Local municipality · Umgungundlovu District
# The Msunduzi

The Msunduzi is a local municipality of South Africa in Umgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province. It had an estimated 647,185 people in 2020 on 751 km² (about 862 per km²). 73 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,226 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 647,185 people (2020)
- 751 km²
- 1,226 mapped services
- 770 m typical elevation

## How many people live in The Msunduzi?

The Msunduzi had an estimated 647,185 people in 2020 — 61.8% of Umgungundlovu District, 13th of 190 local municipalities. There are 1,079 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Umgungundlovu District figure of 1,073). Spread over 751 km², that is about 862 people per km², 5th of 190 local municipalities.

26.0% of people are children under 15 and 5.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 28 years (it is 27 across Umgungundlovu District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 47 children and older people.
- 0–4 53,855
- 5–9 56,132
- 10–14 58,171
- 15–19 57,402
- 20–24 60,429
- 25–29 61,465
- 30–34 63,336
- 35–39 56,316
- 40–44 40,287
- 45–49 31,113
- 50–54 25,382
- 55–59 24,055
- 60–64 21,770
- 65–69 15,559
- 70–74 10,285
- 75–79 6,547
- 80+ 5,081

Source: Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is The Msunduzi?

The Msunduzi lies in Umgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. It borders 6 other local municipalities: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Impendle, Mkhambathini, Richmond, uMngeni and uMshwathi. By area it is the 211th largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 7.8% of Umgungundlovu District. The centre of The Msunduzi is about 483 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 13 km from Pietermaritzburg, the main town of Umgungundlovu District. The centre point is at 29.6743° S, 30.2732° E. Local names: KZN225.

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around The Msunduzi

OpenStreetMap lists 10 named sights in The Msunduzi: 3 memorials; 3 nature reserves; 2 museums; 1 gallery; 1 attraction.
- Comrades Marathon House · museum
- Voortreker · museum
- Bisley Valley Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Ntaba Secure Eco Estate · nature reserve
- Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Kwa-Zulu Natal National Botanical Gardens · attraction
- Delville Woods' Weeping Cross · memorial
- Mahatma Gandhi · memorial
- Nola Fourie Memorial · memorial
- Tatham Art Gallery · gallery

### Nearby, outside The Msunduzi
- Doreen Clark Nature Reserve · nature reserve, uMngeni 11 km
- Minerva & Trewirgie Nature Reserves · nature reserve, Richmond 14 km
- Uvemvane Nature Reserve · nature reserve, uMngeni 16 km
- James Wakelin Grassland Nature Reserve · nature reserve, uMngeni 18 km
- Mpushini Protected Environment · nature reserve, Mkhambathini 20 km

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: The Msunduzi
- Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- Currency Rand (ZAR)
- Country calling code +27
- Languages Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug types Type C, D · 230 V
- Driving side Left
- Postcode format 4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports
- Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) · Pietermaritzburg 12 km
- King Shaka International Airport (DUR) · Durban 82 km

### Nearest railway station

Sinadini (The Msunduzi), about 2.1 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.0 hours, sunrise around 04:53) and shortest in Jun (about 10.3 hours, sunrise around 06:51, sunset around 17:06).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in The Msunduzi

Open gazetteers list 73 villages, towns and localities in The Msunduzi. The largest with a recorded population: Pietermaritzburg (839,327) and Ashburton (2,659). Settlements here lie between about 621 m and 1,489 m above sea level (median 770 m).
- Allandale
- Ashburton
- Ashdown
- Athlone
- Bisley
- Blackridge
- Bombay Heights
- Boughton
- Chase Valley
- Chase Valley Downs
- Chasedene
- Claredon
- Clarendon
- Cleland
- Copesville
- Dambuza
- Eastwood
- Edendale
- Epworth
- Glenwood
- Hay Paddock
- Hayfields
- KaNzakene
- KwaGezubuso
- KwaMgwagwa
- KwaMncane
- KwaMntoqotho
- KwaMpumuza
- Landauville
- Lincoln Meade
- Lotusville
- Lynnfield Park
- Magadini
- Manor
- Meadows
- Mkondeni
- Montrose
- Mountain Rise
- Napierville
- New England
- Newtown
- Northdale
- Northern Park
- Oak Park
- Oribi
- Oribi Heights
- Pelham
- Pietermaritzburg
- Plessislaer
- Prestbury
- Raisethorpe
- Scottsville
- Sinathingi
- Slangspruit
- Sobantu
- Sunnyside
- Sweet Waters
- Tafuleni
- Taylors
- The Grange
- Town Bush Valley
- Town Hill
- Wembley
- Westgate
- Willowton
- Woodlands
- Xamuxolo
- Zibomvini
- eMafakatini
- eMaswazini
- eMdutshini
- eNtembani
- iMbali

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of The Msunduzi

Named natural and historic features inside The Msunduzi, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

13 rivers and streams; 1 reservoir or tank.
- Dorpspruit
- Henley Dam
- Kayeni
- KwaMazabeko
- KwaPate
- Kwelini
- Mabane
- Mkondin Spruit
- Mpentshane
- Mpushini
- Ngabeni
- Sizaneniane
- Slangspruit
- Umpushini Spruit

### Hills and mountains

8 mountains; 2 hills.
- Elandskop · 1,606 m
- KwaNomo · 1,559 m
- Tetelugu · 1,450 m
- Swartkop · 1,447 m
- Bush Kop · 1,319 m
- Nhlazuka · 1,313 m
- Kanowohlo · 1,242 m
- Songozine · 1,129 m
- Signal Hill · 883 m
- Bhoyizen · 873 m

### Getting around

13 railway stations; 2 airports; 1 airfield.
- Ashburton
- Blackridge
- Deepdale
- Double Diamond Ranch
- Edendale
- Elandskop
- Ketelfontein
- Mason’s Mill
- Mkondeni
- Mpushini
- Pentrich
- Pieter Maritzburg
- Pietermaritzburg Airport
- Sweet Waters
- Thornybush
- Victoria

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in The Msunduzi and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Umgungundlovu District, the warmest month is Jan (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jul (11 °C), after allowing for this place being about 262 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 1,170 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (191 mm) and the driest Jun (19 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are March to September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 21 | 191 |
| Feb | 21 | 153 |
| Mar | 20 | 119 |
| Apr | 17 | 73 |
| May | 14 | 25 |
| Jun | 11 | 19 |
| Jul | 11 | 25 |
| Aug | 14 | 33 |
| Sep | 17 | 69 |
| Oct | 18 | 124 |
| Nov | 19 | 158 |
| Dec | 21 | 182 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from The Msunduzi
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Edendale Day-Nite Clinic · The Msunduzi | 3.6 km | Map |
| Bank | TymeBank Kiosk PNP Edendale · The Msunduzi | 6.9 km | Map |
| ATM | Bakers Edendale Mall 1 · The Msunduzi | 4.2 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Astron Energy · The Msunduzi | 6.1 km | Map |
| Hotel | Sodubo Park · The Msunduzi | 2.9 km | Map |
| Mall | Edendale Mall · The Msunduzi | 6.8 km | Map |
| School | Noshezi Islamic Pre-School · The Msunduzi | 0.6 km | Map |
| College | DUT Indumiso campus · The Msunduzi | 7.9 km | Map |
| Police station | SAPS Plessislaer Police Station · The Msunduzi | 7.2 km | Map |

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in The Msunduzi

Places mapped inside The Msunduzi in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 47
- Banks 81
- ATMs 55
- Petrol pumps 87
- Hotels 61
- Shopping malls 29
- Schools 515
- Colleges and universities 34
- Cinemas 1
- Pharmacies 50
- Restaurants 231
- Police stations 11
- Dental clinics 24

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other local municipalities in Umgungundlovu District
- Impendle
- Mkhambathini
- Mpofana
- Richmond
- uMngeni
- uMshwathi

## Quick answers
- Where is The Msunduzi? In Umgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
- What is the population of The Msunduzi? 647,185 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in The Msunduzi? About 28 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of The Msunduzi? About 862 people per km²
- What borders The Msunduzi? Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Impendle, Mkhambathini, Richmond, uMngeni and uMshwathi
- What is there to see in The Msunduzi? Bisley Valley Nature Reserve, Comrades Marathon House, Delville Woods' Weeping Cross, Kwa-Zulu Natal National Botanical Gardens
- What time zone is The Msunduzi in? UTC+2
- What currency is used in The Msunduzi? Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in The Msunduzi? Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in The Msunduzi? 73 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of The Msunduzi? Settlements lie between 621 m and 1,489 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in The Msunduzi? 1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in The Msunduzi? Elandskop (1,606 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit The Msunduzi? March to September
- Where is the nearest hospital to The Msunduzi? Edendale Day-Nite Clinic, about 3.6 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to The Msunduzi? TymeBank Kiosk PNP Edendale, about 6.9 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to The Msunduzi? Bakers Edendale Mall 1, about 4.2 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to The Msunduzi? Astron Energy, about 6.1 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in The Msunduzi? 47 mapped
- How many banks are in The Msunduzi? 81 mapped
- How many ATMs are in The Msunduzi? 55 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in The Msunduzi? 87 mapped
- What is the P-code of The Msunduzi? ZA5225 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Local municipality
- Area: 751.1 km²
- P-code: ZA5225
- District: Umgungundlovu District
- Main town: Pietermaritzburg

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/umgungundlovu/the-msunduzi/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.