The uMsinga Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the southwestern 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: | KZN244 |
| Seat: | Tugela Ferry |
| Number of wards: | 21 |
| Total area: | 2,375 km² (917 square miles) |
| Population: | 206,001 (in 2022) |
| Population density: | 86.74 |
| Executive mayor: | Dr F.J Sikhakhane |
About
The uMsinga Local Municipality was established in December 2000, and is geographically located in the southwestern region of the uMzinyathi District Municipality in the northern region of KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The name Msinga is an isiZulu word meaning “a current in the sea where air movement causes ripples on top of the water surface and ends up influencing the nearby climatic conditions through its breeze”.
The uMsinga Local Municipality comprises 21 electoral wards and covers an area of 2,375 km² (917 square miles), making it the second-largest local municipality in the uMzinyathi District, as it accounts for almost a third of its geographical area.
The uMsinga Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Endumeni Local Municipality to the north
- Nquthu Local Municipality to the east
- Nkandla Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality to the east
- Umvoti Local Municipality to the south
- Mpofana Local Municipality in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality to the southwest
- Inkosi Langalibalele and Alfred Duma Local Municipalities in the uThukela District Municipality to the west
The administrative headquarters/municipal offices of the uMsinga Local Municipality are in the town of Tugela Ferry, which is situated approximately 122 kilometres north of Pietermaritzburg (the provincial capital) 197 kilometres northwest of Durban (the provincial economic powerhouse).
Msinga Local Municipality is largely rural with approximately 70% of its area being Traditional Authority land held in trust by the Ingonyama Trust. The remaining municipal area is commercial farm land, all of which is located to the north of the town of Solomon Linda (formerly known as Pomeroy).
Due to the rural nature of the uMsinga, approximately 99% of the population lives in traditional areas.
The municipality’s nature of topography is such that uMsinga is largely located in deep gorges of the Buffalo and Tugela Rivers. This effectively isolates the uMsinga from the immediate surrounding municipal areas.
Due to uMsinga’s rugged terrain, the municipality’s population is relatively dispersed. Where services exist, the population is concentrated along road infrastructure and water sources such as the Tugela River.
The uMsinga Municipality is easily accessible via the R33 Provincial Route, linking it with Kranskop, Dundee, uMnambithi (formerly Ladysmith), Weenen, and Pietermaritzburg.
The uMsinga Local Municipality comprises a rural-based subsistence economy with cultural heritage areas that attract some tourists, but that still needs to be substantially developed.
The strong traditional culture in uMsinga is a valuable asset that must be preserved and valued. These traditional areas provide support mechanisms for the communities, as well as living custodians of the culture.
uMsinga Municipality has the lowest levels of basic services when compared with the rest of the municipalities within the uMzinyathi District.
Health Care
In 1870, Dr Gordon, a missionary, was sent to the uMsinga region by the Church of Scotland. He very sadly drowned at sea before reaching South Africa. Dr James Dalzell was then sent as his replacement. He was a missionary, physician, and surgeon.
Dr Dalzell established a primary and secondary school, and shortly before his death, he established a clinic.
Dr Gale succeeded Dr Dalzell, and moved the clinic closer to the Tugela River, where the current Church of Scotland Hospital (COSH) is situated. Dr Gale was the first Medical Superintendent of the hospital.
In 1978, the Church of Scotland Hospital was handed over to the South African Government.
The Church of Scotland Hospital does absolutely incredible work in uMsinga Local Municipality. It is the only hospital within the uMsinga Municipal area and it is centrally located and relatively accessible to the majority of the population.
Hospitals, outside uMsinga, that are in reach of the general population, include Dundee, Nquthu and Greytown. There are also 15 satellite clinics that serve the more rural areas in uMsinga, and atleat two mobile clinics that serve 31 points of varying sizes on a regular basis.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the uMsinga Local Municipality has a population of 206,001 people, compared to 184,494 in 2016, and 169,145 in 2011.
The population is largely concentrated around the towns of Solomon Linda, Keate’s Drift, and Tugela Ferry.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.91%.
According to the 2022 Census, 38.5% of the population is under the age of 15, 55.6% is between 15 and 64, and 5.9% is over 65.
There is a dominance of the three peri-urban settlements of Solomon Linda, Keate’s Drift, and Tugela Ferry. The population densities of these three areas are higher than in the rest of the municipality. The population density pattern is further reinforced by rural villages that act as satellites to the three major settlements.
The population dynamics of uMsinga Local Municipality result in a growing rural area and a declining urban area in uMsinga, contrary to most other areas in South Africa. This can be attributed to the fact that the urban areas of uMsinga are very small and therefore cannot provide the normal range of goods and services provided in urban areas. As a result, the population utilizes the neighbouring areas of Umvoti and Alfred Duma Local Municipalities for urban services.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.6% of the population in the uMsinga 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, 96.1% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 1.3% speak isiNdebele, and 2.6% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the uMsinga Local Municipality are agriculture, trade, community services, transport, and construction.
uMsinga is a poverty stricken area with few economic resources and little economic activity.
The little economic activity within Msinga is greatly affected by economic pull factors external to the municipality. These factors are predominantly towards Dundee, Greytown, and to some extent uMnambithi (previously known as Ladysmith).
Social services and private households generate approximately 29% of the income for the municipal area. This indicates a heavy reliance on government grants to provide infrastructure to the municipality.
The uMsinga Municipality functions as a dormitory area with economic activities orientated towards Dundee, Greytown, and Kranskop. Underutilized resources include the Buffalo and Tugela Rivers and the mountainous terrain that could provide irrigation and tourism opportunities.
Trade and commerce, mainly in Tugela Ferry, Solomon Linda, and Keate’s Drift, account for 11% of economic activity, and appears to be relatively stable.
The informal trade in its various forms, for example butcheries, tuck shops e.t.c should not be excluded from the formal trade in the centres mentioned above, as they provide an essential service to isolated settlements.
Both the formal and informal trade should be expanded to retain buying-power in uMsinga Local Municipality.
Construction and manufacturing account for 10% of the economic activity.
The ongoing participation of the uMsinga community in the local economy is critical to ensure sustainable local economic development.
Agriculture
Farming contributes approximately 18% of the income for the municipality’s residents. Approximately 30% of the municipal area to the north comprises commercial farmland while subsistence agriculture is practiced in areas adjoining the Tugela River irrigation schemes.
Potential does exist to expand informal agricultural activities to larger operations with more commercial value. This would however, require these areas to be managed more effectively from an agricultural point of view.
Numerous community garden clubs/groups cultivate vegetables on 89 hectares of land, and these are predominantly located along the available water sources. This indicates the willingness of the community to be involved in crop production if the necessary support is provided.
However, finding sustainable markets for the sale of local produce and products, remains challenging and problematic.
Municipal council and management
The uMsinga municipal council is comprised of 41 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-one councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 21 wards, while the remaining 20 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 27 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – IFP: 27 – ANC: 11 – ABC: 1 – EFF: 1 – INDEPENDENT: 1 |
| Controlling party | IFP |
| Executive Mayor | Dr F.J Sikhakhane |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Thenjiwe Mbatha |
| Speaker | Sifindo G Masimula |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | – S.K Hadebe (EXCO Member) – T.B Mbatha (Community Services) – B.P Ngcobo (Development Planning) – L.B Ntuli (Technical Services) |
| Municipal Manager | S.L Sokhela |
| Chief Financial Officer | N.G Mvelase |
| Senior Management | – B.T Hlubi (Planning Services) – S Mnguni (Technical Services) – T.N.F Nkala (Corporate Services) – K Sibiya (Manager: LED) – M.S Xulu (Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | T Mchunu |
Tourism
Although uMsinga has its challenges, there are historic sites, interesting topography, and beautiful scenery in some parts of the municipal area, suitable for cultural and eco-tourism. Furthermore, the local communities are generally creative in arts, crafts and music (Umasikandi).
The municipality has opportunities to develop existing ventures such as the existing game farms to the northwest of the municipality linking with the Rorke’s Drift and Isandlawana battlefields attractions, and the Tugela Biosphere to the southwest of the municipality.
Rorke’s Drift is situated 46 kilometres southeast of Dundee, and is the site of one of the most famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu War. At Rorke’s Drift the men were rewarded for their bravery with no less than 11 Victoria Crosses, the most number of Victoria Crosses ever to be won in a single battle. Today the centre is also a remarkable for its Zulu handicrafts.
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the uMsinga Local Municipality.
- Helpmekaar
- Keate’s Drift
- Solomon Linda (formerly known as Pomeroy)
- Tugela Ferry
Contact details
The contact details of Emfuleni the uMsinga Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X530, Tugela Ferry, 3010 |
| Physical Address: | R33 Main Road, Tugela Ferry, 3010 |
| Telephone: | 033 493 8000 |
| Fax: | 033 493 0757/766 |
| Email: | – admin@umsinga.gov.za – thobeka.mchunu@umsinga.gov.za – info@umsinga.gov.za |
| Website: | www.umsinga.gov.za |
