Mpumalanga Business 2020-21 edition

MPUMALANGA 

PUMALANGA 

USINESS BUSINESS 

THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT 

IN MPUMALANGA PROVINCE 

THE E GUIDE TO TO BUSINESS AND AND INVESTMENT 

IN MPUMALANGA PROVINCE 

2018/19 EDITION 

2018/19 EDITION 

2020/21 EDITION 

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CONTENTS 

CONTENTS 

Mpumalanga Business 2020/21 Edition 

Introduction 

Foreword 4 

A unique guide to business and investment in Mpumalanga. 

Special features 

A regional overview of Mpumalanga 6 

New technologies and new priorities are set to 

reshape the economy of Mpumalanga. 

Investment incentives 10 

A range of incentives are available to investors, 

companies, entrepreneurs and co-operatives. 

Economic sectors 

Agriculture and agri-processing 18 

New agricultural sites are planned for defunct mines. 

Forestry and paper 20 

Sonae Arauco has expanded its White River factory. 

Oil and gas 22 

Gas finds off the coast of Mozambique could be significant. 

Water 23 

National department steps in with tanks and trucks. 

Mining 26 

Afrimat is looking to expand into Mpumalanga. 

Manufacturing 28 

Mpumalanga’s natural resources support 

a diverse manufacturing sector. 

1 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2020/21

CONTENTS 

Transport and logistics 32 

Mpumalanga is the country’s busiest rail province. 

Tourism 34 

Tourism makes up 7% of provincial GDP. 

Banking and financial services 36 

Banking customers are being offered more choice. 

Education and training 37 

Robotics and Coding are now part of teacher training. 

Development finance and SMME support 38 

Entrepreneurship training is offered at new youth centres. 

Reference 

Sector contents 16 

Local government listings 39 

Index 40 

ABOUT THE COVER: 

The Two Rivers platinum mine is on the 

southern part of the eastern limb of the 

Bushveld Igneous Complex, south-west 

of Burgersfort. Two Rivers is a joint 

venture between African Rainbow 

Minerals (54%) and Implats (46%). 

Image: Implats. 

MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2020/21 

2

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Company 

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Bandit chippers are designed Dimensional with quality, wood chips are produced by the removal 

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become the owner of Bandit equipment. Geographical www.abc.co.za footprint 

ABC is located in Worcester (Western 

Cape), Kirkwood (Eastern Cape), 

Nelspruit (Mpumalanga) and Upington 

(Northern Cape). 

We operate in all nine provinces in 

South Africa and also across the 

borders into Sub-Saharan Africa, including 

Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, 

Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, 

Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria. ■ 

9 WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2020 

www.abc.co.za 

Mpumalanga Area Manager: Christian de Wet 

078 683 4209 | cdewet@abc.co.za

FOREWORD 

Mpumalanga Business 

A unique guide to business and investment in Mpumalanga. 

Credits 

Publisher: Chris Whales 

Publishing director: 

Robert Arendse 

Editor: John Young 

Managing director: Clive During 

Online editor: Christoff Scholtz 

Art director: Brent Meder 

Designer: Simon Lewis 

Production: Lizel Olivier 

Ad sales: 

Gavin van der Merwe 

Sam Oliver 

Jeremy Petersen 

Gabriel Venter 

Vanessa Wallace 

Shiko Diala 

Administration & accounts: 

Charlene Steynberg 

and Natalie Koopman 

Printing: FA Print 

The 2020/21 edition of Mpumalanga Business is the 11th issue 

of this successful publication that since its launch in 2008 

has established itself as the premier business and investment 

guide for the province. 

Updated overviews of each of the key economic sectors of the 

province are included, with references to the latest investments by 

companies across multiple sectors. These include Sappi, Sasol and 

Sonae Arauco, which is expanding its White River factory. Afrimat is 

considering investment in the mining sector, while Exxaro Resources, 

South32 and Pan African Resources are among the mining 

companies spending on extending the life of existing mines. A useful 

article on what incentives are available to investors from various 

departments and agencies is provided. Mpumalanga has several 

investment and business opportunities in a wide range of sectors. 

To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution 

of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online 

at www.globalafricanetwork.com. Updated information on Mpumalanga 

is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you 

can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary 

business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our 

flagship South African Business title and the new addition our list of 

publications, African Business, which was launched in 2020. ■ 

Chris Whales 

Publisher, Global Africa Network Media | Email: chris@gan.co.za 

DISTRIBUTION 

Mpumalanga Business is distributed internationally on outgoing 

and incoming trade missions, through trade and investment 

agencies; to foreign offices in South Africa’s main trading 

partners around the world; at top national and international 

events; through the offices of foreign representatives in 

South Africa; as well as nationally and regionally via chambers 

of commerce, tourism offices, airport lounges, provincial 

government departments, municipalities and companies. 

Member of the Audit Bureau 

of Circulations 

PUBLISHED BY 

Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd 

Company Registration No: 2004/004982/07 

Directors: Clive During, Chris Whales 

Physical address: 28 Main Road, Rondebosch 7700 

Postal address: PO Box 292, Newlands 7701 

Tel: +27 21 657 6200 | Fax: +27 21 674 6943 

Email: info@gan.co.za | Website: www.gan.co.za 

ISSN 2222-3274 

COPYRIGHT | Mpumalanga Business is an independent publication 

published by Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. Full copyright to 

the publication vests with Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. 

No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without 

the written permission of Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. 

PHOTO CREDITS | Pics courtesy Andover NR, Anglo American, Columbus 

Stainless, Eco Log Homes, Implats, KLCBT, Laeveld Agrochem, Likweti 

Bushveld Farm Estate, Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Nafasi 


Water, Pexels, Pixabay, Transnet, Sasol, Sasol Foundation, Seda, Singita 

Sabora Tented Camp, Ubank, Wikipedia 

. 

DISCLAIMER | While the publisher, Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd, has used 

all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in Mpumalanga 

Business is accurate and up-to-date, the publishers make no representations as to 

the accuracy, quality, timeliness, or completeness of the information. Global Africa 

Network will not accept responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result of 

the use of or any reliance placed on such information. 

4

SPECIAL FEATURE 

A regional overview 

of Mpumalanga 

By John Young 

New technologies and new priorities are set to reshape 

the economy of Mpumalanga. 

Coal has been the engine of the 

Mpumalanga economy for many years. 

Most of South Africa’s power comes from 

coal, and most of those power stations are 

in Mpumalanga. More than 80% of South Africa’s 

coal is currently sourced in Mpumalanga, with the 

town of eMalahleni (Witbank) being the centre of 

the industry. Other minerals found in the province 

include gold, platinum-group minerals, chromite, 

zinc, cobalt, copper, iron and manganese. 

Confronting South Africa’s reliance on coal is 

not something that seems to be on the agenda 

at the moment, with a good deal of thought 

and effort going into find ways to get coal to 

Mpumalanga’s power stations from the next big 

coal region, the Waterberg. A new railway line is 

mooted. The lives of a number of Mpumalanga 

coal mines are being extended and Sasol launched 

the third of its replacement mines in 2019. 

The most popular renewable energy 

technologies, wind and solar, have little purchase 

in Mpumalanga but a game-changer could come 

to the provincial economy in the form of gas. This 

would allow the province to retain its position 

as an energy provider and to start moving away 

from coal. Vast new fields of natural gas have been 

found off the coast of Mozambique and the large 

and sophisticated infrastructure that Sasol has 

built up over the years make it well-placed to fire 

up a gas-based economy. 

Sasol (pictured above), an integrated oil, gas 

and chemicals company with more than 30 000 

employees and operations in 31 countries, runs 

several plants at Secunda. Products manufactured 

at the complex include synthetic fuel, petroleum, 

paraffin, jet fuel, creosote, bitumen, diesel and 

lubricants. The primary feedstock for synthetic-fuel 

production is coal, and the plant is in the heart of 


6


Mpumalanga’s coalfields. Sasol regularly spends 

tens of millions on upgrades and improvements at 

the Secunda complex. The Sasol Synfuels refinery 

is the only commercial coal-to-liquid fuel plant 

in the world and constitutes a key component in 

South Africa’s oil and gas sector. 

On a smaller scale, the provincial government is 

looking beyond coal towards a renewable energy 

future, especially where projects can be tackled by 

small businesses. There might be opportunities in 

micro-hydro or rooftop solar projects that will help 

to reduce dependence on the national grid while 

simultaneously promoting SMMEs. 

The other big new reality that Mpumalanga 

has to face is the fact that travel and tourism will 

not be a priority for people around the world any 

time soon. The effect of the Covid-19 epidemic is 

likely to be keenly felt by the hotels, lodges and 

game reserves of Mpumalanga. It is possible that 

visits to game reserves and nature reserves will be 

allowed (even encouraged perhaps) sooner than 

other sectors of the tourism sector because of the 

big distances between cars and people that can 

be achieved. But the turnover from restaurants 

will be absent for some considerable time and in a 

province where 7% of GDP is derived from tourism, 

this is bad news. 

In 2018, tourists spent R13.1-billion in the 

province. Numbers were rising for both international 

tourist arrivals and domestic tourists as 

a result of a strong marketing campaign by the 

Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA). 

The Kruger National Park remains the province’s 

most visited asset but the decision by UNESCO to 

afford World Heritage Site status to the Makhonjwa 

Mountains near Barberton will boost geological 

tourism to the province and supports the efforts 

of the province to diversify its offering. 

Major projects to improve tourist experiences 

are underway at the Graskop Gorge (where a 

transparent lift takes tourists into the depths of the 

gorge), a skywalk is to be built at God’s Window 

and a cable car is planned for Three Rondavels. 

The international body’s decision has also 

had the effect of expanding the curriculum at the 

relatively new University of Mpumalanga. On the 

basis of the UNESCO ruling, UMP is offering geology 

as part of a BSc degree, to supplement existing 

courses in education, agriculture and hospitality. 

Several infrastructure investment projects in 

the tourism sector have been put forward by the 

Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA). 

There is a special focus on BRICS countries and 

provincial authorities are investigating a tourism airlift 

route between Moscow and Mpumalanga. 

The TRILAND partnership with Eswatini 

and Mozambique is another avenue, as is the 

collaboration with KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini, 

Mozambique and the Seychelles. The latter project 

is called east3ROUTE Tourism Initiative and proclaims 

“Experience, Adventure, Scenery and Trade” between 

the participating provinces and countries. 

A major concern for provincial planners 

is to diversify the economy and to grow the 

manufacturing sector. The Mpumalanga Economic 

Growth and Development Path (MEGDP) 

identifies beneficiation, agri-processing and the 

development of value chains as priorities. 

Various industrial parks are planned which 

will focus on agriculture and forestry, mining 

and metals and petrochemicals. An International 

Fresh Produce Market in Nelspruit and the planned 

Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (SEZ) are 

other priorities. 

Steel and associated manufacturing remains 

one of the province’s strong suits and Mpumalanga 

has rich and varied mineral resources and fertile 

soil that support diverse farming operations, agriprocessing 

and forestry. 

The province also hosts large companies in 

the manufacturing sector. Columbus Stainless in 

Middelburg is a major producer of stainless steel, 

while Middelburg Ferrochrome, Thos Begbie and 

the Nelspruit-based Manganese Metal Company are 

among other important heavy industrial companies. 

The province’s rich agricultural produce is used 

by companies such as McCain, Nestlé and PepsiCo 

and there are also pulp and paper plants (Sappi and 

Mondi), fertiliser facilities and textile manufacturing 

concerns. The decision by Sappi to start producing 

dissolving wood pulp at its Ngodwana Mill has 

significantly increased the manufacturing capacity 

of the province. York Timbers is a leading forestry 

company and the sugar mills and refinery of RCL 

Foods (formerly TSB Sugar) are large contributors to 

the provincial economy. 



The southern half of the eastern limb of the 

platinum-rich Bushveld Igneous Complex runs 

south towards the towns of Lydenburg and 

Machadodorp. Deposits of chromite, magnetite 

and vanadium in this area are the basis of the 

ferro-alloy complex in Witbank-Middelburg and 

Lydenburg. 

Geography 

The Drakensberg escarpment sharply divides the 

western grasslands at high altitude (Highveld) 

and the subtropical component to the east, 

the Lowveld. The central region of the province 

is mountainous, with dramatic landscapes 

presenting exciting vistas for visitors. The Lebombo 

Mountains rise in the east. 

The southern and northern Highveld regions 

produce large quantities of field crops such as 

barley, soybeans, maize, grain and sorghum. 

Potatoes also flourish in this area. 

Most of the province receives summer rainfall, 

often via thunderstorms. Frost is common on the 

Highveld but is almost absent in the subtropical 

regions where fruit, nuts and citrus thrive. 

Differences in temperature and rainfall between 

the Highveld and Lowveld can be considerable. 

One of the fastest-growing agricultural sectors 

is macadamia nuts. These are cultivated in the 

Lowveld and are exported in ever-growing 

volumes. The Nelspruit district in the Lowveld is 

South Africa’s second-biggest producer of citrus 

fruit, while vegetables of all sorts do well in this 

area too. 

Large parts of the province are in the so-called 

Middleveld comprising high-plateau grasslands. 

Forestry operations are found in central and 

south-eastern Mpumalanga, but the heart of this 

important industry is around Sabie in the east. The 

Mpumalanga forestry sector is one of the most 

important in the country: 11% of the total land area 

of Mpumalanga is covered either by plantations or 

natural forests. Large sugar operations are found in 

the south-east of the province. 

The province has excellent roads and railway 

connections and is well served by airports, 

airstrips and heliports. The Kruger Mpumalanga 

International Airport and Hoedspruit Airport are 

the province’s two main airports. The Maputo 

Development Corridor is a transportation corridor 

comprising road, rail, border posts, port and 

terminal facilities, running from Pretoria in Gauteng 

through Mpumalanga to the Port of Maputo 

in Mozambique. This international initiative 

emphasises Mpumalanga’s excellent location as a 

logistics and transport hub. 

Ehlanzeni District Municipality 

Towns: Mbombela, Malelane, Hazyview, White 

River, Sabie, Lydenburg, Barberton 

Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) is the 

capital city of Mpumalanga province 

and the main town of the Mbombela 

Local Municipality within the Ehlanzeni 

District Municipality.The new University 

of Mpumalanga has its headquarters in 

Mbombela. The Lowveld Show and the 

InniBos Arts Festival are major events 

that showcase Mbombela’s diversity and 

importance as a regional hub. 

The fertile Crocodile River Valley 

ensures good fruit crops in a typically 

subtropical climate. Mangoes, litchis and 

avocados are among the crops grown 

most profitably and the town is at the 

centre of the regional citrus sector. The 

Lowveld Botanical Gardens contain 

many rare species.The urban centres are 


8


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LISTING 

nodes of manufacturing in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality the municipality. Dr About JS Moroka Local one-million Municipality people LISTING 

live 

Tel: +27 17 620 6000 | Fax: +27 17 634 8019 

this region, which is also at the heart of Mpumalanga’s 

tourism offering. The Kruger Tel: National +27 17 17620 6000 Park, | Fax: +27 17 17634 8019 

headquarters are Tel: in +27 Ermelo. 

13 13973 1101 | Fax: +27 13 13973 0974 

Website: Lekwa Local www.govanmbeki.gov.za 

Municipality 

Website: Emakhazeni www.moroka.gov.za 

Local Municipality 

in the Gert Sibande 

Tel: +27 13 

District 

973 1101 | Fax: +27 

and 

13 973 

the 

0974 

Govan municipal 

Website: Mbeki www.govanmbeki.gov.za 


Dr Website: JS JS Moroka www.moroka.gov.za 


the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, 

Tel: +27 17 712 9600 | Fax: +27 17 712 6808 

Tel: +27 13 253 7600 

God’s Window and other attractions Lekwa Website: make Local www.lekwalm.gov.za 

Municipality 

this a Nkangala District Emakhazeni Fax: +27 13 253 Local 2440Municipality 

highly desirable place to visit. Citrus, 

Tel: +27 17 17 

sugar 

712 9600 | and 

Fax: +27 17 17712 6808 

Towns: Middelburg, 

Tel: Website: +27 13 13 

www.emakhazeni.gov.za 

253 Delmas, 

7600 

Kriel, eMalahleni 

Website: Mkhondo www.lekwalm.gov.za 


eMalahleni Fax: +27 13 13253 Local 2440 

Municipality 

forestry are the major agricultural Tel: products, +27 17 826 8100 | Fax: all +27 17 826 3129 (Witbank), eMakhazeni Website: Tel: +27 13 www.emakhazeni.gov.za 

690 6911 (Belfast), | Fax: +27 13 690 6207 Dullstroom, 

Mkhondo being major contributors to export Website: earnings. www.mkhondo.gov.za 


eMalahleni The eMgwenya (Waterval Website: www.emalahleni.gov.za 


Boven) 

Tel: +27 17 17826 8100 | Fax: +27 17 17826 3129 

Tel: +27 13 13690 6911 | Fax: +27 13 13690 6207 

Sappi paper mill at Ngodwana is one Website: Msukaligwa of the www.mkhondo.gov.za 

Local biggest Municipality This area straddles Website: Steve Tshwete www.emalahleni.gov.za 

the Local north-west. Municipality Rural and 

of its kind while RCL Foods operates Tel: two 086 116 large 7852 | Fax: mills +27 17 801 3851 traditional in the north-west Tel: +27 13 249 7000 where the King of the 

Msukaligwa Website: www.msukaligwa.gov.za 


Steve Fax: +27 Tshwete 13 243 2550 Local Municipality 

in the east. The population is about 1.7-million. 

Tel: 086 116 7852 | Fax: +27 17 801 3851 

Ndebele is still revered, 

Tel: 

there is a concentration 

Website: +27 13 13 

www.stlm.gov.za 

249 7000 

Website: Pixley Ka www.msukaligwa.gov.za 

Isaka Seme Local Municipality of coal mining Fax: and +27 13 13243 steel 2550 

production in the 

Tel: +27 17 734 6100 | Fax: 086 630 2209 

Website: Thembisile www.stlm.gov.za 

Hani Local Municipality 

Gert Sibande District Municipality Pixley industrial centre. Proximity to Gauteng brings 

Website: Ka www.pixleykaseme.gov.za 

Isaka Seme Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 986 9100 | Fax: +27 13 986 0995 

Towns: Bethal, Secunda, Standerton, 17 Ermelo, 

Tel: +27 17 734 6100 | Fax: 086 630 2209 economic opportunity Thembisile Website: www.thembisilehanilm.gov.za 

Hani and Local Municipality the area is rich in 

Website: NKANGALA www.pixleykaseme.gov.za 

DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY 

Tel: +27 13 13986 9100 | Fax: +27 13 13986 0995 

Volksrust, Mkhondo (Piet Retief ), Carolina 

minerals. The District Municipality’s headquarters 

Physical address: 2A Walter Sisulu Street, Middleburg 1055 

Website: Victor Khanye www.thembisilehanilm.gov.za 


Power stations abound in this NKANGALA region Postal address: PO which 

Box DISTRICT 437, Middleburg MUNICIPALITY 

1050 are in Middelburg. Tel: +27 The 13 665 6000 north-east | Fax: +27 13 665 2913 hosts a lively 

stretches across the southern half of Tel: the +27 13 249 province 

2000 | Fax: +27 13 249 2056 

Physical address: 2A Walter Sisulu Street, Middleburg 1055 

Victor 

trout-fishing sector Email: munadmin@delmasmuni.co.za 

Khanye Local Municipality 

that includes hatcheries 

Postal Website: address: www.nkangaladm.org.za 

PO Box 437, Middleburg 1050 

Tel: Website: +27 13 13 

www.victorkhanyelm.gov.za 

665 6000 | Fax: +27 13 13665 2913 

and it is the home of the giant Sasol Tel: +27 facilities 13 13249 2000 | Fax: at +27 13 13249 2056 

and accommodation Email: munadmin@delmasmuni.co.za 

for tourists. Approximately 

Secunda. The area makes up the northern 

Website: www.nkangaladm.org.za 

tip of 1.4-million people 

Website: 

live 

www.victorkhanyelm.gov.za 

in the district. ■ 

MUNICIPALITIES IN MPUMALANGA 

South Africa’s maize triangle. 

Agriculture and food processing MUNICIPALITIES IN MPUMALANGA Limpopo 

Bushbuckridge 

are well-developed sectors. 

Dr JS Moroka 

Bushbuckridge 

Limpopo 

Bushbuckridge 

Thaba Chweu 

North West 

Sheep, chicken, sunflower and 

Ehlanzeni 

Dr JS Moroka 

Dr JS Thembisile Moroka 

Thaba Chweu 

sorghum are among the area’s 

Thaba Chweu 

North West 

Ehlanzeni 

Ehlanzeni 

Thembisile 

Thembisile Nkangala Emakhazeni 

Mbombela 

many agricultural products. 

Nkomazi 

Nkangala 

Steve Tshwete Emakhazeni 

eMalahleni Nkangala Emakhazeni 

Mbombela 

Nestlé has a processing 

Mbombela 

Nkomazi 

Gauteng 

Nkomazi 

Victor Khanye 

Chief Albert Luthuli 

Steve Tshwete 

plant at Standerton, as does 

eMalahleni Steve Tshwete 

N 

eMalahleni 

Gauteng 

Victor Khanye 

Victor Khanye 


Govan Mbeki 


Astral Foods. Mondi runs a 

Msukaligwa 

N 

pulp and paper facility in the 

Swaziland 

Dipaleseng Govan Mbeki 

Govan Mbeki Gert Sibande Msukaligwa 

Msukaligwa 

Lekwa 

south-east. Major highways 

Swaziland 

Dipaleseng 

Gert Sibande 

Dipaleseng 

Gert Sibande Mkhondo 

Metropolitan/District Municipality Boundary 

Pixley Ka Seme 

connecting Gauteng with the 

Lekwa 

Lekwa 

Local Municipality Boundary 

Free State 

Mkhondo 

District Municipality 

Amajuba 

Mkhondo Metropolitan/District Municipality Boundary 

Metropolitan/District Local Municipality Municipality Boundary uMlalazi 

coastal regions pass through 




Free State 






Mozambique 

Amajuba 

Amajuba 

uMlalazi 

uMlalazi 

63 MPMALANGA BUSINESS 2017/18 

9 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2020/21 

63 MPMALANGA BUSINESS 2017/18


South African 

investment incentives 

The South African government, particularly the Department of Trade, Industry 

and Competition, has a range of incentives available to investors, existing 

companies, entrepreneurs and co-operatives across many sectors. 

Zindoga Trading and Projects. 

Image: Seda 

South Africa wishes to diversify its economy 

and incentives are an important part 

of the strategy to attract investors to 

the country. 

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition 

(the dtic) is the lead agency in the 

incentives programme, which aims to encourage 

local and foreign investment into targeted 

economic sectors, but the Industrial Development 

Corporation (IDC) is the most influential funder of 

projects across South Africa. 

There a variety of incentives available and 

these incentives can broadly be categorised 

according to the stage of project development: 

• Conceptualisation of the project – including 

feasibility studies and research and develop- 

ment (grants for R&D and feasibility studies, 

THRIP, Stp, etc) 

• Capital expenditure – involving the creation 

or expansion of the productive capacity of 

businesses (MCEP, EIP, CIP, FIG, etc) 

• Competitiveness enhancement – involving the 

introduction of efficiencies and whetting the 

competitive edge of established companies and 

commercial or industrial sectors (BBSDP, EMIA, 

CTCIP, etc) 

• Some of the incentives are sector-specific, for 

example the Aquaculture Development and 

Enhancement Programme (ADEP), Clothing 

and Textile Competitiveness Improvement 

Programme (CTCIP) and the Tourism Support 

Programme (TSP). 


10

Manufacturing 

Key components of the incentive programme are 

the Manufacturing Incentive Programme (MIP) and 

the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement 

Programme (MCEP). The initial MCEP, launched in 

2012, was so successful that it was oversubscribed 

with almost 890 businesses receiving funding. 

A second phase of the programme was launched 

in 2016. The grants are not handouts as the 

funding covers a maximum of 50% of the cost 

of the investment, with the remainder to be 

sourced elsewhere. 

The Enterprise Investment Programme (EIP) 

makes targeted grants to stimulate and promote 

investment, BEE and employment creation in the 

manufacturing and tourism sectors. Aimed at 

smaller companies, the maximum grant is R30- 

million. Specific tax deductions are permissible for 

larger companies investing in the manufacturing 

sector under Section 12i of the Income Tax Act. 

Other incentives 

Other incentives available to investors and existing 

businesses in more than one sector include the: 

• Technology and Human Resources for Industry 

Programme (THRIP) 

• Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) 

• Black Business Supplier Development Programme 

(BBSDP), which is a cost-sharing grant offered to 

black-owned small enterprises 

• Critical Infrastructure Programme (CIP) that covers 

between 10% and 30% of the total development 

costs of qualifying infrastructure 

• Co-operative Incentive Scheme, which is a 

90:10 matching cash grant for registered primary 

co-operatives 

• Sector Specific Assistance Scheme, which is a 

reimbursable 80:20 cost-sharing grant that can be 

applied for by export councils, joint action groups 

and industry associations. 

Incentives for SMMEs 

A lot of emphasis is placed on the potential role 

of small, medium and micro enterprises in job 

creation and a number of incentives are design- 

Gladtidings Interiors CC. Image: Seda 

ed to promote the growth of these businesses. 

These include: 

• Small Medium Enterprise Development 

Programme (SMEDP) 

• Isivande Women’s Fund 

• Seda Technology Programme (Stp). 

• Seda is the Small Enterprise Development Agency, 

an agency of the Department of Small Business 

Development that exists to promote SMMEs. 

Trade-related incentives 

The Export Marketing and Investment Assistance 

(EMIA) Scheme includes support for local 

businesses that wish to market their businesses 

internationally to potential importers and 

investors. The scheme offers financial assistance 

to South Africans travelling or exhibiting abroad 

as well as for inbound potential buyers of South 

African goods. ■ 

Online Resources 

Department of Trade, Industry and Competition: 

www.thedtic.gov.za 

Industrial Development Corporation: 

www.idc.co.za 

Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency: 

www.mega.gov.za 

Official South African government incentive 

schemes: www.investmentincentives.co.za 


ADVERTORIAL 

see money differently 

RELATIONSHIPS AND 

UNDERSTANDING 

CLIENT NEEDS ARE KEY, 

SAYS EXPERT 

Loderick Lubisi, Nedbank’s Provincial 

General Manager for Limpopo and 

Mpumalanga, explains how new brand 

values built on the bank’s expertise can 

benefit Nedbank clients, especially in what is 

now ‘the new normal’. 

'Nedbank has continued to deliver on its 

brand promise, which is to use our financial 

expertise to do good for individuals, families, 

businesses and communities in which we 

operate. Our client-centred strategy has 

enabled us to reach out to our individual and 

business clients in times of need during the 

Covid-19 national lockdown,' he says. 

The Nedbank Contact Centre and advanced 

digital innovation, including the awardwinning 

Nedbank Money app, enabled the 

bank to continue serving clients in the 

comfort of their homes. It brought 

convenience to clients and helped them to 

comply with lockdown regulations. 

Lubisi says that for small- and mediumbusiness 

clients, Nedbank continues to 

deliver end-to-end solutions through a 

dedicated business manager. ‘Our business 

managers are supported by a team of 

experts across the bank to deliver seamless 

‘ 

Our client-centred strategy 

has enabled us to reach out 

to our individual and business 

clients in times of need … 

’ 

banking solutions. Our bigger-picture 

business approach ensures that we are able 

to take a holistic view of the business by 

understanding the vision, cashflow cycle, 

and transactional and capital expenditure 

needs of the business. This way, we become 

trusted advisors to the business owners who 

strive to grow their business.’ 

‘We encourage you to see money differently 

with the bigger-picture approach offered 

by Nedbank Business Banking, and to take 

advantage of our one-stop banking service 

in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and beyond,’ 

Lubisi says. 

To take your business to the next level or 

for more information about Nedbank’s 

specialised service offering, email 

Loderick Lubisi at loderickl@nedbank.co.za 

or visit www.nedbank.co.za/business.

ADVERTORIAL 


NEDBANK BUSINESS 

BANKING HELPS PUBLIC 

SECTOR SEE MONEY 

DIFFERENTLY 

Nedbank is committed to delivering 

easy and innovative banking 

solutions to government, 

municipalities and state-owned enterprises 

throughout South Africa. 

Monei Seleho, Nedbank's Provincial 

Manager for the Public Sector in Limpopo 

and Mpumalanga, says that given the 

strategic importance of the public sector to 

the economy and the country at large, 

Nedbank has a dedicated public sector team 

to provide financial solutions that enable the 

broader mandate of service delivery. ‘We 

understand that the various spheres of 

government and their agencies face unique 

challenges, and are ready and able to draw 

on the bank’s innovative, seamless and 

hassle-free products to help build a greater 

nation.’ 

With an enduring belief in the value of 

strong partnerships in facilitating business 

growth, effective community development 

and environmental conservation, Seleho’s 

team boasts extensive experience in 

provincial and local government, stateowned 

entities and educational institutions. 

‘Our services are tailored specifically for the 

needs of the public sector and include 

‘ 

We understand that 

the various spheres of 

government and their 

agencies face unique 

challenges … 

’ 

extensive transactional banking solutions, 

short to long term funding, financial 

products and services for public servants 

and value-added services.’ 

In addition, Nedbank supports its public 

sector clients on their transformation 

journey through the implementation of 

various enterprise development initiatives. 

‘The focus to grow small and medium 

enterprises is a business imperative for 

economic sustainability as well as for 

ensuring a thriving, vibrant social and 

economic future,’ says Seleho. 

To find out more about how Nedbank can 

partner with your organisation togrowa 

greater South Africa, please email 

Monei Seleho at moneis@nedbank.co.za or 

visit www.nedbank.co.za/business

ADVERTORIAL 


MONEY EXPERTS BRINGING 

21ST-CENTURY BANKING TO 

LIMPOPO AND MPUMALANGA 

Claude Keena, Nedbank Provincial Sales Manager for Limpopo 

and Mpumalanga, says that a deep connection with the 

community is what underlies his team's personal and 

professional values. 

‘ 

Based in each community, our teams 

have a thorough understanding of the 

local economy and a genuine interest 

in the success of each client. We believe that 

our role goes beyond providing banking 

solutions and we play an active role in 

empowering the communities in which we 

operate.’ 

Keena says that, as money experts who do 

good, Nedbank strives to empower the 

workplace employees who drive the 

Limpopo & Mpumalanga economy by saving 

them time and money, as well as helping 

them manage their money better through 

the Workplace Banking solution. 

'We assist clients to save time by providing 

onsite assistance from our dedicated teams, 

and we help them save money through our 

preferential banking packages and our 

award-winning Financial Fitness and 

Consumer Education programmes. These 

interventions assist clients in managing their 

money better by providing budgeting and 

money management training, equipping 

their staff to better deal with everyday 

money management challenges' 

And the innovative banking journey 

continues, ensuring greater value for clients. 

‘ 

We assist clients to save time 

by providing onsite assistance 

from our dedicated teams … 

’ 

Our market-leading Money app allows clients 

to manage accounts and investments, make 

payments and set savings goals and 

budgets from their smartphone. 

Keena adds that working with communities 

is entrenched in the bank’s values through 

community development, skills development, 

education and job creation, as well 

as environmental conservation. ‘These play 

a vital role in building a sustainable economy 

and vibrant society. We believe our fastgrowing 

presence in communities goes a long 

way in enabling greater financial inclusion 

while contributing towards economic growth,' 

he says. 

If you are interested in taking your business 

to the next level through our workplace 

banking solution and would like more 

information about Nedbank’s specialised 

service offering, please contact 

Claude Keena at claudek@nedbank.co.za or 

visit www.nedbank.co.za.

ADVERTORIAL 


NEDBANK: PARTNERING FOR 

GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE 

AGRIBUSINESSES 

According to the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz), 

South Africa’s agricultural sector is not expected to be hit as 

hard by the Covid-19 pandemic as the global agricultural sector. 

In fact, thanks to bumper grain and fruit 

harvests, we could see a 10% year-onyear 

recovery in GDP in the sector for 

2020. The current maize harvest is up 38% 

from the 2018/19 harvest, and is the secondlargest 

harvest on record, which means 

that South Africa remain a net exporter of 

maize and could also export maize beyond 

the African continent. 

While this is good news for an economy 

entering what’s expected to be the deepest 

recession on record, the agriculture value 

chain faces a daunting task: to increase food 

production by 70% to meet the demands of a 

global population that is expected to reach 

nine billion by 2050. As with many economic 

sectors, it is becoming clear that technology 

and innovation are the drivers in the 

establishment of more efficient, productive 

and sustainable agriculture. 

Ivor Meeding, Nedbank Regional Manager 

Agriculture for Mpumalanga, says that 

Nedbank has created innovative funding 

solutions designed to support farmers with 

sustainable farming interventions where the 

commodity produced or infrastructure itself 

is used as security. ‘For example, with 

drought a perpetual threat that South 

‘ 

Nedbank has created innovative 

funding solutions designed to 

support farmers with sustainable 

farming interventions … 

’ 

Africa faces, our funding solutions range 

from water-efficiency innovations and 

cutting-edge irrigation to shade-netting, 

which improves the yield of underperforming 

crops, protects them from natural hazards 

and reduces water use.’ 

Nedbank's purpose is to help clients 'see 

money differently' and we do this by 

applying our bigger-picture business 

banking approach to understand each 

client’s business and the specific challenges 

and opportunities they face. This enables us 

to provide the banking solutions they need, 

ranging from the innovations mentioned 

above to short- and long-term financial 

support,’ he says. 

If you would like to see how our specialist 

teams can assist you,orwantmore 

information, please send email Ivor Meeding 

at ivorm@nedbank.co.za or visit 

www.nedbank.co.za/business. 

Nedbank Ltd Reg No 1951/000009/06. Authorised financial 

services and registered credit provider (NCRCP16). 

SPO6014

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Pic: Wikipedia 

16

KEY SECTORS 

Overviews of the main economic sectors of Mpumalanga 

Agriculture 18 

Forestry and paper 20 

Oil and gas 22 

Water 23 

Mining 26 

Manufacturing 28 

Transport and logistics 32 

Tourism 34 

Banking and financial services 36 

Education and training 37 

Development finance 

and SMME support 38 


OVERVIEW 

Agriculture and agri-processing 

New agricultural sites are planned for defunct mines. 

With several coal mines reaching the end of their lives, 

steps are being taken to convert the land to useful agricultural 

land. Safety and health concerns will have to be 

addressed, but there is potential to improve food security 

for poorer families in the province. A number of off-take agreements 

have been signed between commercial and emerging farmers and 

wholesalers and distributers in Oman. 

A provincial programme called Phezukomkhono Mlimi is providing 

mechanisation and input support to subsistence and emerging famers 

and households which are engaged in agriculture. Farmers receiving 

support from government are expected to enrol on courses offered 

by the AgriSETA. The Fortune 40 programme has a specific focus on 

developing young entrepreneurs in farming. Twelve of the Fortune 40 

farms have been linked to retailers such as Spar, Shoprite and Boxer 

and with wholesalers and agri-hubs. 

The goal is to have an agri-hub in each of the province’s three 

districts. Small-scale farmers and co-operatives are being given 

a chance to connect to the formal economy via the hubs which 

will also provide advice and equipment. The Mkhuhlu agri-hub in 

Bushbuckridge, which forms part of the Provincial Government 

Nutrition Programme, is operational. 

The Mkhondo agri-hub in Gert Sibande District is completed and 

partially operational. The plan is for it become fully operational in 

the next financial year. A feasibility study is underway relating to the 

establishment of a hub in the Nkomazi Municipality. A budget of R15- 

million has been agreed for the first phase and the creation of a packhouse. 

An International Fresh Produce Market is planned as a means of 

stimulating agricultural production, but the project has stalled. 

Other interventions include the re-commissioning of 

the Bushbuckridge poultry abattoir and support for soya and maize 

farmers to supply the Lekwa Oilseed Crushing Plant in Standerton. 

Agriculture is responsible for about 3.4% of Mpumalanga’s Gross 

Domestic Product (GDP). 

Sector Insight 

The Sultanate of Oman 

will purchase Mpumalanga 

produce. 

Crops 

Mpumalanga accounts for about 

21% of South Africa’s citrus 

production and a third of its 

export volumes, with Valencias 

being the province’s most 

popular varietal and Nelspruit 

being the centre of the sector. 

Avocados, litchis, mangoes 

and bananas thrive in the 

province. Hazyview is an 

important source of bananas, 

with 20% of South Africa’s 

production originating there. 

Deciduous fruits are 

cultivated in smaller quantities. 

About 15 000 tons of table 

grapes are produced in the 

province annually and Mpumalanga 

produces its own wine. 

A specialist fruit that does 

well in the province is the 

marula. The marula fruit makes 

a popular beer and is used in 

the production of a liqueur that 

has done well on the international 

market. 

Macadamia nuts have grown 

in popularity exponentially. 

About 4 000 hectares of new 

trees is added each year across 

Macadamia orchard. 

Image: Likweti Bushveld 

Farm Estate 


18

OVERVIEW 

Credit: Laeveld Agrochem 

South Africa, with most of that in 

Mpumalanga and neighbouring 

Limpopo. The vast majority 

of the nuts are exported, with 

about 40% going to China. 

There are about 450 farmers 

growing the nuts and there are 

14 cracking factories in South 

Africa. The sector employs about 

4 500 people, of which 1 500 

are permanent employees. 

Barberton and Hazyview are two 

prime areas for the nut. 

Mpumalanga produces 

one-million tons of maize from 

291 788ha. About 53 000 tons 

of wheat and 33 000 tons of 

sorghum are produced annually. 

Soya bean is another major crop: 

more than half of South Africa’s 

soya bean crop is produced in 

Mpumalanga’s Highveld areas. 

Cotton is grown mostly 

under dryland conditions in 

Marble Hall. The province has 

1 500ha of dryland under 

cotton. Much of South Africa’s 

total annual production of 

about 34-million kilograms 

of tobacco, especially Virginia 

tobacco, takes place in the 

north-western parts of Mpumalanga, 

and in neighbouring 

Limpopo. Other crops produced for export in Mpumalanga include 

cut flowers, pot plants and nursery plants. 

Mpumalanga has the second-biggest sugar industry in South 

Africa, after KwaZulu-Natal. TSB Sugar runs three mills in the Lowveld 

region, two of which have refining capacity, and employs about 4 700 

people. More than 1 400 farmers (commercial and small-scale) deliver 

sugar cane to the company. TSB brands are Selati (sugar) and Molatek 

(animal feed). 

Companies 

Astral Foods runs a poultry processing plant in Standerton which has 

2 425 employees. Fresh fruit and nut supplier Halls cultivates 375ha of 

its own land and has another 1 400ha under management. Its crops 

include avocados and litchis. 

Westfalia is a diversified agricultural group which runs extensive 

operations in the province. Umbhaba Estates is one of the biggest 

banana growers in the province. The drier Highveld region with its 

cold winters supports crops such as cereals, legumes and nuts. There 

is extensive irrigation in the Loskop Dam area. Ermelo is one of South 

Africa’s main centres of sheep farming and wool production. 

Subtropical fruit flourishes in the Lowveld with the town of 

Nelspruit being a major citrus producer. Mixed farming and potatoes, 

sweet potatoes and beans are mostly found in the southern and 

western parts of the province. ■ 


Citrus Growers Association: www.cga.co.za 

Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum: www.fpef.co.za 

Macadamias South Africa: www.samac.org.za 

South African Cane Growers’ Association: www.sacanegrowers.co.za 

South African Subtropical Growers’ Association: www.subtrop.net 


OVERVIEW 

Forestry and paper 

Sonae Arauco has expanded its White River factory. 

Timber frame house. Image: Eco Log Homes 

The White River plant of Sonae Arauco now offers more decorative 

solutions because of the installation in 2019 of a Dieffenbacher 

melamine press. The company’s aim is to make the site 

a uniquely integrated facility. 

Among the new offerings as a result of the R200-million expansion 

are a woodgrain named for and inspired by the Chobe River and Grigio, 

a “marbled fantasy décor”. The company produces particleboard and 

fibreboard, melamine-faced boards and finishes. The invitation to the 

launch of the factory extension claimed that the factory is the “most 

efficient in Africa”. The company has another plant at Panbult between 

Ermelo and Mkhondo (Piet Retief ). 

Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) and the Institute for Timber 

Construction South Africa (ITC-SA) made an offer during the Covid-19 

lockdown to share with the South African government their skills and 

expertise. Sawmilling South Africa is an industry association which 

represents the majority of sawmillers in South Africa. By building 

alternative housing (with wood), it was felt that this could contribute 

to thinning out densely populated informal settlements to slow the 

spread of the virus. 


An Agriculture and Forestry 

Technology Park is planned. 

Mpumalanga has the ideal 

climate and topography for 

forests. Sabie and Graskop 

represent the hub of the industry, 

but commercial forests are also 

found to the east and south 

along the Swaziland border. 

About 11% of the land mass is 

forested, with 4% of that being 

natural forest. The province is the 

national leader in total hectares 

under forest (514 000ha) and in 

export earnings. 

Forestry accounts for about 

8% of Mpumalanga’s gross 


20

OVERVIEW 

domestic product. The sector 

comprises logging, saw-milling, 

wood product and pulp and 

paper manufacture. Pulp and 

paper are the main exports, 

along with sawn lumber, wood 

chips and wattle extract. Most 

sawn timber in South Africa is 

used in the construction sector. 

The Provincial Government 

of Mpumalanga plans to 

develop an Agriculture and 

Forestry Technology Park. The 

Mpumalanga Economic Growth 

and Development Path (MEGDP) 

intends to expand the industrial 

base of the provincial economy 

with a focus on beneficiation, 

agri-processing and the 

development of value chains. 

Companies 

Sustainability is the modern 

watchword but finding a way to 

use resources for people is also 

popular. The MTO Group, which 

has 39 900ha of plantation under 

management in the Lowveld, 

has teamed up with mountainbike 

enthusiasts of White River 

and Nelspruit to develop a set of 

trails through the hilly landscape 

of the area. 

One of the biggest 

operations in the forestry and 

paper sector in Mpumalanga is 

Sappi’s Ngodwana Mill. The mill 

produces 330 000 tons of paper 

pulp for its own consumption, 

250 000 tons of dissolving wood 

pulp (DWP) and 380 000 tons 

of paper (newsprint and kraft 

linerboard used for packaging) 

annually. Exports account for 

70% of the mill’s product. 

Ongoing investment at 

Ngodwana Mill will contribute 

R13-billion to the provincial economy over 20 years. Sappi’s other 

large facility in the province, the Lomati Sawmill in Barberton, produces 

kiln-dried Southern African pine lumber from sawlogs supplied by 

Sappi Forests. 

The mill generates its own energy through co-generation 

(steam and electricity from renewable and other sources). Sappi has 

recently built a sugar-extraction demonstration plant at Ngodwana. 

Findings from the experiment will help to improve the process of 

extracting bio-renewable chemicals. Sappi is partnering with Valmet, 

a Finnish company. 

Other forestry companies are looking into energy generation, 

including AFCOL. Mpumalanga has 40% of South Africa’s forestry 

resources. This fact presents an opportunity to exploit the sector’s 

byproducts in the biomass-to-energy field. 

The Zebra Pellets plant in Sabie is to be converted by national utility 

Eskom into a torrified pellet plant. The wood will be provided to the 

plant (owned by the Industrial Development Corporation) and then 

heated without the use of oxygen (torrified) which creates a coal-like 

product without the carbon. 

York Timbers owns and operates five processing plants, including 

the including the largest sawmill and plywood plants in South Africa 

and it has 60 470 planted hectares. The company is considering 

investing in biomass energy generation. The Industrial Development 

Corporation (IDC) has a stake in York Timbers and a 42.6% share in Hans 

Merensky Holdings, a company with timber and processing interests in 

three provinces. Merensky is responsible for 20% of South Africa’s sawn 

pine lumber. 

The Mondi Group has extensive forestry holdings in the province 

and has been working on introducing a higher degree of mechanisation 

in its operations. Mondi has also instituted an ecosystem management 

plan throughout its forestry operations with the intention of better 

managing the impact its work has on the environment. 

Although local demand is dwindling, the export market for pulp 

and paper is strong. Pulp production figures have been on the rise for 

several years and companies like Mondi are increasingly focusing on 

pulp export because of better margins. 

PG Bison has a board plant in Piet Retief. Komatiland Forests, a 

100% owned subsidiary of state company SAFCOL, has big plantations 

in several districts. TWK is a R6-billion agricultural company with its 

headquarters in Mkhondo. ■ 


Forestry South Africa: www.forestry.co.za 

Institute for Timber Construction South Africa: 

www. itc-sa.org 

Sawmilling South Africa: www.timber.co.za 

Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry of 

South Africa: www.tappi.org 

21 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2020/21

OVERVIEW 

Oil and gas 

Gas finds off the coast of Mozambique could be significant. 


Gas-to-power forms part of 

a national masterplan. 

Sasol at night. Image: Sasol 

Massive natural gas finds in Mozambique’s Rovuma Basin 

could have a big impact on Mpumalanga’s economy. 

The province is already equipped with energy and fuel 

infrastructure and expertise. 

The Liquefied Natural Gas Independent Power Producer Procurement 

Programme (LNG IPPPP) is part of the broader programme of 

the National Department of Mineral Resources and Energy which 

encourages private investment in renewable energy, namely the 

Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement 

Programme (REIPPPP). The total allocated to gas-to-power in the 

national power plan is 3 726MW, of which 3 000MW is for LNG. 

The new gas from Mozambique could be shipped as liquefied 

natural gas (LNG) to Maputo and continue from there to the Sasol 

plant at Secunda via the existing Rompco pipeline. 

The promoters of the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone believe 

that the fact that the pipeline passes through the SEZ is a big selling 

point. An alternative would be for the LNG to be shipped to Richards 

Bay before being piped north. 

Many of the big mining and manufacturing concerns in 

Mpumalanga have long-term contracts for the supply of gas with big 

gas companies. Afrox and Air Liquide are two of the biggest, with the 

latter having 3 500 national customers, which include Sappi and Sasol. 

International chemicals and energy company Sasol has several large 

plants in Mpumalanga and plays a major role in the economy of 

Mpumalanga. Sasol Gas is one of the four Sasol operations at Secunda, 


Independent Power Producers Programme: www.ipp-projects.co.za 

Petroleum Agency SA: www.petroleumagency.co.za 

PetroSA: www.petrosa.co.za 

supplying natural gas to Sasol 

Synfuels and buying Sasol 

Synfuels’ methane-rich pipeline 

gas to sell to customers in 

Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. 

Sasol and the provincial government 

have commissioned a 

technical feasibility study for a 

Petrochemical Technology Park 

to be located in the province. 

Sasol will be a key player 

when national government 

finalises policy on biofuels. Sasol 

is already making 285 000kl of 

absolute alcohol in ethanol from 

sugar fermentation annually. 

About 60-million litres of liquid 

fuel is produced each day at 

the coal-to-liquid plant run at 

Secunda. Sasol has finished its 

mine replacement programme 

and feedstock is secure until the 

year 2050. 

Another part of the REIPPPP 

covers the conversion of 

biomass to energy. At Sappi’s 

Ngodwana mill, a 25MW project 

is underway. 

Transnet Pipelines runs a 

3 800km network of underground, 

high-pressure petroleum 

and gas pipelines 

throughout the eastern parts 

of South Africa. The company’s 

sophisticated multi-product 

pipeline (NMPP) between the 

coast and Gauteng transports a 

range of liquid products. ■ 


22

Water 

National department steps in with tanks and trucks. 

OVERVIEW 

In response to the Covid-19 crisis, the National Department of Water 

and Sanitation (DWS) delivered 500 water tanks and 56 water trucks to 

several Mpumalanga municipalities. This was to ensure that residents 

had a reliable supply of water to wash their hands and for drinking. 

The Operations and Maintenance Division of Nafasi Water is 

responsible for large water treatments plants at Middelburg and 

eMalahleni. Nafasi is a rebranding of Aveng Water which was purchased 

by Infinity Partners for R95-million in 2019. Infinity is owned by the 

former Aveng Water CEO Suzie Nkambule and E-Squared Investments. 

The Middelburg Water Reclamation Plant (MWRP) produces no 

brine and avoids energy-intensive methods, a world first for a mine 

water treatment plant. Phase 2 of the eMalahleni project produces 

drinking water after treating mine water from one of the 

collieries of Anglo American Thermal Coal. Rapid growth 

in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality has persuaded the 

Provincial Government of Mpumalanga to build a new 

dam on the Crocodile River in the City of Mbombela. 

Citizens of the Thembisile Hani Municipality will get 

more immediate relief from water shortages with the 

construction of a treatment plant on the Moses River. 

Acting on a disturbing report published by the Centre 

for Environmental Rights on the way some mining 

companies are using water, a provincial Environmental 

Management Committee has been appointed to 

conduct environmental impact analysis and assess 

climate change threats. 

NuWater was contracted to reduce waste at the 

water treatment plant for eMalahleni Municipality. An 

ultra-filtration technology was used to reduce waste from 20Ml/day. 

A total of 327 water infrastructure projects benefiting 350 259 

households have been completed, with a further 165 sanitation 

projects finalised. A bulk water supply system connecting villages 

within the Bushbuckridge area has been completed. Rand Water has 

taken over the operations of the Bushbuckridge Water Board. 

A joint project with Eskom related to rain-water harvesting will 

also create jobs. The Siyasebenza Job Creation Initiative is intended to 


Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency: 

www.iucma.co.za 

Komati Basin Water Authority: www.kobwa.co.za 

National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dwa.gov.za 

Water Research Commission: www.wrc.org.za 

Image: Nafasi Water 


Nafasi Water is a recent 

purchase for Infinity 

Partners. 

create 900 jobs in the Nkangala 

District Municipality. 

The Imkomati-Usuthu Catchment 

Management Agency 

covers Mpumalanga, parts 

of Limpopo and part of the 

Kingdom of Swaziland and is 

responsible for water usage 

issues relating to the following 

river catchment areas: Sabie- 

Sand, Crocodile, Komati, 

Nwaswitsontso and Nwanedzi. 

The Komati Basin Water 

Authority (KOBWA) is an 

important agency in controlling 

water resources in the region. 

Formed out of a cooperation 

agreement between South 

African and Swaziland, the 

agency has built two large 

dams and is responsible for their 

upkeep. ■ 


FOCUS 

Ensuring water for all 

in Inkomati-Usuthu 

The Green Scorpions protect the environment. 

The Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management 

Agency is responsible for several 

functions related to water resources in the 

Mpumalanga Province. 

These include: 

• Water resource planning 

and operations. 

• Real-time river operations. 

• Adaptive operational 

water resource management 

framework. 

• Water resource protection. 

• Water resource utilisation. DR Thomas Gyedu- 

• Public participation. 

Ababio, CEO 

The Green Scorpions explained 

The Environmental Management Inspectorate 

(EMI), commonly known to the public as the Green 

Scorpions, are government officials (from national, 

provincial and local government, including 

the parks authorities and relevant government 

entities) who are responsible for compliance 

and enforcement activities with environmental 

legislation. Simply put, the Green Scorpions 

represent the environmental compliance and 

enforcement capacity in respect of the National 

Environment Management Act (NEMA) and 

the Specific Environmental Management Acts. 

According to the Department of Environment, 

Forestry and Fisheries, the EMI must see to it that 

environmental legislation is followed and enforced. 

The EMIs have the powers to: 

Investigate: question witnesses, inspect and 

remove articles, take photographs and audiovisual 

recordings, take samples and remove waste. 

Inspect: enter premises to ascertain whether 

legislation is being followed and seize evidence of 

criminal activity. 

Enforce: search premises, containers, vessels, 

vehicles, aircraft and pack animals; seize evidence 

and contraband; establish roadblocks and make 

arrests. 

Administer: issue compliance notices and 

admission of guilt fines. 

The EMIs are not empowered to prosecute cases 

in court. All cases continue to be handed over 

to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for 

prosecution. The EMIs therefore work closely with 

prosecutors country-wide to ensure the successful 

prosecution of offenders. 

The South African Police Service 

The South African Police Service continues to 

play a crucial role in enforcing environmental 

legislation and EMIs work closely with the SAPS in 

the investigation of environmental crimes. In terms 

of the National Environment Management Act, all 

police officers have the powers of an EMI. 


24

Companies and the EMI 

The biggest exposure most companies have is 

from technical non-compliances with conditions 

imposed in an Environmental Authorisation 

(often called RoDs) issued in terms of NEMA or 

similar permit conditions, such as the conditions 

contained in a Waste Management Licence 

issued in terms of the National Environmental 

Management, Waste Act, 2008 and others. 

For this reason, it is important to carefully 

design an environmental management 

programme to ensure awareness and ongoing 

compliance with each of the conditions in any 

authorisation which the company has. A further 

exposure is undertaking a listed activity without an 

environmental authorisation. 

There have been a number of changes to the 

activities which are listed over the years and it is 

important for companies to keep up to date with 

these changes and re-examine their operations 

from time to time, especially when undertaking 

any sort of expansion of an existing activity. 

Issue of a Directive 

The DEA also has empowered EMIs to issue 

directives. Unlike a compliance notice, the 

authorities may only issue a directive if they 

believe that actions by the company are causing 

pollution or other damage or degradation to the 

environment. The obligation in the statutes is to 

take reasonable measures to avoid such pollution 

or damage. ■ 

Issue of a Compliance Notice 

Where a company is failing to comply with a 

permit condition or with some other provisions 

of an environmental statute, a non-compliance 

notice may be issued by the DEA. When issuing 

a non-compliance notice, the DEA does not 

have to believe there is any actual harm to the 

environment from the transgression but simply 

that there is non-compliance with a technical, 

legally-binding requirement. 

Contact details 

Postal address: PO Box X11214, Nelspruit 1200 

Physical address: MAXSA Building, 13 Streak 

Street, Nelspruit. Tel: +27 13 753 9000 

Email: information@iucma.co.za 

Website: www.iucma.co.za 


OVERVIEW 

Mining 

Afrimat is looking to expand into Mpumalanga. 


New investor Menar 

has two coal mines 

in the province. 

Image: Anglo American Plc 

Afrimat is listed on the JSE in the “Construction and Building 

Materials” section, but the company has shown an appetite 

for acquiring mines in order to diversify. In May 2020 Afrimat 

made a bid for control of Unicorn Capital Partners (previously 

Sentula Mining) which controls the Nkomati anthracite mine in Mpumalanga. 

The mine, which is in the south-eastern corner of the province, 

has proven resources of 8.7-million tons and upwards of 400 jobs 

were created over the last two years. Local communities have a 16.1% 

stake in the relaunched mine and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth 

Agency (MEGA) holds 34%. 

The private investment and management company Menar, which 

is headquartered in Luxembourg, controls and manages two assets 

in Mpumalanga through Canyon Coal and Sitatunga Resources. 

Extension projects are underway or planned at Phalanndwa colliery 

and De Wittekrans. 

Other companies engaged in expansion of life-of-mine projects are 

Pan African Resources and Evander (Elikhulu tailings), Exxaro Resources 

(Leeuwpan) and South32, which is spending about R4.3-billion 

at Klipspruit. 

Mpumalanga accounts for 83% of South Africa’s coal production 

and is the third-largest coal-exporting region in the world. Although 

renewable energy is catching 

on in South Africa, there is no 

prospect of Mpumalanga’s 

coal-fired power stations being 

mothballed soon. 

Mining’s contribution to 

provincial GDP is 25.9% and the 

sector employs 53 000 people. 

Most of the province’s mining 

companies are involved in 

training. The Colliery Training 

College (CTC) in Emalahleni 

is owned by a consortium of 

companies: Exxaro, Glencore, 

Kanga Coal, South32 and 

Izimbiwa Coal. The centre offers 

a broad range of artisan training, 

including auto electrician, fitting 

and turning and millwrights. CTC 

has been recognised as a leader 

in artisan training by the National 

Skills Authority. 

Coal giant Exxaro, which 

runs five mines in the province, 

has committed R3.8-billion to 

its Belfast project, an investment 

that will create 1 160 jobs 

and have an impact on the GDP 

(over the life of the mine) of 

R39-billion. 

After Exxaro Coal Mpumalanga’s 

transfer of its 50% stake 

in the Arnot coal mine to 

mineworkers at no cost, the 

workers received a further 5% 

“free-carry” because of the specifications 

of Mining Charter III. 


26

OVERVIEW 

The mine thus becomes South 

Africa’s first majority workerowned 

mine. Wescoal is the 

other shareholder and operator 

of the mine. 

The opening in 2019 of 

Sasol’s Impumelelo Colliery 

south-west of Secunda was the 

final phase of an investment in 

new coal mines to replace three 

coal mines that had reached the 

end of their lives. Sasol produces 

40-million tons of coal annually. 

Impumelelo, which will produce 

8.5-million tons per year, cost 

R5.6-billion to build. 

Anglo American has sold its 

thermal coal operations to Seriti, 

which is therefore the secondlargest 

provider of thermal coal 

to Eskom, supplying almost a 

quarter of the utility’s annual coal 

requirements. 

State coal company AEMFC 

(African Exploration Mining & 

Finance Corporation) runs a 

colliery at Vlakfontein near Ogies 

and is planning to develop 

other projects. South32 has four 

collieries and three processing 

plants in the province. The 

company has 4 860 full-time 

employees and 4 400 contractors. 

ArmCoal is a black-owned coal 

company that arose out of a 

deal between Xstrata Coal SA 

and African Rainbow Minerals 

Limited (51%). 

Rich resources 

Coal, platinum, gold and nickel 

are the province’s major mineral 

resources and all are still in 

demand. South Africa produces 

75% of the world’s platinum, 

80% of its manganese, 73% of its 

chrome and 45% of its vanadium. 

Deposits of chromite, magnetite and vanadium are the basis of the 

ferro-alloy complex in Witbank-Middelburg (in the District Municipality 

of Nkangala) and Lydenburg (Mashishing). 

Nkomati Mine was South Africa’s only pure-nickel operation before 

it was decided to place it on care and maintenance in preparation of 

closure. The underground mine was closed in 2015 and the open-pit 

operation will close in 2020. 

Stillwater Sibanye is the new owner of the Burnstone gold mine 

near Balfour. Stonewall Resources runs the TGME Project, near the 

towns of Pilgrim’s Rest and Sabie. Stonewall has ambitious targets of 

going beyond production of 40 000 ounces from this and other historic 

mines in the area. 

Having taken full control of its Barberton mines, Pan African 

improved its BEE position (Shanduka Gold is a 23.8% shareholder) and 

set about increasing its annual gold output to 100 000 ounces. Platinum 

is an important mineral for the modern economy. Two Rivers is a joint 

venture between Implats (46%) and African Rainbow Minerals. 

Northam Platinum, which 

has assets on both limbs of the 

Bushveld Igneous Complex, has 

purchased the Everest mine 

from Aquarius Platinum. Everest 

is adjacent to Northam’s existing 

Booysendal mine. 

Jubilee Platinum has sold its 

Smelting and Refining business 

in Middelburg to Siyanda 

Resources. Sylvania Platinum 

now has seven PGM recovery 

plants that extract chrome from 

tailings on both sides of the 

Bushveld Igneous Complex. 

Lydenburg is home to the Lion ferrochrome smelter that is a joint 

venture between Glencore and Merafe Resources. Assmang, the joint 

venture between ARM Ferrous and the JSE-listed Assore, operates a 

chrome mine (Dwarsrivier) and a ferrochrome plant where chrome 

alloys are made. 

The Manganese Metal Company (MMC) in Nelspruit is the largest 

producer of pure electrolytic manganese in the world. MMC is owned 

by Samancor (51%) and Bilston Investments owns the balance. ■ 


Colliery Training College: www.ctctraining.org 

Minerals Council South Africa: www.mineralscouncil.org.za 

National Department of Mineral Resources and Energy: 

www.dmr.gov.za 

South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: 

www.saimm.co.za 


OVERVIEW 

Manufacturing 

Mpumalanga’s natural resources support a diverse manufacturing sector. 

Columbus Stainless’ factory. Image: Columbus Stainless 

F 

rom steel to chemicals, petroleum and stainless steel to paper 

and fruit juice, Mpumalanga makes a wide variety of products. 

There is a distinct geographical divide. Fuel, petroleum and 

chemical production occurs in the southern Highveld region 

clustered around Sasol’s plants. The Sasol chemicals and liquid fluids 

complex at Secunda is a vital component of Mpumalanga’s manufacturing 

sector. The company has two propylene manufacturing plants 

and recently completed two major investments aimed at improving 

flows and expanding production. 

Propylene is an input for polypropylene which is used in packaging, 

automotive components and textiles. The market is growing in South 

Africa at 4% per annum, roughly the same rate as the global market. 

The northern Highveld area, including Middleburg and eMalahleni 

(Witbank), is home to ferro alloy, steel and stainless-steel concerns. 

In the Lowveld, agricultural and forestry products are processed 

while Sappi’s giant mill is close to the company’s forests south-west of 

the provincial capital, Mbombela. 

Standerton has textile-manufacturing capacity in the form of 

Standerton Mills. It is also home to several plants that use local raw 

materials: Nestlé has an infant-cereal manufacturing plant, RCL runs 

farms in the Carolina district and Early Bird is prominent. McCain and 


Food and forestry provide 

the most jobs in the 

manufacturing sector. 

PepsiCo (Simba) have plants 

that use the province’s plentiful 

potato crop. 

TSB Sugar runs two large 

mills and produces fruit juices 

through a subsidiary company. 

Nelspruit is the centre of the 

province’s food-processing 

cluster. Approximately 70% of 

jobs in the manufacturing sector 

are in food and forestry. 

A Social Enterprise Development 

Programme has been 

designed by the Provincial 

Government of Mpumalanga 


28

OVERVIEW 

to assist township and rural 

manufacturing businesses in 

the steel fabrication sector. This 

will include manufacturers of 

finished products such as door 

frames, window frames and 

concrete products like paving 

bricks, building bricks and blocks. 

A key objective of the provincial 

government’s Mpumalanga 

Economic Growth and Development 

Path (MEGDP) is to 

expand the industrial base of the 

provincial economy. To do this, 

policy-makers are focusing on 

beneficiation, agri-processing 

and value chain development. 

A large agri-processing fruit 

hub is planned for the province. 

Located in the Nkomazi Special 

Economic Zone, the proposed 

hub, with an estimated value of 

R10-billion, would deal with the 

whole value chain from growing 

fruit through to processing, 

marketing and logistics. Having 

manufacturing facilities at the 

core of the hub will enable 

a variety of businesses to be 

established, both upstream 

(to supply the plant) and 

downstream (to deal with the 

products of the plant). 

Steel 

Middelburg-based Columbus 

Stainless is a major supplier of 

stainless-steel products to the 

domestic and international 

market. About 25% of the 

company’s production is sold 

domestically. The South African 

steel industry has endured tough 

times. According to the South 

African Iron and Steel Institute 

(SAISI), the sector has shown 

virtually no growth since 2013. 

The country produces about six-million tons annually, but costs are 

high and domestic demand is low. The industry has important strategic 

value and has about 190 000 employees. Creative thinking kicked in 

when Highveld Steel’s troubles reached a tipping point in 2015. Aside 

from the business rescue process, the 1 000ha property has been repurposed 

as a multi-purpose site for industry and commerce. Called 

the Highveld Industrial Park, the project promotes a wide range of 

manufacturing enterprises. 

Stockpiles of coal and vanadium are being sold off, but two iron 

plants and a steel plant offer fully-equipped metallurgical and steelmaking 

facilities, supported by environmental monitoring services and 

metallurgical and chemical laboratories. 

The structural mill of Evraz Highveld Steel in Witbank was officially 

relaunched in June 2017 after ArcelorMittal South Africa signed a 

contract to supply blooms and slabs for the mill to make into heavy 

structural steel. The two-year contract had an option to renew 

but ArcelorMittal took the alternative option in July 2019 when it 

announced its intention to buy the mill. 

Samancor Chrome (which runs Ferrometals) is the second-largest 

ferrochrome producer in the world with three plants, two of which are 

in Mpumalanga: eMalahleni (Witbank) and Middelburg. 

Metals and machinery 

The presence of Ferrometals (a Samancor company) in eMalahleni 

means that Mpumalanga is an important place for metals and 

machinery manufacturing. It produces charge chrome and is one 

of the largest ferrochome plants in the world. Joint ventures such as 

Crometals, Poschrome and Elkem Ferroveld operate from the site. 

In the course of an upgrade, FLSmidth has also doubled the size of 

its Delmas Supercentre to 10 500m². The company makes equipment 

for materials handling and mineral processing. The centre also hosts a 

training facility and handles repairs for customers. 

In Middelburg, Thos Begbie makes a variety of products at its 

heavy engineering works. Graphite Freezeline Solutions opened a new 

graphite facility within the Begbie property in 2018. Thos Begbie has 

announced an expansion into Zambia, where it will service and repair 

furnace components. 

The Manganese Metal Company in Nelspruit is the largest producer 

of pure electrolytic manganese metal in the world. Delta EMD, in the 

same town, is one of the biggest producers of electrolytic manganese 

dioxide, a material used in the manufacture of alkaline batteries. ■ 


Highveld Industrial Park: www.highveldindustrialpark.co.za 

Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency: www.mega.gov.za 

South African Iron and Steel Institute: www.saisi.co.za 


FOCUS 

Columbus Stainless 

The future of manufacturing. 

Columbus Stainless, a member of the Spanish 

based Acerinox SA Group of Companies, 

is South Africa’s and Africa’s only 

producer of stainless-steel flat products. 

Founded in 1966, Columbus Stainless is the only 

fully integrated, technologically advanced, single 

site stainless-steel producer in Africa. The plant 

based in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, produces a 

wide range of Austenitic, Ferritic, Utility and Duplex 

grades of stainless steel suitable for most applications 

and has melting capacity of 1 000 000 tons 

per annum to supply stainless-steel flat products 

(coils, plates and sheets) to various final customers, 

distributors, engineering shops and mines globally 

(in Africa, Europe, the United States, Asia, etc). 

The company supports the livelihoods of 

1 300 employees and 600 contractors. Through its 

BBBEE programme, Columbus Stainless actively 

promotes doing business with small, medium and 

micro enterprises (SMMEs) owned or controlled by 

black entrepreneurs who are able to supply quality 

products and services in a timely and competitive 

manner. These businesses have created more than 

100 sustainable jobs in the last five years. 

Columbus produces many grades of stainless 

steel, which include the three main families of 

stainless-steel grades: 

Columbus Stainless’ factory. 

• Austenitic Grades: Popular grades include 

304 and 316 which are used in applications 

demanding high hygienic and cleanability 

properties such as equipment used in dairy 

processing and meat-handling, water storage 

tanks; catering and hospitality (cooking utensils, 

food processing equipment, cold storage) and 

healthcare industries. 

• Duplex Grades: These include 2304 and 2205 

which are used in the chemical, petrochemical 

and mining industries due to their excellent 

corrosion resistance properties in very harsh 

conditions for various types of processing 

equipment and holding tanks. 

• Ferritic Grades: Popular grades include 430 

and 441 which are used in general kitchenware 

and catering applications as well as automotive 

applications, ranging from exhaust systems to 

highly visible trim. The ferritic grades also include 

the very versatile and popular 3CR12®. 

3CR12® is a low-cost utility ferritic stainless 

steel developed by Columbus Stainless and 

used widely throughout the South African 

mining industry as a cost-effective solution to 

mild corrosion environments in a wide range 

of structural applications. It offers excellent 

properties in sliding wet-abrasion conditions due 

to its superior corrosion resistance and slideability 

characteristics when compared to carbon steels. 

Applications are widespread and include materials 

handling environments in mines and coal wash 

plants. It is used for applications such as ore cars 

and wagons, chutes and launders as well as shaft 


30

steel work, chimney stacks, ducting, roofing and 

cladding (most commonly poultry and piggery 

buildings), walkways including grating, hand rails, 

stairs, electrical boxes and security fencing. It is 

also widely used in sewage processing plants and 

municipal water storage tanks. 

Mpumalanga boasts a wide variety of large 

industries, including power generation, mining, 

farming and manufacturing. To support these 

diverse industries throughout South Africa, the 

steel industry lies at the helm. Stainless steel has 

proven itself as a multi-functional and adaptable 

metal of choice and has proven successful and 

offers great value to the manufacturing industry. 

The manufacturing industry as a whole is under 

great strain, especially in this tough economic 

climate. With this in mind, one has to consider the 

financial attributes of any project, structure or 

equipment. Life-cycle costing is therefore an 

invaluable tool that takes into consideration the 

initial material cost, fabrication costs, maintenance 

and refurbishment costs, lost production costs 

due to downtime and possible replacement cost 

over a defined product’s lifespan. Stainless steels 

generally have higher input cost compared to 

some competing materials, yet they are proving to 

be the most cost-effective long-term choice. The 

case study related to coal rail wagons in the South 

African market clearly illustrates these principles. 

Case study: coal wagons 

In 1985, trial coal wagons were manufactured out 

of 3CR12 material in the hot rolled and annealed 

(HRA) surface finish. These wagons are used to 

transport coal between Ermelo and Richards 

Bay. They have a payload of 80 tons and make 

the journey roughly five times a week. Before 

3CR12, the wagons were made from Cor-Ten, 

but these only lasted 8-12 years, with refurbishment 

required after five years. 

Over the years, inspections of these coal wagons 

have been conducted after 27 years of service. 

Such a study was done in 2012. The wall thickness 

of these coal wagons was measured using accurate 

ultrasonic measurement equipment. The mild-steel 

wagons recorded corrosion-abrasion wear loss of 

160 micrometres per annum (160μ/yr). This is 

attributed to the surface rust or iron oxide being 

removed, exposing fresh steel. The fresh steel in an 

oxidising environment reverts back to its natural 

iron-oxide state, forming a continuous corrosion 

cycle. Compared to mild steel, stainless steel forms 

a very thin, tenacious oxide layer which gives it its 

characteristic corrosion resistance. The metal loss 

of 10μ/yr was recorded for 3CR12 wagons in this 

application. From these measurements, 3CR12 coal 

wagons in this environment have a predicted total 

life of 65 years. Mild-steel wagons would have to be 

replaced eight times in this time period, increasing 

costs and potential lost production time. 

As the country grapples for sustainable 

infrastructure development for the future in 

energy, water and sanitation, transport, digital 

infrastructure, human settlements, agriculture and 

agroprocessing, stainless steel is the material of 

choice due to its durability, low maintenance and 

sustainability. 

Columbus Stainless is proud to have contributed 

to the development of this material over five 

decades and will continue to do so as Africa and 

the world continues to grow. Indeed, the future of 

manufacturing is Stainless. ■ 


OVERVIEW 

Transport and logistics 

Mpumalanga is the country’s busiest rail province. 

There is more freight rail traffic in Mpumalanga than in any 

other province. This is principally because of the transport of 

coal, but there are also large volumes of chrome, ferrochrome, 

forestry products, chemicals, liquid fuels and general freight. 

The Balfour North to Volksrust section of the Gauteng to Durban 

mainline carries the largest volumes, most of which is long-haul 

freight passing through the province. The busiest internal provincial 

Transnet Freight Rail section is the Maputo Corridor which runs west 

to east from Pretoria to Maputo. 

Despite these high rail volumes, a huge amount of mineral 

product (mainly coal) is transported by truck around and out of 

the province. This puts immense pressure on Mpumalanga’s roads 

network, particularly in the Gert Sibande District and the Nkangala 

District. Road improvement plans aim to simultaneously fix rural 

roads and make better connections between rural and urban areas. 

The statistics relating to coal haulage in Mpumalanga are 

stupendous. In one 12-hour period, 34 198 tons of general freight 

were recorded for the section of the N4 highway between Nelspruit 

and Komatipoort. On the R50, Leandra to Standerton, the volume 

was 25 615 tons (Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads 

and Transport). Mactransco’s website states that its trucks serving 

Tshikondeni Coal Mine travel 3.7-million kilometres per year, working 


Coal haulage companies 

truck vast quantities 

every day. 

all day for six days a week. 

The fleet of ABF Legend Logistics, 

a Super Group company, 

contains more than 200 superlink 

coal haulage trucks while 

another company in the group, 

SG Coal, claims to have one 

of the biggest fleets of coal 

haulage trucks in Africa. Coal 

Tipper Resources operates out 

of Bethal. 

The South African National 

Roads Agency (Sanral) has 

presented its long-term vision, 

Horizon 2030, as part of its 

contribution to the National 


32

OVERVIEW 

Development Plan 2030. 

Road improvements which 

have boosted the transport 

infrastructure of Mpumalanga 

include the upgrades to the 

R570 (linking Malelane on 

the N4 to Swaziland), the N11 

(Hendrina-Middelburg) and part 

of the vital R573 Moloto Road, 

which carries huge volumes of 

traffic to Gauteng and Limpopo. 

Sanral’s three-year plan for the 

R573 allocates R1-billion to 

the project. 

A clause in Sanral’s contract 

ensures that small companies 

are involved. Raubex Construction 

has formed a joint venture 

with Biz Afrika, Khuluphala 

Tradings and Themolo Business 

Enterprise. 

The R573 forms part of 

the Moloto Corridor, which 

connects the province with 

Gauteng Province. The longterm 

aim is to create a coordinated 

road and rail corridor 

including rapid rail facilities. With 

about 50 000 motor vehicles 

using the route every day, it is 

one of the busiest parts of South 

Africa’s road network. The plan to 

upgrade the corridor is one of 18 

national Strategic Infrastructure 

Projects (SIPs). 

The first phase of the 

Moloto Corridor Development 

Programme, which involves the 

upgrading of road infrastructure 

is nearly complete. Accidents 

have been reduced as a result of 

the R3.7-billion first phase. 

A new flight has been 

added to SA Airlink’s connections 

between Limpopo and 

Cape Town. In addition to 

the regular early-morning 

flights out of Nelspruit Kruger 

Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) with a late-afternoon 

return flight, an early morning Saturday flight has been added. This 

leaves Nelspruit KMIA at 7h40 and arrives in Cape Town at 10h05 

and is targeted at the leisure traveller. 

Nelspruit KMIA is the province’s main airport, serving both 

the capital and being a convenient entry point to the southern 

part of Kruger National Park. Airlink has direct flights to and from 

Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Livingstone in Zimbabwe. 

Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport is a popular destination for travellers 

on their way to private game lodges and is also near the Orpen Gate of 

Kruger Park. Middelburg Airfield is one of the larger alternate airports in 

the province, boasting a 1.9km runway that can accommodate a 737. 

The annual Middelburg Air Show is held in June. Many game lodges 

have airstrips and helipads. SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service operates 

out of the old Nelspruit airport just south of the city. 

The Maputo Development Corridor is Africa’s most advanced 

spatial development initiative (SDI) comprising road and rail 

infrastructure, border posts, and port and terminal facilities. Run 

by the Maputo Development Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI), 

the corridor runs from just outside Pretoria in Gauteng, through 

Witbank, Middelburg and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, and on to 

Maputo in Mozambique. 

Rail 

An infrastructural development that should boost trade is Transnet’s 

planned Swaziland Rail Link (SwaziLink) project. A 146km railway line 

between Lothair in Mpumalanga and Sidvokodvo in Swaziland will 

allow for better movement of freight between the countries and 

provide an alternative route for freight to Richards Bay. 

Transnet Freight Rail is the main operator and the chief freight 

movements are coal, fuel, chemicals, timber, iron and chrome ore, 

fruit, maize, animal feed, wholesale and retail goods, steel, building 

supplies, fertiliser and consumer goods. The port of Maputo in 

Mozambique is an attractive option for freight. The coal terminal at 

Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal receives the majority of the coal that is 

mined in the province. 

Private rail operators Sheltam service the coal mining and 

ferrochrome-metal industries from regional headquarters in Witbank. 

The company runs systems, hauls raw materials and rebuilds and 

refurbishes locomotives. ■ 


Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport: www.kmiairport.co.za 

Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative: www.mcli.co.za 

Middelburg Airfield: http://middelburgaeroclub.com 

Railroad Association of South Africa: www.rra.co.za 

South African National Roads Agency Ltd: www.sanral.co.za 


OVERVIEW 

Tourism 

Tourism makes up 7% of provincial GDP. 


Andover Nature Reserve 

is at the centre of a Game 

Triangle. 

Kruger National Park. Image: Wikipedia 

The importance of tourism to the economy of Mpumalanga 

cannot be overstated. It makes up approximately 7% of provincial 

gross domestic product (GDP) and is a major source 

of employment. The effect of the Covid-19 epidemic will be 

strongly felt. The total number of international tourists increased by 

about 100 000 between 2017 and 2018 (to 1.6-million). The key source 

countries were Mozambique, eSwatini, the USA, Germany and the 

United Kingdom. Domestic tourism did even better in 2018, rising to 

2.9-million, compared to 2.2-million in 2017. 

The Kruger National Park is Mpumalanga’s most famous tourism 

asset and it falls under South African National Parks (SANParks). 

Other notable landmarks include God’s Window and the Blyde 

River Canyon but there are several noteworthy sites run by the 

provincial government. 

Among these provincial assets is Andover Nature Reserve, which is 

tucked into a game triangle with Timbavati and Thornybush reserves 

nearby to the north, Sabi Sands to the south and the Orpen Gate to the 

east leading to the mid-section of the Kruger Park. The Manyeleti Game 

Reserve, another provincial park, is 15km away within the Kruger Park. 

Andover Nature Reserve is a bushveld conservancy. It has all the 

plains game but no elephants or 

big cats. Self-catering lodges and 

caravan sites are available. 

The province’s newest asset 

is in fact ancient. A three-billionyear-old 

micro-fossil found in 

the Makhonjwa Mountains near 

Barberton and the border with 

Swaziland is thought to be the 

oldest sign of life on the planet. 

The Makhonjwa Mountains, 

themselves somewhere between 

3.2-billion and 3.6-billion years 

old, have been declared a World 

Heritage Site by the United 

Nations Educational‚ Scientific 

and Cultural Organisation 

(UNESCO). The tourist area in 

the vicinity of Barberton is now 

the Genesis Route. 

This brings to 10 the number 

of World Heritage Sites in 

South Africa and opens up the 

possibility of a new type of niche 

tourism for Mpumalanga. Funds 

for conservation of the area will 

be made available from the 

World Heritage Fund. 

Although the province 

already caters for motor-rally 

enthusiasts, cyclists, runners, 

walkers, fishers, horse-riders, treegliders, 

abseilers, white-water 

rafters and rock climbers, there is 

still potential for more investment 

in the ecotourism and adventure 

tourism subsectors. 


34

OVERVIEW 

Thebe Tourism has three 

projects in the province, the 

Kruger Shalati (a luxury train 

on the Selati Bridge), the Blyde 

Canyon Community Project and 

a proposed development for 

Lisbon Estate which is adjacent 

to Kruger Park. The Lisbon 

development will comprise two 

hotels, retail, hospitality and 

dining facilities and staff housing. 

At Blyde Canyon, Thebe has 

signed an agreement with local 

communities with land claims in 

the Blyde River Canyon Nature 

Reserve which will involve them 

as shareholders in the new 

developments. God’s Window is 

to receive a Skywalk, the facilities 

at Bourke’s Luck Potholes will be 

rejuvenated, a cable car project 

is planned for Three Rondavels 

and another hotel is planned to 

boost accommodation options 

in the area. 

The Provincial Government 

of Mpumalanga is looking for 

more private partners to invest 

in a range of ambitious projects 

to boost an already active 

sector that has several superb 

tourism assets, ranging from 

Kudu at Andover NR 

about 70 parks and reserves to bird-watching, music festivals, 

motor-car rallies and casinos. 

The provincial investment agency, MEGA, has packaged many 

tourism investment opportunities. The underlying principle is a form 

of public-private partnership where the agency would assist in getting 

land-use and other legal requirements, and perhaps in seeing that 

basic infrastructure was laid on, then the developer would build and 

manage a tourism facility. 

Protea Hotels by Marriott has three properties in Mpumalanga, 

including Protea Hotel Kruger Gate, Nelspruit and Hazyview. At White 

River, Premier Hotel The Winkler is 20 minutes’ drive from the Numbi 

Gate of the Kruger National Park. 

Tsogo Sun has six hotels in the province, ranging from two 

StayEasys to Southern Sun The Ridge, which is attached to the Ridge 

Casino in Witbank (eMalahleni). Tsogo runs a further two resorts in 

Hazyview (Sabi River Sun Resort) and White River (Pine Lake Resort). 

Forever Resorts has a big presence in the province, catering to many 

caravans and campers and holiday-makers wanting to stay in chalets. 

There is also a four-star Forever Resorts Mount Sheba. The Graceland 

Hotel Casino and Country Club is a Peermont resort in Secunda. 

Training 

A graduation ceremony in early 2020 saw 289 young people complete 

a year-long hospitality learnership with an NQF Level 3 CATHSSETAaccredited 

National Certificate in Fast Food Services. 

These were members of Mpumalanga Hospitality Youth Training 

Programme (HYTP), a programme that opens up career opportunities 

within the local tourism sector in fields such as catering, hotel 

and accommodation management, restaurateur and other food 

services, general tourism and guide services, adventure and leisure 

facilities and local cultural and heritage tours. 

The Hazyview Project is an offshoot of the Travel and Tourism 

Excellence Academy. The programme is jointly sponsored by Amadeus, 

a travel technology company, Economic Development Solutions and 

the Thebe Tourism Group. 

Hazyview is near the Kruger National Park and the students 

are expected to be employed at a new hotel at Skukuza when they 

graduate. The Good Work Foundation (GWF) is running the programme 

at its Hazyview Digital Campus, in partnership with the South Africa 

College of Tourism. ■ 


Mpumalanga Gaming Board: www.mgb.org.za 

Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency: www.mtpa.co.za 

South African National Parks: www.sanparks.co.za 

South African Tourism: www.southafrica.net 

South African Tourism Services Association: www.satsa.com 


OVERVIEW 

Banking and financial services 

Banking customers are being offered more choice. 

All of the big retail banks (Nedbank, Absa, Standard Bank, Capitec 

and First National Bank) are present in the province’s major 

towns. Agriculture is an important focus area for banks, and 

most have specialised divisions such as Nedbank Agribusiness. 

TWK Agri offers financing and insurance together with the usual 

suite of agricultural services. Afgri, one of the country’s biggest 

agricultural companies, offers financial services (financing and 

insurance) under the brand Unigro. 

Another source of funding for farmers is the Land and Agricultural 

Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank), a development-finance 

institution that falls under the Ministry of Finance. 

In 2017 Tyme Digital received a licence to run a bank. By early 2019, 

TymeBank was available in 500 Pick n Pay and Boxer stores and more 

than 50 000 customers around South Africa had an account. Tyme 

stands for Take Your Money Everywhere and refers to the fact that the 

bank does not have a branch network. The bank is targeting the lowerincome 

segment and promises speedy transaction and approval times. 

Second to market among the country’s new banks was Discovery 

Bank, which officially launched in March 2019. Discovery Bank applies 

the behavioural model it uses in its health business to reward good 

financial behaviour. 

The revitalised African Bank, which was put under curatorship in 

2014 by the Reserve Bank, is making a play for new customers with an 

interesting offering that does not rely so much on digital wizardry as 

on presenting the customer with enhanced banking facilities. 

African Bank has created an account that allows up to five 

additional accounts to be set up in the name of the main account. Fees 

are only charged for drawing cash or at the time of a transaction. There 

are no monthly fees for any of the accounts which can be either for 

saving or transactional. Each user has his or her own card and monies 

can be moved between accounts, ideal for families. 

Sanlam has entered two partnerships in the insurance market. 

African Rainbow Life has launched life cover policies in the lowand 

middle-income market, in association with Sanlam and African 

Rainbow Capital. Sanlam is also in a venture with Capitec. In 2019 

Financial Mail quoted Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie saying that the bank 

was selling 3 000 funeral policies a day. 


Financial Sector Conduct Authority: www.fsca.co.za 

Public Investment Corporation: www.pic.gov.za 

South African Reserve Bank: www.resbank.co.za 


African Bank is competing 

for new customers. 

eMbalenhle has a new 

Ubank branch. Situated at the 

Mall@Emba, the branch will 

serve customers from Secunda 

and other areas such as those 

that used to bank at a branch 

at the Kinross mine, which has 

been closed. 

Ubank, eMbalenhle 

In line with modern trends 

towards digital banking, the new 

Ubank branch has internal and 

external facing digital walls. The 

screens promote new products 

and campaigns, give customers 

information and provide 

financial education. A feature 

that is designed to support local 

artists is the Feature Wall. 

Banks are working hard to 

offer products to the previously 

unbanked. Nedbank has 

partnerships with shops such 

as Boxer Stores and Pick n Pay 

where customers can have 

access to financial services in 

previously unserviced areas. ■ 


36

Education and training 

Robotics and Coding are now part of teacher training. 

OVERVIEW 

Image: Sasol Foundation 

Agroup of Mpumalanga teachers has had the opportunity to 

train as master teachers for Robotics and Coding, courtesy 

of Sasol. The Sasol Foundation has also donated multimedia 

resources for teachers and pupils in Science, Technology, 

Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). 

An amount of R40-million was allocated by the Mpumalanga 

Provincial Government for the 2020/21 financial year in support of the 

Youth Development Fund, which was seeded the previous year with 

funding of R10-million. 

The Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust (MRTT) is a Section 21 

company with several sites in the province, including a Hospitality and 

Tourism Academy at Karino outside Nelspruit. The trust’s constructiontraining 

facility is accredited as a Construction Centre of Excellence. The 

Southern African Wildlife College is located near the Orpen Gate on the 

edge of the Kruger National Park. 

A public-private partnership, MRTT intends increasing graduate 

numbers and is aiming for 50 000 young people to be trained 

in courses such as plumbing, painting, electrical, bricklaying and 

plastering in the three years to 2023. 

A provincial bursary scheme has assisted more than 3 334 students 

who are studying in fields such as medicine, veterinary science, 

information technology, aviation, education and engineering. The 

artisan development programme in partnership with Hydra Arc is 

progressing well, with Sasol having committed to taking on all qualified 


Mpumalanga Department of Education: 

www.mpumalanga.gov.za/education 

Sasol bursaries: www.sasolbursaries.com 

Southern African Wildlife College: www.wildlifecollege.org.za 

University of Mpumalanga: www.ump.ac.za 


R40-million has been 

allocated to the Youth 

Development Fund. 

apprentices from the academy 

in Secunda. 

The University of Mpumalanga 

enrolled 3 220 students 

in 2019, a marked increase on 

quiet beginnings in 2014 when 

the university started life with 

167 students. The university has 

added bachelor’s degrees in 

arts and commerce to its initial 

offering of academic courses 

in education and agriculture 

and a diploma in hospitality. 

Geology will soon be offered as 

part of a BSc. The main campus 

is at Mbombela with satellites at 

Siyabuswa (a former education 

college) and KaNyamazane, 

which hosts hospitality studies. 

Mpumalanga has three 

Technical and Vocational 

Education and Training (TVET) 

Colleges, with an enrolment of 

over 36 000. UNISA, the Tshwane 

University of Technology and the 

Vaal University of Technology 

also have satellite campuses in 

the province. 

A sixth rural boarding school, 

Thaba Chweu Boarding School 

in the Ehlanzeni District, has 

opened and a further six are due 

for construction. These schools 

make access to education easier 

for rural children who would 

otherwise have to travel long 

distances. ■ 


OVERVIEW 

Development finance 

and SMME support 

Entrepreneurship training is offered at new youth centres. 

Entrepreneurship Development is one of the subjects on offer 

at 90 Youth Development Centres which are being established 

throughout Mpumalanga. Other courses include accredited training 

in computer skills and life skills, with workshops on job preparedness 

and career guidance. The centres are part of Mpumalanga’s response 

to the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention Programme. 

The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) is the 

implementing agent of the provincial government’s SMME support 

Image: Seda 

policy. An agreement has been 

signed by Standard Bank and 

MEGA to launch an SME Fund 

with a capitalisation of R500- 

million. MEGA has also overseen 

the rehabilitation of industrial 

premises in former homelands 

and formed partnerships with 

financial institutions for funding. 

Examples of township businesses 

supported by the Department of Economic Development 

and Tourism (DEDET) are an agreement with Sumitomo Rubber 

SA to promote local tyre enterprises and financial support for the 

commissioning of a sanitary towel plant by the Ntirhisano Sanitary 

Worker Co-operative in Bushbuckridge (and support for business 

development and access to market). 

Research done by the Small Enterprise Development Agency 

(Seda) shows that a high percentage of SMMEs in Mpumalanga are in 

the trade and accommodation sector. Whereas the national figure is 

about 43%, in Mpumalanga it is closer to 50%. 

Seda supports several incubators in the province: Furntech, 

furniture manufacturing, White River; Mobile Agri-Skills Development 

& Training (MASDT), agricultural training, Nelspruit; 

Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative (MSI), stainless steel processing, 

Middelburg (with Columbus Stainless); Timbali, floriculture, 


Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency: www.mega.gov.za 

Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative: www.mpstainless.co.za 

National Department of Small Business Development: 

www.dsbd.gov.za 

Small Enterprise Development Agency: www.seda.org.za 


Trade and accommodation 

are leaders in SMME 

employment. 

Nelspruit; Ehlanzeni TVET College 

Rapid Incubator Renewable 

Technologies, Nelspruit. 

Seda is a subsidiary of 

the National Department of 

Small Business Development 

(DSBD). Seda is not a financial 

agency, focussing rather on 

training and administrative 

support, although the agency 

will help SMMEs get in touch 

with financial bodies. Assistance 

by Seda with a business plan 

was the spur that helped Renabo 

Plastics Moulders and Furniture 

(pictured) get access to financing 

which led to growth in turnover 

and the addition of three new 

staff members. 

Sappi’s long-term Ngodwana 

mill project will spend more than 

R600-million on procuring goods 

and supplies from broad-basedblack-economic-empowered 

companies, of which R51-million 

will go to SMMEs. 

Other companies supporting 

SMMEs through their buying 

chain include Woolworths and 

Anglo American. Woolworths 

funds TechnoServe to ensure 

that small tomato growers can 

grow produce that will meet 

the demanding standards of the 

retailer, and to help them expand 

production. 

Anglo American’s Zimele 

runs four enterprise development 

and investment funds. 

Zimele runs hubs related 

to the supply chains of platinum, 

thermal coal and, with 

Mondi, forestry. ■ 


38

Mpumalanga Local 

Government 

A guide to district and local municipalities in Mpumalanga. 

LISTING 

EHLANZENI DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY 

Physical address: 8 Van Niekerk Street, 

Nelspruit 1201 

Postal address: PO Box 3333, Nelspruit 1200 

Tel: +27 13 004 0291 | Fax: +27 13 759 8539 

Website: www.ehlanzeni.gov.za 

Bushbuckridge Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 004 0291 | Fax: +27 13 799 1865 

Website: www.bushbuckridge.gov.za 

City of Mbombela Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 759 9111 | Fax: +27 13 759 2070 

Website: www.mbombela.gov.za 

Nkomazi Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 790 0245 | Fax: +27 13 790 0886 

Website: www.nkomazi.gov.za 

Thaba Chweu Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 235 7300 | Fax: +27 13 235 1108 

Website: www.tclm.co.za 

GERT SIBANDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY 

Physical address: Cnr Joubert and Oosthuise 

streets, Ermelo 2350 

Postal address: PO Box 1748, Ermelo 2350 

Tel: +27 17 801 7000 | Fax: +27 17 811 1207 

Website: www.gsibande.gov.za 

Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 17 843 4000 | Fax: +27 17 843 4001 

Website: www.albertluthuli.gov.za 

Dipaleseng Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 17 773 0055 | Fax: +27 17 773 0169 

Website: www.dipaleseng.gov.za 

Govan Mbeki Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 17 620 6000 | Fax: +27 17 634 8019 

Website: www.govanmbeki.gov.za 

Lekwa Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 17 712 9600 | Fax: +27 17 712 6808 

Website: www.lekwalm.gov.za 

Mkhondo Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 87 630 0180 | Fax: +27 17 826 3129 

Website: www.mkhondo.gov.za 

Msukaligwa Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 17 801 3500 | Fax: +27 17 801 3851 

Website: www.msukaligwa.gov.za 

Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 17 734 6100 | Fax: 086 630 2209 

NKANGALA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY 

Physical address: 2A Walter Sisulu Street, 

Middelburg 1055 

Postal address: PO Box 437, Middelburg 1050 

Tel: +27 13 249 2000 | Fax: +27 13 249 2056 

Website: www.nkangala.gov.za 

Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 973 1101 | Fax: +27 13 973 0974 

Website: www.moroka.gov.za 

Emakhazeni Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 253 7600 | Fax: +27 13 253 2440 

Website: www.emakhazeni.gov.za 

eMalahleni Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 690 6911 | Fax: +27 13 690 6207 

Website: www.emalahleni.gov.za 

Steve Tshwete Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 249 7000 | Fax: +27 13 243 2550 

Website: www.stlm.gov.za 

Thembisile Hani Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 986 9100 | Fax: +27 13 986 0995 

Website: www.thembisilehanilm.gov.za 

Victor Khanye Local Municipality 

Tel: +27 13 665 6000 | Fax: +27 13 665 2913 

Website: www.victorkhanyelm.gov.za 


INDEX 

INDEX 

Africa Biomass Company (ABC) ...................................................................................................................... 3, 9 

Columbus Stainless ..............................................................................................................................................5, 30 

Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency ….....................................................................24 

Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) …..................................................IBC 

MTN....................................................................................................................................................................................IFC 

Nedbank .................................................................................................................................................................. 12-15 

SA Airlink...................................................................................................................................................................... OBC 


40

er Lowveld Chamber 

siness and Tourism 

Kruger Lowveld Chamber 

of Business and Tourism 

PROFILE 

PROFILE 

f business 

The voice 

in Ehlanzeni. 

of business in Ehlanzeni. 

The voice of business in Ehlanzeni. 

he official As representative the official body representative of business body of and business tourism and tourism in in 

Kruger Lowveld (Ehlanzeni District), our main mandates 

e Kruger Lowveld 

As the official representative body of business tourism in 

are 

(Ehlanzeni 

to promote 

District), 

the region 

our 

as a 

main 

tourism 

mandates 

the Kruger Lowveld (Ehlanzeni District), main and investment 

mandates 

to promote the are destination, to region promote as to the provide a region tourism a as diverse a tourism and suite and of investment networking destination, 

opportunities a to diverse provide for our a suite diverse members, of suite and of networking to represent and mar- 

speak 

and 

stination, marketing to provide 

keting on behalf opportunities of the business for our and members, tourism community and to represent of our area. and speak We do 

portunities 

on this behalf 

for 

by building 

our 

of the 

members, 

business and maintaining and 

and 

tourism 

to 

meaningful 

represent 

community relationships 

and 

of our 

speak 

area. We with do all 

the business this spheres by and building of government tourism and maintaining community as well as meaningful like-minded of our relationships area. organisations, We do with and all by 

ing and 

spheres acting maintaining as of liaison government between meaningful 

as these well as entities like-minded 

relationships and the organisations, business with community. all 

and by 

acting KLCBT’s as president liaison between is Mr Oupa these Pilane entities (pictured). and the business community. 

overnment KLCBT’s as well president as like-minded is Mr Oupa Pilane organisations, (pictured). and by 

son between these entities and the business community. 

Area of of operation 

ident is Mr Oupa Pilane (pictured). 

The The Kruger Kruger Lowveld Lowveld covers covers the the Ehlanzeni Ehlanzeni District District of of Mpumalanga, 

Mpumalanga, 

including 

including 

the 

the 

following 

following 

local 

local 

municipalities: 

municipalities: 

City 

City 

of 

of 

Mbombela, 

Mbombela, 

Thaba 

Thaba 

on large shopping chains, 

eration 

Chweu, 

Chweu, Nkomazi 

Nkomazi 

and 

and 

Bushbuckridge, 

Bushbuckridge, 

as 

as 

well 

well 

as 

as 

the 

the 

southern 

southern 

part 

part 

of 

engaging large chains to buy 

of Kruger National Park and the surrounding private nature reserves. local and to spend their CSI 

Kruger National Park and the surrounding private nature reserves. Promote home-grown businesses 

budgets locally. 

through education processes, research, 

maintaining a database, 

Lowveld 

Member 

covers the 

benefits 

Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga, 

Member benefits 

Local Economic Development: 

We are assisting with 

e following lobbying for stricter regulations 

Listing local on municipalities: website, Pay-to-Play City participation of Mbombela, in various Thaba marketing 

on large shopping chains, engaging 

large chains 

mazi and services Bushbuckridge, and projects, as weekly well newsletter, as the southern invitations part to all of KLCBT incubation in seven main 

events, 

Listing on 

advocacy 

website, 

and 

Pay-to-Play 

representations 

participation 

made 

in various 

by KLCBT 

marketing 

on behalf 

services 

of corridors, mainly 

to 

adding 

buy local 

additional 

tourism products. 

and 

nal Park and projects, the surrounding weekly newsletter, private invitations nature to all KLCBT reserves. events, advocacy and Promote to spend home-grown their CSI budgets businesses 

members, access to preferential arrangements negotiated by KLCBT 

locally. 

with representations service providers, made by KLCBT brochure on behalf display of members, at Crossing access Centre to preferential office, through Local Economic education Development: processes, research, 

Anti-corruption: maintaining a Several database, 

various arrangements sponsorship negotiated options, by KLCBT access with service to tender providers, information. brochure We display are at We are assisting with incubation 

Crossing Centre office, various sponsorship options, access to tender information. in seven main corridors, mainly 

enefits 

actively involved in the following advocacy campaigns: 

successful initiatives reduced 

lobbying roadside adding for corruption. additional stricter regulations 

tourism 

Service We are actively delivery: involved in the following advocacy campaigns: on large products. shopping chains, engaging 

large chains to buy local and 

Public Service participation delivery: Public in participation various forums in various where forums government where government engages Water: Anti-corruption: Bulk-water supply Several faces 

bsite, Pay-to-Play in various marketing services 

with engages stakeholders with stakeholders regarding regarding budgets, budgets, planning planning and and legislation. 

a successful future crisis initiatives and lobbying reduced for 

weekly newsletter, Promote home-grown invitations to businesses all KLCBT through events, education advocacy processes, and to spend the roadside increase their corruption. of CSI storage budgets capacity locally. 

s made by research, CONTACT KLCBT maintaining on DETAILS behalf of a database, members, lobbying access for to stricter preferential regulations Local is Water: beginning Economic Bulk-water to show Development: 

supply success. faces a 

future crisis and lobbying for the 

negotiated Contact Physical by KLCBT details address: with service KLCBT providers, House, Crossing brochure Centre, display Nelspruit at We are assisting with incubation 

Roads increase and of public storage attractions: capacity is 

e office, various Postal sponsorship address: Private options, Bag access X 11326, to Nelspruit tender information. 

1200 

Physical address: KLCBT House, Crossing Centre, Nelspruit in seven Require beginning main to upgrades show corridors, success. and mainly 

Tel: +27 13 755 1988 

Postal address: Private Bag X 11326, Nelspruit 1200 

Roads and public attractions: 

Fax: +27 13 753 2986 

adding investment. additional tourism 

Tel: +27 13 755 1988. Fax: +27 13 753 2986 

Require upgrades and investment. 

ely involved Email: in the business@klcbt.co.za following advocacy and and tourism@klcbt.co.za 

tourism@klcbt.co.za 

campaigns: products. Safety and security: A concern 

ery: Public Website: participation www.klcbt.co.za in various forums where government Anti-corruption: for all regions in SA. ■ Several 

stakeholders regarding budgets, planning and legislation. successful initiatives reduced 

53 roadside MPUMALANGA corruption. BUSINESS 2019/20 2017/18 

DETAILS 

Water: Bulk-water supply faces a 

future crisis and lobbying for the

48278 

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