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The ZDM (planning division) indicated that approximately 70% ofthe land surface in KZN is
fit for livestock grazing and this is also true for the Zululand District. This includes game
reserves and recognises that there is a need to cater for both grazers and browsers as much of
the land is heavily bushed with woody-stemmed plants and thorn trees. The Zulu people have
an inextricable affinity for livestock that has developed over centuries. As the bulk of this
area is only suitable for livestock, it is therefore presented as a widely supported land-use
proposition. However, rural livestock owners in Ulundi are at present uncoordinated in that
their livestock graze/browse on Ngonyama Trust Land with little or no control over the
maintenance of resources and their management, grazing regimes, herd management, animal
health and marketing ofsurplus (Sibiya, Pers. Comm., Thursday, 22-03-2007b).
A chamber of commerce is not operational in the study area. From the formal corporate
organisations to the informal businesses, no data base has been established to institute a forum
where common issues affecting businesses in Ulundi will be discussed. These business
administrative gaps create the impression that the local businesses are not supported by both
the local and district municipalities (Sibiya, Pers. Comm., Thursday, 22-03-2007b).
Pursuant to the discussion above of the role of the ZDM in planning the local area,
respondents were asked to reveal their perceptions and knowledge ofexisting local economic
development [LED] projects in the study area In this regard Figure 6.9 gives an overview of
respondent's perceptions of the LED projects, which is envisaged to turn the economy of
Ulundi around. Of particular prominence is that the majority of respondents (34.1%)
indicated that they could not see or anticipate any prospective potential projects that could
turn around the economy of Ulundi. It could be deduced from this finding that many were
pessimistic about the situation. Dominant among those who had a somewhat positive
response (13%) were industrial incentives, infrastructure development (9.8%), employment
Gob creation) (8.3%), relocation of the legislature to Ulundi (7.2%), re-skilling of human
resources (6.2%), political education on tolerance (3%), sports promotion (3%) and farming
(3%). It is interesting to note that tourism development. dealing with corruption and youth
development received less than 3% each as perceived potential projects and programmes to
advance the development ofthe study area.
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