Ezingoleni

Ezinqoleni Local Municipality (KZ 215) is one of the six local municipalities that form part of the Ugu District (DC 21). This municipality is located on the south-western boundary of the Ugu District, adjacent to the west of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality and east of the uMuziwabantu Municipality.

The Ezinqoleni Local Municipal offices are situated within the Ezinqoleni settlement that is located some 40 kilometres west from Port Shepstone along the N2 national highway. The Ezinqoleni municipal area is 649 km2 (64 900 hectares) in extent with the major land uses in the area being tribal settlements, smallholdings and commercial farming. The Ezinqoleni Local Municipality is the smallest municipality in the district, and accounts for approximately 14% of the Ugu District area.

Approximately 35% of the municipality's total area can be classified as residential or smallholding areas, while the remaining 65% of the land is dedicated to agriculture/conservation and other non-residential land uses.

The Ezinqoleni Local Municipality constitutes a Category B municipality as determined by the Demarcations Board, falling within the ambit of a collective executive system municipality as described in the KwaZulu-Natal Determination of Types of Municipality Act, 2000.

The Ezinqoleni Local Municipality consists of 5 wards with 9 councillors (i.e. 5 Ward Councillors and 4 proportional representative Councillors).

(Source: www.ezinqoleni.gov.za)

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uMshwathi

uMshwathi Municipality is situated within uMgungundlovu District Municipality immediately adjacent to Pietermaritzburg. uMshwathi comprises of four major urban centres (New Hanover, Wartburg, Dalton and Cool Air) as well as the rural residential settlements of Swayimane, Mpolweni, Thokozani and Ozwathini. uMshwathi covers an area of about 1 811 km². Economic development opportunities at uMshwathi include the rehabilitation and development of the towns, middle and high-income housing projects as well as development of a road corridor linking the N2 and N3 by traversing the municipality.The importance of agriculture in uMshwathi cannot be overemphasized. Sugar cane is the predominant agricultural pursuit. Manufacturing activities are mainly related to agricultural processing activities, notably sugar and timber processing activities.read more »

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uMngeni

uMngeni Municipality pursues the creation of an enabling environment for investment opportunities, and the marketing of the municipality to domestic and international investors. A significant percentage of the high-potential agricultural land in the Midlands Meander falls within uMngeni Municipality. This provides an opportunity for agricultural sector growth. The forestry industry will be transformed through the establishment of community private partnerships. Small scale forestry opportunities will be created. The municipality seeks to build on the already successful tourism industry by promoting job creation in tourism, a safe and secure environment, and marketing the area as tourism destination (uMgungundlovu District Municipality IDP 2012/13).read more »

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Mpofana

The Mpofana Municipality is strategically located along the national N3 highway and is approximately 70 km from Pietermaritzburg. The Mooi River sits at the heart of the Midlands Meander with interesting attractions such as the Linen Loft and Sharrow Weaving. Stretches of the river offer boating facilities whilst the upper reaches are a fly fisherman's paradise. Further upstream, the Mooi River Falls are a marvellous site to watch when the river is flooded. The predominant occupation in the area is agriculture, with a wide range of agricultural products being produced. Dairy and stock farming are, however, the main farming activities (uMgungundlovu District Municipality IDP 2012/13).read more »

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Msunduzi

Pietermaritzburg, the second largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, falls within the boundaries of Msunduzi municipality. The city is both the administrative and legislative capital of the province, which boosts investor confidence, resulting in the city's economy growing at an astounding rate. Pietermaritzburg is more than just a favourable investment destination; it is one of South Africa's most desirable residential cities with well-laid-out suburbs (uMgungundlovu District Municipality IDP 2012/13).read more »

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South Africa and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

In the year 2000 the South African government, along with other members of the United Nations (UN), committed to a national and global plan of action to reduce poverty and ensure the development of its people. The sixth and final Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Country Report for 2015 provides an overview of the progress South Africa has made towards achieving the eight MDGs. In addition, it provides an historical account of South Africa’s development in numbers. The MDGs are:

1. To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. To promote universal primary education
3. To promote gender equality and empower women
4. To reduce child mortality
5. To improve maternal health
6. To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. To ensure environmental sustainability
8. To develop a global partnership for the development.

This report reflects the intense national effort, from a range of institutions, organisations and individuals, to improve the lives of all South Africans; particularly the poor and marginalised. A great many people have contributed to this report through their participation in various consultative fora across the country, often at great expense and sacrifice. What started 15 years ago certainly does not end here, and reporting on development issues will continue through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is therefore critical that South Africa’s unfinished MDG business, as well as emerging developmental issues, be appropriately integrated within the SDGs in a manner that places the spotlight on them, while providing adequate direction and impetus for effective planning, development of appropriate policies and budgets, and the construction of appropriate national monitoring and reporting systems.

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Unemployment

Employment is a key economic indicator and it is sensitive to the business cycle. For example employment peaked in 2008 to approximately 13,8 million when the economy was better. However, during the recession of 2009 and 2010 approximately 806 000 persons lost their jobs. After these two successive years of decline, employment grew by 204 000 and 258 000 persons in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Community & social services industry contributed the most to the growth in employment observed in the past two years. This was followed by Finance and other business services.read more »

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