KwaZulu-Natal South Coast

KwaZulu-Natal South Coast (better known as the KZN South Coast or just the South Coast) is a region on the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It stretches from Scottburgh in the north to Port Edward in the south and Harding in the west. The coast is governed by the Ugu District Municipality.

KZN South Coast
Location of the KZN South Coast
Ramsgate, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast

Its main towns are Scottburgh, Pennington, Hibberdene, Port Shepstone, Margate, Southbroom and Port Edward however Port Shepstone is the municipal seat and the primary town as it is the powerhouse of the South Coast.

As of 2016 the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast has a population of 753 336 (Ugu District Municipality)[1]

Demographics

As of 2016, the Ugu District Municipality (KZN South Coast) has a population of 753 336 people compared to 2011 where it had a population of 689 051 which indicates that between 2011 and 2016 the population grew at about 8.5%. The annual population growth was 2.03% and the number of men per 100 females decreased from 91.8% in 2011 to 88.4% in 2016.[2]

Geography
Mtamvuna River Gorge which forms the border between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape

It is bordered by the Indian Ocean on the east, East Griqualand in the west, Durban in the north, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in the north-west and the Mtamvuna River (border between KZN and Eastern Cape) to the south. The Mtanvuma River is the southernmost border which borders between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Amanzimtoti, located just south of Durban

The coastline between Amanzimtoti and Clansthal is normally regarded part of the South Coast however according to Tourism KZN (government agency for tourism in KwaZulu-Natal), the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast starts officially from Scottburgh in the north to Port Edward in the south.[3][4][5][6]

Administration

The region is governed by the Ugu District Municipality with its seat in Port Shepstone. The three different regions are administered by their respective local municipalities. The only exception is where the Hibiscus Coast is governed by two local municipalities:[7][8]

Unfortunately the municipality has not properly maintained sewage lines along the South Coast with the result that many beaches along the South Coast are contaminated and dangerous to swim in. One should enquire about contamination and beach closures prior to traveling to the area and to seek medical treatment immediately upon any signs of diarrhea and vomiting as a result of swimming in these waters.

Subregions

It is divided into three subregions which are Umdoni Coast & Country, Hibiscus Coast and Harding and surrounds.[16]

Umdoni Coast & Country
Scottburgh, the administrative and largest town of the Umdoni Coast & Country

Umdoni Coast and Country better known as the Upper South Coast stretches from Scottburgh to Mtwalume. It is located south of the Greater Durban Metro. Its main town is Scottburgh.[17]

Hibiscus Coast
Margate, the holiday "capital" of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast which is located in the Hibiscus Coast

Hibiscus Coast also known as the Lower South Coast stretches from Hibberdene in the north to Port Edward in the south and Izingolweni in the west. Hibiscus Coast is the ultimate economy booster of the South Coast due its location and as well as being home to the South Coast 's economic hub, Port Shepstone. It is known as the 'beach holiday mecca' of KwaZulu-Natal[18] and is known for its 'unending' Hibiscus trees found along the coast.[19]

Harding and Surrounds

Harding is a small town located halfway between Port Shepstone and Kokstad in Griqualand East. It is famous for its sawmills in the Weza area and the Ingeli Forest.[20]

Facilities

The KZN South Coast has eight hospitals.

Public Hospitals

Private Hospitals

Golfing
San Lameer Golf Course

The South Coast has more golf courses than any other section of South Africa; many of them are 18-hole courses and are in the country's top 100 courses. They include:[31]

  • Harding Golf Club
  • Hibberdene Golf Club
  • Margate Country Club
  • Port Edward Country Club
  • Port Shepstone Country Club
  • San Lameer Golf Course, Southbroom
  • Scottburgh Golf Club
  • Selborne Golf Club, Pennington
  • Southbroom Golf Club
  • Umdoni Golf Club, Pennington

Tourism

The coast is rich in terms of attractions and tourism contributes largely to the region's economy.

Oribi Gorge, KwaZulu-Natal
  • Avuxeni Adventures
  • Aqua Planet Dive Centre
  • Butterfly Valley
  • Crocworld Conservation Centre
  • Ingeli Forest
  • Macbutterflies
  • Margate Art Museum
  • Margate Main Beach
  • Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve
  • Port Shepstone Lighthouse
  • Port Edward Lighthouse
  • Pure Venom
  • Red Desert Nature Conservation Area
  • Riverbend Crocodile Farm
  • Stephward Estate Exotic Nursery
  • St Micheals on Sea Beach
  • Aliwal Shoal
  • Umtamvuna Nature Reserve
  • Wild Waves Water Park[32]

Towns

The main towns or places in the Kwazulu-Natal South Coast includes: [19]

Lower South Coast
Southbroom, Lower South Coast

Upper South Coast
Pennington, Upper South Coast

Harding and Surroundings

Transport

Road
N2 highway north of Port Shepstone with a board sign indicating the off-ramp to Port Shepstone North and St Faith's[33]

The region is connected by the N2, R61 and the R102.

- The N2 connects to Durban, Richards Bay and Ermelo to the north and Mthatha, Buffalo City, Port Elizabeth, Garden Route and Cape Town to the south.

- The R61 connects to Mthatha, Graaf-Reinet and Beaufort West.

- The R102 connects to Durban, KwaDukuza and Empangeni.

The N2 runs parallel on the coast from Port Shepstone and northwards and inland from Port Shepstone to Kokstad and southwards to Cape Town. The largest traffic volumes pass along the N2 towards Port Shepstone, and further towards Kokstad, as well as the R61 from Port Shepstone towards Port Edward. Large volumes of traffic also pass along the R612 from Park Rynie to Ixopo, and the road from Umtentweni to St Faith’s.

The South Coast has its own toll route called the "South Coast Toll Road" which is situated on the N2 between Hibberdene and Southbroom. It includes three toll plazas:[34]

An alternative route to the toll road (N2) when going north to Durban or south to Port Shepstone, Margate or Shelly Beach is the R102 and R620 from Port Shepstone.

Air
Margate Airport is the main airport of the KZN South Coast
King Shaka International Airport is the nearest international airport

The South Coast is served by Margate Airport which currently has flights to Johannesburg operated by CemAir.[35][36] A larger alternative is King Shaka International Airport, north of Durban which has flights to other domestic destinations as well as international destinations such as Doha, Dubai, Gaborone, Istanbul, London, Lusaka, Maputo, Mauritius and Windhoek.

Media

The newspapers in the KZN South Coast are the South Coast Herald,[37] South Coast Fever [38] and South Coast Sun.[39] In terms of radio, East Coast Radio and Ukhozi FM are the main radio stations mainly serving the whole province of KwaZulu-Natal.

References
  1. "Ugu District Municipality - Demographic". municipalities.co.za.
  2. "Ugu District Municipality - Demographic". municipalities.co.za. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  3. "Home". VISIT KZN SOUTH COAST. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  4. "Destinations | South Coast". zulu.org.za. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  5. "SOUTH COAST, KwaZulu Natal". sa-venues.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  6. "KwaZulu Natal South Coast Travel | KZN Tourism South Africa". portfoliocollection.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  7. "Ugu District Municipality - Contact Details". municipalities.co.za.
  8. "South Coast Tourism". Tourism South Coast.
  9. "Umdoni Local Municipality". kznonline.gov.za.
  10. "Umdoni Local Municipality - Overview". municipalities.co.za.
  11. "Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality". kznonline.gov.za.
  12. "Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality - Overview". municipalities.co.za.
  13. "Umzumbe Local Municipality". kznonline.gov.za.
  14. "uMuziwabantu > Home". umuziwabantu.gov.za.
  15. "Umuziwabantu Local Municipality". kznonline.gov.za.
  16. "Destinations - South Coast". zulu.org.za.
  17. "South Coast - Umdoni Coast & Country". zulu.org.za.
  18. "South Coast - Hibiscus Coast". zulu.org.za.
  19. "Ugu District Municipality - Overview". municipalities.co.za.
  20. "South Coast - Harding & Surrounds". zulu.org.za.
  21. "Dunstan Farell hospital". kznhealth.gov.za.
  22. "G.J. Crookes Provincial Hospital". kznhealth.gov.za.
  23. "Murchison Provincial Hospital". kznhealth.gov.za.
  24. "Port Shepstone Provincial Hospital". kznhealth.gov.za.
  25. "St Andrews Provinical Hospital". kznhealth.gov.za.
  26. "Hibiscus Private Hospital". TravelGround.
  27. HxhiuRic3. "Welcome to Hibiscus Hospital". Hibiscus Hospitals.
  28. "Netcare Linkwood Hospital". Netcarehospitals.co.za. 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  29. "Home". Shelly Beach Hospital.
  30. Shelly Beach Hospital. "Shelly Beach Hospital". Yellow Pages. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  31. http://www.thegolfcoast.co.za
  32. "Page 7 Things To Do in South Coast". sa-venues.com.
  33. "Google Image Result for https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D70R4LOXUAAcEzE.jpg". google.com. Retrieved 2020-07-03. External link in |title= (help)
  34. "N2 Toll Fees". foresightpublications.co.za.
  35. http://bookings.flycemair.co.za/vars/public/b/FlightCal.aspx?VarsSessionID=d5a03171-ecfe-432d-8ec7-ecb4b6db12ad
  36. "CemAir resumes flights". November 14, 2019.
  37. "South Coast Herald". South Coast Herald.
  38. "South Coast Fever". facebook.com.
  39. "South Coast Sun". South Coast Sun.

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