Ulundi Local Municipality

Ulundi
Local municipality
Official seal of Ulundi Seal
Location of Ulundi Local Municipality within KwaZulu-Natal Location of Ulundi Local Municipality within KwaZulu-Natal
Coordinates:
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Zululand
Seat	Ulundi
Wards	24
Government
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	Mvuseni Jaconia Luthuli (IFP)
Area
• Total	3,250 km2 (1,250 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	188,317
• Density	58/km2 (150/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	99.5%
• Coloured	0.1%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• White	0.2%
First languages (2011)
• Zulu	95.9%
• English	1.3%
• Southern Ndebele	1.1%
• Other	1.7%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Municipal code	KZN266

Ulundi Local Municipality is a local municipality located on the southern boundary of the Zululand District Municipality in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is a mainly rural municipality that encompasses the town of Ulundi.

Population characteristics

Recent surveys have identified the following characteristics of the municipality's population:

More than half the population is younger than 19 years of age, placing pressure on the need for social facilities. A significant number of these children will be orphaned due to HIV/AIDS.

At least 12% of the population (27 450 people) are already infected with HIV/AIDS. Population growth is expected to decline over the next 20 years.

Education levels are very low; 29% of the population has no formal education.

Income levels are very low; nearly 40% of households have no income. Unemployment levels are very high, with only 12.5% of the total population being formally employed.

The population is predominantly Zulu in ethnicity and culture.

Places of interest

The tourism potential of the area remains largely undeveloped; however, the area features a number of activities and places of interest. These include game reserves, historical/cultural sites, cultural events and guest lodges. Game reserves include the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Parks, the Ophathe Game Park, the Emakhosini (Valley of the Zulu Kings), the planned Emakhosini-Ophathe Conservancy, and the ThakaZulu Game Reserve. Historical/cultural sites include Nodwengu (King Mpande’s residence and grave), Ulundi Battlefield, Amafa and Dingaan Stat/Piet Retief’s grave.

Main places

The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:

Place	Code	Area (km2)	Population
Babanango	53101	6.54	1,297
Buthelezi Empithimpithini	53102	464.49	49,553
Inhlazatshe	53103	13.60	1,214
Kwazunyawo	53104	5.91	1,298
Mahlabatini	53105	8.21	2,342
Mbatha	53106	124.05	9,954
Mpungose	53107	158.64	27,726
Ndebele	53108	93.44	14,799
Nobamba	53109	684.56	41,286
Simelane	53110	3.48	501
Ulundi	53111	10.27	18,420
Ximba	53112	298.34	19,330
Zungu	53113	321.98	17,228
Remainder of the municipality	53114	1,561.36	8,017

Politics

The municipal council consists of forty-seven members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Twenty-four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in twenty-four wards, while the remaining twenty-three 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 18 May 2011 the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) won a majority of twenty-eight seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.

Party		Votes				Seats
		Ward	List	Total	%	Ward	List	Total
	Inkatha Freedom Party	31,957	31,901	63,858	59.1	21	7	28
	National Freedom Party	15,285	15,205	30,490	28.2	3	10	13
	African National Congress	6,599	6,469	13,068	12.1	0	6	6
	Democratic Alliance	66	299	365	0.3	0	0	0
	African Christian Democratic Party	33	95	128	0.1	0	0	0
	United Democratic Movement	16	61	77	0.1	0	0	0
	Independent	64	–	64	0.1	0	–	0
Total		54,020	54,030	108,050	100.0	24	23	47
Spoilt votes		529	566	1,095

External links

• Official website