Mbhashe Local Municipality lies on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape, in Amathole District. The 2022 census counted 240,020 people across 3,302.5 km², down from 261,670 in 2011. The seat is Dutywa.
The municipality takes its name from the Mbashe River and covers the former Elliotdale, Willowvale and Dutywa town council areas. It is the birthplace of former president Thabo Mbeki and home to the AmaXhosa Kingdom’s head offices at Nqadu Great Place.
Towns and Villages in Mbhashe
| Place | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dutywa | Seat | Administrative and trade centre |
| Willowvale | Town | Former town council seat |
| Elliotdale | Town | Former town council seat |
Mbhashe covers 315 recorded settlements and localities. The list below runs to 250; the rest are small rural homesteads and hamlets sharing the same clan-based naming pattern.
- Alderley
- Badi
- Bashee
- Beecham Woods
- Bende
- Bhetani
- Bhongweni
- Bhunga
- Bikana
- Bikanadale
- Blue Lagoon
- Bojeni
- Bolotwa
- Bomela
- Bonde
- Bulungulu
- Camsha
- Caphu
- Ciko
- Cingweni
- Cizele
- Collywobbles
- Cooperdale
- Cumakala
- Cungweni
- Cwebe
- Dabane
- Dadamba
- Duff Bank
- Dwesa
- Ebenda
- Ebufumbu
- eMabeleni
- eQokama
- Esinquineni
- Exeni
- Fairview
- Falakahla
- Fort Malan
- Garrick
- Gosara
- Gotyibene
- Gotyibeni
- Gqiba
- Guxuxu
- Gwadana
- Gwadu
- Gxara
- Hobeni
- Idutywa River
- Jalamba
- Jujura
- Kalalo
- Kampplek
- Kasa
- Keti
- Kohlo
- Komkulu
- Kotyana
- Ku-Gilandoda
- Ku-Ludondolo
- Ku-Msikiti
- Ku-Xawuka
- KuAmanzimnyama
- KuBangqo
- KuBom
- KuFundakubi
- KuGambushe
- KuGroxo
- KuGxara
- KuLofumbata
- KuLogongoto
- KuLogqogqa
- KuLojingqi
- KuLombete
- KuLombombo
- KuLovulandi
- KuMahasana
- KuMbonda
- KuMembesi
- KuMkulu
- KuNcityana
- KuNgqungqumbe
- KuNgqutu
- KuNjemane
- KuNkazana
- KuNkumba
- KuSunduza
- KuVulindawo
- KuXama
- KwaBanqo
- KwaBawu
- KwaBitsha
- KwaBoto
- KwaDesi
- KwaHadi
- KwaLuvundu
- KwaMayijl
- KwaMazamisa
- KwaMganu
- KwaMyataza
- KwaNditya
- KwaNgezana
- KwaNjana
- KwaNokatana
- KwaNongxeke
- KwaNtloko
- KwaPewuta
- KwaRasi
- KwaSogula
- KwaSongwevu
- KwaVelelo
- Kwilini
- Lalini
- Lotha
- Lubomnini
- Lubomvini
- Ludiza
- Lukolweni
- Lundie
- Lututu
- Lutwayizo
- Luvundu
- Ma-Africa
- Mabheleni
- Macireni
- Madwaleni
- Magazana
- Magqabi
- Mahasana
- Mahliwane
- Makaka
- Malulwane
- Mampondweni
- Mandluntsha
- Mandundu
- Mangati
- Mantanieni
- Mantlaneni
- Manxiwa
- Manzi
- Manzikahyi
- Masakane
- Masincedane
- Matanzima
- Matolweni
- Matonana
- Matunzini
- Mazizini
- Mbamba
- Mbangcolo
- Mbanyana
- Mbashe
- Mbeleni
- Mbewana
- Mbewula
- Mbityana
- Mboxo School
- Mboya
- Mbozi
- Mcelwane
- Mcinga
- Mdikana
- Mdwaka
- Mdzonga
- Melitafa
- Mendu
- Mendwana
- Mevana
- Mfezane
- Mfula
- Mgojo
- Mgotwane
- Mhlanganisweni
- Mishini
- Mkatazo
- Mkuhlu
- Mnandi
- Mncwasa
- Mndwaka
- Mngeangatelo
- Mount Pleasant
- Mpame Bos
- Mpeshewa
- Mpolweni
- Mpozolo
- Mpuku
- Mpume
- Mputhi
- Mqele
- Mqinda
- Mqonci
- Msengeni
- Mtogazi
- Mtonga
- Mtshayeleni
- Mtshekelweni
- Munyu
- Mzantsi
- Ncalukeni
- Ncedana
- Ncembezana
- Ncihana
- Ndesi
- Nduku
- Ndulini
- Ngabara
- Ngadla
- Ngcingwane
- Ngcizele
- Ngingqini
- Ngojini
- Ngqakayi
- Ngqangqaka
- Ngqantsingana
- Ngqatyana
- Ngwane
- Ngxutyana
- Nikwalini
- Nkanga
- Nkanya
- Nkawukazi
- Nkelekete
- Nkonjane
- Nocwane
- Noeza
- Noizela
- Nqabane
- Nqabara
- Nqabarha
- Nqakanqa
- Nqanda
- Nsimbakazi
- Ntengisani
- Nthlabane
- Nthlonyana
- Ntilini
- Ntlahlana
- Ntlangano
- Ntlanzini
- Ntlonyana
- Ntlonyane
- Ntshangase
- Ntshatshongo
- Ntsimba
- Ntsimbakazi
- Ntsimbini
- Ntubeni
Geography
Mbhashe stretches from the Kei River mouth along the Indian Ocean coast, cut by deep river valleys including the Mbashe and Xora. The Wild Coast shoreline here is largely undeveloped, with dune forest and grassland running down to rocky headlands at Xora Mouth and Nxaxo Mouth further along the coast in neighbouring Mnquma. Inland, the terrain rises into rolling hills around Dutywa and Willowvale, where communal grazing land dominates the landscape.
It sits inside Amathole District Municipality, bordering Amahlathi, Mnquma and Great Kei.
Demographics
Population fell from 261,670 in 2011 to 240,020 in 2022, a drop tied to migration toward East London and Mthatha for work. Almost all residents (95.7%) speak isiXhosa, and the municipality remains overwhelmingly rural, with only Dutywa, Willowvale and Elliotdale classed as urban centres.
Economy and Local Life
Subsistence and communal farming support most rural households, with maize, livestock and vegetable gardens the main sources of food and income away from the three towns. Dutywa, Willowvale and Elliotdale serve as local trade centres, hosting government offices, banks and weekly markets that draw residents from the surrounding villages. Fishing supplements household income along the coastal wards near Cwebe and Dwesa, where the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve also supports a small tourism trade.
Getting There
The R408 and R409 link Dutywa to the N2 national road, which runs the length of the district toward Mthatha and East London. Willowvale and Elliotdale are reached via secondary roads branching off the R408 toward the coast. East London, about 100 km south-west, has the nearest airport.
FAQ
What is the seat of Mbhashe Local Municipality?
Dutywa.
What district is Mbhashe in?
Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape.
What is the population of Mbhashe?
240,020 people (2022 census), down from 261,670 in 2011.
How many settlements does Mbhashe have?
Roughly 315 recorded villages and localities.
Who was born in Mbhashe?
Former president Thabo Mbeki, near Idutywa.