Kumkani Mhlontlo Municipality (formerly Mhlontlo Municipality; Xhosa: uMasipala waseKumkani Mhlontlo) is a local municipality within the OR Tambo District Municipality, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

The Kumkani Mhlontlo Municipality is a municipality situated along the N2 national route between Mthatha and KwaBhaca. It encompasses the towns of Qumbu and Tsolo, together with the surrounding villages. There are three hospitals within the municipality; the Nessie Knight Hospital in Sulenkama village (Qumbu), the St Lucy Hospital in Ngcolosi village (Tsolo) and the Dr Malizo Mpehle Hospital near the town of Tsolo. The municipality is the seat of the AmaMpondomise Kingdom, which seats at Lower Kroza village near Qumbu.

Mhlontlo was a king (Xhosa: Kumkani) of the AmaMpondomise people during the 19th century.

Main places

The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:

PlaceCodeArea (km2)Population
Amacwera177.8220,419
Amampondomise109.2412,566
Amazizi0.350
Asentshonalanga8.02475
Basuto7.950
Bhele70.314,240
Bovube197.1918,717
Culunca99.509,501
Ebotwa203.3522,254
Emaqa-Kambani162.7110,214
Hala67.982,907
Hlubi280.7722,631
Kambi6.87369
Ketani70.067,600
Lwandlolubomvu48.431,625
Makaula24.83629
Masizakhe293.6718,661
Matolandile/Zimelelandile32.9152
Mbalisweni125.2210,021
Mhlontlo19.826
Ngqubusini106.955,855
Ngwane16.95633
Northern Pondomise294.5015,987
Qumbu38.153,275
Tsolo Part 153.975,678
Tsolo Part 2184.592,361

Politics

The municipal council consists of fifty-one members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Twenty-six councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in twenty-six wards, while the remaining twenty-five 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) won a majority of forty seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.

PartyWardListTotal seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
African National Congress29,81671.692532,00177.741540
United Democratic Movement2,2185.3302,7496.6833
Economic Freedom Fighters2,2945.5202,4916.0533
Independent candidates4,43610.6711
African Transformation Movement1,7574.2201,8104.4022
Independent South African National Civic Organisation3330.8001,2533.0411
Democratic Alliance6121.4706091.4811
Batho Pele Movement1200.290980.2400
Civic Independent20.0001530.3700
Total41,588100.002641,164100.002551
Valid votes41,58897.0241,16497.06
Invalid/blank votes1,2762.981,2462.94
Total votes42,864100.0042,410100.00
Registered voters/turnout93,16446.0193,16445.52

Nature conservation

The Lambasi Nature Reserve, encompassing some 8,810 ha, was proclaimed in 2014 and placed under management of the Lambasi community. The reserve includes the Mzoboshe Horseshoe and parts of the Tsitsa and Tina River valleys which are special features of the Tsitsa Falls Valley. The initiative aimed to supplement income of the community which was dependent on welfare payments, subsistence agriculture and migrant labour.

External links

31°09′S 28°52′E/31.150°S 28.867°E/ -31.150; 28.867