Well positioned to link both Durban and Gauteng province through the N3 Freeway. This district has an uneven picture of economic activities. Emnambithi/Ladysmith is the key town in this district. Economically this district is the third least contributor to the provincial GGP after Sisonke and uMkanyankude Districts, standing at 4%. Statistically there are 656 986 people living in this district of which 75 651 are employed with a total labour force of 375 131.
Manufacturing is the highest source of employment, followed by Community, Social and Personal
services and the Wholesale and Retail industry.
Commercial farming and telecommunication seem to be the only key drivers of economic activities of uThukela
District Municipality. Livestock (beef, dairy and sheep) and field crop are agricultural activities.
Tourism is very strong in the Drakensberg Resorts and the Tugela Falls, which is the worlds second tallest
water fall is also located in the uThukela region.
The district municipality includes five local municipalities, namely Emnambithi, Indaka, Umtshezi,
OKhahlamba and Imbabazane. It is a region that has an abundance of natural resources and opportunities.
It is also rich in history, with a wealth of historical buildings, battle sites and memorials. The intrinsic
beauty of the area enhances the tourism opportunities in the district.
UThukela is highly accessible and linked to both the provincial and national economic centres by well-established
provincial and national road networks. The N3 and N11 make uThukela an important entry point to KwaZulu-Natal.
The R74 is an alternative route from the Free State, and is an important tourist route linking the Drakensberg
with the north coast of the province.
Nodes and Development Corridors for KZN for the next five years.
Support land reform beneficiaries - Weenen & Winterton |
Support for land reform cluster projects across Uthukela - Besters, Ladysmith and Weenen (with a special focus on maize and beef farming) |
Battle fields routes: development of linkages to benefit previously disadvantaged |
Drakensberg eco-tourism: develop cultural tourism opportunities with bordering communities |
Emnambithi Industrial Area: provision of world class infrastructure |
Provide adequate affordable housing and related services |
Plan Weenen to position for investment |
Provide adequate affordable housing and related services in towns |
Finally, the Agrarian Revolution Strategy has clearly identified targeted Districts for 2006/7 which should each receive approximately R35m of Siyavuna funding . Each district will have specific targeted commodity focus areas that respond to the Provincial Agricultural Framework, areas of identified Hunger, and the priority areas identified by the Provincial Government and the Premier for 2006/7 specifically.
Supporting targeted Research into the potential for Aquaculture projects via the Tugela Estates Aquaculture facility |
Facilitate resuscitation of Vegetable production at Tugela Estates in partnership with social partners (CORD) |
Implement 'massified' / high impact Maize and Bean projects in conjunction with market / processing facilities, mechanisation fund and sustainable irrigation infrastructure |
Establish Mushroom production and distribution sites at all hospitals and clinics with high malnutrition records and seriously low levels of child growth rates (in conjunction with Vitamin supplementation programmes) i.e. Bergville and Estcourt areas |
Implement Nguni projects in partnership with Livestock Associations established under the Siyavuna Diptank Programme and the ARRUP Corridors (using Zimbambele Savings Clubs) |
Implement Greening projects (Pecans) in partnership with Department of Economic Development |
Support Land Reform initiatives (e.g. Besters) |
Support Land Care and Alien Weed Control Initiatives |
COMPANY NAME | SOURCE COUNTRY | WEBSITE |
---|---|---|
Apollo Tyres | India | www.apollotyres.co.za |
Defy Appliances (Pty) Ltd | SA | www.defy.co.za |
Siemens | Germany | www.siemens.co.za |
The district municipality includes five local municipalities, namely Emnambithi, Indaka, Umtshezi, OKhahlamba and Imbabazane. It is a region that has an abundance of natural resources and opportunities. It is also rich in history, with a wealth of historical buildings, battle sites and memorials. The intrinsic beauty of the area enhances the tourism opportunities in the district. UThukela is highly accessible and linked to both the provincial and national economic centres by well-established provincial and national road networks. The N3 and N11 make uThukela an important entry point to KwaZulu-Natal. The R74 is an alternative route from the Free State, and is an important tourist route linking the Drakensberg with the north coast of the province.
Local Municipality | Telephone | Facsimile | |
---|---|---|---|
Emnambithi | 036 6372231 | 036 6311400 | mpkathide@ladysmith.co.za smassyn@ladysmith.co.za |
Indaka | 034 2611000 / 2036 | 034 2612035 | hlatshwayozs@webmail.co.za |
Umtshezi | 036 3427800 | 036 3525829 | municipalmanager@mtshezi.co.za jay@mtshezi.co.za |
Okhahlamba | 036 4488000 | 036 4481986 / 2472 | sizasibande@gmail.com dudukadlamini@gmail.com |
Imbabazane | 036 3530681/ 2 | 036 3536661 | Moses.ndlela@imbabazane.co.za Nontobeko.mvelase@imbabazane.co.za |
The government projects are the responsibility of each respective government department, therefore TIKZN is not responsible for the updating of this information. For further assistance, kindly contact the department responsible directly. Follow this link for available projects:
http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.zaDespite the fact that KwaZulu-Natal covers such a small portion of South Africa's land area, a significant percentage of the country's small-scale farmers are based here. Agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal is extremely diverse and is reflected in the patterns of its topography. Most of the world's agricultural activities can be practised here. Due to the good reliable rainfall and fertile soils, the region's agricultural sector has become very productive, and is known for its specialist capability in several types of farming. The Province has a total of 6.5 million hectares of land for farming purposes of which 82% is suitable for extensive livestock production and 18% is arable land.
The agricultural sector is focused mainly on the following:
Crops: Sugar, Maize
Horticulture: Sub-tropical fruits especially pineapples and bananas, Cashew nuts, Potatoes, Vegetables
Animal Husbandry: Beef, Sheep (mutton and wool), Pigs, Poultry
Forestry: SA Pine, Saligna, Black Wattle, eucalyptus, poplar,
There is tremendous potential for agricultural expansion in KwaZulu-Natal. It has been conservatively
estimated that if the agricultural natural resources were optimally managed, the present production yield
could be increased dramatically, thus unlocking the full agricultural production potential of KwaZulu-Natal.
The social programs and the government/private sector joint projects that have been facilitated and implemented by the sugar industry bear testimony to the industry's conscious commitment to the socio-economic and welfare upliftment of its employees. The key challenge for the sugar cane industry remains the maintenance of competitiveness in relation to other world-class producers and industries.