Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal

Nkandla is a town in the uThungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the seat of the Nkandla Local Municipality, and the district in which the residence of the former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, is located. The residence is located 40 kilometres to the south of the town of Nkandla, beyond the Nkandla Forest and on the road to Kranskop.

Nkandla
Road to Mnyakanya High School, Nkandla
Nkandla Show map of KwaZulu-Natal Nkandla Show map of South Africa Nkandla Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 28°37′21″S 31°5′22″E
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	King Cetshwayo
Municipality	Nkandla
Government
• Type	Ward 6
• Councillor	Phumzile Rolca Dlamini
Area [1]
• Total	7.00 km2 (2.70 sq mi)
Elevation	1,090 m (3,580 ft)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	3,557
• Density	510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	98.1%
• Coloured	0.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	0.7%
• Other	0.5%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Zulu	92.4%
• English	3.0%
• Other	4.6%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	3855 up to 3859
PO box	3855
Area code	035

The Nkandla region encompasses nearly 115,000 inhabitants, spread relatively sparsely over a large area. Nkandla is mainly a rural area and is in the top five of the poorest places in KwaZulu-Natal province. Poverty is prevalent, with 44% unemployment.[2][3] The majority of the population are Zulus.

A 2004 documentary, The Orphans of Nkandla, by the BBC and Truevision, recounted the hardships and poverty of orphans in Nkandla.

Zuma was joined by Nelson Mandela to open Mnyakanya High School in 2004.[4]