About uMsinga Local Municipality
Geography, History & Economy
uMsinga Local Municipality is part of uMzinyathi District Municipality.
MDB code: KZN244
Area: 2 375km²
Cities/Towns: Solomon Linda
Main Economic Sectors: Community services (64.6%), trade (14%), construction (8.4%), transport (5%), agriculture (3.7%)
M uMsinga Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Umzinyathi District of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The name means a current in the sea where air movement causes ripples on top of the water surface and ends up influencing the nearby climatic conditions through its breeze.
uMsinga is a largely rural area with 70% of its area being Traditional Authority land held in trust by the Ingonyama Trust. The remaining 30% of land is commercial farm land, all of which is located to the north of Pomeroy. Due to the rural nature of the municipality, approximately 99% of the population lives in traditional areas. The municipality is in the south western part of the district municipality area.
uMsinga is also a wonderful place for the tourism industry because of its rich Zulu Kingdom heritage…
The nature of the topography is such that uMsinga is largely located in deep gorges of the Tugela and Buffalo Rivers. This effectively isolates the area from the immediate surrounding municipal areas. uMsinga is accessible via the R33, linking it with Dundee, Ladysmith, Pietermaritzburg, Kranskop and Weenen.
The population of uMsinga is estimated to be 160 000 people, in an area of 2 500 sq km, resulting in a population density of 64 people per square kilometre. There is a dominance of the three peri-urban settlements of Tugela Ferry, Pomeroy and Keate’s Drift. The population densities of these three areas are higher than in the rest of the municipality.
The population density pattern is further reinforced by rural villages that act as satellites to the three major settlements.
The population dynamics result in a growing rural area and a declining urban area in uMsinga, contrary to most other areas in the country.
This can be attributed to the fact that the urban areas of uMsinga are very small and are unable to provide the normal range of goods and services provided in urban areas. As a result, the population utilizes the neighbouring areas of Emnambithi and Umvoti for urban services.
The strong traditional culture prevalent particularly in uMsinga is a valuable asset that must be preserved and valued. These traditional areas provide support mechanisms for the communities, as well as living custodians of the culture.
Municipal Services
We have information on how to make many different transactions with our municipality.
Agriculture
Farming contributes 18% of the income for the area. Approximately 30% of the municipal area to the north comprises commercial farmland. Subsistence agriculture is practiced in areas adjoining the Tugela River irrigation schemes.
Potential does exist to expand informal agricultural activities to larger operations with more commercial value. This would however, require these areas to be managed more effectively from an agricultural point of view.
Numerous community garden clubs/groups cultivate vegetables on 89 hectares of land, and these are predominantly located along the available water sources.
This indicates the willingness of the community to be involved in crop production if the necessary support is provided. However, finding sustainable markets for the sale of local produce and products, remains challenging and problematic.
Population Demographics
According to Statistics SA the population of Msinga in 2007 was 161 894 with a total of 32 592 households. The population is largely concentrated around the towns of Keates Drift, Solomon Linda (formerly known as Pomeroy) and Tugela Ferry. Regarding gender, 57.7 percent of the population are female and there is a high percentage male absenteeism in the employment group 20-64 years of age. (Stats SA, 2007)(uMsinga Municipality, 2011).
The Department of Education’s Circuit Office in Tugela Ferry indicated that there are 172 schools that serve a school going population of 61605 pupils in uMsinga. Most of the schools are situated in the rural villages and settlements; with most having been initiated by communities that later obtained a Government Grant for Upgrading. Statistics SA showed a ratio of 40 learners per educator and 58 learners per classroom in Msinga.
A Further Education Training Centre was created at uMsinga High School. Furthermore, the uMsinga Municipality built 38 classrooms at 19 schools in 2004 and in 2005/06 22 more classrooms were built at schools in uMsinga. According to the Department of Education; there are 107 schools that have no electricity, 40 schools that have no water and 30 schools that have structural defects. (uMsinga IDP, 2011).
Health Care
In 1870 Dr Gordon, a missionary, was sent to the Msinga region by the Church of Scotland. He very sadly drowned at sea before reaching South Africa. Dr James Dalzell was sent as his replacement. He was a physician, missionary and surgeon.
Dr Dalzell established a primary and secondary school; and shortly before his death, he established a clinic.
Dr Gale succeeded Dr Dalzell, and moved the clinic closer to the Tugela River, where the current Church of Scotland Hospital (COSH) is situated. He was the first Medical Superintendent of the hospital. COSH was handed over to the government in 1978. (www.kznhealth.gov.za).
COSH does absolutely incredible work in Msinga. It is the only hospital within the Msinga Municipal area and it is centrally located and relatively accessible to the majority of the population. Hospitals, outside Msinga, that are in reach of the general population, includes Dundee, Nquthu and Greytown. There are also 15 satellite clinics that serve the more rural areas in Msinga, as well as two mobile clinics that serve 31 points of varying sizes on a regular basis. (Msinga IDP, 2011)
Learn more about our Business Units
Our Municipal functions are covered by various business units that operate seamlessly and are coordinated to address the most pertinent service delivery issues plaguing our people today.