UTHUNGULU

DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

PROFILE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / 3
1. / INTRODUCTION / 4
1.1 / Overview / 4
1.2 / Municipalities within the District / 5
1.3 / Political and Administrative Leadership and Seat of District / 6
1.4 / Political Representation / 6
2. / SERVICE DELIVERY / 7
2.1 / Household Infrastructure / 7
2.2 / Sanitation / 7
2.3 / Water / 7
2.4 / Electricity / 8
2.5 / Refuse Removal / 8
2.6 / Service Provider / 8
3. / AUDIT OPINIONS / 8
4. / STATE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSESSMENT / 9
4.1 / Overview of findings on assessment in the Municipality / 9
4.1.1 / Governance / 9
4.1.2 / Financial Management and Viability / 10
4.1.3 / Service Delivery / 10
5. / INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF THE MUNICIPAL TURN-AROUND STRATEGY / 10
6. / MIG PROJECTS / 12
7. / VULNERABILITY CLASSIFICATION / 16

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Uthungulu District Municipality is situated in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal and is made up of the six local municipalities. The significant economic centres that shape the district are Richards Bay with its harbour facilities which have been the prime reason for large-scale industrialisation in the district, and Empangeni, an industrial and service centre. However, pockets of wealth in these centres are surrounded by vast areas where many people live in abject poverty.

There are enormous backlogs in service infrastructure, especially in rural areas. An overview of household access to infrastructure in the district shows an improvement in access from 36% in 1996 to 53% in 2009. Water and electricity infrastructure are the main contributor to the improvement in the district’s infrastructure in general.

All municipalities in Uthungulu district except Mfolozi improved their audit outcomes over time to obtain financially unqualified audit outcomes. Mfolozi achieved qualified and disclaimers between 2005/6 and 2009/10.

Uthungulu District was not highlighted in the KwaZulu-Natal State of Local Government Assessment as in the most serious category of classification of municipalities. Three of the local municipalties (uMhlatuze, Mfolozi and Nkandla) have been identified as facing serious challenges in terms of governance, while Nkandla also had serious challenges on financial management and service delivery.

In terms of its Municipal Turn-Around Strategy the Uthungulu District Municipality identified the need for bulk infrastructure in the rural areas, as well as maintenance of existing urban infrastructure. There is also a need for a regional site for waste disposal from the local municipalities.

Two of the six local municipalities in the Uthungulu District have been classified as in the category of most vulnerable by DCoG in terms of functionality, socio-economic profile and backlog status. This profile confirms that infrastructure prioritisation in Uthungulu District should focus on a dual strategy of urban infrastructure maintenance and replacement, and addressing rural backlogs in water and sanitation, including bulk infrastructure development.

1.  INTRODUCTION

1.1 Overview[1]

Uthungulu District Municipality is situated in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal and is made up of the six local municipalities of Mbonambi, uMhlathuze, Ntambanana, uMlalazi, Mthonjaneni and Nkandla.

A flat coastal region comprises the Natal coastal belt and the Zululand coastal plain. Inland, the lowveld to the northeast and the Eshowe block to the west are hilly. To the northwest the terrain is more extreme, with steeply incised valleys.

The N2 highway is a link to other economic centres, in particular the national economic powerhouse, Gauteng Province. The most important rail link is the coal line from Mpumulanga Province via Vryheid to the Richards Bay coal terminal.

The significant economic centres that shape the district are Richards Bay, whose harbour facilities are world class and have been the prime reason for large-scale industrialisation in the district, and Empangeni, an industrial and service centre whose higher-order services attract people from many rural settlements. However, pockets of wealth in these centres are surrounded by vast areas where many people live in abject poverty. Rural poverty, rampant crime and the HIV/AIDS pandemic are major challenges to be met. Richards Bay has been identified as an industrial development zone and this is sure to boost economic activity and attract jobseekers. The district has a climate conducive to agriculture and tourism and has significant natural resources.

Major land uses are commercial agriculture (sugar-cane in the low-lying coastal belt and citrus, vegetables and subtropical fruit in irrigated areas), forestry (mainly in non-tribal areas), mining, traditional farming, urban areas that are expanding and industrial development in the Empangeni-Richards Bay complex. Manufacturing is the largest contributor to the economy (51%), followed by transport (15.1%) and agriculture (9.5%), although the community, social and personal services sector provides the most people with employment, with agriculture second and wholesale and retail trade third.

The district is characterised by low levels of urbanisation; approximately 80% of the population of 8213.39 live in the rural areas. More than 50% of the population is younger than 19 years. Thirty-one percent have no formal schooling. A further 18% entered the schooling system but left before completing primary school. Only 6% have a tertiary education. Employment stands at 23.84% and unemployment at 24.18%, while 51.99% are not economically active. The road infrastructure is under increasing pressure, particularly from heavy vehicles. The John Ross Highway and the adjacent network are simply not able to keep pace with demands placed on them; in addition, who is responsible for provincial and municipal roads still needs to be clarified.

There are enormous backlogs in service infrastructure, especially in rural areas. For example, 41% of households have no access to piped water and only 17% have water inside their dwelling. Thirty-five percent use pit latrines, mostly without ventilation, and 28% have no sanitation provision at all. Just over half of the population has electricity for lighting, while 42% still rely on candles. Small numbers use other sources such as gas, paraffin or solar generation.

There is a high demand for health services. AIDS-related deaths are unacceptably high, especially among young people; however, there needs to be more community involvement with regard to awareness campaigns. Recreational facilities are also needed, but development is hindered by a lack of finance and a general sentiment that these are not a priority.

The district has a broad-based tourism appeal, from bird-watching to luxury accommodation and cultural events.

Tourism development is focused on coastal resources, eco-tourism, wildlife and hunting. The core theme of the provincial strategy is Zulu culture and heritage and the district needs to tap into this. The major resources to promote eco-tourism include nature reserves at uMlalazi, Amatikulu, Enseleni, Ongoye Forest, Dlinza Forest and Nkandla Forest.

The rugged terrain presents an opportunity to open up 4 x 4 trails.

1.2 Municipalities within the Uthungulu District

The details of the six local municipalities within Uthungulu District are tabled below:

Table 1: Statistics of the Uthungulu District and Local Municipalies

Municipalities within the District / Area (km²)
in 2009 / Area (km2) after 2011
Local Govt Elections
& % change / Population / No. of
Households / Poverty Rate
uThungulu District Municipality / 8,213.39 / 8,213.39 / - / 905,382 / 186,806 / 62.50%
Mfolozi (Mbonambi) Local Municipality / 1,209.98 / 1,209.98 / - / 119,548 / 21,902 / 55.82%
Mthonjaneni Local Municipality / 1,085.97 / 1,085.97 / - / 47,592 / 10,805 / 57.83%
Nkandla Local Municipality / 1,827.58 / 1,827.58 / - / 129,040 / 22,666 / 72.76%
Ntambanana Local Municipality / 1,082.75 / 1,082.75 / - / 95,359 / 15,029 / 56.65%
uMhlathuze Local Municipality / 793.18 / 793.18 / - / 336,288 / 82,015 / 60.13%
uMlalazi Local Municipality / 2,213.94 / 2,213.94 / - / 177,555 / 34,389 / 71.81%

1.3  Political and Administrative Leadership and Seat of District[2]

Political Leadership: Executive Mayor: Ms TVB Nchunu

Administrative Leadership: Acting Municipal Manager: Mr D Nubbe

The head office of the District is located in Richards Bay.

1.4  Political representation[3]

Table 2: Local Government Election 2006 / Provincial & National Elections 2009 comparison:

Leading Parties in the Elections / Local Government Elections 2006 / Provincial Elections 2009 / National Elections 2009
Party / Party Votes and % / Ward Votes and % / Councillor Seats / Party / Votes and % / Party / Votes and %
Party / Seats / %
1st / IFP / 112,793 / 61.5% / 112,963 / 61.5% / IFP / 23 / 59.0% / ANC / 181,521 / 58.3% / ANC / 188,508 / 60.1%
2nd / ANC / 57,623 / 31.4% / 56,984 / 31.0% / ANC / 13 / 33.3% / IFP / 112,030 / 36.0% / IFP / 102,825 / 32.8%
3rd / DA / 6,181 / 3.4% / 6,193 / 3.4% / DA / 2 / 5.1% / DA / 11,033 / 3.5% / DA / 13,942 / 4.4%
4th / ACDP / 745 / 0.4% / 656 / 0.4% / FEDCO / 1 / 2.6% / COPE / 1,353 / 0.4% / COPE / 1,624 / 0.5%
Other / 6,180 / 3.4% / 6,869 / 3.7% / Other / Other / 5,433 / 1.7% / Other / 6,606 / 2.1%
Totals / 183,522 / 100% / 183,665 / 100% / Totals / 39 / 100% / 311,370 / 100% / 313,505 / 100%

Figure 1: 2011 Local Government Election results and seat allocations:

The ANC is the leading party in terms of proportional DC40 Seats in Uthungulu, with 9 seats of 17 seats.

2. SERVICE DELIVERY[4]

2.1 Uthungulu District Municipality Household Infrastructure

Uthungulu district has got the third highest access to infrastructure amongst the districts in the province. An overview of household access to infrastructure in the district shows an improvement in access from 36% in 1996 to 53% in 2009. Water and electricity infrastructure are the main contributor to the improvement in the district’s infrastructure in general.

2.2 Sanitation

With regard to access to sanitation, the district municipality’s household access to hygienic toilets has gone up from 31% in 1996 to 46% in 2009. The improvement in access to sanitation in general in the Municipality is mainly due to the increase in the use of pit latrines with ventilation which was around 15% in 2009.

2.3 Water

Water infrastructure is the main contributor to the improvement in the district’s infrastructure in general. Access to piped water above RDP level increased from 29% to 69% from 1996 to 2009. Similarly, there has been a slight increase as well in access to piped water below RDP level. About 20% of the households do not have access to piped clean water at all.

2.4 Electricity

The increase in electricity connections is the second biggest infrastructure achievement in the municipality. In 1996, household access to electricity connections was at a lower level of 39%. Access has, however, increased over the years by almost 36% reaching 75% by 2009.

2.5 Refuse removal

Access to formal refuse removal service decreased slightly from 23% in 1996 to 22% in 2009 in the District Municipality. While this is the case, personal refuse removal went up over the years reaching 55% in 2009. The high levels of personal refuse removal must be taken in the context of low settlement densities, where on-site disposal or backyard burning of waste is sometimes appropriate.

2.6 Service provider

Uthungulu district does not have authority and does not perform the electricity reticulation function. The district, however, has authority and performs potable water and sanitation functions. The district has no authority and is not performing the refuse removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal function.

3. AUDIT OPINIONS

Table 3: Audit Opinions of the District and Local Municipality

Municipality / Audit Opinion 2005/6 / Audit Opinion 2006/7 / Audit Opinion 2007/8 / Audit Opinion 2008/9 / Audit Opinion 2009/10
Uthungulu DM / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with findings / Financially unqualified with findings
Mfolozi LM (previously Mbonambi) / Qualified / Disclaimer / Disclaimer / Disclaimer / Qualified
Mthonjaneni LM / Qualified / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with findings / Financially unqualified with findings
Nkandla LM / Disclaimer / Qualified / Disclaimer / Disclaimer / Financially unqualified with findings
Ntambanana LM / Disclaimer / Qualified / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with findings / Financially unqualified with findings
City of uMhlathuze LM / Qualified / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with findings / Financially unqualified with findings
Umlalazi LM / Qualified / Disclaimer / Financially unqualified with other matters / Financially unqualified with findings / Financially unqualified with findings

Source: Auditor-General 2009 and 2011, see. www.agsa.co.za

Mfolozi failed to secure a financially unqualified audit outcome in the period from 2005/6 to 2009/10. On the other hand, between 2005/6 and 2009/10 Uthungulu district consistently received financially unqualified audit outcomes. In the five financial years from 2005/6 to 2009/10 Nkandla secured a financially unqualified audit outcome once. The two municipalities, Mthonjaneni and City of uMhlathuze, following qualified opinions in 2005/6 they managed to secure financially unqualified audit outcomes from 2006/7 to 2009/10.

4. STATE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSESSMENT

4.1 Overview of findings on assessment in the municipality

Uthungulu District was not highlighted in any specific category as in the most serious category of classification of municipalities, which seem to indicate that challenges are moderate. Three of the local municipalities (uMhlatuze, Mfolozi (Mbonambi), Nkandla) have been identified as facing serious challenges. These challenges are discussed in more detail below.

4.1.1 Governance

uMhlatuze Local Municipality is one of 17 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal affected by political instability. The Provincial Report lists a number of causes of political instability including: the lack of understanding and adherence to the roles and responsibilities of political office bearers, interference in council matters from the regional and provincial political structures, a lack of deliberations on matters in council, domination of some councils by politically powerful administrations, power struggles between political office bearers from same party and a lack of communication and public participation frameworks creates environment for uncoordinated interaction with community.