Amahlathi Local Municipality

Amahlathi, isiXhosa for “forest”, is a local municipality in the Amathole district, Eastern Cape. The main towns are Cathcart, Kei Road, Keiskammahoek and Stutterheim, which is the seat of local government. Stutterheim is home to large pine, gum and wattle plantations which are kept on the slopes of the Kologha Mountains. The main economic sector is the community, social and personal services sector, while agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and tourism also contribute significantly. Tourist attractions in the area include the Thomas River, Mgwali Cultural Village, Bethal Mission and Sandile’s Dam.