Nkomazi Local Municipality lies in the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga, South Africa, on the borders of both Mozambique and eSwatini. The 2022 census counted 591,928 residents over 4,785.3 km², up from 393,030 in 2011. Malalane (also spelt Malelane) is the municipal seat.
Towns and Villages in Nkomazi
Schoemansdal and Komatipoort are the largest settlements after the seat. GeoNames lists 51 distinct named places (duplicate Mbuzini and Ngwenyeni entries merged); the main ones by recorded population:
| Place | Type | Pop. |
|---|---|---|
| Schoemansdal | Town | 23,257 |
| Kamaqhekeza | Village | 25,390 |
| Komatipoort | Town | 20,508 |
| Driekoppies | Village | 18,498 |
| Embhojeni | Village | 12,589 |
| Emtfuntini | Village | 11,323 |
| Mhlambanyatsi | Village | 9,219 |
| Magogeni | Village | 7,396 |
| Kamhlushwa | Village | 7,917 |
| Bosfontein | Village | 7,811 |
Full list of named places in the municipality:
- Bob
- Bosfontein
- Compound
- Disa Estates
- Driekoppies
- Dzuweni
- Embhojeni
- Emtfuntini
- Esibayeni
- Figtree
- Good Luck
- Hectorspruit
- Hlengesha
- Holnek
- Homestead
- Ivaura Estates
- Kaapmuiden
- Kamaqhekeza
- Kamhlushwa
- Kasibhejane
- Kazibokwane
- Keerom
- Kemps Cottage
- Komatipoort
- Krokodilbrug
- KwaLugedlane
- KwaMandulu
- KwaSipunu
- Landboukantoor
- Lilydale
- Linga Longa
- Lomatimond
- Louieville
- Madadeni
- Magogeni
- Magudu
- Mahoho’s Kraal
- Malelane
- Mananga
- Mangweni
- Marloth Park
- Masibekela
- Matsamo
- Mbuzini
- Mgobode
- Mhlambanyatsi
- Mhloshana
- Mpanganeni
- Mzinti
- Ngwenyeni
- Ntunda
- Phiva
- Seekoeigat
- Shiyalongubo
- Shongwe
- Shongwe Mission
- Sibange
- Sidlamafa
- Sihlangu
- Sikhwahlane
- Singobile
- Skoonplaas
- Thambokhulu
- Tonga
- Tongwe
- Vlakbult
- Willis-Myline
- M’hati
Geography
Nkomazi lies in the Lowveld of eastern Mpumalanga, hemmed by Mozambique to the east and eSwatini to the south, with the Crocodile and Komati rivers running through it toward the Kruger National Park border. It shares Ehlanzeni District with Mbombela, Thaba Chweu and Bushbuckridge local municipalities.
Demographics
Population climbed from 393,030 at the 2011 census to 591,928 at the 2022 census, a rise of roughly 50 percent, among the largest gains in the province and driven partly by cross-border movement given Nkomazi’s location between Mozambique and eSwatini. Growth concentrates in the villages around Malalane, Komatipoort and Schoemansdal, with Kamaqhekeza and Driekoppies also among the larger settlements.
Economy and Local Life
Sugar cane processing anchors the economy, with the Selati sugar mill near Malalane a major employer, alongside citrus farming and coal mining further inland. Irrigation schemes fed by the Komati and Crocodile rivers support extensive cane and citrus estates. The Lebombo border post at Komatipoort, South Africa’s busiest land crossing into Mozambique, drives freight and trade, and the town has grown into a logistics hub servicing cross-border haulage.
Getting There
The N4 highway runs through Malalane and Komatipoort to the Lebombo border post, while the Kruger National Park’s Malelane and Crocodile Bridge gates lie within the municipality, giving Nkomazi some of the park’s most accessible entrances. Nkomazi is about 100 km east of Nelspruit (Mbombela) and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, roughly a ninety-minute drive along the N4.
FAQ
What is the seat of Nkomazi Local Municipality?
Malalane (Malelane).
How many towns and villages does Nkomazi have?
GeoNames records 51 distinct named places.
What is the population of Nkomazi?
591,928 at the 2022 census, up from 393,030 in 2011.
Which district and province is Nkomazi in?
Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga.
What is Nkomazi’s economy based on?
Sugar cane processing, citrus farming and border trade through Komatipoort.
Which Kruger National Park gates are in Nkomazi?
The Malelane and Crocodile Bridge gates.
Is Nkomazi mostly urban or rural?
Predominantly rural — Malalane and Komatipoort are the only sizeable towns; most residents live in villages tied to cane and citrus farming.
Which countries border Nkomazi?
Mozambique to the east and eSwatini to the south.
How far is Malalane from Nelspruit?
About 50 km, roughly a forty-minute drive via the N4.
What language groups live in Nkomazi?
Predominantly siSwati speakers, reflecting the municipality’s border with eSwatini, with Afrikaans and Portuguese also heard in border-trade areas.
What is the climate like in Nkomazi?
Hot, subtropical Lowveld climate, well suited to sugar cane and citrus irrigation.