A regional overview of Mpumalanga

By John Young

Coal has been the engine of the Mpumalanga economy for many years. Most of South Africa’s power comes from coal, and most of those power stations are in Mpumalanga. More than 80% of South Africa’s coal is currently sourced in Mpumalanga, with the town of eMalahleni (Witbank) being the centre of the industry. Other minerals found in the province include gold, platinum-group minerals, chromite, zinc, cobalt, copper, iron and manganese.

Confronting South Africa’s reliance on coal is not something that seems to be on the agenda at the moment, with a good deal of thought and effort going into find ways to get coal to Mpumalanga’s power stations from the next big coal region, the Waterberg. A new railway line is mooted. The lives of a number of Mpumalanga coal mines are being extended and Sasol launched the third of its replacement mines in 2019.

The most popular renewable energy technologies, wind and solar, have little purchase in Mpumalanga but a game-changer could come to the provincial economy in the form of gas. This would allow the province to retain its position as an energy provider and to start moving away from coal. Vast new fields of natural gas have been found off the coast of Mozambique and the large and sophisticated infrastructure that Sasol has built up over the years make it well-placed to fire up a gas-based economy.

Sasol (pictured above), an integrated oil, gas and chemicals company with more than 30 000 employees and operations in 31 countries, runs several plants at Secunda. Products manufactured at the complex include synthetic fuel, petroleum, paraffin, jet fuel, creosote, bitumen, diesel and lubricants. The primary feedstock for synthetic-fuel production is coal, and the plant is in the heart of

New technologies and new priorities are set to reshape the economy of Mpumalanga.

Mpumalanga’s coalfields. Sasol regularly spends tens of millions on upgrades and improvements at the Secunda complex. The Sasol Synfuels refinery is the only commercial coal-to-liquid fuel plant in the world and constitutes a key component in South Africa’s oil and gas sector.

On a smaller scale, the provincial government is looking beyond coal towards a renewable energy future, especially where projects can be tackled by small businesses. There might be opportunities in micro-hydro or rooftop solar projects that will help to reduce dependence on the national grid while simultaneously promoting SMMEs.

The other big new reality that Mpumalanga has to face is the fact that travel and tourism will not be a priority for people around the world any time soon. The effect of the Covid-19 epidemic is likely to be keenly felt by the hotels, lodges and game reserves of Mpumalanga. It is possible that visits to game reserves and nature reserves will be allowed (even encouraged perhaps) sooner than other sectors of the tourism sector because of the big distances between cars and people that can be achieved. But the turnover from restaurants will be absent for some considerable time and in a province where 7% of GDP is derived from tourism, this is bad news.

In 2018, tourists spent R13.1-billion in the province. Numbers were rising for both international tourist arrivals and domestic tourists as a result of a strong marketing campaign by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA).

The Kruger National Park remains the province’s most visited asset but the decision by UNESCO to afford World Heritage Site status to the Makhonjwa Mountains near Barberton will boost geological tourism to the province and supports the efforts of the province to diversify its offering.

Major projects to improve tourist experiences are underway at the Graskop Gorge (where a transparent lift takes tourists into the depths of the gorge), a skywalk is to be built at God’s Window and a cable car is planned for Three Rondavels.

The international body’s decision has also had the effect of expanding the curriculum at the relatively new University of Mpumalanga. On the basis of the UNESCO ruling, UMP is offering geology as part of a BSc degree, to supplement existing courses in education, agriculture and hospitality.

Several infrastructure investment projects in the tourism sector have been put forward by the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA). There is a special focus on BRICS countries and provincial authorities are investigating a tourism airlift route between Moscow and Mpumalanga.

The TRILAND partnership with Eswatini and Mozambique is another avenue, as is the collaboration with KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini, Mozambique and the Seychelles. The latter project is called east3ROUTE Tourism Initiative and proclaims “Experience, Adventure, Scenery and Trade” between the participating provinces and countries.

A major concern for provincial planners is to diversify the economy and to grow the manufacturing sector. The Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path (MEGDP) identifies beneficiation, agri-processing and the development of value chains as priorities.

Various industrial parks are planned which will focus on agriculture and forestry, mining and metals and petrochemicals. An International Fresh Produce Market in Nelspruit and the planned Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (SEZ) are other priorities.

Steel and associated manufacturing remains one of the province’s strong suits and Mpumalanga has rich and varied mineral resources and fertile soil that support diverse farming operations, agriprocessing and forestry.

The province also hosts large companies in the manufacturing sector. Columbus Stainless in Middelburg is a major producer of stainless steel, while Middelburg Ferrochrome, Thos Begbie and the Nelspruit-based Manganese Metal Company are among other important heavy industrial companies.

The province’s rich agricultural produce is used by companies such as McCain, Nestlé and PepsiCo and there are also pulp and paper plants (Sappi and Mondi), fertiliser facilities and textile manufacturing concerns. The decision by Sappi to start producing dissolving wood pulp at its Ngodwana Mill has significantly increased the manufacturing capacity of the province. York Timbers is a leading forestry company and the sugar mills and refinery of RCL Foods (formerly TSB Sugar) are large contributors to the provincial economy.

The southern half of the eastern limb of the platinum-rich Bushveld Igneous Complex runs south towards the towns of Lydenburg and Machadodorp. Deposits of chromite, magnetite and vanadium in this area are the basis of the ferro-alloy complex in Witbank-Middelburg and Lydenburg.

Geography

The Drakensberg escarpment sharply divides the western grasslands at high altitude (Highveld) and the subtropical component to the east, the Lowveld. The central region of the province is mountainous, with dramatic landscapes presenting exciting vistas for visitors. The Lebombo Mountains rise in the east.

The southern and northern Highveld regions produce large quantities of field crops such as barley, soybeans, maize, grain and sorghum. Potatoes also flourish in this area.

Most of the province receives summer rainfall, often via thunderstorms. Frost is common on the Highveld but is almost absent in the subtropical regions where fruit, nuts and citrus thrive. Differences in temperature and rainfall between the Highveld and Lowveld can be considerable. One of the fastest-growing agricultural sectors is macadamia nuts. These are cultivated in the Lowveld and are exported in ever-growing volumes. The Nelspruit district in the Lowveld is South Africa’s second-biggest producer of citrus fruit, while vegetables of all sorts do well in this area too.

Large parts of the province are in the so-called Middleveld comprising high-plateau grasslands. Forestry operations are found in central and south-eastern Mpumalanga, but the heart of this important industry is around Sabie in the east. The Mpumalanga forestry sector is one of the most important in the country: 11% of the total land area of Mpumalanga is covered either by plantations or natural forests. Large sugar operations are found in the south-east of the province.

The province has excellent roads and railway connections and is well served by airports, airstrips and heliports. The Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Hoedspruit Airport are the province’s two main airports. The Maputo Development Corridor is a transportation corridor comprising road, rail, border posts, port and terminal facilities, running from Pretoria in Gauteng through Mpumalanga to the Port of Maputo in Mozambique. This international initiative emphasises Mpumalanga’s excellent location as a logistics and transport hub.

Ehlanzeni District Municipality Towns: Mbombela, Malelane, Hazyview, White River, Sabie, Lydenburg, Barberton Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) is the capital city of Mpumalanga province and the main town of the Mbombela Local Municipality within the Ehlanzeni District Municipality.The new University of Mpumalanga has its headquarters in Mbombela. The Lowveld Show and the InniBos Arts Festival are major events that showcase Mbombela’s diversity and importance as a regional hub. The fertile Crocodile River Valley ensures good fruit crops in a typically subtropical climate. Mangoes, litchis and avocados are among the crops grown most profitably and the town is at the centre of the regional citrus sector. The Lowveld Botanical Gardens contain many rare species.The urban centres are

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LISTING nodes of manufacturing in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality the municipality. About one-million people live Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality LISTING LISTING this region, which is also at the heart of Mpumalanga’s tourism offering. The Kruger National Park, in the Gert Sibande District and the municipal headquarters are in Ermelo. Tel: +27 17 620 6000 | Fax: +27 17 634 8019 Website: www.govanmbeki.gov.za Tel: +27 13 973 1101 | Fax: +27 13 973 0974 Website: www.moroka.gov.zaGovan Mbeki Local Municipality Tel: +27 17 620 6000 | Fax: +27 17 634 8019 Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 973 1101 | Fax: +27 13 973 0974 Govan Mbeki Local Municipality Tel: +27 17 620 6000 | Fax: +27 17 634 8019 Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 973 1101 | Fax: +27 13 973 0974 the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Lekwa Local Municipality Website: www.govanmbeki.gov.za Website: www.govanmbeki.gov.za Emakhazeni Local Municipality Website: www.moroka.gov.za Website: www.moroka.gov.za God’s Window and other attractions make this a Nkangala District MunicipalityTel: +27 17 712 9600 | Fax: +27 17 712 6808 Website: www.lekwalm.gov.za Tel: +27 13 253 7600 Fax: +27 13 253 2440Lekwa Local Municipality Emakhazeni Local MunicipalityLekwa Local Municipality Emakhazeni Local Municipality highly desirable place to visit. Citrus, sugar and forestry are the major agricultural products, all being major contributors to export earnings. The Sappi paper mill at Ngodwana is one of the biggest Towns: Middelburg, Delmas, Kriel, eMalahleni (Witbank), eMakhazeni (Belfast), Dullstroom, eMgwenya (Waterval Boven) This area straddles the north-west. Rural and Mkhondo Local Municipality Tel: +27 17 826 8100 | Fax: +27 17 826 3129 Website: www.mkhondo.gov.za Msukaligwa Local Municipality Website: www.emakhazeni.gov.za eMalahleni Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 690 6911 | Fax: +27 13 690 6207 Website: www.emalahleni.gov.za Steve Tshwete Local Municipality Tel: +27 17 712 9600 | Fax: +27 17 712 6808 Website: www.lekwalm.gov.za Mkhondo Local Municipality Tel: +27 17 826 8100 | Fax: +27 17 826 3129 Website: www.mkhondo.gov.za Tel: +27 13 253 7600 Fax: +27 13 253 2440 Website: www.emakhazeni.gov.za eMalahleni Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 690 6911 | Fax: +27 13 690 6207 Website: www.emalahleni.gov.za Tel: +27 17 712 9600 | Fax: +27 17 712 6808 Website: www.lekwalm.gov.za Mkhondo Local Municipality Tel: +27 17 826 8100 | Fax: +27 17 826 3129 Website: www.mkhondo.gov.za Tel: +27 13 253 7600 Fax: +27 13 253 2440 Website: www.emakhazeni.gov.za eMalahleni Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 690 6911 | Fax: +27 13 690 6207 Website: www.emalahleni.gov.za of its kind while RCL Foods operates two large mills in the east. The population is about 1.7-million. traditional in the north-west where the King of the Ndebele is still revered, there is a concentration Tel: 086 116 7852 | Fax: +27 17 801 3851 Website: www.msukaligwa.gov.za Tel: +27 13 249 7000 Fax: +27 13 243 2550 Website: www.stlm.gov.za Msukaligwa Local Municipality Tel: 086 116 7852 | Fax: +27 17 801 3851 Steve Tshwete Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 249 7000 Msukaligwa Local Municipality Tel: 086 116 7852 | Fax: +27 17 801 3851 Steve Tshwete Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 249 7000 of coal mining and steel production in the Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality Website: www.msukaligwa.gov.za Fax: +27 13 243 2550Website: www.msukaligwa.gov.za Fax: +27 13 243 2550 Gert Sibande District Municipality Towns: Bethal, Secunda, Standerton, Ermelo, industrial centre. Proximity to Gauteng brings economic opportunity and the area is rich in Tel: +27 17 734 6100 | Fax: 086 630 2209 Website: www.pixleykaseme.gov.za Thembisile Hani Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 986 9100 | Fax: +27 13 986 0995 Website: www.thembisilehanilm.gov.za Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality Tel: +27 17 734 6100 | Fax: 086 630 2209 Website: www.stlm.gov.za Thembisile Hani Local Municipality Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality Tel: +27 17 734 6100 | Fax: 086 630 2209 Website: www.stlm.gov.za Thembisile Hani Local Municipality Volksrust, Mkhondo (Piet Retief), Carolina Power stations abound in this region which stretches across the southern half of the province and it is the home of the giant Sasol facilities at minerals. The District Municipality’s headquarters are in Middelburg. The north-east hosts a lively trout-fishing sector that includes hatcheries and accommodation for tourists. Approximately NKANGALA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY Physical address: 2A Walter Sisulu Street, Middleburg 1055 Postal address: PO Box 437, Middleburg 1050 Tel: +27 13 249 2000 | Fax: +27 13 249 2056 Website: www.nkangaladm.org.za Victor Khanye Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 665 6000 | Fax: +27 13 665 2913 Email: munadmin@delmasmuni.co.za Website: www.victorkhanyelm.gov.za Website: www.pixleykaseme.gov.za NKANGALA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY Physical address: 2A Walter Sisulu Street, Middleburg 1055 Postal address: PO Box 437, Middleburg 1050 Tel: +27 13 249 2000 | Fax: +27 13 249 2056 Tel: +27 13 986 9100 | Fax: +27 13 986 0995 Website: www.thembisilehanilm.gov.za Victor Khanye Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 665 6000 | Fax: +27 13 665 2913 Email: munadmin@delmasmuni.co.za Website: www.pixleykaseme.gov.za NKANGALA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY Physical address: 2A Walter Sisulu Street, Middleburg 1055 Postal address: PO Box 437, Middleburg 1050 Tel: +27 13 249 2000 | Fax: +27 13 249 2056 Tel: +27 13 986 9100 | Fax: +27 13 986 0995 Website: www.thembisilehanilm.gov.za Victor Khanye Local Municipality Tel: +27 13 665 6000 | Fax: +27 13 665 2913 Email: munadmin@delmasmuni.co.za Secunda. The area makes up the northern tip of South Africa’s maize triangle. 1.4-million people live in the district. ■MUNICIPALITIES IN MPUMALANGA Website: www.nkangaladm.org.za Website: www.victorkhanyelm.gov.zaWebsite: www.nkangaladm.org.za Website: www.victorkhanyelm.gov.za Agriculture and food processing are well-developed sectors. Sheep, chicken, sunflower and sorghum are among the area’s many agricultural products. Nestlé has a processing plant at Standerton, as does Astral Foods. Mondi runs a pulp and paper facility in the Nkangala Gert Sibande Msukaligwa Dipaleseng Govan Mbeki Victor Khanye Dr JS Moroka eMalahleni Steve Tshwete Emakhazeni Thembisile Limpopo North West Gauteng Nkangala MsukaligwaGovan Mbeki Victor Khanye Dr JS Moroka eMalahleni Steve Tshwete Emakhazeni Thembisile Limpopo North West Gauteng MUNICIPALITIES IN MPUMALANGA Nkangala MsukaligwaGovan Mbeki Victor Khanye Dr JS Moroka eMalahleni Steve Tshwete Emakhazeni Thembisile Limpopo North West Gauteng MUNICIPALITIES IN MPUMALANGA Ehlanzeni Chief Albert Luthuli Bushbuckridge Thaba Chweu Mbombela Nkomazi Swaziland Ehlanzeni Chief Albert Luthuli Bushbuckridge Thaba Chweu Mbombela Nkomazi Ehlanzeni Chief Albert Luthuli Bushbuckridge Thaba Chweu Mbombela Nkomazi N NN Mozambique MozambiqueMozambique south-east. Major highways connecting Gauteng with the coastal regions pass through Free State Dipaleseng Free State Dipaleseng Free State Lekwa Lekwa Lekwa Pixley Ka Seme Gert Sibande Pixley Ka Seme Gert Sibande Pixley Ka Seme Mkhondo Mkhondo Mkhondo uMlalazi Amajuba Metropolitan/District Municipality Boundary Local Municipality Boundary District Municipality Local Municipality Swaziland Amajuba Metropolitan/District Municipality Boundary Local Municipality Boundary District Municipality Swaziland Amajuba Metropolitan/District Municipality Boundary Local Municipality Boundary District Municipality Local Municipality Local Municipality uMlalazi uMlalazi