UThungulu is one of the 11 District Municipalities (DM) of KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. The seat of uThungulu is Richards Bay. The DM is located in the North-Eastern region of the KwaZulu-Natal Province on the Eastern seaboard of South Africa. It consists of six Local Municipalities which are Umhlathuze, Umlalazi, Nkandla, Mbonambi, Ntambanana and Mthonjaneni. The District is home to the current President of the Republic. It has the third highest population in the Province after the eThekwini Metro (Durban and surrounds) and the uMgungundlovu District (Pietermaritzburg and surrounds). It stretches from the agricultural town of Gingindlovu in the south, to the uMfolozi River in the North and inland to the mountainous beauty of rural Nkandla. Richards Bay and Empangeni serve as industrial and service centres to many other parts of the district. Nkandla, Melmoth, Ntambanana, Bucanana, KwaMbonambi and Eshowe are other administrative nodes of economic significance in the district. The District has a warm climate all year round, with very mild winters and hot, humid summers. There is also a good seasonal rainfall. The temperate climate and warm seas off the coastline make it an ideal location for the development of agricultural projects and tourism facilities.
Economic Opportunities
UThungulu is well-endowed with natural resources. Its comparative advantages include:-
- A good climate that opens up avenues for productive agricultural and tourism development;
- Agriculture and irrigation infrastructure in place;
- A scenic environment and coastal terrain which create opportunities for tourism infrastructure development.
The Port
One of the major attractions for the district is the Port of Richards Bay, which is the largest deep-water port on the African continent. It imports and exports the highest volume of bulk cargo of all African ports and has double the capacity of the Port of Durban, handling in excess of 75-million tons of cargo annually. The bulk-handling facilities of the harbour are world-class and the trade links with international economies through the port have been the prime impetus for large-scale industrialisation in the area.
Important Sectors in uThungulu
Manufacturing
The manufacturing sector is the largest economic contributor to gross geographic product in the district, contributing over 50 percent. The manufacturing activities in uThungulu are metals, metal products and equipment, chemical products, wood and paper. The sector is highly specialized and focuses on exports.
Mining
The district is home to two mining giants who have capitalised on the mineral-rich land in uThungulu. Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) is a leading producer of titanium minerals, high purity iron and zircon, found in the coastal sands of the region. It supplies most of SA’s needs and exports the remaining products across the globe. Exxaro KZN Sands is SA’s flagship empowerment mining company, involved in the mining, beneficiation and smelting of mineral sands, mainly to produce titanium slag from smelting ilmenite. Other products include zircon, rutile, leucoxene and low manganese pig iron.
Forestry
The commercial forestry sector is well-developed with large plantations owned by private companies such as Mondi and Sappi. Small-grower timber production occurs mostly in the tribal areas.
Agriculture
The major land uses in the district are:-
- Commercial agriculture: the main crop is sugar cane, grown largely in the lower-lying coastal belt. The production of horticultural crops includes citrus, sub-tropical fruits and vegetables.
- Subsistence agriculture: this is associated with the majority of the tribal areas, which are characterised by under-development and high levels of poverty.
Tourism
UThungulu is also well developed with an abundance of natural resources. It forms a gateway to some of the country’s finest game reserves and is rich in cultural heritage, offering a unique Zulu Kingdom experience. UThungulu shares the branding, ‘Heart and Pulse of the Zulu Kingdom’ with its neighbouring district municipality, Zululand. The uThungulu District also has a number of wetlands, the most notable being Lake Cubhu and the Greater uMhlathuze Wetlands to the south of Richards Bay at Esikhawini. Tourism is a major income-earner with potential for further development. There is a growing demand for Zulu crafts and cultural items both domestically and internationally.