Mpumalanga

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Mpumalanga

Capital	Nelspruit
Largest city	Nelspruit
Premier(List)	Thabang Makwetla (ANC)
Area	Ranked 8th
- Total	79 490 km²
Population	Ranked 5th
- Total (2001)	3 122 994
- Density	39/km²
Languages	SiSwati (30.8%) IsiZulu (26.4%) IsiNdebele (12.1%) Sepedi (10.8%)
Ethnic composition	Black (92.4%) White (6.5%) Coloured (0.2%) Asian (0.2%)

"Eastern Transvaal" redirects here. For the rugby team formerly known as "Eastern Transvaal", see Pumas (rugby team).

Mpumalanga, (name changed from Eastern Transvaal on 24 August 1995), is a province in South Africa. The name means "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area. In the north it borders on Limpopo and to the west the Free State and Gauteng. The capital is Nelspruit. Prior to 1994, Mpumalanga was part of Transvaal Province.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Fauna and flora 3 Law and government 4 Subdivisions 5 Economy 5.1 Agriculture 5.2 Mining 5.3 Tourism 6 Major cities and towns 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Geography

The Drakensberg Escarpment divides Mpumalanga into a westerly half consisting mainly of grassland called the Highveld and an eastern half situated in low altitude subtropical Lowveld/Bushveld. The southern half of the Kruger National Park is situated in the latter region.

[edit] Fauna and flora

The diverse and special flora and fauna of the province enjoys protection in a range of nature reserves, including:

• Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve
• Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, previously known as Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park. This international game park brings together some of the best and most established wildlife areas in southern Africa. The park is managed as an integrated unit across an unprecedented three international boundaries which includes the Kruger National Park (South Africa), Limpopo National Park (Mozambique) and Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe).
• Sabi-Sand Game Reserve, which is built up of numerious private reserves: Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge, Djuma Game Reserve, Exeter Game Lodge, Idube Game Reserve, Inyati Private Game Reserve, Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, Londolozi Game Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve, Savanna Private Game Reserve and Ulusaba Game Lodge.

[edit] Law and government

The Mpumalanga Province's legislation is an amalgam of national and regional legislation promulgated prior to the establishment of the Province on 27 April 1994, and legislation which it has itself promulgated since it came into existence. Lists of and the original texts of this legislation are available through various South African governmental websites, and amended and updated versions of the legislation is available through commercial vendors on subscription and at a price. See External links for more information.

[edit] Subdivisions

Mpumalanga Province is divided into three municipal districts, which are further subdivided into 17 local municipalities:

• Gert Sibande District Municipality (DC30)
  • Albert Luthuli Local Municipality (MP301)
  • Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MP302)
  • Mkhondo Local Municipality (MP303)
  • Pixley Ka Seme Local Municipality (MP304)
  • Lekwa Local Municipality (MP305)
  • Dipaleseng Local Municipality (MP306)
  • Govan Mbeki Local Municipality (MP307)

• Nkangala District Municipality (DC31)
  • Delmas Local Municipality (MP311)
  • Emalahleni Local Municipality (MP312)
  • Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (MP313)
  • Highlands Local Municipality (MP314)
  • Thembisile Local Municipality (MP315)
  • Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality (MP316)

• Ehlanzeni District Municipality (DC32)
  • Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (MP321)
  • Mbombela Local Municipality (MP322)
  • Umjindi Local Municipality (MP323)
  • Nkomazi Local Municipality (MP324)
  • Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (MP325)

[edit] Economy

[edit] Agriculture

The climatic contrasts between the drier Highveld region, with its cold winters, and the hot, humid Lowveld allow for a variety of agricultural activities. More than 68% of Mpumalanga is utilised by agriculture. Crops include maize, wheat,sorghum, barley, sunflower seed, soybeans, groundnuts, sugar cane, vegetables, coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, citrus, subtropical and deciduous fruit.

Forestry is extensive around Sabie in the far north of the province. Located near the forests, Ngodwana is the site of one of South Africa's largest paper mills (Sappi).^[1]

Natural grazing covers approximately 14% of Mpumalanga. The main products are beef, mutton, wool, poultry and dairy.

[edit] Mining

Extensive mining is done and the minerials found include: Gold, Platinum group metals, Silica, Chromite, Vanadiferous Magnetite, Argentiferous Zinc, Antimony, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Tin, Coal, Andalusite, Chrysotile Asbestos, Kieselguhr, Limestone, Magnesite, Talc and Shale.

Gold was first discovered in Mpumalanga province in 1883 by Auguste Roberts in the mountains surrounding what is now Barberton. Gold is still mined in the Barberton area today. ^[2]

Mpumalanga accounts for 83% of South Africa's coal production. 90% of South Africa's coal consumption is used for electricity generation and the synthetic fuel industry. Coal power stations are in proximity to the coal deposits. The mining company Sasol, a coal liquification plant in Secunda is the site of one of the country's two petroleum-from-coal extraction plants, which is operated by the mining company Sasol. ^[3]

[edit] Tourism

Mpumalanga is also a popular tourism destination. Kruger National Park, established in 1898 for the protection of Lowveld wildlife, covering 20,000 square kilometres (7,800 square miles), is a popular destination.^[4] The ancient Sudwala Caves are also a major tourist attraction.^[5]

[edit] Major cities and towns

See List of cities and towns in Mpumalanga

[edit] References

1. ^ Mpumalanga in brief: The economy of the province (URL accessed April 30, 2006)
2. ^ "Barberton", Mpumalanga South Africa, ExploreSouthAfrica.net. (URL accessed April 30, 2006)
3. ^ "Coal", South Africa Country Analysis Brief, Energy Information Administration. (URL accessed April 30, 2006)
4. ^ "Kruger National Park", South Africa Explored.
5. ^ Sudwala Caves - Mpumalanga - South Africa, EcoTravel.

[edit] External links

• Mpumalanga Provincial Government homepage
• Mpumalanga Tourism Authority
• Flags of the World: Mpumalanga provincial flag and heraldry
• List and text of Mpumalanga legislation from 1994 onwards