The Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) is a Category C municipality situated in the southern region of the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | Mpumalanga |
| Municipal code: | DC30 |
| Seat: | Ermelo |
| Local municipalities: | 7 |
| Total area: | 31,841 km² (12,294 square miles) |
| Population: | 1,283,459 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Mathukuthela W Mngomezulu |
About
The Gert Sibande District Municipality is geographically situated in the southern part of the Mpumalanga province.
On 15 October 2004, the municipality changed its name from the “Eastvaal District Municipality” to “Gert Sibande District Municipality”. The district is named after the African National Congress (ANC) political activist Richard Gert Sibande.
He was born in the District and spent a large part of his life there.
Gert Sibande was one of the ANC co-accused to stand trial in the Treason Trial of 1956-61 alongside Nelson Mandela and 154 others. He also played a critical role in the Potato Boycott of 1959.
The Gert Sibande District Municipality covers an area of 31,841 km² (12,294 square miles), almost half of Mpumalanga’s geographical area, making it the largest district in the province.
The District is divided into seven local municipalities namely;
- Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality
- Dipaleseng Local Municipality
- Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality
- Govan Mbeki Local Municipality
- Lekwa Local Municipality
- Mkhondo Local Municipality
- Msukaligwa Local Municipality
The Gert Sibande District Municipality is bordered by:
- Ehlanzeni District Municipality to the northeast
- Nkangala District Municipality to the north
- Sedibeng District Municipality in Gauteng to the west
- Fezile Dabi District Municipality in the Free State to the southwest
- Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Free State to the southwest
- Amajuba District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal to the south
- Zululand District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal to the southeast
- The country of Eswatini to the east
The District’s western region mainly comprises typical highveld vegetation and climate, while the eastern region of the District is mostly mountainous and characterised by extensive forestry and rural settlements and villages (Mkhondo and Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipalities).
The majority of land under state ownership (excluding conservation areas) is concentrated within the northeastern region of the District and generally coincides with the former homeland area of KaNgwane. The concentration of conservation and protected areas also increases towards the east.
Much of the other state-owned land in the other areas of the District comprises nature reserves and in some instances land belonging to Eskom for electricity generation purposes (current or future).
The district has strategic economic national routes that pass through it, including the N11, which goes through to the N2 in KwaZulu-Natal, the N17 from Gauteng passing through to Eswatini, and the N3 from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal.
The District has the largest agricultural sector in Mpumalanga with the area between Carolina, Bethal, and Ermelo producing the most sheep and wool in South Africa.
The District has 17 Traditional Councils out of which, a total of seven Traditional Leaders participate in the Municipal Councils. The District has made efforts to ensure that all matters relating to Traditional and Cultural Affairs are properly budgeted for to maintain and strengthen the relationship between the District Municipality and the Local House of Traditional Leadership and has undertaken to support uMmemo and other traditional and cultural events held annually hosted by Amakhosi.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Gert Sibande District Municipality has a population of 1,283,459 residents, compared to 1,135,409 in 2016, and 1,043,194 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.01%.
According to the 2022 Census, 27.3% of the population is under the age of 15, 67.6% is between 15 and 64, and 5.1% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 88.6% of the Gert Sibande District Municipality population describe themselves as Black African, 9% as White, 1.1% as Indian/Asian, and 1% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 60.9% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 13% speak siSwati, 9.1% speak Afrikaans, 4.2% speak Sesotho, and 12.8% speak other languages.
Economy
The district’s main economic sectors are manufacturing, agriculture, transport, trade, community services, construction, electricity, finance, and mining.
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 11 – EFF: 4 – DA: 3 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling Party | n/a |
| Executive Mayor | Mathukuthela W Mngomezulu |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | n/a |
| Speaker | B.G Sekhonde |
| Chief Whip | Bhekabantu Mtshali |
| Other Council Members | – Flora Maboa Boltman (MMC: Corporate Services) – Bheki Michael Buthelezi (MMC: Planning and Economic Development) – Phalaborwa Malatsi (MMC: Infrastructure and Technical Services) – Busisiwe Mkhwanazi (MMC: Special Programmes) – Banana Mollo (MMC: Monitoring and Evaluation) – Noliqhwa S Nhlapho (MPAC Chairperson) – Nomkhosi Zulu (MMC: Community and Social Service) – Bethuel Zunguza (MMC: Finance) |
| Municipal Manager | Cijimpi Absenia Habile |
| Chief Financial Officer | Zakhele Buthelezi |
| Senior Management | – Yogan Govender (Senior Manager: ICT) – Samuel Lukhele (Chief of Staff) – Melato Mechele (General Manager: Community and Social Services) – Gugu Mokgatsi (Manager: LED) – M.E Thabethe (General Manager: Infrastructure and Technical Services) – Victoria Tshabalala (Head: Scientific Services) |
| Communications Officers | – Isaiah Dladla (Manager: Communications) – Job Kubheka |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Gert Sibande District Municipality.
- Amersfoort
- Amsterdam
- Balfour
- Bethal
- Breyten
- Carolina
- Charl Cilliers
- Chrissiesmeer
- Davel
- Ekulindeni
- Embalenhle
- Empuluzi
- Ermelo
- Evander
- Greylingstad
- Grootvlei
- Kinross
- Leandra
- Lothair
- Morgenzon
- Perdekop
- Secunda
- Standerton
- Trichardt
- Volksrust
- Wakkerstroom
- eManzana
- eMkhondo (previously known as Piet Retief)
Contact details
The contact details of the Gert Sibande District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | PO Box 1748, Ermelo, 2350 |
| Physical address: | Cnr Joubert & Oosthuise Streets, Ermelo |
| Telephone: | 017 801 7000 |
| Fax: | 017 811 1207 |
| Email: | records@gsibande.gov.za |
| Website: | www.gsibande.gov.za |
| Police: | 10111 |
| Ambulance: | 10177 |
| Hospital: | 017 819 2472 |
| Fire department: | 017 811 3031 |
