A unique guide to business and investment in Mpumalanga, the 2025/26 edition of Mpumalanga Business is the 16th issue of this successful publication that since its launch in 2008 has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the province.
Global Africa Network is pleased to carry a message from the CEO of the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) in which the investment climate in this resource-rich province is outlined. Ongoing work on infrastructure such as roads, water works, schools and hospitals, supported
by the establishment of one of South Africa’s newest and most dynamic universities, makes this an attractive destination for investors in a wide variety of sectors. In this journal MEGA also presents the Mpumalanga Trade & Investment Profile, a 12-page booklet which surveys the provincial economy and gives specific details about what investment opportunities are available.
The creation of the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency is a sign of the times, and a further invitation to investors to consider this forward-looking province. The rapid development of the province’s first wind farm, Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni, is covered in full in this edition, as are other developments in the energy field. The latest updates in all the most important sectors of the provincial economy are covered, including news that Sasol has a plan to avoid a looming “gas cliff”.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com. Updated information on Mpumalanga is also available through our monthly e-newsletters, which you can subscribe to online at https://www.globalafricanetwork.com/ and https://www.southafricanbusiness.co.za/, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the new addition our list of publications, The Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.
SPECIAL FEATUREOutdoor
SPECIAL FEATUREOutdoor recreation is an Mpumalanga speciality.government has granted the province thedesignation to establish the SEZ which will cover673ha and focus on agro-processing. Situatedas it is within the Maputo Corridor and close toMozambique and Swaziland, the SEZ will attracttax breaks and incentives. Other targeted sectorsare logistics, automotive and renewable energy.Stainless steel, gold, chemicals, dairy andbeef, agriculture in many varieties, huge forestryplantations and processing plants – these arealso distinctive characteristics of the “Place of theRising Sun”.Mpumalanga is also the province where six ofthe nine gates are located that allow access tothe Kruger National Park, one of South Africa’sgreatest tourism assets. The tourism sector is oneof the key strengths of the provincial economy.Several infrastructure investment projects in thetourism sector have been put forward by theMpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA).MEGA is an equity investor in severalMpumalanga concerns, including Afrimat,Highveld Fruit Packers, Kangwane Anthracite,Loopspruit Winery and Tekwane Lemon Farm.A major concern for provincial plannersis to diversify the economy and to grow themanufacturing sector. The MpumalangaEconomic Growth and Development Path(MEGDP) identifies beneficiation, agro-processingand the development of value chains as priorities.Various industrial parks are planned which willfocus on agriculture and forestry, mining andmetals and petrochemicals.Steel and associated manufacturingremains one of the province’s strong suitsand Mpumalanga has rich and varied mineralresources and fertile soil that support diversefarming operations, agro-processing and forestry.The province also hosts large companies inthe manufacturing sector such as MiddelburgFerrochrome and the MMC.The province’s rich agricultural produce isused by companies such as McCain, Nestléand PepsiCo and there are also pulp and paperplants (Sappi and Mondi). York Timbers andSAFCOL are other forestry companies and thesugar mills and refinery of RCL Foods (formerlyTSB Sugar) along with fertilizer facilities and textilemanufacturing concerns are all contributors tothe provincial economy.The southern half of the eastern limb of theplatinum-rich Bushveld Igneous Complex runssouth towards the towns of Lydenburg andMachadodorp. Deposits of chromite, magnetiteand vanadium in this area are the basis of theferro-alloy complex in Witbank-Middelburgand Lydenburg.The town of eMalahleni is the centre of the coalindustry. Other minerals found in the provinceinclude gold, platinum group minerals, chromite,zinc, cobalt, copper, iron and manganese.Middelburg is home to Columbus Stainless,South Africa’s only producer of stainless steel,and several big engineering works. It is about130km from Pretoria and less than three hours’drive from the Malelane Gate of the KrugerNational Park.The Kruger National Park remains theprovince’s most-visited asset but the decision byUNESCO to afford World Heritage Site status tothe Makhonjwa Mountains near Barberton willboost geological tourism to the province andsupports the efforts of the province to diversifyits offerings. Major projects to improve touristexperiences are underway at the Graskop Gorge(where a transparent lift takes tourists into thedepths of the gorge), a Skywalk is to be builtat God’s Window and a cable car is planned.The international body’s decision has also hadthe effect of expanding the curriculum at theUniversity of Mpumalanga. On the basis ofthe UNESCO ruling, UMP has a new offering ingeology as part of a BSc degree. ■MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2025/2610 PHOTO: MTPA
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