Search

City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality (KZN282)

Municipality
Area: Area: 1 233km² | MDB Code: | MDB code: KZN282

Physical Address

5 Mark Strasse, Central Business District, Richards Bay

Postal: Private Bag X1004, Richards Bay, 3900

Contact Details

Phone: 035 907 5000 / 0800 222 827

Accounts: 035 907 5960/5286/5497
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Website: Visit Website

Facebook: Facebook Page

Electricity: 035 907 5385/035 907 5371
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Refuse & Waste: 035 907 5679/035 907 5789
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Roads: 035 907 5208/035 907 5869
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Service Delivery: 035 907 5000/0800 222 827
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Water: 035 907 5454/035 907 5865
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Operating Hours

WORKING HOURS
Monday 08:30 – 16:00
Tuesday 08:30 – 16:00
Wednesday 08:30 – 16:00
Thursday 08:30 – 16:00
Friday 08:30 – 15:15
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

* Closed on Public Holidays

About City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality (KZN282)

Description: The City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated within the King Cetshwayo District on the north-east coast of KwaZulu-Natal. It is the largest among the five municipalities that make up the district. It is comprised of 34 wards, having the largest number of wards in the district, and is the third economic hub in the province after eThekwini and Msunduzi Municipalities respectively. The City of uMhlathuze is the best secondary city in KwaZulu-Natal and seventh in the country. It boasts the deepest water port, in Richards Bay, and is home to the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ), which drives the inwards investment of the City through foreign direct investments. It is the fastest-growing municipality in KwaZulu-Natal and has been touted as the best performing municipality in the province, with a good governance record of four consecutive Clean Audits. The City of uMhlathuze is a strategically placed, aspirant metropol due to its rapid economic growth and ability to generate sustainable revenue. Richards Bay is considered to be the industrial and tourism hub, eMpangeni the commercial hub, eSikhaleni the largest suburb, and Ntambanana is the home of safari tourism as it hosts the renowned Thula Thula Private Game Reserve. The John Ross Parkway (R43) is the major access road to the City from the inland provinces. This is the road which carries the economy of the City of uMhlathuze since it links the harbour with the N2 towards Mpumalanga Province, Swaziland and Mozambique on the north; Durban and Pietermaritzburg on the south; and Gauteng and other inland provinces on the western side. The road boasts the country’s longest road bridge and has been designed to meet the growing transport needs of the City in line with the development plans for the CBD and harbour. Apart from being an industrial and economic hub, the City enjoys a diverse natural environment. Importantly, the City of uMhlathuze is a progressive municipality that appreciates the need to achieve a successful balance and synergy between industry, its rich environmental assets, and the community. Cities/Towns: Empangeni, Eshowe, KwaGingindlovu, KwaMbonambi, Mtunzini, Nkandla, Ntambanana, Richards Bay, eMthonjaneni (Melmoth)

ℹ️ Important Notice

This page provides informational guidance only for City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality (KZN282). For official confirmation of municipal services, leadership, and contact details, always verify through the municipality’s official website: www.umhlathuze.gov.za. Additional verified information is available at www.gov.za.

Cities and Towns

Cities/Towns: Empangeni, Richards Bay

Cities and Towns Served by City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality (KZN282) Municipality

Empangeni Municipality Richards Bay Municipality

This municipality provides services and support to the areas listed above. For official municipal information, visit the official municipality website.

Municipal Leadership

Mayor: IFP/DA/ACDP/NFP/VF PLUS Coalition

Deputy Mayor: Mr Christo Botha (DA)

Speaker: Mr Tobias Gumede (IFP)

Chief Whip: Dr Nkonzoyakhe Donda

Municipal Manager: Mr Phakama Mhlongo

Chief Financial Officer: Mr Mxolisi Kunene (Deputy Municipal Manager: Financial Services)

Other Council: IFP/DA/ACDP/NFP/VF PLUS Coalition

Chief Whip:
Dr Nkonzoyakhe Donda

Senior Management:

Chief Financial Officer:
Mr Mxolisi Kunene (Deputy Municipal Manager: Financial Services)

Communications Officers: Mr Bongani Gina

Demographic Information

  202220162011
Population 412 075410 465370 256
Age Structure
Population under 15 25.9%34.7%29.9%
Population 15 to 64 69.4%62.0%66.8%
Population over 65 4.7%3.3%3.3%
Dependency Ratio
Per 100 (15-64) 44.161.349.7
Sex Ratio
Males per 100 females 94.293.394.6
Population Growth
Per annum 1.04%2.81%n/a
Labour Market
Unemployment rate (official) n/an/an/a
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34 n/an/an/a
Education (aged 20 +)
No schooling 7.8%5.9%8.2%
Matric n/a44.3%36.8%
Higher education 14.6%13.5%13.0%
Household Dynamics
Households 100 441110 50394 010
Average household size 4.13.73.9
Female headed households n/a43.3%41.3%
Formal dwellings 97.0%88.3%87.4%
Housing owned n/a74.9%52.2%
Household Services
Flush toilet connected to sewerage 62.5%45.7%51.2%
Weekly refuse removal 55.3%43.1%49.8%
Piped water inside dwelling 58.0%43.0%46.7%
Electricity for lighting 99.2%98.8%93.5%

Financial Information

All values: R’0002024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOME n/aClean auditClean auditClean auditClean audit
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
Property rates754 392675 918615 808567 444551 173
Service charges3 078 8302 826 1182 614 4242 428 5662 283 720
Investment revenue37 98833 92426 84634 73532 646
Transfers recognised – operational581 894554 647503 405437 070491 484
Other own revenue707 483917 015854 961806 659218 743
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)5 160 5885 007 6224 615 4454 274 4723 577 766
Employee costs1 140 5271 155 9971 076 6401 032 294956 520
Remuneration of councillors34 65530 59732 72430 52831 204
Depreciation and amortisation331 284325 337312 064338 423349 123
Finance charges189 650158 83989 00457 20059 021
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases2 267 1542 038 0911 760 0301 698 8521 320 192
Transfers and subsidies2 5808 9278 7729 2799 787
Other expenditure1 520 0041 564 8021 496 1401 057 735908 726
Total Expenditure5 485 8545 282 5904 775 3734 224 3113 634 573
Surplus/(Deficit)(325 266)(274 968)(159 929)50 162(56 807)
Transfers and subsidies – capital (monetary allocations)202 510258 387250 741181 567188 217
Transfers and subsidies – capital (in-kind)287––1 627–
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions(122 469)(16 581)90 813233 356131 410
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate–––––
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year(122 469)(16 581)90 813233 356131 410
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE & FUNDS SOURCES
Capital expenditure510 490797 6711 258 278697 858459 007
Transfers recognised – capital125 088239 573217 75395 166177 255
Borrowing357 529387 495587 718387 203110 999
Internally generated funds26 607170 526203 184207 269163 129
Total sources of capital funds509 223797 5941 008 655689 638451 383
FINANCIAL POSITION
Total current assets1 220 5081 190 8791 739 3381 700 8041 445 130
Total non current assets8 009 5297 901 0487 472 1886 569 9986 227 519
Total current liabilities998 464965 8111 030 397946 939654 984
Total non current liabilities1 995 9311 768 0061 509 8881 060 669952 504
Community wealth/Equity6 235 6426 358 1116 671 2416 263 1945 933 751
CASH FLOWS
Net cash from (used) operating367 233353 113375 80089 572502 685
Net cash from (used) investing(562 773)(858 801)(1 067 925)(733 359)106 096
Net cash from (used) financing177 176257 317490 077284 40990 000
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end254 103246 738482 715461 3121 298 700
UNAUTHORISED, IRREGULAR, FRUITLESS & WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE
Unauthorised expendituren/a––––
Irregular expendituren/a–405–12 481
Fruitless & wasteful expendituren/a––––
SOURCEAudited Outcome
A1 2026 Q1		Audited Outcome
A1 2026 Q1		Audited Outcome
A1 2026 Q1		Audited Outcome
A1 2024		Audited Outcome
A1 2023

Municipal Services

  2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Water
Does the municipality provide? YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided 111 716111 431111 335110 503105 905
Number of domestic households/delivery points 111 716111 431111 335110 503105 905
Inside the yard 105 409105 140105 044104 21299 343
Less than 200m from yard 2 0162 0002 0002 0006 562
More than 200m from yard 4 2914 2914 2914 2910
Domestic households with access to free basic service 1 30417 39910 03110 84611 528

Electricity
Does the municipality provide? YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided 88 90888 82088 73688 64187 495
Domestic households with access to free basic service 690647581521558

Sewerage and Sanitation
Does the municipality provide? YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided 89 71389 44489 44489 44489 444
Number of households using:
Flush toilet – public sewerage 43 26743 06843 06843 06843 068
Flush toilet – septic tank 00000
Ventilated pit latrine 46 44646 37646 37646 37646 376
Bucket system 00000
Other 00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service 1 30460 94260 26061 35361 116

Solid Waste Services
Does the municipality provide? YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided 81 63281 61081 10679 06077 028
Domestic households with access to free basic service 1 30438 14836 97833 01033 772

Water

035 907 5454/035 907 5865
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Electricity

035 907 5385/035 907 5371
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Refuse and Waste

035 907 5679/035 907 5789
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Roads

035 907 5208/035 907 5869
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Service Delivery

035 907 5000/0800 222 827
creg@umhlathuze.gov.za

Municipality Map

City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality (KZN282) map

Frequently Asked Questions

Testimonials

Customer Reviews