EThekwini Municipal Area

The local government election held on 5 December 2000 ushered in a new system for municipal authorities in Durban. For the first time we have a truly democratic local government that is geared to deliver services according to the needs of the people.

The last local government election enabled the amalgamation of the former seven council areas and the incorporation of some tribal land into one metropolitan area - the Ethekwini Municipal Area.

This area stretches from Umkomaas in the south, including some tribal area in Umbumbulu, to Tongaat in the north, moving inland to some tribal area in Ndwedwe, and ends at Cato Ridge in the west.

The EMA covers an area of 2297 square kilometres, with a population of approximately 3 million people. The newly demarcated boundary increased the Durban Metropolitan area by 68% although increasing the population by only 9%.

The majority of the newly incorporated areas are very rural in character with 50% of the area being used for subsistence farming and only 2% under urban settlement. These areas have little or very poorly maintained infrastructure. Being incorporated into the EMA brings hope of access to better services and opportunities to these residents. The provision of basic services to these areas is the challenge that council now faces.