BATHO PELE
PUTTING THE PEOPLE FIRST

Amajuba District Municipality commits itself to the following Principles:

1.CONSULTATION
WE WILL CONSULT YOU ABOUT THE LEVEL AND QUALITY OF SERVICES OFFERED, AND YOU CAN TELL US IF YOU THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DIFFERENT. HOW WILL WE DO THIS? THROUGH FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS, QUESTIONNAIRES AND SUGGESTION BOXES. MAKE USE OF THESE!

2.SETTING SERVICE STANDARDS
JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, YOU WILL BE TOLD ABOUT THE LEVEL AND QUALITY OF OUR SERVICES. YOU CAN READ OUR VISION MISSION AND OBJECTIVES.

3.INCREASING ACCESS
YOU ARE ENTITLED TO EQUAL ACCESS TO THE SERVICES TO WHICH YOU ARE ENTITLED.

4.ENSURING COURTESY AND ETHICS
WE WILL TREAT YOU WITH COURTESY AND CONSIDERATION AT ALL TIMES!

5.PROVIDING INFORMATION
YOU WILL BE GIVEN FULL, ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES. YOU WILL BE TOLD ABOUT ANY CHANGES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE.

6.OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY
YOU WILL BE INFORMED HOW THE MUNICIPALITY IS RUN AND WHO IS IN CHARGE.

7.REDRESS/DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS
SIMPLE! IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT, SUGGESTION OR CONCERN, TELL US AND WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO PUT IT RIGHT!

8.BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED ECONOMICALLY AND EFFICIENTLY IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU THE BEST POSSIBLE VALUE FOR MONEY.

9.ENCOURAGING INNOVATION AND REWARDING EXCELLENCE
AMAJUBA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY WILL ENSURE AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES IS CREATED TO ENHANCE STAFF CAPACITY TO DELIVER GOOD SERVICES.

10.LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION
WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO ASSESS AND MEET THE EXPECTATIONS AND NEEDS OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH THEDEPLOYMENT OF STRATEGIC
SESSIONS,TO COMMUNICATE OUR
VALUES, VISION, ETHICS AND GOALS
THROUGH CONTINUED GOOD
GOVERNANCE. TO DEVELOP AND
SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE AND MOTIVATE PEOPLE, CELEBRATING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

11.SERVICE DELIVERY IMPACT
ALWAYS PUTTING YOU AND YOUR SERVICE NEEDS FIRST.

Amajuba District Municipality is not responsible for the contents of the sites linked to.

Tourism

SA Routes and SA Bookings
Tourism Newcastle
Utrecht Publicity Association
Battlefields, Kwazulu-Natal
Amajuba Route

General information

Wikipedia Article on Amajuba District Municipality

Clubs and associations

The Mountain Club of South Africa - Amajuba Section
Birdlife Northern Natal


DIMS

Telephone: (034) 329 7200
Fax: (034) 314 3785
Email: info@amajuba.gov.za

Postal address

Amajuba District Municipality
Private Bag 6615
Newcastle
2940

Physical address

Amajuba District Municipality
Unit B9356
Amajuba Building
Main Street
Section 1
Madadeni
Newcastle

Click here for a map showing directions to our offices.

Our VAT number: 4480193533

The Amajuba District Municipality is made up of the following local municipalities. Click on any of the links to visit the website of the local municipality.

Dannhauser Local Municipality
Newcastle Local Municipality
Emadlangeni Local Municipality

The other District Municipalities in Kwa Zulu Natal are:

Zululand District Municipality
Umkhanyakude District Municipality
uThungulu District Municipality
Umzinyathi District Municipality
Uthukela District Municipality
Umgungundlovu District Municipality
iLembe District Municipality
eThekwini District Municipality
Ugu District Municipality
Sisonke District Municipality

Demography

The total population of the district was recorded as 468 037 in the 2001 census. Of this 71% was located within the Newcastle Municipality, 22% in Dannhauser, and, only 7% in the Utrecht Municipality. This is reflected in the pie chart below:

The largest concentration of people is in the Newcastle-Madadeni-Osizweni area, a smaller concentration in the Blaauwbosch area and much dispersed population in the remainder of the
district, with the notable exception of the area in the northeast of the Dannhauser municipal areas of Buffalo Flats (including Nyanyadu, Emfundweni, Kilkeel, Nellie Valley, Annie Valley, etc).

Across the district population densities are as low as less than 2 people per ha in some areas, the exception being the Newcastle-Madadeni-Osizweni axis, where densities may reach above 50 people per ha, and, the Blaauwbosch area where densities are recorded as reaching up to 10 people per ha.

The key demographic data relating to the district is presented in the table below [1]

Key demographic data

HIV/AIDS General trends

It has been reported that KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng are the regions most affected by the AIDS pandemic. This is partly due to high rates of urbanisation and high mobility among the residents in these provinces. The seventh national HIV survey of women attending antenatal clinics of the public health services in South Africa in October/November 1996 reported a 20% HIV rate, while in 1997 a higher rate of 26.92% HIV among women visiting the antenatal clinic in KwaZulu Natal was reported. In 1998, this had increased to 32.5%[2]

Previous studies of the district (Metroplan,1999)[3] indicate that this pandemic is likely to have profound negative impacts on the district in the medium to long term. This includes the likely depletion of certain age groups more than others. Mason and Wood (cited in Metroplan) project that by 2014, the number of children fewer than 10 will be more than 25% below the
number expected AIDS free, while the age group between 20-35 will be depleted by 40% or more. Mason and Wood projected further that at the provincial level, by the end of 1997, about 800 000 people were living with HIV/AIDS, i.e. more than 1 in ten of the total population. The South Africa Insurance industry predicts that nationally by the end of 2025, about 5.5 million people will be living with HIV/AIDS[4]

The department of Health conducts annual HIV/AIDS surveys on women visiting antenatal clinics in the province. In terms of the 2001 survey Amajuba District Municipal area had the second highest HIV prevalence among pregnant women visiting public health facilities in the province after Ethekwini. The following graph provides a comparison among the 11 districts including the Ethekwini Metropolitan:

Comparison of HIV Prevalence among ANC clients in the province

It will be important to factor into planning the impacts associated with this pandemic. The epidemic for example, will affect infrastructure planning by reducing the projected number of people, impacts on households requiring services such as their ability to pay for these
services and increased demand for health care facilities and social services.

Income and Poverty Levels

Income levels in the district are generally low. Annual household incomes are summarized in the table below. The number of households that have an annual income of R 9600 per annum or less (R800 per month or less) has more than doubled since 1996 (from 29 624 in 1996 to 59 153 in 2001). Of these 48% have no income (29.48% of all households) compared to 35.87% in 1996 (14% of all households)[5]

Households with no income are those in which there is not one income earner.

Income levels in Amajuba

In terms of a report compiled by Prof Shabalala (Office of the Premier) in February 2004,
Amajuba DM has a Human Development Index (HDI)[6] of 0.55. This means that, measured in terms of the HDI, the Amajuba District is regarded as developed compared to districts such as Umkhanyakude, Umzinyathi, Zululand, Ilembe and Ugu whose HDI is below 0.5. Table 17 compares Amajuba District to other districts in the province on poverty rankings:

Source: Central Policy Unit Document on Informa-Bits 2003 (Jan 2004) – (Office of the Premier KZN)

The implications for the above ranking vary depending on what, where, when and who uses the information. It is apparent from the above information that until the next census Amajuba District Municipal area may continue receiving declining transfers from both provincial and national spheres of government.

According to the Central Policy Unit in the office of the Premier, the Dannhauser Magisterial area has a poverty rate of 90.4 % (persons in poverty) which is higher than the poverty rate of the poorest district in the province, namely: Umkhanyakude (77.1). Despite the fact that the district is regarded as being predominantly urban (59% of the households are urban) Dannhauser is 90% rural (i.e. 17333 of the 19320 households in Dannhauser are rural households). By
comparison, Utrecht is 80% rural and Newcastle 24% rural.

It could be concluded from the above disposition that rural poverty in the district occurs largely in Dannhauser and Utrecht. On the one hand Newcastle may be experiencing urban
poverty more than rural poverty.

Census 2001 indicates that the dependency ratio among black African population is higher compared to other ethnic groups. This could mean that the average family sizes are higher among the black population in the district. It could also mean that unemployment among African
population is higher compared to other ethnic groups. This in turn would indicate that most of the households that have no income or earn between R1 and R4800 per annum are black African. It can be concluded therefore that black Africans are the worst affected by poverty in the district.

Figure 3 illustrates the dependency ratios by ethnic group within Amajuba District Municipality.

Dependency ratio among racial groups

Source: Census 2001

The District municipality is currently considering the matter of compiling a Poverty Alleviation Policy linked to its LED Plan (still being compiled) and other programmes of the municipality. In the absence of a policy the poverty alleviation programmes of the municipality
are decided by the council on a regular basis and are coordinated by the Community Services department.

[1] The statistics used are from the Demarcation Board's database.

[2] Town and Regional Planning Commission (2000): The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Planning Issues in KwaZulu-Natal.

[3] Metroplan (1999): uMzinyathi Sub-regional Plans – Status Quo Northern and Central (Draft)

[4] ibid

[5] The high discrepancy between the 2001 and the 1996 figures may arise from the fact that many people who are employed fail to fill in their employment status on the census questionnaire, for various reasons.

[6] The HDI is a composite measure of three basic indicators: longevity (life expectancy), knowledge (adult literacy 2/3 and mean schooling years) and the standard of living (purchasing power).

Amajuba District Municipality, is new municipality established with effect from 05 December 2000, having been demarcated from Umzinyathi Regional Council. It is strategically located in the north-west corner of KwaZulu-Natal. The District comprises of areas formerly within the Umzinyathi Sub-region and the Central and Northern Sub-regions.

In terms of this new demarcations, Amajuba District Municipality comprises of three Local Municipalities, namely:

Newcastle

Emadlangeni and

Dannhauser

Amajuba is an isiZulu name meaning "a place of doves". The impis of King Shaka named the area Amajuba in 1825. It is associated with peace and it is a world-renowned name. The area is also the site of a battle in which the Boers defeated the British in 1881.

Click here to download the map with directions to our offices.

The image is aligned to fit to a screen. Please print it in portrait orientation.

The Amajuba District Municipality's Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) manual can be downloaded here.

Amajuba District Municipality provides the Amajuba District Municipality Web site subject to the user's compliance with the terms and conditions stated below.

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE ACCESSING THE Amajuba District Municipality SITE. BY ACCESSING THE Amajuba District Municipality SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS BELOW. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, YOU MAY NOT ACCESS OR USE THE Amajuba District Municipality SITE.

1. Rules
   While visiting the Amajuba District Municipality Site, you may not:
   • Post, transmit or otherwise distribute information constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offence or give rise to civil liability, or otherwise use the Amajuba District Municipality Site in a manner which is contrary to law or would serve to restrict or inhibit any other user from using or enjoying the Amajuba District Municipality Site or the Internet.
   • Post or transmit any information or software, which contains a virus, trojan horse, worm or other harmful or disruptive component.
   • Upload, post, publish, transmit, reproduce, or distribute in any way, information, software or other material obtained through the Amajuba District Municipality Site which is protected by copyright, or other intellectual property right, or derivative works with respect hereto, without obtaining permission of the copyright owner or right holder.
2. Monitoring
   Amajuba District Municipality has no obligation to monitor the Amajuba District Municipality Site. However, you agree that Amajuba District Municipality has the right to monitor the Amajuba District Municipality Site electronically from time to time and to disclose any information as necessary to satisfy any law, regulation or other governmental request, to operate the Amajuba District Municipality Site properly, or to protect itself or its subscribers. Amajuba District Municipality will not intentionally monitor or disclose any private electronic-mail message unless required by law. Amajuba District Municipality reserves the right to refuse to post or to remove any information or materials, in whole or in part, that, in its sole discretion, are unacceptable, undesirable, or in violation of this Agreement.
3. Privacy
   Amajuba District Municipality cannot ensure or guarantee privacy for Amajuba District Municipality users. It is therefore recommended that this service not be used for the transmission of confidential information. Any such use shall be at the sole risk of the user, and Amajuba District Municipality shall be relieved of all liability in connection therewith.
4. Limitation of Liability
   Amajuba District Municipality takes no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of any claims or statements contained in the documents and related graphics on the Amajuba District Municipality Site. Further, Amajuba District Municipality makes no representations about the suitability of any of the information contained in documents and related graphics on the Amajuba District Municipality Site for any purpose. All such documents and related graphics are provided without warranty of any kind. In no event shall Amajuba District Municipality be liable for any damages whatsoever, including special, indirect or consequential damages, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information available from the service.
5. Recourse
   If you are dissatisfied with the Amajuba District Municipality Site or with any terms, conditions, rules, policies, guidelines, or practices of Amajuba District Municipality in operating the Amajuba District Municipality Site, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue using the Amajuba District Municipality Site.
6. Confidential Information
   You authorise Amajuba District Municipality to collect from any party and to retain all relevant information relating to your use of the Amajuba District Municipality Site, and you hereby authorise any party to provide us with such information.
7. Indemnity
   You agree to defend, indemnify and hold Amajuba District Municipality harmless from any and all liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, related to any violation of this Agreement by you or users of your account, or in connection with the use of the Amajuba District Municipality Site or the Internet or the placement or transmission of any message, information, software or other materials on the Amajuba District Municipality Site or on the Internet by you or users of your account.
8. Trademarks
   Amajuba District Municipality and other trade marks, logos and icons identifying Amajuba District Municipality referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Amajuba District Municipality. All other product and/or brand or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
9. Miscellaneous
   This Agreement, including any and all documents referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between Amajuba District Municipality and the user pertaining to the subject matter hereof. Amajuba District Municipality's failure to insist upon or enforce strict performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any provisions or right. If any of the provisions contained in this Agreement were determined to be void, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the remaining provisions contained herein. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the prevailing laws of South Africa.

Because we gather information about the users of the Amajuba District Municipality Site, we feel you should fully understand the terms and conditions surrounding the capture and use of that information.

The information which Amajuba District Municipality gathers and tracks

Aggregated tracking information derived mainly by tallying page views throughout our site. Such information enables us to better tailor our content to readers' needs.

Questions regarding this statement should be directed to the webmaster.

Usage tracking

Amajuba District Municipality tracks user traffic patterns throughout the Amajuba District Municipality Site and this information is correlated with data about individual users. Overall usage statistics, according to a user's domain name, browser type and MIME type gotten by reading this information from the browser string (information contained in every user's browser), are also broken down.

Amajuba District Municipality also tracks and catalogs the search terms that users enter into our search tools, but this tracking is never associated with individual users.

Cookies

A cookie is a small data file that certain Web sites write to your hard drive when you visit them. A cookie file can contain information such as a user ID that the site uses to track the pages you've visited. But the only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself. A cookie can't read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by other sites.

If you've set your browser to warn you before accepting cookies, you will receive the warning message with each cookie.

You can refuse cookies by turning them off in your browser.

Use of the information

Amajuba District Municipality uses any information voluntarily given by our users to enhance their experience in our site, whether to provide interactive or personalized elements on the site or to better prepare future content based on the interests of our users.

We use tracking information to determine which areas of our site users like and don't like based on traffic to those areas. Amajuba District Municipality does not track what individual users read, but rather how well each page performs overall. This helps us continue to build a better service for you.

We track search terms entered in our search function as one of many measures of what interests our users. But we don't track which terms a particular user enters.

Amajuba District Municipality creates aggregate reports on user demographics and traffic patterns.

Amajuba District Municipality uses the above-described information to tailor our content to suit your need. We do not share information about individual users with any third party.

How To Contact Us

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