This district is well positioned as it is bordered in the South by the Indian Ocean. The Port Shepstone Pennington, Margate and Hibberdene are key cities of economic activities and tourism attraction. Economically this district is the third largest contributor to the provincial GGP after Ethekwini and uThungulu districts but on par with uMgungundlovu district, standing at 3%. Statistically there are 573 341 people living in this district of which 38 193 are employed with a total labour force of 299 602
Agriculture is recognized as an important sector contributing significantly to the district economy. The agricultural activity in the Ugu is mainly crop farming (i.e. flowers, chilies, cucumber and tomatoes), commercial farming have established markets for sugar, timber, banana, tea and macadamia nuts. The subsistence farming areas exhibit low levels of livestock and poultry due to a very few small dams that are in the district. Small scales of farmers are also found in areas like Hlokozi, KwaJali, Ezingolweni and Umzumbe. There is a substantial harvesting of crayfish and oysters particularly in the Port Edward and Mfazazana areas. Commercial plantations are situated in the high rainfall areas in Harding, in the north areas of Vulamehlo and in the central areas of Umzumbe and Ezinqoleni.
There are two major industries that are limestone - mining in the district. Alpha Carbonates is located in Hibiscus local municipality and it supplies the fertilizer, animal fodder, paint, paper and plastic industries. Simuma cements is located in the Ezinqoleni local municipality. Food and beverages industry is mainly in Hibiscus coast municipality, present 14% of manufacturing sector. Clothing and textile are recognized as major employment sector and they are dominant in Port Shepstone, Umkomaas and Scottsburg. The metal industries are located in Margate, Umzinto and Port Shepstone. The small wood and wood products are concentrated around Harding, Port Shepstone and Margate.
Trade is the second highest contributing sector in the district economy. Indicators show that the sector
contributed R664.8 million to the local economy and 16.7% to the total economy of the district. The trade sector
is well established and extends into the rural areas through the sale of goods and services, particularly basics
households supplies and educational requirements. In the rural areas they rely on spaza shops and trading stores to
generate income.
Tourism sector is one of the major generators of employment in the district. The tourism
related firms are based along the coastal strip where there are beaches, coves and golf courses. The main tourists'
attraction includes beaches, scenery sites, inland activity fishing and adventure tourism. Popular attractions and
important nature conservation areas are located in the southern section of Hibiscus coast municipality, within
Ezinqoleni and inland of Scottsburg
It is the most preferred and popular tourism destination by both local and foreign tourists. It includes the well established coastal towns such as Port Shepstone, Margate, Pennington and Hibberdene. The district incorporates some of the best sub-tropical bush land and forest in KwaZulu-Natal. The main economic activities in the district are in the areas of tourism, agriculture and some manufacturing. Port Shepstone is the main commercial centre and the major source of employment. The local municipalities within the district are Hibiscus, Ezinqoleni, Umdoni, uMuziwabantu, Umzumbe and Vulamehlo.
Nodes and Development Corridors for this region for the next five years:
Development of sugar cane & banana production potential on Trust land |
Alignment of land reform initiative with opportunities presented by Fresh Produce Market |
Expand agri-processing capabilities and capacities to allow for new entrants to commercial agriculture |
Development of further agri-processing capabilities in Port Shepstone - bio fuels, bananas |
-Battle fields routes: development of linkages to benefit previously disadvantaged
Drakensberg eco-tourism: develop cultural tourism opportunities with bordering communities
Beach tourism: develop mid range package tourism destinations, upscale beach resorts |
Improve security at all major beaches |
Golf tourism: upgrading and maintaining status of existing courses & related infrastructure |
Expand on adventure & eco-tourism opportunities: Oribi Gorge & Aliwal Shoal |
New N2 Wild Coast route: assess impact of this and develop strategy to access opportunities |
Develop opportunities related to Margate Airport |
Port Shepstone Industrial townships: provision of world class infrastructure |
Provide adequate affordable housing and related services |
Formalise and plan St Faiths and Harding 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.
Establish Banana Outgrowers in partnership with Ugu District, commercial farmers and the ARRUP Corridors (using Zibambele Savings Clubs) |
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. Kokstad, Vulamehlo |
Supporting existing Macadamia Nut and Sugar Out-grower initiatives |
Support Land Reform initiatives |
Support Land Care and Alien Weed Control Initiatives |
ABSA Standard Bank |
It is the most preferred and popular tourism destination by both local and foreign tourists. It includes the well established coastal towns such as Port Shepstone, Margate, Pennington and Hibberdene. The district incorporates some of the best sub-tropical bush land and forest in KwaZulu-Natal. The main economic activities in the district are in the areas of tourism, agriculture and some manufacturing. Port Shepstone is the main commercial centre and the major source of employment. The local municipalities within the district are Hibiscus, Ezinqoleni, Umdoni, uMuziwabantu, Umzumbe and Vulamehlo.
Local Municipality | Telephone | Facsimile | |
---|---|---|---|
Vulamehlo | 039 974 0450 / 2 | 039 974 0432 | msizi@venturenet.co.za nolwazi.phakathi@vulamehlo.gov.za |
Umdoni | 039 976 1202 | 039 976 2194 | shivanim@umdoni.gov.za |
Umzumbe | 039 972 0005 | 039 972 0099 | hlengi.dlamini@webmail.co.za |
uMuziwabantu | 039 433 1205 | 039 433 1208 | sazi@muziwabantu.org.za |
Ezinqoleni | 039 534 1574/84/2/ 77 | 039 534 1585 | mthandenin@ezinqoleni.gov.za fundi.cele@mweb.co.za |
Hibiscus Coast | 039 688 2000 | 039 682 0327 | mm@hcm.gov.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.