Introduction And Overview
Geographic & Demographic Profile

The Umuziwabantu Municipality is located on the Western Boundary of the Ugu District Municipality and shares its borders with the Eastern Cape; Sisonke District and to the east with the Umzumbe and Ezinqoleni Municipalities. The extent of the Umuziwabantu Municipal area is 10 862 ha (1088 km²).

UMuziwabantu Municipality consists of 9 wards with six tribal authorities which are listed below:

• Ward 1: KwaFodo and Dumisa Tribal Areas and farmland.
• Ward 2: KwaMbotho and Bashaweni Tribal Areas and farmland.
• Ward 3. Harding , part of KwaMbotho Tribal Area and Farmland.
• Ward 4. Part of KwaMachi Tribal Area.
• Ward 5. Part of KwaMachi Tribal Area.
• Ward 6. Part of KwaMachi Tribal Area.
• Ward 7. Part of KwaJali and KwaMachi Tribal areas, Weza State Forest and Farmland.
• Ward 8. Part of KwaMachi Tribal Area.
• Ward 9. Part of KwaJali and KwaMachi Tribal Area.

The spine road at Umuziwabantu is the N2 which connects this municipality with Ezinqoleni and Port Shepstone on the east and the Eastern Cape on the south east. Connected to the N2 is R56 road which passes through Umzimkhulu; Ixobho and ultimately Pietermaritzburg.

Population Distribution
In terms of survey conducted in 2001 by Statistics South Africa (2001) Umuziwabantu had a population of 93 720 people, however the 2007 STATSSA community survey estimated the population to have grown to 104 000. A 9.2% increase in 10 years. The statistics show that approximately less than 9% of the population is located within the urban area (Harding Town). The rest of over 81% resides in rural areas, which are characterized by low density and dispersed settlement pattern.

Vision
To be a preferred investment destination with superior and sustainable service delivery.

Mission
Umuziwabantu shall create an environment that is attractive to investors, thereby creating jobs and improving the quality of life.

Core Business
The core business of Umuziwabantu Municipality is to provide and facilitate provision of social, economic, agricultural infrastructural and sustainable services to the community of this municipality in an equitable and fair manner, transparent and reliable to all inhabitants.

Developmental Priorities
The Integrated Development Plan (IDP), Local Economic Development (LED) and Land Use Management Systems (LUMS) have mapped out priorities and goals that realize pressing needs of both local municipality and community and further outline strategies which will effectively lead to redressing the complexities. The municipality has identified developmental strategies classified underthe Five National Key Performance Areas.