Page 12 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2024/5 - ebook

KWAZULU-NATAL IN CONTEXT

A winter sunrise over Durban photo by Axel Bührmann.
Location with a subtropical climate. The midlands area is drier,
KwaZulu-Natal is one of the nine provinces in South with extremely cold conditions in winter and snow on
Africa. Situated on the east coast of the country, the high-lying ground. In the north, the subtropical
KwaZulu-Natal neighbours three other provinces: strip extends around eSwatini to the edge of the
Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and the Free State. escarpment.
KwaZulu-Natal borders the countries of Mozambique Principal Languages
and eSwatini in the north, and Lesotho in the south. The province comprises a multicultural mix of
Area people and the principal languages are isiZulu,
English and Afrikaans.
The province is South Africa’s third smallest, taking up
7, 7% of the country’s land area and has a total area of Monarchy
94 361 km². KwaZulu-Natal, the traditional home and birthplace
Municipalities of the Zulu people, is renowned as the Zulu Kingdom.
The province is the only one in South Africa with a
Local government in KwaZulu-Natal is organised
into the eThekwini Metropolitan Council, and ten monarchy specifically provided for in the country’s
district municipalities, namely: Amajuba; iLembe; constitution.
Harry Gwala; Ugu; uMgungundlovu; uMkhanyakude; Infrastructure
uMzinyathi; uThukela; King Cetshwayo and Zululand. Of major significance is that the ports of Durban
Each district is further divided into a varying number and Richards Bay, around which KwaZulu-Natal is
of local municipalities. established, are two of Africa’s gateways to the sea lanes
Main Cities and Towns of the world. Durban and Richards Bay ports are southern
Africa’s busiest in terms of handling cargo by value and
Pietermaritzburg (Capital), Durban, Umhlanga, Ballito,
Ulundi, Eshowe, Newcastle, Richards Bay, Port Shepstone. bulk respectively. The Durban – Free State – Gauteng
logistics and transport corridor forms the backbone of
Climate South Africa’s freight transportation network and is vital
The summer-rainfall coastal regions are hot and humid, in facilitating economic growth for the country.

10