Brief introduction to Govan Mbeki Local Municipality
Govan Mbeki Local Municipality was established in the year 2000 with the amalgamation of the following Towns; Secunda, Bethal, Kinross, Evander, EMbalenhle, Leandra, Trichardt, Emzinoni and Charl Cilliers. Map of Govan Mbeki Municipality
The municipality has a population of approximately 480 000 people, most of whom reside in the various urban areas.
Govan Mbeki has the most diversified economy within the Gert Sibande District, dominated by the petrochemical industry (the SASOL II and III complexes) and coal and gold mining. Govan Mbeki has the largest underground coal mining complex in the world which makes it an important strategic area within the national context.
Locality
- Govan Mbeki is one of 7 local municipalities under
the jurisdiction of the Gert Sibande District Municipality.
- Govan Mbeki Municipality is situated in the
southwestern part of Mpumalanga, abutting Gauteng, approximately 150km east of
Johannesburg and approximately 300km southwest of Nelspruit.
- Govan Mbeki Municipality is located in the north west
of Gert Sibande District Municipality of Mpumalanga Province.
- The municipality is strategically placed between KwaZulu Natal, Free State, Gauteng and Swaziland and is linked by national roads and railway line.
Area
- Govan Mbeki is 2958km² in extent
- This equates to 9.3% of the Gert Sibande land mass.
Boundaries and Neighbours
- Govan Mbeki Local Municipality is bounded by Msukaligwa Local Municipality to the east, Lekwa Local Municipality to the south, Dipaleseng Local Municipality and Gauteng Province ( Sedibeng Municipality) to the west and Nkangala District Municipality to the north.
Key Features
- As far as its regional context is concerned, Govan
Mbeki is situated on the Gauteng/Richards Bay Corridor formed by the National
Road N17 and the Richards Bay rail line running through the area in an
east-west direction.
- Rail routes run through Govan Mbeki from Gauteng to
KwaZulu-Natal but are used for the transportation of goods only.
- The main land use in the area is farming the majority
of which is commercial farming.
- The petro-chemical industry is the key industry in
the area with SASOL’s being the majority investor in this sector.
- Our airport, rail and road links will cater for most
of your needs.
- The area can be described as mostly
agricultural/rural, with 3 urban conglomerations situated within it, namely
Leandra/Lebohang on the western edge, the Greater Secunda (Trichardt, Evander,
Kinross and Secunda/eMbalenhle) conurbation in the central part and
Bethal/eMzinoni on its eastern edge.
- Agriculture, grazing, forestry, mining, industry and urban development impact on biodiversity whether it’s through mechanical clearance of existing vegetation or pesticides and pollution entering the ecosystem.
Distance schedule to Secunda (Govan Mbeki Municipality - Seat of Administration):
| Destination |
Time |
Mode of Travel |
| Johannesburg |
150 minutes |
Private car, Public taxi, Bus |
| Pretoria |
150 minutes |
Private car, Public taxi, Bus |
| Nelspruit |
210 minutes |
Private car, Public taxi, Bus |
| Middleburg |
120 minutes |
Private car, Public taxi |
| Witbank |
120 minutes |
Private car, Public taxi |
| Ermelo |
120 minutes |
Private car, Public taxi, Bus |
| Standerton |
45 minutes |
Private car, Public taxi |
Related Links:
Maps
Places & Activities of Interest
B & B / Restaurants
