The City of Mbombela Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the southern region of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B1 (secondary city) |
| Province: | Mpumalanga |
| District: | Ehlanzeni |
| Municipal code: | MP326 |
| Seat: | Mbombela |
| Number of wards: | 45 |
| Total area: | 7,141 km² (2,757 square miles) |
| Population: | 818,925 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Sibongile Makushe |
About
The City of Mbombela Local Municipality was established in August 2016 by the amalgamation of the Mbombela and Umjindi Local Municipalities. So, the town of Barberton is now part of the Mbombela Local Municipality.
The municipality is geographically situated in the southern part of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality and the eastern part of South Africa. It is the capital of Mpumalanga Province.
Mbombela, the siSwati word meaning “a lot of people in a small space” aptly describes some of the areas of the Mbombela Local Municipality’s area of jurisdiction in the Mpumalanga Province. The municipality came about through the amalgamation of previous local councils in December 2000. The local councils were Nelspruit TRC, White River TRC, White River TLC, Hazyview TLC, and the Greater Nelspruit Area.
The City of Mbombela Local Municipality covers an area of 7,141 km² (2,757 square miles) making it the second-largest local municipality in the Ehlanzeni District, as it accounts for almost a third of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of the City of Mbombela Local Municipality is in Mbombela.
The municipality is divided into 45 wards.
The City of Mbombela Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Nkomazi Local Municipality to the east
- Bushbuckridge Local Municipality to the north
- Thaba Chweu Local Municipality to the northwest
- Emakhazeni Local Municipality in the Nkangala District Municipality to the west
- Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality in the Gert Sibande District Municipality to the south
- The country of Eswatini to the southeast
For many years, the City of Mbombela was known as a far-flung north-eastern outpost of South Africa, offering not much more than easy access for visitors to the world-famous Kruger National Park. In those days, it was a frontier town.
Times have changed. Political change and economic development of the N4 Maputo Corridor have transformed the city into a gateway for neighbouring markets, a business centre, and a provincial capital.
The town was essentially created on 28 August 1884, when the Republican Volksraad approved plans to build a railway from the newly discovered Lowveld goldfields to Johannesburg. The line was finally opened in 1895 and growth followed as people quickly rushed to buy land in and around the Mbombela City area.
Today, property prices are soaring again and the city’s economy benefits from its proximity to Mozambique and Swaziland while tourism has also been identified as a growth area.
The City of Mbombela offers easy access to many of the world’s finest game parks and is close to the Eastern Escarpment, a 1,200-metre wall of jagged mountain towering above the African bush.
The city serves as a gateway to some of the best eco-friendly and adventure activities in Southern Africa and with its moderate climate, it becomes the preferred tourist destination all year round.
The city is also home to the National Botanical Gardens, set in 154 hectares of land along the eastern bank of the Crocodile River, containing no fewer than 512 plant species indigenous to the area.
The municipality’s sub-tropical fruits (like mangos, avocados, oranges, lemons, litchis, and bananas) are a huge drawing card for visitors and during springtime, the blossoms of orange trees can be smelt for kilometres.
For shopping enthusiasts, the city offers world-class shopping malls, casinos, and entertainment venues with air conditioning systems. This creates excellent opportunities for prospective investors and businesses to establish themselves in the area.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the City of Mbombela Local Municipality has a population of 818,925 people, compared to 695,913 in 2016, and 658,604 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.12%.
According to the 2022 Census, 27.9% of the population is under the age of 15, 67.6% is between 15 and 64, and 4.6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 89.4% of the population in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 8.7% as White, 0.9% as Coloured, and 0.7% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 78.7% of the population speaks siSwati as their first language, 6.8% speak Afrikaans, 4.6% speak English, 4.1% speak Xitsonga, and 5.8% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the City of Mbombela Local Municipality are finance and business services, manufacturing, government services, community services, trade, transport and communications, agriculture, construction, mining, and tourism.
Municipal council and management
The City of Mbombela municipal council is comprised of 90 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Forty-five councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 45 wards, while the remaining 45 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the election of 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of fifty-nine seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 59 – EFF: 14 – DA: 12 – VF PLUS: 3 – ACDP: 1 – ATM: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Sibongile Makushe |
| Speaker | William Nkhata |
| Chief Whip | Meshack Nsimbini |
| Other Council Members | – Elizabeth Gecelo-Mkhabela (MMC: Financial Services) – PV Mashego (MMC: Corporate and Support Services) – JM Mazibane (MMC: City Planning and Development) – PP Mbowane (MMC: Community Services) – KA Mhlanga (MMC: Sports, Arts and Culture) – JJ Mhlanga (MMC: Strategic Management Services) – DB Mkhatshwa (MMC: Technical Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Wiseman Khumalo |
| Chief Financial Officer | n/a |
| Senior Management | – Innocent Lusenga (Local Economic Development) – Khanyisa Mhlanga (Sports, Arts and Culture) – Zephaniah Mthombeni (General Manager: Strategic Management Services) – Mandla Nkosi (General Manager: Corporate and Support Services) – Sipho Sibeko (General Manager: Technical Services) – Lukie Sihlangu (General Manager: Community Services) – Momotho Thumbathi (General Manager: Sports, Arts and Culture) |
| Communications Officers | Joseph M Ngala (Senior Manager: Communication) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the City of Mbombela Local Municipality.
- Barberton
- Emoyeni
- Entokozweni
- Hazyview
- Kaapschehoop
- Kabokweni
- Kanyamazane
- Luphisi
- Matsulu
- Mbombela
- Mpakeni
- Msogwaba
- Ngodwana
- Skukuza
- Tekwane
- White River
Contact details
The contact details of the City of Mbombela Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | PO Box 45, Mbombela, 1200 |
| Physical address: | 1 Nel Street, Mbombela Civic Centre, Mbombela, 1200 |
| Telephone: | 013 759 9111 |
| Fax: | 013 759 2070 |
| Email: | customercare@mbombela.gov.za |
| Website: | www.mbombela.gov.za |
| Fraud hotline: | – Phone: 0137599444 – Fax: 0137599445 – E-Mail: fraudhotline@mbombela.gov.za – SMS: 33660 |
