The Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the Winterland of the Eastern Cape under the jurisdiction of the Amathole District. It is approximately 200km from Port Elizabeth.  It is the largest municipality of the six in the district, making up a third of its geographical area. Raymond Mhlaba was established by the amalgamation of the Nkonkobe and Nxuba Local Municipalities in August 2016.  It is a countryside municipality that includes the imposing and majestic mountain range of the Winterberg (IiNtabazeNkonkobe). The rural hinterland forms part of the municipal area. Most of the farming activities take place in the rural areas, which consist of partly-owned farms, and this plays a major role in the economic growth of the area.