iLembe District Municipality covers the KwaZulu-Natal north coast around Stanger and Ballito, and inland to Maphumulo. The 2022 census counted 782,660 people across four local municipalities (606,809 in 2011), covering 3,269 km². The district seat is KwaDukuza. It was formerly named King Shaka District Municipality.
Quick Facts
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Status | District Municipality (4 locals) |
| Seat | KwaDukuza |
| Area | 3,269 km² |
| Population (2011) | 606,809 |
| Population (2022) | 782,660 |
| Former name | King Shaka District Municipality |
Local Municipalities in iLembe
| Municipality | Seat | 2022 population |
|---|---|---|
| KwaDukuza | KwaDukuza (Stanger) | 324,912 |
| Ndwedwe | Ndwedwe | 165,826 |
| Mandeni | Mandeni | 180,939 |
| Maphumulo | Maphumulo | 110,983 |
Major Towns in iLembe District
| Place | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| KwaDukuza | Town/village | 161,177 |
| Mandeni | Seat | 37,533 |
| Ballitoville | Town/village | 27,718 |
| Shakaskraal | Town/village | 27,345 |
| Sundumbili | Town/village | 12,455 |
| Darnall | Town/village | 10,106 |
Other settlements and localities in the municipality:
- Ashton
- Ballito
- Blythedale Beach
- Bonds Drift
- Dalibho
- Doornkloof
- Dunbarton
- Endlondlweni
- Endulinde
- Evutha
- Fort Crealock
- Gledhow
- Glen Mill
- Groutville
- Highlands
- Highridge
- Hillandale
- Hlomantethe
- Isinembe
- Kruisfontein
- KwaGcwensa
- KwaIllophe
- KwaMagubane
- KwaMapeyana
- KwaMaqokomela
- KwaMwema
- KwaNgongoma
- KwaNyuswa
- Lower Tugela
- Macambini
- Magidini
- Makhuluseni
- Mangeti
- Mapumulo
- Mary Gray
- Melville
- Montebello
- Mtandeni
- Mushane
- Ndwedwe
- New Guelderland
- Newark
- Newspaper
- Nkivane
- Nkunzempunga
- Nsuze
- Ntapuka
- Ntunjambili
- Ocean View
- Otimati
- Saint Andrews
- Salt Rock
- Samungu
- Sanikidge
- Shakaville
- Shaka’s Rock
- Sheffield Beach
- Sigedleni
- Sitebe
- Soberton
- Ston
- Tafamasi
- Thrings Post
- Tinley Manor
- Tugela
- Tugela Mouth
- UCC Informal
- Umhali
- Umhlali
- Umkhomazi
- Umpumulo
- Umvoti Mouth
- Umyozene
- Upper Tongaat
- Waterfall
- Zimbali
- Zinkwazi Beach
- eDokodweni
- eMbuyeni
- eNgedleni
- eNyoni
- oGonothini
Geography
iLembe borders the Indian Ocean to the east, Umzinyathi District to the north, eThekwini (Durban) to the south and Umgungundlovu District to the west. The coast is dominated by the Ballito–KwaDukuza resort and residential belt; inland terrain is rolling hill country given over to sugar cane and subsistence farming.
Economy
Sugar-cane growing is the district’s dominant agricultural activity, with KwaDukuza and Ballito adding a substantial tourism and residential-development economy along the coast.
Maphumulo, the most rural of the four locals, adds subsistence farming to the mix, while Mandeni’s Sundumbili and Tugela townships contribute manufacturing and machine-operating jobs to the district total.
FAQ
What is the seat of iLembe District Municipality?
KwaDukuza.
How many local municipalities make up iLembe District?
Four: KwaDukuza, Ndwedwe, Mandeni and Maphumulo.
What was iLembe District previously called?
King Shaka District Municipality.
What is the district’s population?
782,660 at the 2022 census, up from 606,809 in 2011.
How big is iLembe District?
3,269 km², bordering the Indian Ocean, Umzinyathi, eThekwini and Umgungundlovu districts.
Which iLembe municipality has the most people?
KwaDukuza, with 324,912 residents at the 2022 census.