Zone 3 is an important tourism region with a wealth of natural resources, historic sites and it is also the home of the Royal Palace at Nongoma, the residence of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini. 

There are 1 430 000 economically active people within a radius of 100km with a disposable income of R10 billion. 

Newcastle is the third largest city in Kwa-Zulu Natal with a population of 500 000. Key industries in Newcastle include a R500 million Chrome Chemical Plant from Bayer of Germany, Iscor Steelworks and the heart of the South African coal and textile industry. The other towns in Zone 3 are: Ladysmith, Vryheid, Dundee, Glencoe, Piet Retief, Nqutu, Paulpietersburg, Utrecht, Msinga, Nongoma, Dannahauser, Colenso and Charlestown, with a combined population of over 3.5 million. With towns of  Volksrust and Memel just across the provincial borders with Mpumalanga and Free State respectively.