Mpofana Local Municipality is a farming municipality in uMgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, seated at
Mooi River. The 2022 census recorded 33,382 residents over 1,755.2 km², down slightly from
34,913 in 2011.
Towns and Villages in Mpofana
| Place | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mooi River | Village | 21,730 |
Smaller settlements and localities (full count 19):
- Bloemendal
- Brown Stones
- Bruntville
- Elandskop
- Glendean
- Glenside
- Henburg Park
- Mpofane
- Newstead
- Rayonne
- Rev Estates
- Rietvlei
- The Grove
- Thendele
- Uitsien
- Weston
- Windside
- Windy
Geography
Mpofana takes its name from the Mooi River (uMpofana in Zulu), which crosses the
municipality on its way to the Tugela. It sits on the interior plateau of KwaZulu-Natal between
Estcourt and Howick, and shares uMgungundlovu District Municipality borders with Impendle, Mkhambathini, Msunduzi,
Richmond, uMngeni and uMshwathi. Rosetta lies in the cooler, higher country toward the
Drakensberg, while smaller settlements such as Bruntville and Weston sit closer to Mooi River
itself. The land is mostly open grassland used for cattle and dairy farming.
Demographics
Population edged down from 34,913 in 2011 to 33,382 in 2022. Zulu is the first language of
about 87% of residents, with a smaller English-speaking population concentrated around Mooi
River and Rosetta. Bruntville, adjoining Mooi River town, is the largest single residential
area and houses much of the municipality’s workforce. The wider municipality remains
sparsely settled outside Mooi River and Rosetta, with most land given over to commercial
cattle and dairy farms rather than dense village clusters.
Economy and Local Life
Mpofana’s economy is built on commercial farming — beef and dairy cattle, maize and timber —
supported by Mooi River’s role as a service town for surrounding farms. The N3 freeway passes
through the municipality, bringing transport and logistics trade, and several farms in the area
supply produce directly to Durban and Pietermaritzburg markets. Mooi River hosts the
municipality’s main shops, banks and government offices; Rosetta and the rural wards depend on
it for most services, from schooling to healthcare.
Getting There
Mooi River sits directly on the N3 national route between Durban and Johannesburg, about
170 km from Durban. Pietermaritzburg, an hour south on the N3, has the nearest regional
airport. Rosetta and the higher Drakensberg-facing farms are reached via the R103 old main
road, which runs parallel to the N3 through Mpofana. Estcourt, just across the municipal
boundary to the north, is the nearest larger town with a hospital and secondary shopping.
History
Mooi River grew up as a staging point on the old wagon road and later the railway between
Durban and the interior, and it kept that role once the N3 freeway was built alongside it. The
Mpofana name refers to the Mooi River itself (uMpofana in Zulu), which the municipality is
named after rather than the town. Like the rest of uMgungundlovu District Municipality, the municipality took its present
boundaries in the 2000 local government demarcation. Bruntville, adjoining the town, was
developed as a residential township during apartheid and remains the largest concentration of
housing outside Mooi River’s original town centre.
FAQ
What is the seat of Mpofana Local Municipality?
Mooi River.
What is the population of Mpofana?
33,382 at the 2022 census, down from 34,913 in 2011.
Which district is Mpofana part of?
uMgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.
What towns are in Mpofana?
Mooi River and Rosetta are the main towns, with surrounding farms and rural settlements.
How is Mpofana connected to major routes?
The N3 national route runs directly through the municipality.
Where does the name Mpofana come from?
The Mooi River, called uMpofana in Zulu, which flows through the municipality.
Is Mpofana urban or rural?
Mostly rural farmland, with Mooi River as the only sizeable town.