uPhongolo Local Municipality lies in KwaZulu-Natal’s Zululand District, on the border with eSwatini.
Pongola is the seat, named for the Pongola River that runs through the municipality. The 2022 census
counted 151,541 people across 3,110.1 km², up from 123,584 in 2011.
Beyond Pongola town, the population is spread across traditional wards including Ntshangase, Simelane,
Sibiya/Masidla, Msibi and Dlamini, plus the areas around the privately-run Itala Nature Reserve and
Ithala Game Reserve on the municipality’s eastern edge.
Towns and Villages in uPhongolo
Pongola town, on the N2, is the main urban centre and a service point for the surrounding sugar and
citrus farms. GeoNames records 19 named places, listed below.
| Place | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Ncotshane | Town | 19,562 |
| Pongola | Seat | 1,680 |
- Altona
- Bennezar
- Bethel
- Dlomodlomo
- Dwarsrand
- eSivule
- Golela
- Izitende
- Khiphunyawo
- KwaDumenkungwini
- KwaMlimisi
- Magudu
- Mangengenene
- Mbekakanye
- Ngotshe
- Ouderdom
- Uithoek
Geography
uPhongolo takes in the Pongolapoort Dam and Ithala Game Reserve on the Zululand escarpment, with the
Pongola River valley providing fertile irrigated farmland and warmer, subtropical conditions than the
surrounding highveld. Within
Zululand District it neighbours
Abaqulusi, eDumbe,
Nongoma and Ulundi.
Demographics
Population rose from 123,584 in 2011 to 151,541 in 2022, growth of about 23%. About 82% of residents
live in rural areas, with Pongola town and its surrounding wards housing the rest.
An elected municipal council based in Pongola runs local services, working alongside traditional
leaders (amakhosi) who administer customary land across most of uPhongolo’s rural wards, including
Ntshangase, Simelane and Msibi.
Sugar mills near Pongola process cane grown across the lower Pongola valley, one of KwaZulu-Natal’s
warmest and most productive irrigated farming areas.
Economy and Local Life
Sugar cane and citrus farming are the leading sectors, alongside tourism built around Ithala Game
Reserve and the Pongolapoort Dam, which also offers boating and angling. The public sector is the
dominant formal employer; the taxi industry, informal financial services and taverns are a growing part
of the local economy.
Pongola’s warm, subtropical lowveld climate and irrigation from the Pongola River support sugar mills
and citrus packhouses that employ seasonal labour from across the municipality.
History
Pongola town grew up on the Pongola River as a farming service centre; the Pongolapoort Dam and Ithala
Game Reserve were later additions that reshaped the local economy. uPhongolo as a municipality was
established in December 2000 as part of South Africa’s nationwide local government demarcation.
Getting There
The N2 national road runs through Pongola, linking it to Piet Retief in Mpumalanga to the north and
south to Mkuze and Hluhluwe. King Shaka International Airport is the nearest major airport. Vryheid and
Mkuze are the nearest towns with hospitals.
FAQ
What is the seat of uPhongolo Municipality?
Pongola.
What is uPhongolo’s population?
151,541 people at the 2022 census, on 3,110.1 km².
Which district is uPhongolo part of?
Zululand District Municipality.
What are the main towns?
Pongola.
What language do most uPhongolo residents speak?
isiZulu, spoken by the large majority of residents.
Is uPhongolo mostly urban or rural?
Mostly rural, with about 82% of residents in rural wards.
What is uPhongolo’s main dam?
The Pongolapoort Dam, used for irrigation and recreation.
Which game reserve is in uPhongolo?
Ithala Game Reserve, on the municipality’s eastern escarpment.
Does uPhongolo border eSwatini?
Yes, along its northern edge.
What is uPhongolo’s total area?
3,110.1 km².
What was uPhongolo’s population in 2011?
123,584 people, growing to 151,541 by 2022, up about 23%.
Does uPhongolo have a game reserve?
Yes, Ithala Game Reserve, on its eastern escarpment.
Which district municipality is uPhongolo part of?
Zululand District Municipality.
What is uPhongolo known for?
Sugar and citrus farming, and the Ithala Game Reserve and Pongolapoort Dam.