Nkomazi Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the eastern region of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | Mpumalanga |
| District: | Ehlanzeni |
| Municipal code: | MP324 |
| Seat: | Malalane |
| Number of wards: | 33 |
| Total area: | 4,787 km² (1,848 square miles) |
| Population: | 591,928 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | PP Magagula |
About
Nkomazi Local Municipality is geographically situated in the eastern part of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality.
Nkomazi Local Municipality covers an area of 4,787 km² (1,848 square miles), making it the smallest local municipality in the Ehlanzeni District as it accounts for 17% of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Nkomazi Local Municipality is in Malalane.
The municipality is divided into 33 wards.
Nkomazi Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Bushbuckridge Local Municipality to the north
- Kruger National Park to the north
- The City of Mbombela Local Municipality to the west
- The country of Eswatini to the south
- The Republic of Mozambique to the east
Nkomazi Local Municipality is also bordered to the north by the southeastern section of the Sabie River in the Kruger National Park.
The municipality has a gate to South Africa’s biggest National park, The Kruger National Park.
The municipality is strategically placed between Eswatini (North of Eswatini) and Mozambique (west of Mozambique) and serves as a link between Mozambique and South Africa at the Lebombo border.
There are also multiple border posts between South Africa and Eswatini.
Nkomazi Local Municipality is linked with Eswatini by two provincial roads and with Mozambique by a railway line and the main national road (N4), which forms the Maputo Corridor.
The Maputo Corridor traverses the area of Nkomazi and has a significant influence on the growth and development of the area.
Nkomazi Local Municipality is home to giant processors of sugar cane the Selati Company and various coal mines.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Nkomazi Local Municipality has a population of 591,928 people, compared to 410,907 in 2016, and 393,030 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 3.98%.
According to the 2022 Census, 31% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.9% is between 15 and 64, and 4.1% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 97.7% of the population in Nkomazi Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 1.6% as White, 0.3% as Indian/Asian, and 0.2% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 88.5% of the population speaks siSwati as their first language, 6.8% speak Xitsonga, 1.4% speak Afrikaans, 1.1% speak English, and 2.2% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Nkomazi Local Municipality are mining, agriculture, and tourism.
Municipal council and management
The Nkomazi municipal council is comprised of 65 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty-three councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 33 wards, while the remaining 32 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 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 49 – EFF: 10 – DA: 4 – ATM: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | PP Magagula |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | n/a |
| Speaker | HV Nyambi–Sambo |
| Chief Whip | PM Mziako |
| Other Council Members | – PC Luphoko (MMC: Community Services) – SS Mahlalela (MMC: Budget and Treasury) – T Makamo (MMC: Infrastructure Development) – MJ Mavuso (MMC: Economic Development and Tourism) – J Ndlovu (MMC: Planning and Development) – SG Sibiya (MMC: Corporate Services) – LT Vuma (MMC: Social Services) |
| Municipal Manager | XT Mabila |
| Chief Financial Officer | TS Thobela |
| Senior Management | – ES Chibi (Director: Corporate Services) – JN Khoza (Director: Economic Development and Tourism) – NP Mkhatshwa (Director: Community Services) – JK Ngcane (Director: Infrastructure Development) – NS Sibisi (Director: Planning and Development) |
| Communications Officers | Cyril Rapinga |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Nkomazi Local Municipality.
- Komatipoort
- Malelane
- Marloth Park
- Louw’s Creek
- Kaapmuiden
- Hectorspruit
- KaMhlushwa
- Tonga
- KaMaqhekeza
- KwaLugedlane
- Matsamo
- KaHhoyi
- KaMaqhekeza
Contact details
The contact details of Nkomazi Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | Private Bag X101, Malalane, 1320 |
| Physical address: | 9 Park Street, Malalane |
| Telephone: | 013 790 0245 |
| Fax: | 013 790 0886 |
| Email: | call.center@nkomazi.gov.za |
| Website: | www.nkomazi.gov.za |
| Traffic emergency number: | 082-8025-701 |
| Corruption hotline: | 0800-701-701 |
