Final Adopted IDP - KZN Development Planning

settlements of Mpungamhlophe, Nhlazatshe and Nkonjeni, with scattered subsistence
farming activities around Dlebe.
Grasslands are scattered throughout the Ulundi municipal area, although the lack of
other activities and vegetation types makes this the main land cover category in the
western areas around Bloubank and Ngongweni. Plantations are located in the south
western parts of the Municipality, and mainly grouped along the R68 leading to
Babanango. Some isolated plantations are situated just north of Babanango. The area
north of Nhlazatshe is characterised by bush lands, while some dense bush land
groupings are situated north of Nkonjeni and Mahlabathini. Details of the location of
land cover within the Ulundi Municipality are depicted on Plan 5 included in Annexure C
attached to this IDP review document.
Protected Areas
The Ulundi Municipality has a number of environmentally sensitive areas, some of which
are already formally protected. A detailed depiction of the Protected and Conservation
Worthy Areas is included as Plan 6 in Annexure C attached to this IDP review document.
The Emakhosini Ophathe Heritage Park and Game Reserve is located on the southern
boundary of the Municipality directly south of the White Umfolosi River. The Game
Reserve is directly east of the R66, while the Heritage Park stretches west from the
R66 to Babanango in the west.
Biodiversity Priority 1 areas are mainly concentrated in the east, where the Ulundi
Municipality borders on the Hluhluwe Mfolozi Game Reserve. A limited number of small
Priority 1 Biodiversity Area pockets are scattered throughout the municipal area, in
close proximity to the areas of Nhlazatshe, Kwanbambo, Babanango,, Mahlabathini, on
the boundary with the Nquthu Municipality, and on the Abaqulusi Municipality boundary
east of Mphepho.
Biodiversity Priority 3 areas are concentrated mainly in the western parts of the
Municipality surrounding the areas of Bloubank and Babanango.
KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife developed a composite set of data that is depicted on Map 7:
Environmental Sensitivity which has been included in Annexure C attached to this IDP
review document. The highly sensitive areas are situated on the south western parts of
the municipal area. These areas are some of the least densely populated areas in the
Municipality and the SDF proposes that development not be encouraged in these areas.
A number of areas with medium to high vulnerability status are situated near
Kwanbambo, Mabedlana, Nhlazatshe, and on the eastern boundary of the Municipality
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