Umzimkhulu Local Municipality

Geography, History & Economy

Umzimkhulu Local Municipality is part of Harry Gwala District Municipality.

MDB code: KZN435

Description: The Umzimkhulu Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated within the Harry Gwala District in KwaZulu-Natal. It is one of the four municipalities that make up the district, accounting for a quarter of its geographical area.
It is the most populated of the Harry Gwala municipalities. Households headed by women are in the majority of the population. There is a need to implement youth development programmes and, for the most part, to target women in stimulating nodal economic growth.
Umzimkhulu Town (and adjoining Clydesdale peri-urban area) is regarded as the primary node, both administrative and economic, in the municipal area. Rietvlei, Riversdale and Ibisi are regarded as secondary nodes, fulfilling the role of rural service centres.
Other settlements such as Mountain Home, Glengarry, Ntsikeni and Ncambele (Gowan Lea) can be regarded as minor service centres. The towns of Creighton and Franklin are accessible to the north-western part of the municipal area and Harding is accessible to the southern part, as economic service centres.

Area: 2 436km²

Cities/Towns: uMzimkhulu

Main Economic Sectors: Agriculture; forestry; community, social and personal services; trade and tourism