Mandeni

Mandeni Local Municipality (formerly eNdondakusuka Local Municipality) is an administrative area in the iLembe District of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Manufacturing, elementary work and plant and machine work are the highest non-farming categories of labour. Mandeni includes substantial areas of commercial agriculture, with the bulk of these areas under sugar-cane. Agriculture is the main employment sector in the area. Tourism industry in Mandeni is also observable at the Tugela Mouth area. The history of the area cannot be divorced from the tourism potential. Great battles have been fought by the Zulus against the British in this area through the involvement of King Cetshwayo. The area was one of the most important agricultural areas of the Kingdom of KwaZulu since the reigns of Kings Malandela, Jama, Senzangakhona, Shaka, Dingane and Mpande. During the reigns of Kings Shaka and Dingane, the eNdondakusuka area formed part of the area regarded as Prince Mpande’s sphere of influence. He had his house kwaMfemfeeGcotsheni in Ndulinde, which is where Prince Shingana was born and buried in 1911.read more »

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Ndwedwe

Ndwedwe Local Municipality is one of the four local municipalities within the Ilembe District Municipality. It has unique tourism attractions (Zulu Rural Cultural Trail) such as the Nhlangakazi Holy Mountain, which represents a significant cultural and religious attraction. It also has beautiful mountains such as the Ozwathini Mountain; KwaMatabata Mountain; Carmen Mountain; KwaMkhalanga Mountain and Goqweni Mountain. These mountains accommodate activities such as 4x4 routes; hiking trails, horse trails; camping sites; caravan parks; and birding. Other attractions include the Malangeni Game Reserve; and KwaLoshe Forests (Ecotourism). It has high agricultural potential (e.g. sugar cane and traditional foods).read more »

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Greater Giyani

Greater Giyani Local Municipality was established in 1969. It is an administrative and commercial centre of the Mopani district and also the former capital of Gazankulu. Greater Giyani Local Municipality derives its name from the town Giyani, whichis a Tsonga word meaning‘a place where people dance’and‘aland of the friendly people’. Giyani is also rich in cultural history with royal families dating back as far as 1822. The town of Giyani is located approximately 185 km from Polokwane, 100 km from Thohoyandou and 550 km from Pretoria. The municipality covers about 2 967 km2 land area. Its eastern section borders the world famous Kruger National Park,with N’wamankenaVillage to the west, Mphakani Village to the south, and the Klein Letaba River to the north. The Municipality is demarcated into 30 wards and has 60 councillors. The ten traditional authority areas comprise 91 villages. Giyani town is the only town within the municipality and attracts most of the people from around the district.read more »

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Thulamela

Thulamela Local Municipality is a category B municipality established in terms of the Local Government Structures Act number 117 of 1998. Thulamela Local Municipality is one of the four local municipalities comprising Vhembe District Municipality. It is the eastern most local municipality in the district. The Kruger National Park forms the boundary in the east. The municipality borders Mutale Municipality in the north-east and Makhado Municipality in the south-west. 47,7% of the entire Vhembe district’s population lives in Thulamela Local municipality. More than 85% of the people in this municipality live in tribal areas.read more »

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Musina

Musina in the Limpopo Valley is the northernmost town in South Africa. Situated close to the Beit Bridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe, it is the main entry point into the country from countries north of South Africa. The town developed around the copper mining industry in the area. Copper was first discovered in pre-historic times by the Musina people who named it ‘musina’, meaning ‘spoiler’, because they considered it a poor substitute for iron, which is what they were after. The mineral was later re-discovered and mined by 20th century miners. Today iron, coal, magnetite, graphite, asbestos, diamonds and copper are mined here. With fascinating attractions and many game farms in the area, tourism and hunting play an important role in the economy of the town. The recently declared world heritage site of Mapungubwe (meaning ‘Hill of the Jackal’) is one of the richest archaeological sites in the country. Botanical highlights of the region include fine specimens of baobab trees and impala lilies which are both protected species. Agricultural products include citrus, mangoes, tomatoes and dates.read more »

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