Proactive Improvement

The Ugu District Municipality consists of the following local municipalities: Umdoni, Umuziwabantu, Umzumbe and the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.

The municipality, with a coastline of 112 km, is characterised by unspoiled subtropical bushland and forest, lazy beaches, small rural villages, extensive coastal sugar plantations, and major industrial complexes. The modern N2 highway runs through Ugu parallel to the sea, passing Port Shepstone, the seat of the district and the main commercial centre.

Other coastal towns include Pennington, Margate and Scottburgh. The highway serves as both a link and gateway to the neighbouring Eastern Cape and in the opposite direction to Durban and Johannesburg. Economically this district is the third largest contributor to the provincial GDP. Ugu boasts numerous historical, religious and cultural assets as well as growing business investment opportunities.

The South Coast has the distinction of having the most permanently managed Blue Flag beaches in Africa and its Blue Flag beaches have all retained their eco status, including Hibberdene; Umzumbe; Southport; Lucien, Ramsgate, Marina and Trafalgar beaches.

The South Coast is also well-known as the country's 'Golf Coast' boasting 11 diverse courses stretching from Umkomaas in the north to Wild Coast Sun in the south. The municipality's proactive improvement of its infrastructure, education, health and recreational facilities contributes immensely to its appeal.

Concentrated Economic Hub
The Ray Nkonyeni Municipality is the most concentrated economic hub within the Ugu District Municipality. The main features of the economy are tourism and agriculture. Commercial agriculture in the district produces one-fifth of all bananas consumed in South Africa, with numerous companies successfully exporting these and other products including macadamia nuts to some of the most exclusive packers in the United Kingdom.

The municipality's hilly terrain contains extraordinary features such as the Oribi Gorge. The Oribi Gorge offers sporting activities not for the faint-hearted, such as the wild swing, rock climbing, abseiling, and many more. Some manufacturing is centred around Port Shepstone.

Providing Services
Umdoni Municipality's seat is in Scottburgh, which is located on the mid-south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The economy of the town is based on tourism, commerce, industry, agriculture and government offices.

Scottburgh has a well-developed infrastructure system, providing services to a sound commercial sector and a middle to upper class residential component. One of the area's mature lifestyle estates attracting substantial interest is Renishaw Hills, situated on the Mpambanyoni Conservation Development just outside Scottburgh.

Largely Rural
Umuziwabantu Municipality consists of a largely rural area. Features include; an urban development, the town of Harding, farmland, commercially-grown forests and Traditional Authority areas. Apart from the town of Harding, which is the seat of the municipality, 56% of the municipal area is occupied by individually-owned commercial farms and the Weza afforestation region.

Ideal for Development
The Local Municipality of Umzumbe extends along the coast for a short stretch between Mtwalume and Hibberdene, and then balloons out into the hinterland for some 60 km. Umzumbe Municipality has been strategically identified as ideal for the development of Umzumbe River Trade where tourists will enjoy all available activities on this development.