Alfred Nzo District

Alfred Nzo District is situated in the north eastern part of the Eastern Cape and is divided into two local municipalities, namely the Umzimvubu Municipality which forms the provincial boundary with KwaZulu-Natal, and the Umzimkhulu Municipality which is an island of the Eastern Cape Province within KwaZulu-Natal. This district is on the border of Lesotho and KwaZulu Natal. The land is high as all the land is above 1000 meters. The rainfall is also high, and it is expected to be very cold with chances of snow in the winter. The main centre is Kokstad, and the Alfred Nzo District is the smallest district with an area of 7952 square meters. Other towns in the district are Maluti, UMzimkulu, Mount Ayliff, Matatiele and Mount Frere.
 
The district has a relatively small population of 544,107 people and a relatively high density of 69 people per square meter. The population is mainly African but there are a few white and colored inhabitants. The first language is Xhosa, but the use of Sesotho and Zulu is significant in Matatiele and Umzimkulu.
 
Although there are only two municipalities there are three health sub-districts. All health services in the district are run by the Provincial Department of Health.
 
The Alfred Nzo district has a small formal economy compared to the rest of the province. Agriculture is the principal private sector and provides 12% of formal employment. Forestry is the best formal agricultural sector with wide-spread plantations in Umzimkulu and some around Maluti. There is also livestock farming, which includes cattle, sheep and goats. Subsistence farming is important but farmers have to contend with winter frosts and snow in most of the area.