| Msunduzi | |
| Settlement Type: | Local municipality |
| Seal Size: | 150x100px |
| Coordinates: | -29.6167°N 53°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | uMgungundlovu |
| Seat: | Pietermaritzburg |
| Parts Type: | Wards |
| Parts: | 37 |
| Government Footnotes: | [1] |
| Government Type: | Municipal council |
| Leader Party: | ANC |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Area Total Km2: | 634 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 618536 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 81.1% |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 2.9% |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 9.8% |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 6.0% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages |
| Demographics2 Footnotes: | [3] |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 72.4% |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 19.0% |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 1.9% |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 1.9% |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 4.8% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Municipal code |
| Blank Info Sec1: | KZN225 |
Msunduzi Municipality (Zulu: UMasipala wase Msunduzi) is a local municipality within the Umgungundlovu District Municipality, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It encompasses the city of Pietermaritzburg, which is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal and the main economic hub of the Umgungundlovu District Municipality.
Msunduzi Municipality is situated on the N3 highway at a junction of an industrial corridor (from Durban to Pietermaritzburg) and an agro-industrial corridor (stretching from Pietermaritzburg to Estcourt). On the regional scale, it is located at the cross section of the N3 corridor and the Greytown Road corridor to the north, a tourist route to the Drakensberg, and Kokstad Road to the south.[4]
The city of Pietermaritzburg is a provincial and national centre of education. Pietermaritzburg is a seat of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is home to several other institutions of higher learning. In addition, Pietermaritzburg is home to a host of private and government-owned institutions of primary and secondary education.
See main article: Msunduzi Local Municipality elections. The Msunduzi Local Municipality council consists of eighty-one members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Forty-one councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in forty-one wards, while the remaining forty 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) lost its majority, obtaining a plurality of forty seats. The following table shows the results of the election.[5]
By May 2023, the municipality owed Eskom R400 million for electricity services, but did not have the means to pay, and it approached national government for a bailout. By August 2023, the municipality had fallen well below the National Treasury's benchmark of at least 90 days cash-on-hand, stating that it had between 27 and 30 days availability, although opposition African Christian Democratic Party councillor Niemand Reinu stated that the municipality only had 7 days cash available. The municipality however intended to go ahead with a R27 million sponsorship to local soccer club Royal AM. The sponsorship was reported to be up for review in April 2024.[12]
The municipality is struggling to collect revenue, with an estimated 25000 illegal electricity connections.[13]
In September 2023, R33 million was reported missing from a pension fund for retiring employees.[14]
As of September 2023, Msunduzi had identified 50 problem buildings, although in the aftermath of the 2023 Johannesburg building fire, inspections are ongoing and the number is expected to grow.[15]
The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:[16]
| Place | Code | Area (km2) | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51101 | 3.03 | 13,531 | ||
| 51102 | 50.53 | 79,573 | ||
| 51103 | 23.40 | 79,115 | ||
| 51104 | 87.25 | 34,131 | ||
| 51105 | 60.55 | 36,186 | ||
| 51106 | 97.56 | 55,260 | ||
| 51108 | 12.94 | 14,417 | ||
| 51109 | 160.99 | 223,519 | ||
| 51110 | 1.07 | 8,155 | ||
| 51111 | 0.43 | 1,073 | ||
| 51112 | 5.51 | 2,947 | ||
| Remainder of the municipality | 51107 | 144.53 | 5,315 |