eThekwini

MDB code: ETH Area: 2 556km²

Geography, History & Economy

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a Category A municipality found in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. eThekwini is the largest city in this province and the third-largest city in the country. Its land area is comparatively larger than that of other South African cities and is topographically hilly, with many gorges and ravines and almost no true coastal plain.
It is a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city and is known as the home of Africa’s best-managed, busiest port. The world-class International Convention Centre in Durban has hosted a historic line-up of events, including conferences on a global scale. Durban has a turbulent history dating from ivory hunters in the 1820s and their conflict with the local Zulu monarchs. The province has the largest number of battlefields. It is also a major centre of tourism because of the City’s warm, subtropical climate and extensive beaches.
Durban Tourism is the leading domestic destination in South Africa. The estimated visitor number for the financial year 2010/11 is 9,95 million. The value of the domestic tourism economic impact on the region’s GDP is estimated to be 8% per annum. The hospitality industry consists of many fine hotels, nightspots, shopping malls, ethnic attractions, traditional villages, craft markets, sparkling dams, and big-game parks.

Cities/Towns:

Amalanga, Amanzimtoti, Amaotana, Berea, Blackburn, Bluff, Cato Ridge, Cele/Vumengazi, Chatsworth, Cibane, Clermont, Clifton Canyon, Craigieburn, Dassenhoek, Desainager, Durban, Durban International Airport, Durban North, Durban South, Emalangeni, Embo/Nksa Isimahla, Emona, Ethekwini, Everton, Ezembeni, Folweni, Gcumisa, Genazzano, Gillitts, Glenashley, Golokodo-Ensimbini, Hambanathi, Hammarsdale, Hillcrest, Ilanga, Ilfracombe, Illovo North, Illovo South, Inanda, Inchanga, Iqadi, Isipingo, Isipingo Beach, Kingsburgh, Klaarwater, Kloof, KwaDabeka, KwaMashu, KwaNdengezi, La Mercy, Lotus Park, Luganda, Luthuli/Umnini Trust, Magabeni, Malagazi, Mangangeni/Vumazonke, Maphephetha, Mariannhill, Mawotana, Mawothi, Molweni, Mount Edgecombe, Mount Moreland, Mpolo, Mpumalanga, New Germany, Newlands East, Newlands West, Ngcolosi, Ngqungqulu, Ntuzuma, Oceans, Outer West Durban, Phoenix, Pinetown, Prospecton, Qadi, Qiniselani Manyuswa, Queensburgh, Redcliffe, Roseneath, Sapref, Shallcross, Sobonakhona, Thoyana, Tongaat, Tongaat Beach, Tshelimnyama, UmgogintwiniUmbumbulu, Umdloti, Umgababa, Umhlanga, Umkomaas, Umlazi, Verulam, Waterfall, Westbrook, Westville, Ximba

Main Economic Sectors:

Finance (22%), manufacturing (22%), community services (18%), trade (16%), transport (16%), construction (3%), electricity (2%)