Mhlontlo

Quick Fact
Mhlontlo municipality had population of 188 226 persons in 2011
Quick Fact Image -0,75% Growth rate

The municipality comprises the magisterial areas of Qumbu and Tsolo. It is bounded to the south by the King Sabata Dalinyebo Local Municipality; to the east by the Nyandeni Local Municipality; and to the north by the Mzimvubu Local Municipality. The surface area of the municipality is 2 826km2,with a population of 188 226 persons in 2011, which translates to a population density of 66,6 persons per square kilometre.

Rank By:
52 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Umzimvubu 191,620 49
Lukhanji 190,723 50
Ulundi 188,317 51
Mhlontlo 188,226 52
Moretele 186,947 53
Jozini 186,502 54
Albert Luthuli 186,010 55
Quick Fact

14,7% has no formal schooling.

Quick Fact Image

In the census of 2001, the population of the municipality stood at 202 933, which constituted 15,7% of the population of the district. In 2011 however, the population declined to 188 226, which constitutes 13,8% of the population of the O.R. Tambo District. The decline is mainly due to migration to other areas to seek educational and job opportunities. The male population constitutes 46% at 87 440,while the female population constitutes 54% at 100 786.

Group Percentage
Black African99,4%
Coloured0,2%
Indian/Asian0,1%
White0,2%
Other0,1%
Age Males Females
0-4 6,7% 6,5%
5-9 6,4% 6,1%
10-14 6,5% 6%
15-19 7% 6,5%
20-24 4,5% 4,4%
25-29 2,7% 3,1%
30-34 1,9% 2,5%
35-39 1,7% 2,5%
40-44 1,4% 2,4%
45-49 1,4% 1,4%
50-54 1,4% 2,4%
55-59 1,3% 2,1%
60-64 1,1% 1,8%
65-69 0,8% 1,3%
70-74 0,7% 1,2%
75-79 0,4% 1,1%
80-84 0,3% 0,7%
85+ 0,2% 0,5%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 0,6%
English 2,3%
IsiNdebele 0,2%
IsiXhosa 94,3%
IsiZulu 0,4%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 0,2%
Setswana 0,2%
Sign Language 0,7%
SiSwati 0%
Tshivenda 0,1%
Xitsonga 0%
Other 0.2%
Not Applicable 0,6%
Group Percentage
Married 19,7%
Living together like married partners 1,6%
Never married 71,1%
Widower/Widow 6,6%
Separated 0,7%
Divorced 0,4%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 2,5%
Some Primary 51,2%
Completed Primary 7,3%
Some Secondary 32,9%
Completed Secondary 5,1%
Higher Education 0,4%
Not Applicable 0,7%
Sex Percentage
Female 53,5%
Male 46,5%
Quick Fact

In the 2001 census, 29,4% of the population used electricity for lighting. The figure rose to 72,6% in 2011.

Quick Fact Image

The percentage of persons with no access to piped water in 2001 was 67,8%. This number declined in 2011 to 38,5%.According to Census 2011 figures, the population uses mainly pit latrines (65,1%) whereas only 4,2% have access to flush toilets which are connected to a sewerage system. A sizeable portion (27%) of the population does not have any toilets and this is cause for concern, as this has a negative impact on the quality of health.

Area Percentage
Urban 5,7%
Tribal/Traditional 93,5%
Farm 0,9%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 81,9% 18,1%
Computer 2,9% 97,1%
Television 48,7% 51,3%
Satellite Television 7,3% 92,7%
Radio 49,4% 50,6%
Landline / Telephone 2,1% 97,9%
Motor Car 10,4% 89,6%
Refrigerator 35,7% 64,3%
Electric / Gas-Stove 59% 41%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 44,8% 15% 72,6%
Gas 5% 1,4% 0,3%
Paraffin 12,7% 21,2% 3,4%
Solar 0,1% 0,1% 0,2%
Candles 0% 0% 23,1%
Wood 33,3% 54,9% 0%
Coal 0,1% 0,5% 0%
Animal Dung 3,3% 1,4% 0%
Other 0,2% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 5,3% 0,4%
Access Percentage
From Home 1,1%
From Cellphone 13%
From Work 0,9%
From Elsewhere 2%
No Access 83,2%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 6,5%
Owned and fully paid off 46,7%
Owned but not yet paid off 7,2%
Occupied rent free 30,2%
Other 9,4%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 29,2%
Borehole 5%
Spring 8,7%
Rain water tank 8,4%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 3,3%
River/Stream 37,5%
Water vendor 1,1%
Water tanker 4,4%
Other 2,5%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 22%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 2,9%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 1,3%
Chemical toilet 4,8%
Pit toilet with ventilation 25,5%
Pit toilet without ventilation 39,6%
Bucket toilet 0,6%
Other 3,3%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 4,8%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1%
Communal refuse dump 2%
Own refuse dump 61,6%
No rubbish disposal 27,4%
Other 3,3%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 4,8%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1%
Communal refuse dump 2%
Own refuse dump 61,6%
No rubbish disposal 27,4%
Other 3,3%
Quick Fact

The rate of unemployment in 2001 was 64,8% the rate has dropped to 48,9% in 2011

Quick Fact Image

The rate of unemployment in 2001 was 64,8%. According to Census 2011 figures, the rate has dropped to 48,9%, which is still much higher than the national level of 25,2%.4,2% of the population resided in informal dwellings in 2001. The figure for 2011 was 2,3%. The percentage residing in traditional dwellings in 2001 was 73,7% and went down to 62,9% in 2011.

Employment Status Number
Employed 14724
Unemployed 14078
Discouraged Work Seeker 9722
Not Economically Active 64027
Income Percentage
None income 15,3%
R1 - R4,800 6,9%
R4,801 - R9,600 13,4%
R9,601 - R19,600 26,9%
R19,601 - R38,200 22,7%
R38,201 - R76,4000 7,2%
R76,401 - R153,800 3,9%
R153,801 - R307,600 2,4%
R307,601 - R614,400 0,9%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,2%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,1%
R2,457,601+ 0,1%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 15,692
Poultry production 17,275
Vegetable production 9,389
Production of other crops 4,578
Other 1,788

**An agricultural household may engage in more than one agricultural activity

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 2,097
Animals only 13,744
Mixed farming 9,483
Other 267

**An agricultural household may not fall under more than one agricultural activity

Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 8,330
R1-R4 800 1,196
R4 801-R38 400 14,213
R38 401-R307 200 1,356
R307 201+ 98
Unspecified 397

Place names

Places in Mhlontlo Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population188,226
Young (0-14)38,3%
Working Age (15-64)54,5%
Elderly (65+)7,2%
Dependency ratio83,5
Sex ratio86,8
Growth rate-0,75% (2001-2011)
Population density67 persons/km2
Unemployment rate48,9%
Youth unemployment rate59,5%
No schooling aged 20+14,7%
Higher education aged 20+4,9%
Matric aged 20+12,3%
Number of households43,414
Number of Agricultural households25,591
Average household size4,2
Female headed households56,9%
Formal dwellings34,1%
Housing owned/paying off53,9%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage2,9%
Weekly refuse removal4,8%
Piped water inside dwelling4%
Electricity for lighting72,6%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population202,933
Young (0-14)44%
Working Age (15-64)54,5%
Elderly (65+)6,7%
Dependency ratio102,9%
Sex ratio83,7
Growth rate0,24% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate64,8%
Youth unemployment rate75,8%
No schooling aged 20+35,9%
Higher education aged 20+4,1%
Matric aged 20+7,7%
Number of households43,573
Average household size4,6
Female headed households61%
Formal dwellings21,9%
Housing owned/paying off55,8%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage2,2%
Weekly refuse removal3,6%
Piped water inside dwelling0,8%
Electricity for lighting29,1%