The Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) is a Category C municipality situated in the northeastern region of the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | Mpumalanga |
| Municipal code: | DC32 |
| Seat: | Mbombela |
| Local municipalities: | 4 |
| Total area: | 27,896 km² (10,771 square miles) |
| Population: | 2,270,897 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Jesta Sidell |
About
The Ehlanzeni District Municipality is geographically situated in the northeastern part of the Mpumalanga Province covering the whole Southern part of the Kruger National Park.
Ehlanzeni is an isiZulu word meaning “Lowveld”, which is where the district is geographically located.
The Lowveld is the name given to a lowland area that lies at an elevation of between 500 and 2,000 feet (150 and 600 metres) above sea level.
The Ehlanzeni District Municipality covers an area of 27,896 km² (10,771 square miles), just over a third of the province’s geographical area, making it the second-largest district in Mpumalanga.
The District’s headquarters/seat is in Mbombela (previously known as Nelspruit), which is also the home of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and, as a result, is the most concentrated economic hub within the Province.
The District is divided into four local municipalities namely;
- Bushbuckridge Local Municipality
- City of Mbombela Local Municipality
- Nkomazi Local Municipality
- Thaba Chweu Local Municipality
The Ehlanzeni District Municipality is bordered by:
- Gert Sibande District Municipality to the south
- Nkangala District Municipality to the southwest
- Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo to the west
- Mopani District Municipality in Limpopo to the north
- The Republic of Mozambique to the east
- The country of Eswatini to the south
The District has three border gates to the Republic of Mozambique and Eswatini (Matsamo, Komatipoort, and Mananga border gates).
Ehlanzeni is a tourism destination of choice as it showcases natural awe-inspiring areas such as God’s Window, Mac-Mac Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and the Kruger National Park.
Historical sites and villages, old wagon routes, and monuments that are located in the District mark events and characters who passed before in search of adventure and wealth.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Ehlanzeni District Municipality has a population of 2,270,897 residents, compared to 1,754,931 in 2016, and 1,688,615 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.88%.
According to the 2022 Census, 30.2% of the population is under the age of 15, 65.1% is between 15 and 64, and 4.8% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 94% of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality population describe themselves as Black African, 4.7% as White, 0.6% as Coloured, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 54.4% of the population speaks siSwati as their first language, 21.8% speak Xitsonga, 10.3% speak Sepedi, 4% speak Afrikaans, and 9.4% speak other languages.
Economy
The district’s main economic sectors are community services, trade, financial and real estate, construction, transport, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, utilities, and electricity.
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 42 – EFF: 9 – DA: 7 – ISANCO: 2 – APC: 1 – BLM: 1 |
| Controlling Party | n/a |
| Executive Mayor | Jesta Sidell |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | n/a |
| Speaker | Renias Khumalo |
| Chief Whip | S.G Siwela |
| Other Council Members | – T.S Khoza (MMC: Municipal Public Accounts Committee) – E.T Mabuza (MMC: Financial Services) – P.M Manana (MMC: Social Services) – S Mashigo-Sekgobela (MMC: Corporate Services) – P.A Mathe (MMC: Technical Services) – P.T Selowe (MMC: Economic Planning and Development) – E.I.T Shabangu (MMC: Strategic Services) – L.C Shakwane (MMC: Disaster Management) – Shongwe (MMC: Community Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Dr N.P Mahlalela |
| Chief Financial Officer | P.O Mokoena |
| Senior Management | – S.S Madlopha (General Manager: Economic Planning and Development) – N.D Malokela (General Manager: Technical Services) – Dr E.N.M Mkhatshwa (General Manager: Community Services) – S.J Tibane (General Manager: Strategic and Social Services) – G.N Zulu (Acting General Manager: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | Lucky Ngomane (Manager: Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality.
- Barberton
- Emoyeni
- Entokozweni
- Graskop
- Hazyview
- Kaapschehoop
- Kabokweni
- Kanyamazane
- Komatipoort
- Luphisi
- Lydenburg
- Malalane
- Marloth Park
- Mashishing
- Matsulu
- Mbombela
- Mpakeni
- Msogwaba
- Ngodwana
- Pilgrim’s Rest
- Sabie
- Sabie Park
- Skukuza
- Tekwane
- White River
Contact details
The contact details of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | PO Box 3333, Mbombela, 1200 |
| Physical address: | 8 van Niekerk Street, Mbombela |
| Telephone: | 013 759 8500 / 013 759 8570 |
| Fax: | 013 755 8539 |
| Email: | council@ehlanzeni.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ehlanzeni.gov.za |
