The Umdoni Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the northeastern region of the Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B2 (large town) |
| Province: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District: | Ugu |
| Municipal code: | KZN212 |
| Seat: | Scottburgh |
| Number of wards: | 19 |
| Total area: | 994 km² (384 square miles) |
| Population: | 156,443 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Mbali Cele-Luthuli |
About
The Umdoni Local Municipality is geographically located in the northeastern region of the Ugu District Municipality, almost midway between Port Shepstone and Durban.
uMdoni is the isiZulu name for the indigenous forest waterberry (Syzygium gerrardii) plant.
The municipality incorporates seven traditional authority areas and has a coastline that stretches for approximately 40 kilometres.
The Umdoni Local Municipality covers an area of 994 km² (384 square miles), making it the smallest of four local municipalities in the Ugu District, as it accounts for just under a quarter of its geographical area.
The municipality comprises 19 wards, most of which are rural areas.
The Umdoni Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Umzumbe Local Municipality to the south
- Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality in the Harry Gwala District Municipality to the west
- Richmond and Mkhambathini Local Municipalities in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality to the north
- eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to the north and northeast
- The Indian Ocean to the east and southeast
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Umdoni Local Municipality is in the town of Scottburgh, approximately 59 kilometres from the city of Durban and 68 kilometres from Port Shepstone.
The Umdoni Local Municipality is divided into three major land uses, namely, commercial agriculture, coastal urban nodes, and traditional authority areas.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Umdoni Local Municipality has a population of 156,443 people, compared to 144,551 in 2016 and 130,413 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.77%.
According to the 2022 Census, 26.1% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.1% is between 15 and 64, and 9.8% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 76.7% of the population in the Umdoni Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 13.3% as Indian/Asian, 8.5% as White, and 1.2% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 67% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 23% speak English, 4.9% speak isiXhosa, 2.4% speak Afrikaans, and 2.7% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sector of Umdoni Local Municipality is commercial agriculture.
Municipal council and management
The Umdoni municipal council is comprised of 37 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Nineteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 19 wards, while the remaining 18 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 17 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 17 – DA: 7 – EFF: 5 – IFP: 5 – ABC: 1 – ALJAMA: 1 – AM4C: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Mbali Cele-Luthuli |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Phila Thabethe |
| Speaker | Mthandeni Mbutho |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | Nhlakanipho Khumalo |
| Chief Financial Officer | Thando Mketsu |
| Senior Management | – A Bhengu (Manager: Environmental Management) – Linda Harisingh (Manager: Office of the Municipal Manager) – S Hlongwane (Manager: LED) – B Khanyile (Manager: Public Participation) – M Khanyile (Manager: Building Control) – B Mbatha (Manager: Human Resource) – Siyabonga Mngadi (General Manager: Technical Services) – Khongi Mohlolonyane (Acting General Manager: Corporate Services) – A Mthethwa (Manager: Expenditure) – M Mzotho (General Manager: Planning and Development) – T Ndlovu (Manager: Internal Auditing) – Bongani Ntsebeshe (Acting General Manager: Community Services) – K Subben (Manager: Environment) – Canesia Vezi (General Manager: Planning and Development) – S Zamisa (Manager: Housing) |
| Communications Officers | – S Cele (Manager: Communications) – Zime Gcaba |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Umdoni Local Municipality.
- Amahlongwa
- Amandawe
- Bazley
- Dududu
- eMuziwezinto (formerly known as Umzinto)
- Ifafa Beach
- Kelso
- KwaCele
- Mayfield
- Nkwifa
- Park Rynie
- Pennington
- Scottburgh
- Sezela
Contact details
The contact details of the Umdoni Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 19, Scottburgh, 4180 |
| Physical Address: | Cnr Bram Fischer & Williamson Streets, Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, 4180 |
| Telephone: | 039 976 1202 |
| Fax: | 039 976 2194 |
| Email: | info@umdoni.gov.za |
| Website: | www.umdoni.gov.za |
| Support Hotline (Available 24 Hours): | 087 286 5329 |
| Umdoni Disaster Management Centre: | 039 974 6200 |
| Ugu District Disaster Management Centre: | 039 682 2414 |
| Anti-Fraud And Corruption Hotline: | – Telephone: 0801 111 660 – Fax: 086 5222 816 – Email: information@whistleblowing.co.za – Postal Address: P.O. Box 51006, Musgrave, 4001 |
