# Nkandla Municipality, Uthungulu District – Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/uthungulu/nkandla/

Local municipality · Uthungulu District 

# Nkandla

Nkandla is a local municipality of South Africa in Uthungulu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province. It had an estimated **94,799 people** in 2020 on 1,828 km² (about 52 per km²). 25 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 198 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 94,799people (2020)
- 1,828km²
- 198mapped services
- 1,112 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Nkandla?

Nkandla had an estimated **94,799 people** in 2020 — 11.5% of Uthungulu District, 114th of 190 local municipalities. There are 1,253 women for every 1,000 men (above the Uthungulu District figure of 1,096). Spread over 1,828 km², that is about **52 people per km²**, 80th of 190 local municipalities.

40.1% of people are children under 15 and 6.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 23 across Uthungulu District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 89 children and older people.

0–4 ****11,834**

5–9 ****12,777**

10–14 ****13,387**

15–19 ****11,669**

20–24 ****6,948**

25–29 ****5,741**

30–34 ****5,379**

35–39 ****4,324**

40–44 ****3,542**

45–49 ****3,350**

50–54 ****2,944**

55–59 ****3,277**

60–64 ****3,095**

65–69 ****2,300**

70–74 ****1,859**

75–79 ****1,207**

80+ ****1,166**

Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf).

## Where is Nkandla?

Nkandla lies in [Uthungulu District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/uthungulu/), [KwaZulu-Natal Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 7 other local municipalities: [Maphumulo](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/ilembe/maphumulo/), [Msinga](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/umzinyathi/msinga/), [Mthonjaneni](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/uthungulu/mthonjaneni/), [Nqutu](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/umzinyathi/nqutu/), [Ulundi](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/zululand/ulundi/), [Umvoti](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/umzinyathi/umvoti/) and [uMlalazi](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/uthungulu/umlalazi/). By area it is the 172nd largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 22.3% of [Uthungulu District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/uthungulu/). The centre of Nkandla is about 424 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 106 km from Richards Bay, the main town of Uthungulu District. The centre point is at 28.6471° S, 30.9649° E. Local names: KZN286 .

Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf).

## Things to see in and around Nkandla

OpenStreetMap lists 10 named sights in Nkandla: 9 nature reserves; 1 ruins.

- Dhlabe Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Edodweni Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Hlatikulu · nature reserve
- Mndunduzeli Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Mome Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Nkandla Forest · nature reserve
- Qudeni Forest · nature reserve
- Sibudeni Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Vungwini Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Qudeni Sawmill (Defunct) · ruins

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

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

## Know before you go: Nkandla

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- CurrencyRand (ZAR)
- Country calling code+27
- LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug typesType C, D · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports

- King Shaka International Airport (DUR) · Durban108 km
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) · Richards Bay110 km

### Nearest railway station

Kranskop (Umvoti), about 37 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.9 hours, sunrise around 04:52) and shortest in Jun (about 10.3 hours, sunrise around 06:46, sunset around 17:06).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

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 Nkandla

Open gazetteers list **25 villages, towns and localities** in Nkandla. The largest with a recorded population: Nkandla (4,261). Settlements here lie between about 509 m and 1,594 m above sea level (median 1,112 m).

- Bayete
- Cungewane
- Dolwana
- Ekombe
- Ekuthokozeni
- Fort Louis
- KwaGugu
- KwaZondi
- Mabaleni
- Mabengela
- Makhanyezi
- Mbiswe
- Mdimela
- Ndweni
- Ngoje
- Nkandla
- Ntumbeni
- Ohlelo
- Pholela
- Qudeni
- Randalhurst
- Sangeni
- Sibhudeni
- Spinnies
- Tandanani

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Nkandla

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

### Water

34 rivers and streams.

- Damuzini
- Emama
- Gosweni
- Halambu
- Madidimba
- Madiyana
- Mankane
- Manyane
- Mathiya
- Mavungwini
- Mfongosi
- Mhlazi
- Mhlelanga
- Mome
- Mpopoma
- Mzulungwana
- Natikwe
- Ndikwe
- Ndime
- Ngehleni
- Ngwekweni
- Nhlele
- Nkweme
- Nsongeni

…and 10 more.

### Hills and mountains

46 mountains; 3 hills.

- Qudeni · 1,771 m
- Madlozi · 1,728 m
- Nkonyane · 1,631 m
- Ntabayabesutu · 1,562 m
- Mhloshane · 1,496 m
- Talane · 1,453 m
- Thala · 1,429 m
- KwaChwezi · 1,395 m
- Ngoungwana · 1,369 m
- Zindunduzeli · 1,329 m
- Mpingana · 1,302 m
- Mpandla · 1,265 m
- Onlelweni · 1,219 m
- Nomangci · 1,211 m
- Jokweni · 1,163 m
- Mkwana · 1,115 m
- Xalasho · 1,113 m
- Ndindini · 1,109 m
- Mathiya · 1,086 m
- Macala · 1,084 m
- Mabengela · 1,077 m
- KwaKomo · 1,047 m
- Matshenezimpisi · 1,045 m
- Hlambo · 1,036 m

…and 25 more.

### Forests and nature

2 forests.

- Nkandla Forest
- Qudeni Forest

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

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

## Weather in Nkandla and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Uthungulu District, the warmest month is Jan (average 18 °C) and the coolest is Jul (9 °C), after allowing for this place being about 973 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 718 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (95 mm) and the driest Jun (20 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **August to May**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 18 95 

Feb 18 81 

Mar 16 75 

Apr 14 49 

May 12 27 

Jun 9 20 

Jul 9 26 

Aug 11 28 

Sep 13 50 

Oct 14 78 

Nov 15 94 

Dec 17 95 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Nkandla

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Khombe Hospital · Nkandla 7.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.64245&mlon=30.89370#map=17/-28.64245/30.89370) 

Bank Standard Bank · Nkandla 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.62254&mlon=31.09148#map=17/-28.62254/31.09148) 

ATM Nedbank Boxer Nkandla · Nkandla 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.62027&mlon=31.09098#map=17/-28.62027/31.09098) 

Petrol pump Sasol · Nkandla 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.61800&mlon=31.08895#map=17/-28.61800/31.08895) 

Hotel Babanango Hotel · Ulundi 32 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.37662&mlon=31.08855#map=17/-28.37662/31.08855) 

School Mvutshini High School · Nkandla 2.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.65132&mlon=30.94359#map=17/-28.65132/30.94359) 

College Matholamnyama High School · Nkandla 11 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.59149&mlon=31.05883#map=17/-28.59149/31.05883) 

Police station Ekombe Police Station · Nkandla 6.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.64446&mlon=30.89750#map=17/-28.64446/30.89750) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Nkandla

Places mapped inside Nkandla in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals6
- Banks3
- ATMs3
- Petrol pumps5
- Schools171
- Colleges and universities2
- Pharmacies4
- Restaurants2
- Police stations2

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

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

## Other local municipalities in Uthungulu District

- Mfolozi
- Mthonjaneni
- uMhlathuze
- uMlalazi

## Quick answers

- Where is Nkandla?In Uthungulu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
- What is the population of Nkandla?94,799 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Nkandla?About 19 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Nkandla?About 52 people per km²
- What borders Nkandla?Maphumulo, Msinga, Mthonjaneni, Nqutu, Ulundi, Umvoti and uMlalazi
- What is there to see in Nkandla?Dhlabe Nature Reserve, Edodweni Nature Reserve, Hlatikulu, Mndunduzeli Nature Reserve
- What time zone is Nkandla in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Nkandla?Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Nkandla?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Nkandla?25 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Nkandla?Settlements lie between 509 m and 1,594 m
- What is the highest point in Nkandla?Qudeni (1,771 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Nkandla?August to May
- Where is the nearest hospital to Nkandla?Khombe Hospital, about 7.0 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Nkandla?Standard Bank, about 13 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Nkandla?Nedbank Boxer Nkandla, about 13 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Nkandla?Sasol, about 13 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Nkandla?6 mapped
- How many banks are in Nkandla?3 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Nkandla?3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Nkandla?5 mapped
- What is the P-code of Nkandla?ZA5286 (OCHA common operational dataset)