Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality

Johannes Phumani Phungula
Ubuhlebezwe
Location in KwaZulu-Natal
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceKwaZulu-Natal
DistrictHarry Gwala District
SeatIxopo
Wards14
Government
 • TypeMunicipal council
 • MayorE.B. Ngubo
Area
 • Total
1,604 km2 (619 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
101,691
 • Density63.40/km2 (164.2/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African97.5%
 • Coloured1.2%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White0.8%
First languages (2011)
 • Zulu91.6%
 • English3.1%
 • Xhosa1.6%
 • Southern Ndebele1.3%
 • Other2.4%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeKZN434

Johannes Phumani Phungula Municipality (Zulu: UMasipala iJohannes Phumani Phungula; formerly Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality) is a local municipality within the Harry Gwala District Municipality, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It was renamed in May 2025 after ANC struggle veteran Johannes Phungula. The previous name, Ubuhlebezwe, is an isiZulu word meaning "the beauty of the land", derived from Alan Paton's novel, Cry, The Beloved Country.