UMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality
Encyclopedia
uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality is one of the five municipalities
in the jurisdiction of uMkhanyakude District Municipality
, situated in the northeastern part of Kwazulu-Natal
Province in South Africa
. The municipality is one of the poorest municipalities in the country; it encompasses a World Heritage Site
and several areas under environmental protection.
uMhlabuyalingana was approximately 98% rural in 2001, with a population of 140 963, according to Statistics South Africa
.
Towns and major settlement nodes in the area include Emanguzi, Mbazwana, Kwangwanase, Maputa, Mbazwana, Mboza, Mseleni
and Skhemelele.
uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality is made up of at least 99% black African people, most of whom are Zulu
-speaking. The population is very young: 44% are younger than 15, and 77% are younger than 35 years old. Because of its youth, uMhlabuyalingana's population is particularly vulnerable to the impact of HIV/AIDS.
Areas of conservation and environmental interest within or adjacent to the uMhlabuyalingana area include the Tembe Elephant Park
, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (a World Heritage Site
), the Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park, and the Phongolo Nature Reserve
.
, the Inkatha Freedom Party
(IFP), which controls the municipality, summoned its entire caucus to a meeting aimed at determining the veracity of reports alleging more than R3,000,000 (US$403,390) in funds unaccounted for. Professor Themba Msimang, chairman of the party's Policy Oversight Committee (POC), and also current chair of South Africa's Heraldry Council
, called for uMhlabuyalingana to accept a forensic audit
. According to an IFP press release, Msimang stated that the party was "highly agitated" by the reports, "not simply because of the implication of corruption but also because it transgressed everything the party stands for... We will have to await the process that entails the municipality's council calling for such a forensic audit. I can assure you, though, our party will get to the bottom of this, and, if heads have to roll, so be it: they will."
Local municipality (South Africa)
In South Africa, a local municipality or Category B municipality is a type of municipality that serves as the third, and most local, tier of local government...
in the jurisdiction of uMkhanyakude District Municipality
Umkhanyakude District Municipality
Umkhanyakude, named after the famous yellow-barked fever tree, literally meaning “seen from afar”, is the northernmost district in KwaZulu-Natal and contains many areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the St Lucia greater wetland park, Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay. Game parks include...
, situated in the northeastern part of Kwazulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
Province in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The municipality is one of the poorest municipalities in the country; it encompasses a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
and several areas under environmental protection.
uMhlabuyalingana was approximately 98% rural in 2001, with a population of 140 963, according to Statistics South Africa
Statistics South Africa
Statistics South Africa is the national statistical service of South Africa, with the goal of producing timely, accurate, and official statistics in order to advance economic growth, development, and democracy. To this end, Statistics South Africa produces official demographic, economic, and...
.
Towns and major settlement nodes in the area include Emanguzi, Mbazwana, Kwangwanase, Maputa, Mbazwana, Mboza, Mseleni
Mseleni
Mseleni is a small settlement in Umhlabuyalingana Maputaland, northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated not far away from the small town of Mbazwana...
and Skhemelele.
uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality is made up of at least 99% black African people, most of whom are Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
-speaking. The population is very young: 44% are younger than 15, and 77% are younger than 35 years old. Because of its youth, uMhlabuyalingana's population is particularly vulnerable to the impact of HIV/AIDS.
Areas of conservation and environmental interest within or adjacent to the uMhlabuyalingana area include the Tembe Elephant Park
Tembe Elephant Park
Tembe Elephant Park is a 300km² game reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is adjacent to Ndumo Game Reserve.The park was developed by Tembe Tribal Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife....
, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
), the Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park, and the Phongolo Nature Reserve
Phongolo Nature Reserve
Phongolo Nature Reserve is an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The reserve is a co-operative conservation project between private landowners, tribal communities and government conservation services, and aims to form the heart of a large ecological and...
.
Missing funds
On 8 April 20092009 in South Africa
-February:* 4 February – Jacob Zuma appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.* 4 February – Jimmy Mohlala a Mbombela Local Council Municipality speaker was shot dead in his Nelspruit home...
, the Inkatha Freedom Party
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
(IFP), which controls the municipality, summoned its entire caucus to a meeting aimed at determining the veracity of reports alleging more than R3,000,000 (US$403,390) in funds unaccounted for. Professor Themba Msimang, chairman of the party's Policy Oversight Committee (POC), and also current chair of South Africa's Heraldry Council
Heraldry Council (South Africa)
The Heraldry Council is part of the South African heraldic authority. It was established in Pretoria in June 1963, in terms of the Heraldry Act. It is the governing and policy-making body for the Bureau of Heraldry and consists of the National Herald ex officio as deputy chairman, and other...
, called for uMhlabuyalingana to accept a forensic audit
Forensic accounting
Forensic accounting is the specialty practice area of accountancy that describes engagements that result from actual or anticipated disputes or litigation. "Forensic" means "suitable for use in a court of law", and it is to that standard and potential outcome that forensic accountants generally...
. According to an IFP press release, Msimang stated that the party was "highly agitated" by the reports, "not simply because of the implication of corruption but also because it transgressed everything the party stands for... We will have to await the process that entails the municipality's council calling for such a forensic audit. I can assure you, though, our party will get to the bottom of this, and, if heads have to roll, so be it: they will."