Ehlanzeni District Municipality covers eastern Mpumalanga, South Africa, along the Kruger National Park and the Mozambique and eSwatini borders. Its four local municipalities held 2,270,897 people at the 2022 census, up from 1,689,594 in 2011 (the 2011 figure includes the former Umjindi Local Municipality, merged into Mbombela in 2016). Mbombela, the Mpumalanga provincial capital, is the district seat.
Local Municipalities in Ehlanzeni
| Municipality | Seat | 2022 Pop. |
|---|---|---|
| Mbombela | Mbombela (Nelspruit) | 818,925 |
| Nkomazi | Malalane | 591,928 |
| Bushbuckridge | Bushbuckridge | 750,821 |
| Thaba Chweu | Lydenburg | 109,223 |
Major Towns
Aggregating the four local municipalities’ settlement packs, the district’s largest towns by recorded population:
- Mbombela / Nelspruit (Mbombela, seat) — 110,159
- Mkhuhlu (Bushbuckridge) — 42,969
- Calcutta (Bushbuckridge) — 35,864
- Lydenburg (Thaba Chweu, seat) — 49,605
- Matsulu (Mbombela) — 47,306
- Barberton (Mbombela) — 67,927
- Schoemansdal (Nkomazi) — 23,257
- Kamaqhekeza (Nkomazi) — 25,390
- Komatipoort (Nkomazi) — 20,508
- White River (Mbombela) — 25,607
- Driekoppies (Nkomazi) — 18,498
- Sabie (Thaba Chweu) — 18,903
- Hlanganani (Bushbuckridge) — 21,506
- Mafemani (Bushbuckridge) — 20,389
- Tekwane (Mbombela) — 17,846
- Thulamahashe (Bushbuckridge) — 13,333
- Xikhusese (Bushbuckridge) — 13,324
- Embhojeni (Nkomazi) — 12,589
- Maboke (Bushbuckridge) — 12,752
- Oakley (Bushbuckridge) — 12,064
Geography
Ehlanzeni drops from the Drakensberg escarpment forestry country around Sabie and Lydenburg down through Nelspruit’s citrus valleys to the flat Lowveld bordering Kruger National Park, Mozambique and eSwatini. It is the only Mpumalanga district that shares a border with both neighbouring countries, and it includes the largest share of Kruger National Park within Mpumalanga, entered through gates at Numbi, Paul Kruger, Malelane, Crocodile Bridge and Orpen. The district also takes in the Blyde River Canyon and the mist-belt forestry country around Sabie in its western reaches.
Economy and Local Life
Citrus and subtropical fruit farming, forestry and timber processing, sugar cane milling near Malalane, and tourism tied to Kruger National Park and the Blyde River Canyon anchor the district economy. Mbombela, as provincial capital, also hosts government administration and services, and the city’s fresh-produce markets and logistics sector serve farms across the district.
FAQ
What is the seat of Ehlanzeni District Municipality?
Mbombela.
How many local municipalities make up Ehlanzeni?
Four: Mbombela, Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge and Thaba Chweu.
What is the population of Ehlanzeni District?
2,270,897 at the 2022 census.
Which province is Ehlanzeni in?
Mpumalanga.
Which Kruger National Park gates are in Ehlanzeni?
Numbi, Paul Kruger, Malelane, Crocodile Bridge and Orpen.
Which municipality in Ehlanzeni has the largest population?
Mbombela, with 818,925 people at the 2022 census.
Which municipality in Ehlanzeni has the smallest population?
Thaba Chweu, with 109,223 people at the 2022 census.