Emnambithi/Ladysmith

Quick Fact

According to Census 2011, Emnambithi-Ladysmith Local Municipality has a total population of 237 437 people.

Quick Fact Image 0,52% Growth Rate

Emnambithi-Ladysmith Local Municipality forms part of the Uthukela District Municipality, with Ladysmith, Ezakheni, Steadville and Colenso/Nkanyezi as main urban areas. Ladysmith is the primary urban area, located along the N11 national route, 20 kilometres off the N3 national route.

The priority development issues for Emnambithi-Ladysmith Local Municipality are physical infrastructure and services; social development and services; economic development; land reform, etc. Urban areas have far more services than rural ones but a much smaller population, indicating a clear imbalance in service provision. The Driefontein Complex has been identified as an area for priority spending. It has the highest population concentration but the lowest service standards.

(Source: http://www.ladysmith.co.za)

Rank By:
38 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Sol Plaatjie , Northern Cape 248,041 35
Greater Giyani , Limpopo 244,217 36
Moses Kotane , North West 242,554 37
Emnambithi/Ladysmith , KwaZulu-Natal 237,437 38
KwaDukuza , KwaZulu-Natal 231,187 39
Lepele-Nkumpi , Limpopo 230,350 40
Steve Tshwete , Mpumalanga 229,831 41
Quick Fact

8,1% of those aged 20 years and older have no form of schooling.

Quick Fact Image

According to Census 2011, Emnambithi-Ladysmith Local Municipality has a total population of 237 437 people of whom 91,8% are black African, 1,0% are coloured, 2,7% are white, and 4,4% are Indian/Asian. The other population groups make up the remaining 0,2%.

Of those aged 20 years and older, 4,6% have completed primary school, 33,2% have some secondary education, 30,9% have completed matric, and 9,0% have some form of higher education, while 8,1% of those aged 20 years and older have no form of schooling.

Group Percentage
Black African91,8%
Coloured1%
Indian/Asian4,4%
White2,7%
Other0,2%
Age Males Females
0-4 6,1% 6,1%
5-9 5,3% 5,4%
10-14 5,4% 5,1%
15-19 5,2% 5,2%
20-24 4,7% 5,2%
25-29 4,6% 4,9%
30-34 3,5% 3,8%
35-39 2,9% 3,1%
40-44 2,2% 2,7%
45-49 1,9% 1,9%
50-54 1,6% 2,3%
55-59 1,3% 1,9%
60-64 1% 1,6%
65-69 0,5% 1%
70-74 0,4% 0,8%
75-79 0,2% 0,5%
80-84 0,1% 0,4%
85+ 0,1% 0,3%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 2,2%
English 7,3%
IsiNdebele 1%
IsiXhosa 0,3%
IsiZulu 85,3%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 0,9%
Setswana 0,5%
Sign Language 0,5%
SiSwati 0,1%
Tshivenda 0%
Xitsonga 0,1%
Other 0.6%
Not Applicable 1,1%
Group Percentage
Married 16%
Living together like married partners 4,7%
Never married 75,7%
Widower/Widow 2,8%
Separated 0,4%
Divorced 0,4%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 2,6%
Some Primary 42,8%
Completed Primary 6,1%
Some Secondary 32,2%
Completed Secondary 14,4%
Higher Education 1,3%
Not Applicable 0,5%
Sex Percentage
Female 53%
Male 47%
Quick Fact

82,1% Access to electricity for lighting.

Quick Fact Image

There are 58 058 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 4,0 persons per household. 22,7% of households have access to piped water either in their dwelling or in the yard. 82,1% of households have access to electricity for lighting.

Area Percentage
Urban 53,1%
Tribal/Traditional 30,2%
Farm 16,7%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 89% 11%
Computer 13,4% 86,6%
Television 72,1% 27,9%
Satellite Television 20,6% 79,4%
Radio 72% 28%
Landline / Telephone 10,1% 89,9%
Motor Car 24,8% 75,2%
Refrigerator 66% 34%
Electric / Gas-Stove 73,4% 26,6%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 72,1% 55,5% 82,1%
Gas 2,9% 2,2% 0,2%
Paraffin 11,9% 10,3% 0,8%
Solar 0,2% 0,2% 0,3%
Candles 0% 0% 16,1%
Wood 10,8% 17,8% 0%
Coal 0,5% 0,9% 0%
Animal Dung 1,2% 1,9% 0%
Other 0,1% 0,1% 0%
None 0,4% 11,2% 0,4%
Access Percentage
From Home 5,4%
From Cellphone 17%
From Work 2,6%
From Elsewhere 6%
No Access 69%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 19,8%
Owned and fully paid off 38,8%
Owned but not yet paid off 10,9%
Occupied rent free 27,8%
Other 2,6%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 75,3%
Borehole 14,1%
Spring 1,7%
Rain water tank 0,8%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 1,2%
River/Stream 1%
Water vendor 0,8%
Water tanker 2,9%
Other 2,2%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 2,9%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 56,1%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 1,5%
Chemical toilet 2,2%
Pit toilet with ventilation 12%
Pit toilet without ventilation 22,5%
Bucket toilet 1,1%
Other 1,7%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 58,1%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,7%
Communal refuse dump 0,9%
Own refuse dump 32,7%
No rubbish disposal 6,8%
Other 0,8%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 58,1%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,7%
Communal refuse dump 0,9%
Own refuse dump 32,7%
No rubbish disposal 6,8%
Other 0,8%
Quick Fact

43,4% Youth unemployment rate is. 

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72 249 people are economically active (employed or unemployed but looking for work), and of these, 34,0% are unemployed.

Of the 39 523 economically active youth (15 – 35 years) in the area, 43,4% are unemployed.

Employment Status Number
Employed 47651
Unemployed 24598
Discouraged Work Seeker 10411
Not Economically Active 65130
Income Percentage
None income 14,8%
R1 - R4,800 5,3%
R4,801 - R9,600 9%
R9,601 - R19,600 20%
R19,601 - R38,200 19,9%
R38,201 - R76,4000 12,4%
R76,401 - R153,800 8,5%
R153,801 - R307,600 6%
R307,601 - R614,400 3,2%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,6%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,2%
R2,457,601+ 0,2%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 6,745
Poultry production 9,861
Vegetable production 9,276
Production of other crops 1,694
Other 1,052

**An agricultural household may engage in more than one agricultural activity

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 5,820
Animals only 8,485
Mixed farming 4,320
Other 379

**An agricultural household may not fall under more than one agricultural activity

Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 5,760
R1-R4 800 955
R4 801-R38 400 9,684
R38 401-R307 200 2,004
R307 201+ 187
Unspecified 415

Place names

Places in Emnambithi/Ladysmith Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population237,437
Young (0-14)33,3%
Working Age (15-64)62,2%
Elderly (65+)4,5%
Dependency ratio60,7
Sex ratio88,7
Growth rate0,52% (2001-2011)
Population density80 persons/km2
Unemployment rate34%
Youth unemployment rate43,4%
No schooling aged 20+8,1%
Higher education aged 20+9%
Matric aged 20+30,9%
Number of households58,058
Number of Agricultural households19,004
Average household size4
Female headed households49,4%
Formal dwellings80,5%
Housing owned/paying off49,7%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage56,1%
Weekly refuse removal58,1%
Piped water inside dwelling45,4%
Electricity for lighting82,1%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population225,459
Young (0-14)34,3%
Working Age (15-64)62,2%
Elderly (65+)4,1%
Dependency ratio62,4%
Sex ratio87,1
Growth rate4,67% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate49,2%
Youth unemployment rate58,8%
No schooling aged 20+16%
Higher education aged 20+6,7%
Matric aged 20+20,9%
Number of households50,529
Average household size4,3
Female headed households47,9%
Formal dwellings64,7%
Housing owned/paying off51,6%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage44,8%
Weekly refuse removal52,9%
Piped water inside dwelling32,4%
Electricity for lighting67,8%