Page 68 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2018

UMKHANYAKUDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Mayor: Cllr M E Buthelezi
www.ukdm.gov.za
Natural Beauty
AN ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL ASSETS
The Jozini Municipality is located in northern KwaZulu-
Umkhanyakude District Municipality is situated in the Natal and borders Swaziland and Mozambique. The
north-eastern region of KwaZulu-Natal. The district Lebombo Mountains and Makhatini Flats provide
extends from Mtubatuba (St Lucia) in the south to Kosi a diverse and beautiful terrain, which has many
Bay in the north, across to the Lubombo Mountains
in the west. The district is strategically linked to the local resources, including water features and even
provincial markets of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga fossil sites. Both Ndumo and Mkuze Game Reserves
can be found straddling the borders of the Jozini
and to the neighbouring market of Swaziland. The
district consists of the local municipalities of: Jozini, Municipality.
Mtubatuba, uMhlabuyalingana and Big 5 Hlabisa. Jozini town is the access point for northern
A high proportion of this rural district is under Maputaland. It is a small business centre situated close
thicket, grassland and wetland, while remaining to the impressive Pongolapoort Dam, better known as
areas are cultivated land and settlement. Large areas the Jozini Dam, one of the largest in South Africa. This
of land are under communal tenure, located in the dam is designed to irrigate more than 80 000 hectares
traditional authority areas under the jurisdiction of the of agricultural land supporting products such as sugar
Ingonyama Trust. The remaining areas are under state cane, rice, coffee, cotton, fibre crops and various sub-
conservation or private ownership with limited formal tropical fruits.
urban areas. The Umkhanyakude District is home to The dam draws its water from the Pongolo River,
the Big Five animals and offers year-round tourism which means ‘’ trough’’ and is the principal river of
experiences with mild winters and hot summers. Maputaland. The Pongola River, in its path to the sea
Rich and Diverse Tourism has given birth to a series of oxbow lakes and pans
The Big 5 Hlabisa Municipality is located in one of that are teeming with fish and bird life. Supporting a
the world’s richest and diverse tourism areas. World massive population of fish, crocodiles and hippos, as
renowned game and nature reserves such as St well as the people of the area, it is an integral part of
Lucia, Hluhluwe/Umfolozi and Mkuze are located the economy of the region.
here. Easily accessible off the N2 National Route, it Tourism has been prioritised as the major economic
incorporates part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park development opportunity and its success is dependent
and is the starting point of the Lubombo Spatial on local community initiatives as well as the natural
Development Initiative corridor, which links Hluhluwe beauty of the surrounding landscape.
to Mozambique. The town of Hluhluwe, which contains
major shopping and light servicing facilities, as well as Administrative Centre
the municipal offices, services the municipality. Mtubatuba Municipality is situated along the northern
A major drawcard is the tourism industry centred on the coastal belt of KwaZulu-Natal. Mtubatuba is the most
Hluhluwe-uMfolozi Game Reserve, located 280km north urbanised local municipality, as Mtubatuba town
of Durban and the oldest proclaimed park in Africa. and St Lucia are the main towns within the district.
It consists of 960km² of hilly topography in central Mtubatuba town is a strong sub regional commercial,
Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, and is known for its wildlife service, transport and administrative centre for the
and conservation efforts. The north-eastern parts of entire north eastern Zululand region. In the past few
the municipality are occupied by densely settled rural years there has been substantial commercial growth in
traditional communities (Makhasa, Mnqobokasi and Mtubatuba with retail and wholesale outlets opening.
Nibela). The town is ideally located as a base from which to
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