uMhlabuyalingana
Local municipality
Official seal of uMhlabuyalingana
Seal
Location of UMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality within KwaZulu-Natal
Location of UMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality within KwaZulu-Natal
Coordinates: 27°1′S 32°44′E / 27.017°S 32.733°E / -27.017; 32.733
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceKwaZulu-Natal
DistrictuMkhanyakude
SeatKwangwanase
Wards17
Government
[1]
 • TypeMunicipal council
 • MayorD. A. Ncube
Area
 • Total3,964 km2 (1,531 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total156,736
 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[2]
 • Black African99.3%
 • Coloured0.1%
 • Indian/Asian0.1%
 • White0.3%
First languages (2011)
[3]
 • Zulu95.7%
 • English1.2%
 • Southern Ndebele1.0%
 • Other2.1%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeKZN271

uMhlabuyalingana Municipality (Zulu: UMasipala wakwa Mhlabuyalingana) is a local municipality within the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, in the northeastern part of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The municipality is one of the poorest in the country. It encompasses a World Heritage Site and several areas under environmental protection.[4] Areas of conservation and environmental interest within or adjacent to the uMhlabuyalingana area include the Tembe Elephant Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (a World Heritage Site), the Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park, and the Phongolo Nature Reserve.

The municipality was approximately 98% rural in 2001, with a population of 140,963 inhabitants according to Statistics South Africa. The municipality is made up of at least 99% Black South Africans, most of whom are isiZulu-speaking. The population is very young: 44% were younger than 15, and 77% were younger than 35 years old. Because of its youth, the population is particularly vulnerable to the impact of HIV/AIDS.[4] Towns and major settlement nodes in the area include Emanguzi, Mbazwana, Kwangwanase, Maputa, Mboza, Mseleni and Skhemelele.

Missing funds

On 8 April 2009, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which controls the municipality, summoned its entire caucus to a meeting aimed at determining the veracity of reports alleging more than R3,000,000 (US$403,390) in funds unaccounted for. Professor Themba Msimang, chairman of the party's Policy Oversight Committee (POC), and also current chair of South Africa's Heraldry Council, called for uMhlabuyalingana to accept a forensic audit. According to an IFP press release, Msimang stated that the party was "highly agitated" by the reports, "not simply because of the implication of corruption but also because it transgressed everything the party stands for... We will have to await the process that entails the municipality's council calling for such a forensic audit. I can assure you, though, our party will get to the bottom of this, and, if heads have to roll, so be it: they will."[5]

Main places

The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:[6]

PlaceCodeArea (km2)Population
Mabaso53201543.4119,398
Manukuza/Jobe5320220.79314
Mashabane53203708.0126,620
Ndumu Game Reserve5320413.696
Tembe Elephant Reserve53206275.2736
Tembe532051,909.1579,111
Zikhali/Mbila53207202.2415,489

Politics

The municipal council consists of thirty-nine members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Twenty councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in twenty wards, while the remaining nineteen 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 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority, winning a plurality of eighteen seats on the council.

PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
African National Congress21,61944.951221,88446.34618
Inkatha Freedom Party16,66734.65817,84937.79715
Economic Freedom Fighters2,0784.3202,1674.5922
Independent candidates2,9506.1300
Abahlali Base Mkhanyakude Movement1,0422.1701,1132.3611
Democratic Alliance8881.8509512.0111
National Freedom Party7241.5107281.5411
African Christian Democratic Party6411.3306991.4811
Abantu Batho Congress5901.2306161.3000
African Independent Congress5351.1106541.3800
Justice and Employment Party1210.2502080.4400
Black First Land First820.170940.2000
United Christian Democratic Party730.150530.1100
African Transformation Movement510.110690.1500
People's Freedom Party200.040720.1500
African People's Movement120.020450.1000
Umnotho Democratic Front50.010260.0600
Zulu Royal Property10.0000
Total48,099100.002047,228100.001939
Valid votes48,09997.5447,22897.06
Invalid/blank votes1,2122.461,4292.94
Total votes49,311100.0048,657100.00
Registered voters/turnout85,43157.7285,43156.95

References

  1. ↑ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 Integrated Development Plan 2008-2009. uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality. Retrieved on Oct 12, 2009.
  5. ↑ IFP Press Statement. "IFP Calls for Forensic Audit into uMhlabuyalingana Municipality." Inkatha Freedom Party, 9 April 2009.
  6. ↑ Lookup Tables - Statistics South Africa
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