The Umzimvubu Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the central region of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | Eastern Cape |
| District: | Alfred Nzo |
| Municipal code: | EC442 |
| Seat: | KwaBhaca |
| Number of wards: | 28 |
| Total area: | 2,579 km² (996 square miles) |
| Population: | 214,477 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Zukiswa Ndevu |
About
The Umzimvubu Local Municipality is geographically located in the central part of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, in the northeastern region of the Eastern Cape Province.
The municipality is named after the Mzimvubu River. The name Umzimvubu is an isiXhosa word meaning “home of the hippopotamus”.
The Umzimvubu Local Municipality comprises 28 wards and covers an area of 2,579 km² (996 square miles), making it the second-largest of four local municipalities in the Alfred Nzo District.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Umzimvubu Local Municipality is in KwaBhaca (previously known as Mount Frere).
The Umzimvubu Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Matatiele Local Municipality to the north
- Greater Kokstad Local Municipality in the Harry Gwala District in the KwaZulu-Natal Province to the north
- Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality to the northeast
- Ntabankulu Local Municipality to the east
- Mhlontlo Local Municipality in the OR Tambo District Municipality to the south and west
- Elundini Local Municipality in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality to the northwest
Umzimvubu Local Municipality is predominantly rural, and the majority of the population resides in rural areas.
Most of the land in the municipality is covered by dispersed low-density traditional settlements, except for some areas around the two urban centres.
There has been a significant migration towards the towns over the years, which is attributed to residents’ preference to live near transport routes and urban centres.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Umzimvubu Local Municipality has a population of 214,477 people, compared to 199,620 in 2016 and 191,775 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.09%.
According to the 2022 Census, 33.2% of the population is under the age of 15, 59.3% is between 15 and 64, and 7.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.4% of the population in Umzimvubu Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.3% as Coloured, 0.1% as White, and 0.1% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 93.1% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 2.6% speak English, and 4.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Umzimvubu Local Municipality are Government services, trade, finance and business services, manufacturing, transport and communication, construction, and agriculture.
Municipal council and management
The Umzimvubu municipal council comprises 55 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-eight councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 28 wards, while the remaining 27 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 42 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 42 – EFF: 6 – ATM: 2 – DA: 2 – UDM: 2 – AIC: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Zukiswa Ndevu |
| Speaker | N Nomnganga |
| Chief Whip | Nofikile Florida Ngonyolo |
| Other Council Members | – NA Garane (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Infrastructure and Planning) – XG Jona (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: LED) – M Magobane (Exco Member) – NG Mdzinwa (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Citizen and Community Services) – NC Mnyayiza (Exco Member) – NL Nkula (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury) – I Nodali (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Corporate Services) – NV Nomnganga (Exco Member) – T Sokhanyile (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: SP and Communication) |
| Municipal Manager | Thobela Gladstone Nota |
| Chief Financial Officer | Khaluwe Mehlomakhulu |
| Senior Management | – KP Dlamini-Tshazi (Manager: Community Services) – TT Madotyeni (Manager: Corporate Services and Senior Manager: Infrastructure and Planning) – Azola Makanda |
| Communications Officers | Nokhanyo Zembe (Manager: Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality.
- eMaxesibeni (formerly known as Mount Ayliff)
- KwaBhaca (formerly known as Mount Frere)
Contact details
The contact details of Umzimvubu Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X9020, KwaBhaca, 5090 |
| Physical Address: | – KwaBhaca Office: 813 Main Street, KwaBhaca – eMaxesibeni Office: 67 Church Street, Mount Ayliff |
| Telephone: | – 039 255 8500 (KwaBhaca) – 039 254 6000 (eMaxesibeni) |
| Fax: | 039 255 0167 |
| Email: | enquiries@umzimvubu.gov.za |
| Website: | www.umzimvubu.gov.za |
| Anti-Fraud Corruption Line: | 0800 701 701 |
