Emakhazeni Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the eastern region of the Nkangala District Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B2 (large town) |
| Province: | Mpumalanga |
| District: | Nkangala |
| Municipal code: | MP314 |
| Seat: | eMakhazeni |
| Number of wards: | 8 |
| Total area: | 4,736 km² (1,829 square miles) |
| Population: | 50,165 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Nomhle A Mashele |
About
Emakhazeni Local Municipality (formerly known as Highlands Municipality) is geographically situated in the eastern part of the Nkangala District Municipality.
Emakhazeni Local Municipality covers an area of 4,736 km² (1,829 square miles), making it the largest local municipality in the Nkangala District as it accounts for almost a third of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Emakhazeni Local Municipality is in eMakhazeni (previously known as Belfast).
The municipality is divided into 8 wards.
Emakhazeni Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Steve Tshwete Local Municipality to the west
- Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality in the Gert Sibande District Municipality to the south
- City of Mbombela Local Municipality in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality to the east
- Thaba Chweu Local Municipality in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality to the northeast
- Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality in the Sekhukhune District in the Limpopo Province to the north
Emakhazeni Local Municipality is situated in the heart of Mpumalanga Province and comprises 4 major towns namely: eMakhazeni (previously known as Belfast), Dullstroom, eNtokozweni (previously known as Machadodorp), and Emgwenya (previously known as Waterval Boven).
The area is a nature-lovers paradise, South Africa’s premier fly fishing mecca, host to some of the subcontinent’s rarest birds, and offers the best rock climbing and most spectacular wildflower displays – all just two hours from the metropolitan centres of Gauteng Province and Mozambique.
The Trout Triangle area is situated on the highest part of the Steenkampsberg Plateau at approximately 2,072 metres above sea level, with the Dullstroom station being the highest point in Mpumalanga. The Suikerboschkop Koppies are situated in the west of the area.
There are various rivers and watercourses traversing the area, and numerous wetlands and sensitive environmental areas associated with these rivers, particularly around Dullstroom. There are four nature reserves in the area.
The N4 Maputo Corridor, which traverses the region from west to east, and the R555 from Middelburg and R33 from eMakhazeni (previously Belfast), which converge at Stoffberg Road in the northwest, are the main connecting roads forming part of the major roads of the municipality.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Emakhazeni Local Municipality has a population of 50,165 people, compared to 48,149 in 2016, and 47,216 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.59%.
According to the 2022 Census, 23.3% of the population is under the age of 15, 70% is between 15 and 64, and 6.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 87.2% of the population in Emakhazeni Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 10.8% as White, 1.2% as Coloured, and 0.7% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 28.3% of the population speaks siSwati as their first language, 21.8% speak isiZulu, 18.7% speak isiNdebele, 10.7% speak Afrikaans, and 20.5% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Emakhazeni Local Municipality are mining, transport, community services, finance, trade, manufacturing, and agriculture.
Municipal council and management
The Emakhazeni municipal council is comprised of 15 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Eight councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 8 wards, while the remaining 7 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 ten seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 10 – EFF: 3 – DA: 2 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Nomhle A Mashele |
| Speaker | S.L Ndinisa |
| Chief Whip | A.T Lukhele |
| Other Council Members | – Amanda A Botha – JT Duma – Maria Kambula Maria Kambula (MMC: Technical, Community Services and Local Economic Development) – Nelson T Masha – Xolile D Masina – Sibusiso S Mthimunye (MMC: Finance and Economic Affairs) – Rose Ndlovu – Thamsanqa C Ngomane – Michael P Ntuli – Thandiwe E Scheffers (MMC: Corporate Services) – Sizane I Skhosana – Samuel S Tshabalala |
| Municipal Manager | W. Shabangu |
| Chief Financial Officer | M.A Tshesane |
| Senior Management | – ML Mamaleka (Planning, Infrastructure and Social Development) – Spokazi Matsane (Deputy Manager: Human Resources and Administration) – LD Mkhonza (Manager: LED) – Nokuthula Mokwana (Risk Officer) – Zwelakhe Nkambule (PMS Officer) – Dudu Ntshwane (Senior Internal Auditor) – LO Sindane (Manager: Technical Services) – N Singh (Manager: Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | Kenneth Nkosi |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Emakhazeni Local Municipality.
- Dullstroom
- Emgwenya (previously known as Waterval Boven)
- eMakhazeni (previously known as Belfast)
- eNtokozweni (previously known as Machadodorp)
- Siyathuthuka
- Sakhelwe
- Emthonjeni
Contact details
The contact details of Emakhazeni Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | PO Box 17, eMakhazeni, 1100 |
| Physical Address: | 25 Scheepers Street, eMakhazeni, 1100 |
| Telephone: | 013 253 7600 |
| Email: | municipality@emakhazeni.gov.za |
| Website: | www.emakhazeni.gov.za |
