Mfolozi
Headwaters
Facts
In Numbers
Situated in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal, the Mfolozi Headwaters supplies water to Richards Bay, eSikhawini and Vryheid.
Size: 115 504 ha
Main Rivers
The Black Mfolozi, Pongola and Lenjane rivers are the main rivers which flow from Mfolozi Headwaters. It feeds a number of free-flowing rivers including the Mkuze, Nsonge, Nondweni, Ngogo, Mfule and Nyalazi.
Did You Know?
- The Black Mfolozi, a flagship river, flows freely for more than 100km.
- Coal fields in Vryheid are located within the Mfolozi Headwaters. This places considerable pressure on the ecological and hydrological functioning of this water source area.
- Three Ramsar sites; Kosi Bay, Lake Sibaya and St Lucia fall within this water source area.
- Agriculture is the largest water user in this area, predominantly for sugarcane and forestry.
Threats
Land Use (in %)
- Mining 0.02%
- Wetlands 0.34%
- Urban 4.64%
- Cultivation (irrigated) 0.63%
- Waterbodies 0.04%
- Plantation/Woodlot 23.00%
- Cultivation (dryland) 7.86%
- Natural 63.46%
1% Protected Areas
Only 1% of the Mfolozi Headwaters is protected. This section falls within the Hluhluwe-Mfolozi Game Reserve.
- 1
Threat Status
- River Ecosystems
- Wetland Ecosystems
River Ecosystems
A significant portion (63%) of this water source area is in natural condition.
- 1% Critically Endangered
- 19% Endangered
- 58% Vulnerable
- 42% Least Threatened
Wetland Ecosystems
Only 1% of wetland ecosystems are critically endangered and 19% is endangered. Up to 72% of wetland ecosystems are least threatened.
- 1% Critically Endangered
- 19% Endangered
- 7% Vulnerable
- 72% Least Threatened
LEGAL MECHANISM TO RESTRICT MINING AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF PLANTATIONS
Only 1% of the Mfolozi Headwaters is protected and no expansion of protection is planned in terms of the National Protected Areas Expansion Strategy. Coal mining and plantations (23%) are foremost threats to this water source area. Which legal mechanism can restrict or prohibit a number of activities, based on environmental impact?
Interactive Map
South Africa has 22 water source areas spread across five provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo). The total size of our water source areas is 12.32 million hectares. A number of these areas extend and are shared with Lesotho and Swaziland; approximately 1.91 million hectares in Lesotho and 0.93 million hectares in Swaziland.
The total volume of water supplied by these areas per year is approximately 2 457 million cubic metres. The greatest volume of recharge is generated by the Southern Drakensberg, followed by the Eastern Cape Drakensberg and the Boland Mountains.
- Boland Mountains
- Groot Winterhoek
- Table Mountain
- Langeberg
- Swartberg
- Kouga
- Outeniqua
- Soutpansberg
- Wolkberg
- Tsitsikamma
- Waterberg
- Amatole
- Eastern Cape Drakensberg
- Maloti Drakensberg
- Mfolozi Headwaters
- Southern Drakensberg
- Northern Drakensberg
- Mpumalanga Drakensberg
- Mbanane Hills
- Enkangala Drakensberg
- Upper Vaal
- Upper Usutu