UMKHANYAKUDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
LIGHT FROM AFAR
"uMkhanyakude" refers to the greenish tree with some thorns (Acacia Xanthophloea Fever Tree) that mainly grows in the uMkhanyakude District. Literally it means "that shows light from afar." The name of the district reflects both the uniqueness of its people and their hospitality, as well as the biodiversity and conservation history that the region is very proud of. uMkhanyakude is home to the Big Five and offers memorable year-round tourism experiences with mild winters and hot summers.
uMkhanyakude is situated in the North-eastern region of KwaZulu-Natal. The District extends from Mtubatuba (St Lucia) in the south to Kosi Bay in the north, across to the Lubombo mountains in the west. The district includes the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, the first World Heritage Site proclaimed in South Africa. The Park stretches along the Zululand coast from Mapelane in the south to Kosi Bay in the north. The name reflects the many areas that make up its 220 000 hectares, such as Lake Sibaya, Sodwana Bay, Mkhuze Game Reserve, False Bay, Fanies Island, Charters Creek, Lake St Lucia, and Cape Vidal. iSimangaliso made modern natural history when living fossils - coelacanths - were discovered off its warm Indian Ocean shoreline.
The N2 and part of the Lubombo Mountains form a physical divide within the district. The Lubombo mountain range is known for its spectacular scenery made up of dense natural forests, rugged rock faces, caves and rivers that wind through deep mountain gorges. Better east-west access routes need to be established to improve accessibility to tourism and Local Economic Development opportunities along the coast and in the hinterland.
The district is mainly rural with the only formalised town being Mtubatuba in the south. However, several towns are growing rapidly, such as Hluhluwe, Manguzi, Jozini, Mkuze and Mbazwana.
A high proportion of the district is under thicket, grassland and wetland while remaining areas are cultivation land and settlement. Large areas of land are under communal tenure in the district, located in the traditional authority areas under the jurisdiction of the Ingonyama Trust. The remaining areas are under state conservation or private ownership with limited formal urban areas. Umkanyakude is one of four district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal that were selected as presidential nodes to redirect public funding to priority areas for poverty alleviation.
uMkhanyakude is well positioned to reap the benefits of South African-Mozambique business relations and infrastructural development like the Durban N2 Corridor to Maputo. The construction and operation of the Mkuze Regional Airport is an investment that will trigger business opportunities in the area. There is opportunity for investment around the airport which is to be upgraded to accommodate Boeing 737s. Upgrading includes the runway, beacons and eventually the terminal building.
Economy
The key drivers of the local economy are agriculture, services, tourism and retail. Agri-processing has potential, but this has yet to be realized as a key driver.
uMkhanyakude forms part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area. This conservation area includes South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. The Tembe-Futi portion of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area falls within uMkhanyakude, with Ndumo and Tembe Elephant Park forming major attractions. uMkhanyakude has applied for the entire district to be declared as a Biosphere Reserve, ensuring that all economic development is in line with conservation principles.
