3.13 STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
3.13.1 Trends and Patterns
SECTOR PLAN COMPLETED ADOPTED DATE
Disaster Management Plan Y
District Growth and Development Strategy Y
District Rural Development Plan Y 2019
Employment Equity Plan Y Y 2017
Environmental Management Framework Y
Gender Equity Plan Y
Local Economic Development Plan Y
Spatial Development Framework Y Y 2018
Water Services Development Plan Y Y 2019
Source:
o Low skilled working age population o Weak domestic consumer markets o Limited infrastructure
o Limited opportunities in key sectors o A decline in agriculture within the District
Furthermore, in terms of pure income levels, approximately 66% of households receive no income or less than R2 400 per month. The traditional and rural areas are the most poverty stricken. There are also high levels of Dependency. Those people in poverty are also affected by issues such as backlogs, poor education levels and so forth. Education is also a major issue within the District. Not only does a large proportion of the population have no matric, but those who have a matric still do not have the skills necessary to obtain work within the District.
A large portion of the population within Zululand is unemployed, especially in the youth demographic, largely due to education levels and a limited job opportunity base. This is especially relevant in the face of an Agricultural sector that has experienced a decline in output and therefore employment, in recent years. In order for the District to grow, an increase in the number of jobs is essential backed by skills training.
3.13.1.2 SPATIAL TRENDS AND PATTERNS
The vast majority of Zululand is rural and agricultural in nature and approximately half of the area is under the jurisdiction of traditional councils whole the remained is divided between commercially owned farms and conservation areas. As such, large tracts of the District reflect a sparse settlement typology typical of such an area. However, there are concentrations of development and intensified densities along transportation routes, and primarily at key intersections. These concentrations of development have over the years, developed into nodes of varying levels of intensity and servicing. It is also at these nodes that pockets of the population now dwell.
The District Municipality does not have notable National Level access. However, access to the uPhongolo in the north east is via the N2. This access allows the District to tie into the Kingdom of Zululand, as well as to the important nodes of Richards Ba, and further away, eThekwini. Key main provincial roads through the Municipality are critical in providing access at a local level within the District and to the surrounding areas. Finally, there are also a number of District level roads which provides further access within the municipality.
Through the various routes, access to Mpumalanga Province and Port Shepstone is possible.
Zululand District has, for the large part, a very hilly topography. Whilst this makes for a very scenic (which increases tourist opportunities) Municipality, this makes servicing areas outside of the nodes difficult to realistically achieve.
3.13.1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS ANDE PATTERNS
Zululand District Municipality contains some of the key environmental assets in the Province, and these have a direct impact on the District’s rural areas. The following are key points that are worthy of noting:
o Irreplaceable land is particularly evident in the north-western parts of the municipal area (Vryheid, eDumbe and uPhongolo). The key economic opportunities in this largely rural district (viz. tourism and agriculture) are thus directly linked to the environment.
Water, climate, soil, biodiversity and scenic beauty are especially relevant.
o Water as a key environmental resource that needs to be more effectively harnessed, but in a sustainable manner. For agriculture to continue to benefit from good natural catchments, requires proper catchment management strategies.
o Climate change is an issue and effects are already evident in unpredictable weather patterns, extreme climate events (and associated disasters). This affects both agriculture and tourism – the key economic sectors. Climate change needs to be addressed through local mitigation and adaptation strategies. Maintaining natural biodiversity is key to environmental resilience, as well as a tourism asset.
3.13.1.4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND PATTERNS
The following key findings based on the economic assessment of the district are as follows:
o Although rural settlements are scattered throughout the District, it is found that a number of settlements have conglomerated around transport linkages, which provide some level of connectivity and accessibility to rural nodes and urban centres and areas of economic opportunities.
o A number of rural settlements are already located on high/good to moderate potential agriculture land. This provides opportunities for rural communities to participate in agricultural activities.
o The success of the development of the District is dependent on the strength and its linkages between nodes within its jurisdiction, as well as between rural settlements and nodes. The above-mentioned corridors, especially the secondary corridors, provide opportunities for rural settlements to be linked to business nodal areas. Therefore, it is essential to support the creation of linkages between rural settlements and urban
nodes, through development of infrastructure corridors, that will in turn allow the strengthening and development of rural nodes.
o It is evident that rural activity is largely driven from urban nodes and rural settlements have important linkages to developed nodes such as Ulundi, Vryheid and Pongola.
o The natural environment of the Zululand District Municipality has both a high ecotourism and adventure tourism potential.
3.13.1.5 AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND PATTERNS
The District is well known for high agro-ecological potential due to an abundance of high- quality soils, high altitude, and abundant water. Commercial farms and to large extent commercial forestry plantations form the basis of its economy. The District is also a suitable area for the production of a variety of agricultural products including maize, beef, and timber and sugar production. From the agricultural assessment, the following key issues are highlighted:
o The Zululand DGDS Vision 2030 notes that the Agricultural sector is critical to the economy of the district.
o The Agricultural sector is not playing enough of a role in the economy of the District due to a lack of beneficiation of products within the District and lack of skills base among land reform beneficiaries.
o A large portion of the District’s rural population who have direct access to agricultural land appears not to be making use of agricultural land resources and an opportunity, therefore, exists to free up un-utilised areas for agricultural production where potential allows.
o The agricultural sector can be harnessed in efforts to diversify the economy of the district and enable the absorption of the local populace in sector opportunities call for semi and unskilled, as well as informal employment categories.
o If the development of agri-processing activities in Zululand was to be considered as a possible major driver of economic and rural development it may make sense to develop these facilities within Vryheid, which is a strategic town to enable the development.
o Forestry is also an important part of the economy for the Zululand. Opportunities exist in increasing the forestry resource base in Ingwe through the establishment of new forestry and increase participation of previously disadvantaged small farmers in the forestry sector.
3.13.1.6 INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES TRENDS AND PATTERNS
Water, electricity and sanitation are key services, which relate to growth of the rural areas and these need improvements if the rural areas are to develop to its potential.
o Water is the most critical servicing issue facing the District, which is reflected in the fact that the vast majority of rural areas don’t have access to potable water. The IDP for Zululand acknowledges this need.
o The need for adequate sanitation within the nodes in the Municipality is also highlighted as a concern. This is important, not only for economic development, but also for basic health and safety.
o Large parts of the District still do not have access to electricity despite electricity being a driver of the economy. The sprawling nature of rural settlements contributes partly to this problem.
o Many of the district roads are poorly maintained, which impacts on the locational advantages of some of the rural service nodes.