Nestled along the north-east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, uMhlathuze is a vibrant city that pulses with energy and opportunity. It is a treasure trove of breath-taking natural wonders and must-see tourist hotspots that include the enchanting iSimangaliso Wetland Park that teems with pristine beaches, coastal forests and an array of wildlife - promising unforgettable adventures from fishing to safaris.
The City of uMhlathuze is the best secondary city in KwaZulu-Natal and seventh in the country. It is home to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal which is the largest coal export facility in Africa and it plays a pivotal role in the economy of Umhlathuze and South Africa as a whole. It is also home to one of the country's largest deep-water harbours, serving as a crucial gateway for the export of minerals, particularly coal, as well as timber and other commodities. Among their many highlights is being named as the best performing municipality in the province, with a good governance record of four consecutive clean audits.
An unexpected challenge
The uMhlathuze Local Municipality is devoted to the development of the city and its people, however they have experienced their fair share of obstacles. In 2016, the municipality was faced with an unexpected challenge - they had to take on the responsibility of managing additional wards from another municipality previously known as Ntambanana. Ntambanana Local Municipality was located within the uThungulu District of KwaZulu-Natal. In March 2016, the municipality was dissolved and its territory divided between uMhlathuze, Mthonjaneni and uMfolozi. The wards they took on were more than half of what they were already managing in their municipality, so funds were crucial at this point. The biggest issues that they faced were underdeveloped infrastructure (which contributed to the unemployment rate in the area) and a backlog in water and sanitation services.
A step in the right direction
The uMhlathuze Local Municipality needed a helping hand and luckily FNB was there to assist them every step of the way. FNB granted the municipality a loan of R210 million to go towards developing the infrastructure in the area and assisted them with paying R20 million that went towards an Eskom guarantee. They appointed FNB as their official bank 2 years ago, but their relationship stems back from 2016. According to Mxolisi Kunene, an accounts manager at the municipality, FNB didn't just care about the challenges they were facing, they cared about the municipalities' vision. The municipality and FNB have also partnered on CSI projects together that included rebuilding a kitchen for a day care and donating shoes and mattresses to children in need.
The uMhlathuze Local Municipality, cares greatly about its diverse community and is confident that with the help of the funds they will be able to develop the area to have sufficient roads, a reliable supply of water in every home and an improved unemployment rate in the area. They are confident in their partnership with FNB and they look forward to working on more CSI projects together within the community.
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