Msinga Local Municipality

CountrySouth Africa

SeatTugela Ferry

Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)

MunicipalcodeKZN244

Msinga
Local municipality
Seal
Location in KwaZulu-Natal
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	uMzinyathi
Seat	Tugela Ferry
Wards	19
Government [1]
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	Felinkosi Joshua Sikhakhane (IFP)
Area
• Total	2,501 km2 (966 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[2]
• Total	177,577
• Density	71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [2]
• Black African	99.6%
• Coloured	0.1%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• White	0.2%
First languages (2011) [3]
• Zulu	96.1%
• Southern Ndebele	1.3%
• Other	2.6%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal code	KZN244

Msinga Municipality (Zulu: UMasipala wase Msinga) is a local municipality within the Umzinyathi District Municipality, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Msinga is an isiZulu word meaning "a current in the sea where air movement causes ripples on top of the water surface and ends up influencing the nearby climatic conditions through its breeze".^[4] The municipality is largely located in deep gorges of the Tugela and Buffalo rivers, isolated from the immediate surrounding municipal areas.^[5] The population dynamics result in a growing rural area and a declining urban area in the municipality, contrary to most other areas in the country.^[5] This can be attributed to the fact that the urban areas of municipality are very small and are unable to provide the normal range of goods and services provided in urban areas.^[5]

It is a poverty stricken area with few economic resources and little economic activity. Social services and private households generate 29% of the income for the area.^[5]