Mpumalanga, the second-smallest province in South Africa after Gauteng, is located in the north-eastern part of the country.
The province is bordered by countries Mozambique and Eswatini on the east, provinces Limpopo on the north, Gauteng on the west, and Free State and KwaZulu-Natal on the south.
Mpumalanga was formed in 1994 by merging the former Eastern Transvaal with the former Bantustans KwaNdebele, KaNgwane and parts of Gazankulu and Lebowa.
The name “Mpumalanga” means “East”, or literally “The Place Where the Sun Rises” in the Nguni languages.
Mpumalanga covers an area of 76,495 square kilometres (29,535 square miles) and has a population of 5,057,662 inhabitants (8% of the national population) according to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa, making it the sixth most populous province in South Africa.
Mbombela (previously Nelspruit) is the provincial capital of Mpumalanga and the administrative and business centre of the Lowveld.
Other major cities and towns include Barberton, eMkhondo, Malalane, eMalahleni, Ermelo, Sabie, and Standerton.
Mpumalanga has a total of 20 municipalities; it is divided into three district municipalities, which are in turn divided into 17 local municipalities.
Mpumalanga is considered to be one of the most geographically diverse and unbelievably beautiful places in South Africa.
People are drawn to Mpumalanga by the magnificent scenery, by the fauna and flora, and by the saga of the 1870s gold rush era and a wealth of fascinating tribal legends. Mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests characterise the landscape.
District municipalities
| Name | Code | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ehlanzeni District Municipality | DC32 | Mbombela | 27,896 |
| Gert Sibande District Municipality | DC30 | Ermelo | 31,841 |
| Nkangala District Municipality | DC31 | Middelburg | 16,758 |
Local municipalities
| Name | Code | District | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushbuckridge Local Municipality | MP325 | Ehlanzeni | Bushbuckridge | 10,248 |
| City of Mbombela Local Municipality | MP326 | Ehlanzeni | Mbombela | 7,141 |
| Nkomazi Local Municipality | MP324 | Ehlanzeni | Malalane | 4,787 |
| Thaba Chweu Local Municipality | MP321 | Ehlanzeni | Mashishing | 5,719 |
| Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality | MP301 | Gert Sibande | Carolina | 5,559 |
| Dipaleseng Local Municipality | MP306 | Gert Sibande | Balfour | 2,645 |
| Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality | MP304 | Gert Sibande | Volksrust | 5,227 |
| Govan Mbeki Local Municipality | MP307 | Gert Sibande | Secunda | 2,955 |
| Lekwa Local Municipality | MP305 | Gert Sibande | Standerton | 4,557 |
| Mkhondo Local Municipality | MP303 | Gert Sibande | eMkhondo | 4,882 |
| Msukaligwa Local Municipality | MP302 | Gert Sibande | Ermelo | 6,016 |
| Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality | MP316 | Nkangala | Siyabuswa | 1,416 |
| Emakhazeni Local Municipality | MP314 | Nkangala | Belfast | 4,736 |
| Emalahleni Local Municipality | MP312 | Nkangala | eMalahleni | 2,678 |
| Steve Tshwete Local Municipality | MP313 | Nkangala | Middelburg | 3,976 |
| Thembisile Hani Local Municipality | MP315 | Nkangala | Kwaggafontein | 2,384 |
| Victor Khanye Local Municipality | MP311 | Nkangala | Delmas | 1,568 |
➜ List of South African Municipalities under Administration