Okhahlamba Local Municipality

General information

Okhahlamba Local Municipality is situated in the mountainous region of KwaZulu-Natal between Lesotho, the Free State, Emnambithi and Mtshezi. Okhahlamba is made up of privately owned commercial farmland; smallholder settlements; the urban areas of Bergville, Winterton, Cathkin Park, and Geluksberg; and two tribal authority areas. The area is relatively well linked through the network of existing provincial roads that run through the municipality. The municipality is largely reliant on Ladysmith for facilities such as shopping, medical services and education, among other services. Large capital expenditure is needed to meet service backlogs in the area. Bergville is a small town and is known as the gateway to the Northern Drakensberg. Approximately half a million tourists are attracted to the Drakensberg annually. Bergville hosts an office of the Drakensberg Publicity Association. Less than 50km from the towering Amphitheatre of Royal Natal, the ideally-situated agricultural and trading centre of Bergville was laid out in 1897 by a retired sea captain. British forces built a blockhouse in the settlement two years later at the onset of the Anglo-Boer War - that building is now a monument and museum within the grounds of the Bergville Court House. The council manages a caravan park and holiday huts on the bank of the uThukela River. A playground and facilities for sports, including swimming, tennis, bowls, cricket, golf, rugby and badminton, are available. A modern community hall serves as a town hall.
Cities/Towns: Bergville, Cathkin Park, Winterton
Main Economic Sectors: Tourism and agriculture.