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UMGUNGUNDLOVU DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
www.umdm.gov.za
are tourism attractions, and the Midlands Meander
is arguably the most successful tourism initiative in
South Africa.
The area lends itself to beef and dairy farming, timber
production and the cultivation of vegetables.
Bustling Town
The administrative centre of Mpofana Local
Municipality is the bustling town of Mooi River, which
takes its name from the Mooirivier (pretty river) and
Little Mooi tributary.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION
The population/area ratio is the lowest in the district,
The uMgungundlovu District Municipality is the second emphasizing the viability of agricultural crops such as
largest municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, and includes maize, wheat, beans, peas and potatoes. Cattle and
the capital city of the province, Pietermaritzburg. sheep are farmed extensively, and the area boasts
The district has a rich and complex natural environment some of South Africa’s best racehorse stud farms.
with numerous resources, including traditional Ecologically Sustainable
farmland communities, informal rural settlements
and upmarket urban areas. An efficient network of The Impendle Local Municipality borders on the
roads and railways links the rural areas with urban Drakensberg mountain range which highlights
the potential for ecologically sustainable tourism
centres with the N3 national road offering substantial
opportunity for development. enterprises, particularly those focused on indigenous
rock art, prolific bird life and fly-fishing. Community
Seat of the District based craft endeavours and emerging micro
The Msunduzi Municipality is centred on the city of enterprises point to the future.
Pietermaritzburg, which is the seat of the district Predominantly Rural
municipality. Pietermaritzburg, the second largest
city within KwaZulu-Natal and the eighth largest city Named after the largest town in the area, Richmond
Local Municipality is synonymous with timber, fruit
in South Africa is poised for significant growth in the and vegetable production, and wood products. The
coming years.
municipality is a place of great beauty with significant
Tourism and Agriculture Opportunities tourist attractions. Most of the population resides in
Based in Wartburg / New Hanover, the uMshwathi areas which are rural and characterised by low levels
Local Municipality is the largest of the seven of basic services and unemployment.
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municipalities, comprising almost 2 000 km . The area Comparative Advantages
has good rainfall, fertile soils and a temperate climate Based in Camperdown, the Mkhambathini Local
which results in the area contributing 40% of the total Municipality has several advantages. It is well located
sugar cane and maize production of uMgungundlovu.
in relation to Durban and Pietermaritzburg and adjoins
The Albert Falls and Nagle Dams offer tourism and Cato Ridge, a potential industrial node. The N3, which
agriculture opportunities, with leisure activities is identified in the Spatial Growth and Development
including bass fishing, canoeing, kayaking and rowing Strategy as a Provincial Corridor, runs east west
an attraction for locals and visitors. through the central part of the municipal area.
Tourism Initiative Development Agency
With its municipal seat at Howick, uMngeni Municipality The uMgungundlovu Economic Development Agency
presents a mix of manufacturing enterprises, leisure (uMEDA) faciltates strategic catalytic projects and
and sporting facilities and a burgeoning agricultural champions the radical agrarian socio-economic trans-
sector. Howick Falls, Karkloof Falls and Midmar Dam formation agenda of the district.
CONTACT DETAILS
Physical Address: 242 Langalibalele Street, Tel: +27 (0)33 897 6700
Pietermaritzburg, 3201 Email: info@umdm.gov.za
Postal Address: P.O. Box 3235, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Website: www.umdm.gov.za
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