manana |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | Sandile M Khomo |
| Chief Financial Officer | J.H Mhlongo |
| Senior Management | – Nondumiso Buthelezi (Director: Planning and Development Services) – S Dumisani (Director: Protection Services) – N.S Dumolwenkosi (Director: Corporate Services) – A Thandeka (Director: Community Services) – P Thokozani (Director: Technical Services) |
| Communications Officers | C.T Buthelezi |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Ulundi Local Municipality.
- Babanango
- Ceza
- Dingaanstat
- Mahlabatini
- Ntabamhlophe
- Ulundi
Contact details
The contact details of the Ulundi Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X17, Ulundi, 3838 |
| Physical Address: | BA 81, Prince Mangosuthu Street, Ulundi, 3838 |
| Telephone: | – 035 874 5100 – 087 287 0300 (After Hours) |
| Fax: | – 035 870 3506 – 035 874 5834 |
| Email: | info@ulundi.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ulundi.gov.za |
