uMlalazi

Quick Fact

uMlalazi has a total population of 213,601.

Quick Fact Image -0,34% Growth Rate

uMlalazi Local Municipality is made up of the towns of Eshowe, Mtunzini, and Gingindlovu. The villages of Amatikulu and Ntumeni, together with considerable rural hinterland, cover one of the largest geographical areas of all municipalities in South Africa, with a total area of 2 217 km2.

The municipal area is dominated by tribal areas, and 14 Tribal Authorities exist within the area (uMlalazi municipality website). The area appears to have sufficient sources for the provision of water. A complicating factor is the undulating topography, which is characteristic of the entire municipal area. In some instances it is therefore difficult and expensive to provide these services. Arterial roads through the area are in good condition. In practically all instances district roads and farm roads are in poor condition and in need of upgrading.

Rank By:
42 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
KwaDukuza , KwaZulu-Natal 231,187 39
Lepele-Nkumpi , Limpopo 230,350 40
Steve Tshwete , Mpumalanga 229,831 41
uMlalazi , KwaZulu-Natal 213,601 42
Greater Letaba , Limpopo 212,701 43
Abaqulusi , KwaZulu-Natal 211,060 44
Matatiele , Eastern Cape 203,843 45
Quick Fact

22,5% of people aged 20+ had no form of schooling.

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There are 213 601 residents in the municipality. The dominating language in the municipality is isiZulu. 92% of the total population are Zulu speaking, while 4% are English speaking. Females constitute 56 % of the municipal population, while males make up 44% of the population.

Group Percentage
Black African97,1%
Coloured0,6%
Indian/Asian0,7%
White1,5%
Other0,2%
Age Males Females
0-4 6,7% 6,7%
5-9 6% 5,9%
10-14 6,2% 5,9%
15-19 6,3% 6,2%
20-24 4,6% 5,2%
25-29 3,3% 4,2%
30-34 2,4% 3%
35-39 2,1% 2,6%
40-44 1,7% 2,3%
45-49 1,6% 1,6%
50-54 1,3% 2%
55-59 1,2% 1,7%
60-64 1,1% 1,9%
65-69 0,7% 1%
70-74 0,5% 1,1%
75-79 0,3% 0,7%
80-84 0,2% 0,6%
85+ 0,2% 0,4%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 0,9%
English 3,5%
IsiNdebele 1,3%
IsiXhosa 0,2%
IsiZulu 91,9%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 0,1%
Setswana 0,7%
Sign Language 0,4%
SiSwati 0,1%
Tshivenda 0%
Xitsonga 0%
Other 0.4%
Not Applicable 0,2%
Group Percentage
Married 17,5%
Living together like married partners 3,3%
Never married 76,3%
Widower/Widow 2,1%
Separated 0,6%
Divorced 0,2%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 4,1%
Some Primary 45,4%
Completed Primary 6,7%
Some Secondary 31,8%
Completed Secondary 11,2%
Higher Education 0,7%
Not Applicable 0,1%
Sex Percentage
Female 53,9%
Male 46,1%
Quick Fact

58,2% had household of electricity lighting.

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The majority of the population in the municipality (80%) reside in traditional/tribal areas, 14% live in urban areas and 6% live on farms. The average household size in the municipality is 4,7. In this municipal area, 50,6 % of the households own their houses.

Area Percentage
Urban 8,6%
Tribal/Traditional 89%
Farm 2,4%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 84,5% 15,5%
Computer 7,4% 92,6%
Television 47,4% 52,6%
Satellite Television 10,2% 89,8%
Radio 60,4% 39,6%
Landline / Telephone 6,3% 93,7%
Motor Car 14,9% 85,1%
Refrigerator 47,1% 52,9%
Electric / Gas-Stove 53% 47%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 45,5% 35,5% 58,2%
Gas 5,6% 2,8% 0,6%
Paraffin 5,3% 2% 0,8%
Solar 0,2% 0,6% 0,3%
Candles 0% 0% 38,9%
Wood 42,5% 36,5% 0%
Coal 0,2% 2,6% 0%
Animal Dung 0,1% 0,2% 0%
Other 0,2% 0% 0%
None 0,5% 19,7% 1,1%
Access Percentage
From Home 3,7%
From Cellphone 17,9%
From Work 2%
From Elsewhere 3,7%
No Access 72,7%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 12%
Owned and fully paid off 38,9%
Owned but not yet paid off 11,7%
Occupied rent free 30,2%
Other 7,2%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 48,7%
Borehole 7,5%
Spring 2,6%
Rain water tank 1,4%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 8%
River/Stream 20,5%
Water vendor 1,9%
Water tanker 6,3%
Other 3,1%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 22,6%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 13,4%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 6,1%
Chemical toilet 8,6%
Pit toilet with ventilation 9,5%
Pit toilet without ventilation 29,6%
Bucket toilet 2,2%
Other 8%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 15,8%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1,8%
Communal refuse dump 1,6%
Own refuse dump 54,4%
No rubbish disposal 22,7%
Other 3,6%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 15,8%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1,8%
Communal refuse dump 1,6%
Own refuse dump 54,4%
No rubbish disposal 22,7%
Other 3,6%
Quick Fact

35,2% Unemployment rate.

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The main economic activities within the municipality are agriculture and tourism. The uMlalazi area is reliant on the agricultural sector for its economic wellbeing. Agricultural production is dominated by sugar cane, although some timber production also takes place, while citrus farming is undertaken in the Nkwaleni Valley.

There is, however, a need to diversify into more sustainable products such as dried fruit, juices, wood crafts, and citrus oils. Value adding approaches should focus on processing, packaging, marketing and the distribution of farm produce.

Employment Status Number
Employed 24792
Unemployed 13480
Discouraged Work Seeker 11520
Not Economically Active 72312
Income Percentage
None income 12,6%
R1 - R4,800 5,1%
R4,801 - R9,600 8,8%
R9,601 - R19,600 26,7%
R19,601 - R38,200 23,8%
R38,201 - R76,4000 10,5%
R76,401 - R153,800 5,6%
R153,801 - R307,600 3,7%
R307,601 - R614,400 2,3%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,6%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,2%
R2,457,601+ 0,1%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 9,752
Poultry production 10,079
Vegetable production 11,471
Production of other crops 3,402
Other 2,538

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 6,475
Animals only 8,825
Mixed farming 6,156
Other 539

**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 5,528
R1-R4 800 1,000
R4 801-R38 400 13,002
R38 401-R307 200 1,603
R307 201+ 236
Unspecified 625

Place names

Places in uMlalazi Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population213,601
Young (0-14)37,2%
Working Age (15-64)57,2%
Elderly (65+)5,6%
Dependency ratio74,9
Sex ratio85,4
Growth rate-0,34% (2001-2011)
Population density96 persons/km2
Unemployment rate35,2%
Youth unemployment rate45,1%
No schooling aged 20+22,5%
Higher education aged 20+5,7%
Matric aged 20+23%
Number of households45,062
Number of Agricultural households21,995
Average household size4,5
Female headed households55,3%
Formal dwellings60,7%
Housing owned/paying off50,6%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage13,4%
Weekly refuse removal15,8%
Piped water inside dwelling19,6%
Electricity for lighting58,2%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population221,078
Young (0-14)39,7%
Working Age (15-64)57,2%
Elderly (65+)5,2%
Dependency ratio81,5%
Sex ratio82,7
Growth rate-0,81% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate53,2%
Youth unemployment rate62,1%
No schooling aged 20+39,6%
Higher education aged 20+3,5%
Matric aged 20+11,8%
Number of households38,446
Average household size4,9
Female headed households54,6%
Formal dwellings42,1%
Housing owned/paying off51,7%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage13,6%
Weekly refuse removal12,4%
Piped water inside dwelling8,8%
Electricity for lighting44,6%