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MPUMALANGA
Mpumalanga Province
Ehlanzeni District Municipality Gert Sibande District Municipality Nkangala District Municipality 70 71 72
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Capital: Nelspruit Largest City: Nelspruit Province Area: 76 495km2 Area % of RSA: 6.3%
Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga means “Place where the Sun Rises” and people are drawn to the province by its magnificent scenery, fauna and flora, and the fascinating remnants of the 1870 gold-rush era. With a surface area of only 76 495 km2, it is the second-smallest province after Gauteng, yet has the fourth-largest economy in South Africa. The area has a network of excellent roads and railway connections, making it highly accessible. Because of its popularity as a tourist destination, Mpumalanga is also served by a number of small airports, including the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Mpumalanga falls mainly within the grassland biome.
AGRICULTURE
The province is a summer-rainfall area divided by the escarpment into the Highveld region with cold frosty winters, and the Lowveld region with mild winters and a subtropical climate. The escarpment area sometimes experiences snow on high ground. Thick mist is common during the hot, humid summers. An abundance of citrus fruit and many other subtropical fruit – ma goes, avocados, litchis, bananas, papayas, granadillas, guavas – as well as nuts and a variety of vegetables are produced here. Mbombela is the second-largest citrus-producing area in South Africa and is responsible for one third of the country’s export in oranges. The Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops is situated in Mbombela. Groblersdal is an important irrigation area, which yields a wide variety of products such as citrus fruit, cotton, tobacco, wheat and vegetables. Carolina-Bethal-Ermelo is mainly a sheep-farming area, but potatoes, sunflowers, maize and peanuts are also produced in this region.
INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURING
Most of the manufacturing production in Mpumalanga occurs in the southern Highveld region, especially in the Highveld Ridge where large petrochemical industries such as Sasol II and III are located. Large-scale manufacturing occurs especially in the northern Highveld area, in particular, chrome alloy and steel manufacturing. In the Lowveld sub region, industries are concentrated around the manufacturing of products from agricultural and raw forestry material. The growth in demand for goods and services for export via Maputo will stimulate manufacturing in the province. Mpumalanga is very rich in coal reserves. The country’s major power stations, three of which are the biggest in the southern hemisphere, are situated in this province.
Government Office Contact Telephone: 013 766 0000
Physical address: Office of the Premier, 7 Government Boulevard, Riverside Park, Ext 2 Nelspruit Provincial Website www. mpumalanga.gov.za
Postal address: Private Bag X11291, Nelspruit, 1200
Ehlanzeni District Municipality
Demographics
Mayor Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi MBOMBELA, Mpumalanga
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES
MUNICIPALITY TOWN
Bushbuckridge Bushbuckridge City of Mbombela Mbombela Nkomazi Malalane
Thaba Chweu Lydenburg
Mbombela Stadium
The Ehlanzeni District Municipality is a Category C municipality situated in the north-east of the Mpumalanga Province.
Agriculture
Ehlanzeni District is characterized by a subtropical climate, which makes it an ideally suited region for the cultivation of subtropical, citrus and deciduous fruits such as mangoes, litchis, papaws, bananas, avocados, guavas, granadillas and tomatoes. Nuts, tobacco, wood and vegetables are other crops grown in Ehlanzeni area. Agricultural activities compete with forestry in terms of the resource base. The areas of Mbombela, White River, Barberton and Bushbuckridge form the second largest citrus producing area in the country. The Barberton area is the largest irrigable area, which produces citrus, cotton, tobacco, wheat and vegetables. Ehlanzeni is also well suited for sugar, livestock and game farming.
Forestry
Forestry at Ehlanzeni area dominates the land use and is an important contributor to the economy. Large-scale forestation is found throughout the district with the important areas in Mbombela, Pilgrim’s Rest, Sabie and Graskop. There is also direct competition between forestry and agriculture, but in most cases, the forested land is steep or rugged and not suitable for agriculture. Thirty nine of the 148 primary processing plants in the country are located in Mpumlanga Province, among these are the largest integrated pulp and paper mill in Africa (SappiNgodwana), the largest softwood sawmill in Africa (Mondi Sabie) and the largest panel and board plant in South Africa (Sappi Novoboard) (MII, 2003).
Tourism
The tourism sector at Ehlanzeni district is an important source of foreign revenue. Tourism activities are concentrated around the beautiful areas of Pilgrim’s Rest, Blyde Rivierspoort, Sabie and Graskop. Furthermore, Ehlanzeni has large conservation areas, which dominate the land use pattern in the east and which include the Kruger National Park, provincial, community and private game reserves.
Main economic sectors
Community services, trade, construction, transport, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, utilities, electricity, financial and real estate
CONTACT DETAILS
Postal – Po Box 3333, Mbombela, 1200 Physical – 8 Van Niekerk street, Mbombela Tel – 013 759 8500 Fax – 013 755 8539 Web – www.ehlanzeni.gov.za
Gert Sibande District Municipality
Demographics
Local seat – Ermelo Province area – 76 495km2 District area – 31 841km2 Population – 1 135 409 Population growth – 1.93% p.a. Mayor Cllr Muzi Gibson Chirwa ERMELO, Mpumalanga
Majestic River in the mountains
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES
MUNICIPALITY TOWN
Chief Albert Luthuli Carolina Dipaleseng Balfour Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Volksrust Govan Mbeki Secunda Lekwa Standerton Mkhondo Piet Retief Msukaligwa Ermelo
The Gert Sibande district municipality is a category C municipality located in the Mpumalanga province.
Agriculture
Gert Sibande district features the largest agricultural sector in Mpumalanga province with strong service centres like Standerton, Ermelo, Bethal and Piet Retief. Agricultural commodities produced within the district include maize, soybeans, sunflower, grain, sorghum, wheat, mutton (cattle and sheep), dairy and wool. Although some irrigated commercial agriculture does occur to the south of Ermelo and to the north and east of Manzana, the majority of the aforementioned commercial crops are grown on dry land. In total 23% of the district’s land surface is under cultivation, of which approximately 99% constitutes commercial dry land under grains. Significantly, the area between Carolina, Bethal and Ermelo produces the largest number of sheep and wool quantity in South Africa.
Forestry
Whilst commercial agriculture dominates the central and western extents of the district, the eastern extents are characterised by a north – south running band of commercial forestry stretching all the way from Carolina and Warburton in the north, to Amsterdam and Piet Retief in the south. The majority of the plantations found within the district are privately owned, either by Sappi or Mondi (now York Timbers). Forestry areas mainly consist of pine, eucalyptus and wattle plantations. Wood from the plantations are primarily used in the production of structural timber for housing, and the manufacturing of joinery packaging such as pallets, boxes and cable drums.
Tourism
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency had divided the province into seven different tourism regions that are geographically diverse, and offer tourists very different experiences. Significantly, the district hosts three of the seven regions, namely “Cosmos Country,” “Grass and Wetlands,” and the “Wild Frontier”.
Main economic sectors
Manufacturing, agriculture, trade, transport, finance, mining, community services and construction.
CONTACT DETAILS
Postal – Po Box 1748, Ermelo, 2350 Physical – Corner Joubert & Oosthuizen Street, Ermelo Tel – 017 801 7000 Fax – 017 811 1207 Web – www.gsibande.gov.za
Nkangala District Municipality
Demographics
Mayor Cllr Linah Malatjie MIDDELBURG, Mpumalanga
Loskop Dam Spillway
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES
MUNICIPALIY TOWN
Dr JS Moroko Siyabuswa Emakhazeni Belfast
Emalahleni Witbank
Steve Tshwete Middelburg Thembisile Hani eMpumalanga Victor Khanye Delmas
The Nkangala District Municipality is a Category C municipality in the Mpumalanga province. It is one of the three districts in the province, making up 22% of its geographical area.
Economy
Nkangala is at the economic hub of Mpumalanga, and is rich in minerals and natural resources. The district is host to the Maputo corridor which brings increased potential for economic growth and tourism development. The proximity to Gauteng opens up opportunities to a larger market, which is of benefit to the district’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors. There is further potential in exporting goods that provides opportunities within the district. The relatively large economies of Steve Tshwete (Middelburg) and Emalahleni (Witbank) sustain the economy of the Nkangala district to a large extent. The economy of these centres is mainly based on the steel industry with high reliance on the manufacturing sector which makes the region vulnerable to economic cycles. The south western region of the district referred to as the Energy Mecca of South Africa, due to the large deposits of coal reserves and associated power stations. The mining, petrochemicals and steel sectors are dominated by a few global-level companies, with relatively few job opportunities being created due to their capital intensive nature.
Agriculture
Agriculture is very important to the economy of the district. The southern regions of Nkangala are suitable to crop farming, specifically for fresh produce such as maize and vegetables. The northern regions are suitable for cattle farming and game farms. Agri-processing and export opportunities in view of the linkages to two harbours are not fully utilised while agricultural activity in Thembisile Hani and Dr JS Moroka is at a very low (mainly subsistence) level. The Nkangala district offers considerable tourism potential. The economy of the eastern areas of the district is already growing due to the increasing popularity of tourist destinations in the Emakhazeni municipality.
Main economic sectors:
MIning, manufacturing, energy and agriculture
CONTACT DETAILS
Postal – Po Box 437, Middelburg, 1050 Physical – 2 A Walter Sisulu street, Middelburg Tel – 013 249 2000 Fax – 013 249 2087 Web – www.nkangaladm.gov.za
