| Impendle | |
| Other Name: | Impendle |
| Settlement Type: | Local municipality |
| Seal Size: | 150x100px |
| Map Alt: | Location in KwaZulu-Natal |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | uMgungundlovu |
| Seat: | Impendle |
| Parts Type: | Wards |
| Parts: | 4 |
| Government Footnotes: | [1] |
| Government Type: | Municipal council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | SG Ndlela |
| Area Total Km2: | 1528 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 33105 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 98.9% |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 0.3% |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.1% |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 0.5% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages |
| Demographics2 Footnotes: | [3] |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 93.3% |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 1.8% |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 1.6% |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 1.2% |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 2.1% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Municipal code |
| Blank Info Sec1: | KZN224 |
Impendle Municipality (Zulu: UMasipala wase Impendle) is a local municipality wirhin the Umgungundlovu District Municipality, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. During the 18th century, the Griquas ("Abatwas") used to hide in the mountain in the area because they were accused of stealing livestock from the farmers who decided to fight the Griquas in order to protect their livestock. The Griquas used war spears, and this conflict was called "an outside war", i.e. Zulu: impiyasendle or Zulu: impiendle.[4]
The municipality is extremely diverse in its topography, climate and soils, and has a rich and complex natural environment. High-density settlements occur around Impendle, in villages such as Gomane, KwaNovuka, Similobha and Kamensi.[5]
The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:[6]
| Place | Code | Area (km2) | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51001 | 13.14 | 675 | ||
| Impendle Part 1 | 51005 | 20.39 | 1,562 | |
| Impendle Part 2 | 51006 | 1.25 | 238 | |
| 51003 | 234.17 | 28,661 | ||
| 51004 | 2.53 | 189 | ||
| Remainder of the municipality | 51002 | 674.08 | 2,255 |
See main article: Impendle Local Municipality elections. The municipal council consists of ten members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Five councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in five wards, while the remaining five are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the election of 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of six seats on the council.
The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.[7]