Umzimkhulu | |
|---|---|
  Umzimkhulu  Umzimkhulu | |
| Coordinates: 30°15′47″S 29°56′24″E / 30.263°S 29.940°E / -30.263; 29.940 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District | Harry Gwala |
| Municipality | Umzimkhulu |
| • Councillor | (ANC) |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.55 km2 (1.76 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 8,399 |
| • Density | 1,850/km2 (4,780/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 95.1% |
| • Coloured | 3.5% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.5% |
| • Other | 0.9% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Zulu | 47.2% |
| • Xhosa | 41.5% |
| • English | 5.5% |
| • Afrikaans | 1.3% |
| • Other | 4.5% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 3297 |
| PO box | 3297 |
| Area code | 039 |
Umzimkhulu is a town in Harry Gwala District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
The town lies 243 km north-east of Mthatha, 18 km south-west of Ixopo, and 108 km south south-west of Pietermaritzburg, the provincial capital. It developed from a trading-post and was laid out in 1884. Takes its name from the Mzimkulu River on which it is situated; Zulu and Xhosa for 'big place', 'large home' of the waters.[2]
Until 1 March 2006, the town was part of an exclave of the Eastern Cape, before being transferred to KwaZulu-Natal as part of the Twelfth Amendment of the Constitution of South Africa.
During the KwaZulu-Natal riots of July, 2021, more than 50 people died in a furniture store in the town that was set alight while looters were robbing it.[3]
Law and Government
Umzimkhulu is situated within the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality, forming part of the Harry Gwala District Municipality and functions as the municipal seat for the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality which governs Umzimkhulu, Rietvlei and its surroundings.
Transport
Umzimkhulu lies on the R56 which connects the town with eXobho and Pietermaritzburg to the north-east and with Kokstad to the south-west.
References
- "Main Place Umzimkhulu". Census 2011.
- "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 445.
- "Babalelwa ku-50 abangqongqe nesitolo".