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UMZINYATHI DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

www.umzinyathi.gov.za
animals are not kept as farming commodities and are
seldom slaughtered or sold.
Endumeni Municipality is a key administrative,
educational and economic centre for northern KwaZulu-
Natal. Endumeni, with the smallest population, but the
largest economy of the district, comprises the towns of
Dundee, Glencoe and Wasbank, together with several
farms. Dundee is the administrative seat of Umzinyathi
and can be viewed as a strong regional centre with
substantial commercial and agricultural activity.
SUBSTANTIAL AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY
This municipality is unique; its population is
The uMzinyathi District Municipality is in the predominantly urbanised or based on commercial
northern central area of KwaZulu-Natal. The district farms and unlike the other local municipalities there
lies between the main N3 corridor from Durban is no tribal authority land. Endumeni’s diversified
to Gauteng and the coastal corridor, running economy includes commercial cattle farming, dairy
along the east coast. uMzinyathi consists of the production and tourism.
local municipalities of Endumeni, Msinga, Nquthu
and Umvoti. Dundee and Glencoe form part of the Coal Rim of
KwaZulu-Natal, that have over the past decade been
In conjunction with its north western neighbour, negatively affected by a substantial decline in the coal
Amajuba District Municipality, uMzinyathi is mining sector which previously formed the economic
branded as the ‘Custodian of the Battlefields’ base of the areas.
region of the Zulu Kingdom. The battlefields form
a vital role in the spatial economy of the province The Umvoti Municipality comprises urban areas,
from a tourism perspective. commercial agricultural areas and tribal authority areas
all of which exhibit typical characteristics associated
Other tourist sites include private game reserves with these settlement types. The main town in the
and one 18 000 ha proclaimed conservation area. Umvoti Municipality is Greytown. It is the agricultural
There are two natural heritage sites: Fugitives Drift centre of the district and contributes substantially to
and Hlathikulu at Wasbank. Other sites include the economic viability of the region.
waterfalls, raptor breeding sites, a yellow wood
forest and wetlands, including Paddavlei and Nquthu Municipality is located along the north
Gladstone Vlei. eastern boundary of the district, with expansive rural
settlements being one of the major features. Nquthu
Most industry in the area is associated with agriculture Town is a small urban area that has established itself
or hand work (carpets, beadwork) by trained as the primary commercial, administrative and service
artisans. The municipal area has extensive grasslands centre for the municipality.
in the north, supporting the primary agricultural
sector based on cattle ranching for beef, small scale Msinga Municipality is largely located in deep gorges
sheep and mixed farming and maize cultivation. In of the Tugela and Buffalo Rivers, isolated from
the southern areas substantial forestry is prevalent. the immediate surrounding municipal areas. The
Sugar cane and smaller scale fruit farming such as population dynamics result in a growing rural area
avocado and kiwi fruit cultivation also occur. and a declining urban area in Msinga, contrary to
other areas in the country. Although the area has its
The area has high potential for growth in agricultural challenges, there are historic sites, beautiful scenery
crop production (maize, soybean and sugar cane). and interesting topography in some parts, suitable for
In rural areas, particularly at Umsinga and Nquthu, cultural and eco-tourism.

CONTACT DETAILS Postal Address: PO Box 1965, Dundee, 3000
Physical Address: 39 Victoria Street, 1st Floor, Tel: +27 (0)34 219 1500
Princess Magogo Building, Dundee, 3000 Website: www.umzinyathi.gov.za
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