| Nkandla | |
|---|---|
| — Rural Area — | |
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Nkandla
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District | uThungulu |
| Municipality | Nkandla Local Municipality |
| Elevation | 1,090 m (3,576 ft) |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 3855 3856 or 3858 |
| Area code(s) | 035 |
Nkandla is a town in the uThungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the seat of the Nkandla Local Municipality.
The Nkandla region encompasses nearly 160,000 inhabitants, spread relatively sparsely over a large area. Poverty is prevalent, with over 90% unemployment. It has the highest rate of HIV infections with statistics stating 1 in 4, but it is closer to 1 in 3. There are also many orphans due to the AIDS epidemic killing many middle-aged parents.
A documentary "Orphans of Nkandla" by the BBC and Truevision recounted the hardships of orphans in the municipality.
It is the home town of the current President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. Nkandla is mainly rural area and is on the top five of the poorest places in KZN. Zulu's dominate the region.