DISTRICT MPUMALANGA...2020/06/26 · With a GDP of R 101 billion in 2018 (up from R 48.2 billion in 2008), the Gert Sibande District Municipality contributed 27.68% to the Mpumalanga

PROFILE: GERT SIBANDE DISTRICT 1

Gert Sibande, the largest District in Mpumalanga, covering almost half of the province's geographic area. Apart from featuring the largest land area within the Province, the District has diversified economy that has a largest undermining complex in world and largest agricultural sector, and is home to major industrial complexes associated with the petro-chemical industry (SASOL).

GERT SIBANDE DISTRICT MPUMALANGA

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CONTENT

1. Executive Summary ..................................................................................................... 4

2. Intoduction: Brief Overview ......................................................................................... 6

2.1 Location ......................................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Historical perspective ..................................................................................................... 7

2.3 Spatial Status ................................................................................................................. 7

3. Social Development Profile ......................................................................................... 9

3.1 Key Social Demographics .............................................................................................. 9

3.1.1 Population ........................................................................................................... 9

3.1.2 Race, Gender and Age ..................................................................................... 10

3.1.3 Households ....................................................................................................... 11

3.2 Health profile ................................................................................................................ 11

3.3 COVID-19 .................................................................................................................... 12

3.3.1 Quarantine Facilities Available and Assessed ................................................... 13

3.3.2 Community Screening and Testing ................................................................... 14

3.4 Poverty Dimensions ..................................................................................................... 14

3.4.1 Distribution ........................................................................................................ 14

3.4.2 Inequality .......................................................................................................... 15

3.4.3 Employment/Unemployment ............................................................................. 15

3.4.4 Crime ................................................................................................................ 16

3.4.5 Education and Skills profile ............................................................................... 17

4. Drivers of the Economy ............................................................................................. 18

4.1 Structure of the economy ............................................................................................. 18

4.1.1 Primary Sector .................................................................................................. 19

4.1.2 Secondary Sector ............................................................................................. 19

4.1.3 Tertiary Sector .................................................................................................. 19

5. Service Delivery ......................................................................................................... 20

5.1 Water and sanitation .................................................................................................... 20

5.2 Human settlements ...................................................................................................... 21

5.3 Electricity...................................................................................................................... 21

5.4 Waste Management ..................................................................................................... 21

5.5 Transport...................................................................................................................... 22

6. Governance and Management .................................................................................. 23

6.1 Municipal performance ................................................................................................. 23

6.2 Municipal Capacity ....................................................................................................... 24

6.3 Traditional Affairs Governance ..................................................................................... 24


7. Projects to Diversify and Grow People and the Economy ...................................... 25

7.1 Social Development Projects........................................................................................ 25

7.2 Spatial Development .................................................................................................... 25

7.3 Infrastructure Projects .................................................................................................. 27

7.4 Economic Projects ....................................................................................................... 28

7.5 Environmental forecast................................................................................................. 28

8. Key Recommendations .............................................................................................. 29


1. Executive Summary

INFOGRAPHIC ABOUT THE DISTRICT ON THIS PAGE


Gert Sibande District Municipality is (GSDM) one of the three district municipalities located in the Mpumalanga Province. It is bordered by the Ehlanzeni District Municipality to the north-east and Nkangala District Municipality to the north, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State Provinces to the south, Swaziland to the east, and Gauteng Province to the west. The District is the largest of the three Districts in the Mpumalanga Province at 31 841 km², covering 40% of the Mpumalanga Province’s total land mass of 76 495 km². It is comprised of seven local municipalities: Govan Mbeki, Chief Albert Luthuli, Msukaligwa, Dipaleseng, Mkhondo, Lekwa and Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme.

The district has strategic economical national roads that pass through it, including the

N11, which goes through to the N2 in KwaZulu-Natal, the N17 from Gauteng passing

through to Swaziland, and the N3 from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal.

The size of the population in the district was estimated at 1 122 590 in 2019, with an

average grown rate of 1.1% per annum between 2009 and 2019. This makes the

District the smallest amongst the three in terms of population size.

In Gert Sibande, the share of the population below the lower-bound poverty line has

deteriorated over the last couple of years to 45.1% in 2017, making it the second

highest of the 3 Districts in the province. The total number of people below the lower-

bound poverty line was high at 496 921 in 2017, with Mkhondo having the highest

number.

Govan Mbeki is the largest contributor to the economy of the GSDM at 49% of the total

GDP followed by Msukaligwa and Lekwa at 15.5% and 10.5%, respectively. The

mining and manufacturing sectors are strong economic drivers in the District and have

a significant presence in Govan Mbeki LM. The service-related sectors of trade,

transport, finance and community services are dominant economic drivers in Lekwa

and Msukaligwa.

Across the Mpumalanga Province, there are 271 confirmed COVID-19 positive cases

as at 13 June 2020, with 116 recoveries and one death. Gert Sibande District recorded

its first positive case in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality on 17 March 2020. As at

12 June 2020, GSDM had reported 81 positive cases with 40 recoveries.


2. Intoduction: Brief Overview

2.1 Location

Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) is one of the three District Municipalities

that constitute Mpumalanga Province. GSDM is bordered by the Ehlanzeni District

Municipality to the north-east and Nkangala District Municipality to the north, KwaZulu-

Natal and the Free State to the south, Swaziland to the east, and Gauteng to the west.

It is one of the districts with the highest number of local municipalities, which total

seven in number. The district comprises the local municipalities of Chief Albert Luthuli

LM, Dipaleseng LM, Dr. Pixley Isaka Ka Seme LM, Govan Mbeki LM, Lekwa LM,

Mkhondo LM and Msukaligwa LM.

MAP OF THE DISTRICT


2.2 Historical perspective

Gert Sibande is the largest district in Mpumalanga, covering almost half of the

province's geographic area. Apart from featuring the largest land area within the

Province, the district has a diversified economy with the largest undermining complex

in the world. It also has the largest agricultural sector, and is home to major industrial

complexes associated with the petro-chemical industry (SASOL). The area between

Carolina, Bethal and Ermelo produces the most sheep and wool in South Africa.

Gert Sibande District Municipality was named after Richard Gert Sibande (born 1907

near Ermelo, Mpumalanga, died in 1987) who was a South African political activist.

He was one of the co-accused to stand trial in the treason trial of 1956-61 alongside

Nelson Mandela and 154 others. Richard Gert Sibande was born in the district and

spent a large part of his life there.

2.3 Spatial Status

Spatially, the district covers an area of 31 841 km2 and has several urban centres

spread across the seven local municipalities as follows:

• Chief Albert Luthuli LM: Carolina, Badplaas, Eerstehoek, Lochiel;

• Dipaleseng LM: Balfour, Dasville, Greylingstad, Grootvlei, Val, Willemsdal;

• Govan Mbeki LM: Secunda, Bethal, Bethel East, Bethelrand, Charl Cilliers,

Evander, Kinross, Leandra, Leslie, Roodebank, Springbokdraai, Trichardt,

Winkelhaak;

• Lekwa LM: Standerton, Bettiesdam, Elmtree, Holmdene, Maizefield, Meyerville,

Morgenzon, Platrand, Roberts Drift, Stanfield Hill;

• Mkhondo LM: Piet Retief (Mkhondo), Amsterdam, Anysspruit, Berbice, Bergen,

Braunchweig, Commondale, Dirkiesdorp, Iswepe, Moolman, Panbult, Wittenberg;

• Msukaligwa LM: Ermelo, Bankkop, Breyten, Camden, Chrissiesmeer, Davel,

Estancia, Holban, Kafferspruit, Lothair, Sheepmoor, Warburton;

• Dr. Pixley ka Seme LM: Volksrus (Seme), Amersfoort, Latemanek, Perdekop,

Wakkerstroom.


The western portion of the district mostly comprises typical highveld vegetation and

climate, with the eastern end of the district being more mountainous and characterised

by extensive forestry and rural settlements and villages (Albert Luthuli and Mkhondo

Local Municipalities). The concentration of conservation and protected areas also

increases towards the east. Apart from the east-west orientated N17/N2 corridor

running through the GSDM, there are also two main north-south routes running

through the District, namely; the N3 freeway to the west, and the N11 route running

through the central part of the District.

Gert Sibande District Area

The majority of land under state ownership (excluding conservation areas) is

concentrated within the north-eastern extents of the district, and generally coincides

with former homeland area of KaNgwane. Many of the other state owned land parcels

in the other parts of the district comprise nature reserves and in some instances land

belonging to Eskom for electricity generation purposes (current or future).

There are seventeen Traditional Councils in the Gert Sibande District. Out of these, a

total of seven Traditional Leaders participate in the Municipal Councils. The district

has ensured that all matters relating to Traditional and Cultural Affairs are budgeted

for in order to maintain and strengthen the relationship between the District

Municipality and the Local House of Traditional Leadership and has undertaken to

support Ummemo and other traditional and cultural events held annually hosted by

Amakhosi.


3. Social Development Profile

3.1 Key Social Demographics

3.1.1 Population

The population trends and population growth directly and indirectly impact on the

demand for services rendered by government. Gert Sibande’s population grew from

1 012 069 people in 2009 to 1 122 590 people in 2019.

Source: IHS Markit Regional eXplorer version 1803

The table below shows population growth trends in Gert Sibande District over a ten

year period between 2009 and 2019. The graph shows a population growth rate of

1.1% per annum over the ten year period.


0,3%

0,8%0,9% 1,0% 1,0% 1,1% 1,1% 1,1% 1,1% 1,1% 1,1%

0,0%

0,5%

1,0%

1,5%

2,0%

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Gert Sibande Population growth: 2009-2019

National Total Mpumalanga Gert Sibande


3.1.2 Race, Gender and Age

Black Africans constitute 92% of the total population in the Gert Sibande District in

2016. The remaining 8% was made of Whites (7%) and Coloureds and Indians/Asian,

who constituted 1% each. Females constituted 50% of the population in the district.

Race and Gender Distribution in Gert Sibande

The Median age of the population in the district is 25 years old, with those aged

between 0-19 years of age constituting 39% of the total population. The working age

population of the district (20 – 59 years of age) constitute a further 53% of the

population. This means that Gert Sibande District has an extremely young population

overall as those aged 60 years old and beyond constitute less than 10% of the

population in the District.

Age Distribution in Gert Sibande District

The 2019 Population structure (pyramid) below confirms statistics that the Gert

Sibande District has an extremely young population overall.


3.1.3 Households

The number of households in Gert Sibande has increased from 273 490 in 2011 to

333 811 households (almost 60 000 households increase) in 2016, representing 27%

of the total number of households in the province. Household size declined from 3.8

to 3.4 people during the same period.

In 2016, a total of 2 088 households were child-headed households in Gert Sibande

District, constituting one quarter of child-headed households in Mpumalanga province

overall. Slightly more than 10% of the child-headed households lived in informal

dwellings (shacks) according to the Community Survey 2016.

A total of 130 567 (39.1%) of the households in Gert Sibande were women-headed

households. This is about the same across the province.

3.2 Health profile

In total, the Gert Sibande District had a total of 90 Health care facilities in 2017, which

include 57 clinics, 19 Community Health Facilities, 9 District and Regional hospitals

and 5 “other” hospitals. The largest number of facilities are concentrated in the Chief

Albert Luthuli LM, with a total of 18 clinics, 4 Community Health Centres, and 2 district

hospitals. Dipaleseng LM had the lowest number of health facilities, totalling only 3

clinics and 2 community health centres. It was also the only locality without a hospital.

8,0% 6,0% 4,0% 2,0% 0,0% 2,0% 4,0% 6,0% 8,0%

00-0405-0910-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-74

75+

Population structure, Total, 2019DC30 Gert Sibande vs. National

DC30 Gert Sibande

South Africa

Male Female



As a result, the residents of Dipaleseng access level 1 services from Heidelberg in the

Gauteng province, which is located 30 km away.

Source: Gert Sibande District Municipality (DC30) District Health Plan 2019/20-2021/22

The leading cause of death amongst the 25-64 age group is HIV and Tuberculosis,

being the cause of death for 40% of the people in the age group during the period

2011 – 2015. Among those aged 15-24, injury was the leading cause of death at 35%

during the same period.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) was the leading cause of death among the 65+

age group being the cause of death for 73% during the 2011 – 2015 period. Overall,

NCD (37%) and HIV and TB (29%) were the two leading causes of death in the district

during this period.

Source: Gert Sibande District Municipality (DC30) District Health Plan 2019/20-2021/22

3.3 COVID-19

As at 17 June 2020, the Gert Sibande District had a total 106 positive cases, of which

58 were still active cases, 48 were recoveries and zero deaths.


• As at 17 JUNE 2020, MP had 345 diagnosed cases of COVID-19.

• MP had 138 recovered cases (40%; 138/345).

• Gert Sibande District had the second highest number of cases in MP (31%;

108/345).

• MP had 1 COVID-19 related death (in Ehlanzeni District).

3.3.1 Quarantine Facilities Available and Assessed

District Quarantin

e site Number of beds

Number of people

quarantined

Number of people

tested positive

Total no remaining

Number released

from quarantine

Gert Sibande DM

Aventura Resort Badplaas

160 104 0 55 49

TOTAL 160 104 0 55 49

• There is only 1 quarantine facility assessed and available for use in the Gert

Sibande District.

• In total, 160 beds are available in the district.

• A total of 104 people have been quarantined.

• A total of 49 have been released and 55 remain in the quarantine facility.

345

108 106131

206

4758

101

138

6048

30

1 1 0 00

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Mpumalanga Ehlanzeni Gert Sibande Nkangala

Num

ber

of

cases

District

Cases

Active cases

Recoveries

Deaths


3.3.2 Community Screening and Testing

Gert Sibande

District

Number of

screening

and

testing

teams

Number

of people

screened

for the

day

Average

people

screened

per team

Cumulative

number of

people

screened

Number of

people

tested/

referred for

testing for

the day

Cumulative

number of

people

tested/

referred

Test

Results

(Number

Positive)

Chief Albert 20 840 42 110 605 0 0 0

Dipaleseng 2 120 60 25 024 0 0 0

Govan Mbeki 0 0 0 134 067 0 0 0

Lekwa 0 0 0 60 689 0 0 0

Mkhondo 0 0 0 102 410 0 0 0

Msukaligwa 14 1618 116 77 813 0 0 0

Dr Pixley ka

Isaka Seme 0 0 72 75 899 0 0 0

GSDM TOTAL 36 2578 290 586 507 0 0 0

There are 36 screening teams across the Gert Sibande District. These are only in

three of the seven local municipalities. In total, 586 507 people were screened in the

district.

3.4 Poverty Dimensions

3.4.1 Distribution

The share of the population below the lower-bound poverty line has deteriorated over

the last couple of years to 46.5% in 2019 in the district, making it the second highest

of the 3 districts in the province. The total number of people below the lower-bound

poverty line was high at 496 920 in 2017, with Govan Mbeki having the highest number

at 111 815 persons.

Poverty rate per municipal area


3.4.2 Inequality

According to IHS Markit, The Gini coefficient for Gert Sibande District (2019) is 0.60,

indicating that there are severe levels of inequality or severe income gap.

3.4.3 Employment/Unemployment

Mpumalanga’s unemployment rate was the second highest (worst) among the 9

provinces. Gert Sibande’s unemployment rate was the lowest among all the districts

in Mpumalanga at 27.5% in 2019. Youth unemployment rate was at 38.4% in 2016

according to the Community Survey (2016).

In 2018, Msukaligwa had the lowest unemployment rate in the district with a record of

25.1%. Dipaleseng had the highest unemployment rate of 37.9% with the smallest

population.

Average annual employment growth was high in the 2011-2014 period and it

decreased in the 2015-2018 period resulting in the number of unemployed people

increasing in the district.


In 2019, the three leading industries (mining, manufacturing and community services)

in terms of providing employment accounted for a combined 59%% of the employed

population. The pie-chart below provides details of employment by industry in Gert

Sibande District

In the Ehlanzeni District, the economic sectors that recorded the largest number of

employment in 2019 were mining (26%), manufacturing (18%), community services

(15%) and trade (14%). As can be seen from the graph, the mining sector with a total

of 102 000 (22.2%) employs the second highest number of people relative to the rest

of the sectors. The electricity sector with 3 100 (0.7%) is the sector that employs the

least number of people in Ehlanzeni District Municipality, followed by the mining sector

with 7 760 (1.7%) people employed.

3.4.4 Crime

Within the Gert Sibande District, overall crime decreased at an average annual rate of

2.85% during the period 2007/2008 to 2017/2018,. Violent crime decreased by 3.69%

since 2007/2008, while property crimes increased by 1.14% between the 2007/2008

and 2017/2018 financial years.

1 Agriculture3%

2 Mining26%

3 Manufacturing18%

4 Electricity6%

5 Construction3%

6 Trade14%

7 Transport7%

8 Finance8%

9 Community services

15%

GVA-R Sectoral compositionDC30 Gert Sibande, 2019



From the chart above, it is evident that property crime is a major problem relative to

violent crime. The crimes included in this index are as follows: arson, malicious

damage to property, crimen injuria, burglary at residential premises, burglary at

business premises, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle, theft out of or from motor

vehicle, stock-theft, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, drug-related crime,

driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, all theft not mentioned elsewhere,

commercial crime and shoplifting.

3.4.5 Education and Skills profile

In 2019, the total number of people without any form of schooling in Mpumalanga

province was 550 600 and those considered functionally literate (grade 7 and higher)

were 2 530 607. This makes the total percentage of literacy 82.1% of the total

population.

In the Gert Sibande district, the total number of illiterate people was 140 766 in 2019.

Those considered functionally literate were 621 415, or 81.5% of the total population

of the district. Those with matric or higher totalled 258 674, or 41.6% of the total

functionally literate population.

The following table indicates the number of schools and learners registered in the

municipality in 2017. There were 245 015 learners across 492 schools and 9 677

educators across the district in 2017.

0

50

100

150

200

250

Overall, Violent and Property Crime Index Gert Sibande, 2007/2008-2017/2018

OverallCrime Index Violent Crime Index Property Crime Index



Schools Educators Learners

Gert Sibande 492 9 677 245 015

MP 17 68 37 225 962 148

SA 19 559 317 152 7 877 173

Gert Sibande’s grade 12 pass rate has been on a steady incline since 2017 improving

from 76.5% in 2017 to 79,3% in 2019. The 2019 results placed the district at the third

position out of the 4 education districts in Mpumalanga. Lekwa had the highest grade

12 pass rate in the District and Mkhondo the lowest. The biggest improvement among

the 7 municipalities in 2019 was achieved by Govan Mbeki with a 6.8% improvement

compared to 2018. Chief Albert Luthuli also improved from 77.7% in 2018 to 81.6% in

2019. Mkhondo is the only municipality in the Mpumalanga that achieved below 70%

and the lowest pass rate in the province.

Only one public tertiary institution exists in the district, namely; the Gert Sibande TVET

College. There are, however, six campuses of this institution located in the towns of

Standerton, Perdekop, Evander, Balfour, Ermelo, Sibanesetfu.

4. Drivers of the Economy

4.1 Structure of the economy

With a GDP of R 101 billion in 2018 (up from R 48.2 billion in 2008), the Gert Sibande

District Municipality contributed 27.68% to the Mpumalanga Province’s total GDP of

R 363 billion in 2018. The District ranked lowest relative to all the regional economies

in the Mpumalanga Province.

The Gert Sibande District Municipality contributed a meagre 2.06% to the GDP of

South Africa, which had a total GDP of R 4.87 trillion in 2018 (as measured in nominal

or current prices).



In 2018, the Gert Sibande District achieved an annual growth rate of 0.32%, which is

a very similar GDP growth rate of the Mpumalanga Province at 0.12%, but lower than

that of South Africa, where the 2018 GDP growth rate was 0.79%. Similar to the short-

term growth rate of 2018, the longer-term average growth rate for Gert Sibande

(1.23%) is also slightly lower than that of South Africa (1.50%). The economic growth

in Gert Sibande peaked in 2010 at 4.30%. It is expected that Gert Sibande District

Municipality will grow at an average annual rate of 1.75% from 2018 to 2023, which is

comparable to the average annual growth rate of Mpumalanga Province and South

Africa, expected to grow at 1.40% and 1.50%, respectively.

4.1.1 Primary Sector

Mining is the biggest contributor to the economic growth of the District. It was,

however, on the decline between the 2014 and 2017 period, declining from 27.6% in

2014 to 26.8% in 2017.

4.1.2 Secondary Sector

In the secondary sector, manufacturing, which is also the second biggest contributor

to the District’s economy has been on a decline, reducing its contribution to the GVA

of the Districts from 19.3% to 18.8% between 2014 and 2017.

4.1.3 Tertiary Sector

The service related sectors of trade, transport, finance and community services are

dominant economic drivers in the local municipalities of Lekwa and Msukaligwa within

the Gert Sibande District.


Economic contribution per Local Municipality

5. Service Delivery

5.1 Water and sanitation

According to the Community Survey 2016, 88.8% of the population in Gert Sibande

access water from a regional or local service provider. Of these, about half (49%)

access piped water from inside the yard.

About two-thirds of the population have access to flush or chemical toilets in the

District. On the other hand, 2.6% do not have access to any toilet facilities. Flush toilets

constitute the largest proportion of toilets among those that have access to toilets in

the District.


5.2 Human settlements

According to the Community Survey 2016, 13.4% of the total number of households

in the district (333 811) live in informal dwelling or shacks. Houses rather than flats in

the backyard or traditional huts constitute the largest proportion of type of dwelling at

67% in the district.

5.3 Electricity

According to the Community Survey 2016, only 9.6% of the population in the district

does not have access to electricity. Among those with access to electricity, more than

three-quarters (76%) make use of in-house prepaid meter system. Another significant

percentage of the population makes use of in-house conventional meters. One of the

challenges recorded is that the municipalities in the district are exceeding their Notified

Maximum Demand (NMD), which is the highest level of electrical demand monitored

in a particular period, usually for a month.

5.4 Waste Management

According to the Community Survey 2016, 57.4% of the population in the Gert Sibande

District are getting refuse removal from either a local authority, private company or by

community members. The largest proportion (52%) are serviced by a service provider

on a regular basis.


5.5 Transport

The district roads are in a bad state due to high volumes of coal haulage trucks that

transport coal to the four power stations within and beyond its jurisdictional area, thus

inflating the maintenance expenditure of all three spheres of government on roads

across the district. National, provincial and municipal roads construction and

maintenance is joint effort from three spheres of government, hence the significance

of a joint alliance to be established towards addressing matters of common interest.

The National Roads like N17, N11 and N2 have undergone reconstruction which

improves the mobility of transport as the link for the District with the neighbouring

provinces and Swaziland.

The following are some of the key issues that need to be addressed with regards to

the road conditions in the District:

• Introduction of ring roads in order to link the national roads without affecting the

Municipal roads.

• SANRAL to take over the National roads passing through towns since the

Municipality has minimal funds on maintenance.

• Reconstruction of roads instead of pothole patching to increase the life span of

roads and to do road overlays to protect the existing surfacing.

• Upgrading of gravel roads to paved roads.

• Construction of foot bridging in order to connect functional areas and prevent

accidents.

• Provision of drop-off points for public transport to prevent traffic jam and accidents.

• Mobilise assistance from local corporates for maintenance and reconstruction of

road infrastructure.


6. Governance and Management

6.1 Municipal performance

Gert Sibande District’s overall audit performance over the last 4 financial years has

been mixed, ranging from Qualified with findings in 2015/16 Financially Unqualified in

the 2015/16 Financial Year to Unqualified with no findings in 2018/19. The District

Municipality itself has been very consistent with Unqualified audit utcomes since

2016/17.

Major challenges are in the local municipalities of Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme,

Dipaleseng and Lekwa. These municipalities have in the most recent audit period

obtained disclaimed audit opinions. Msukaligwa received adverse audit opinion while

Govan Mbeki’s was still outstanding at the time of this report.

MUNICIPALITY 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16

Gert Sibande

District

Unqualified with

no findings

Unqualified with

no findings

Unqualified with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Chief Albert

Luthuli

Unqualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Dr Pixley Ka

Isaka Seme

Disclaimed with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Dipaleseng Disclaimed with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Lekwa Disclaimed with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Mkhondo Qualified with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Msukaligwa Adverse with

findings

Adverse with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Qualified with

findings

Govan Mbeki Outstanding AFS Disclaimed with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

Unqualified with

findings

In terms of revenue sources, only 4.39% of the District’s revenue is generated locally,

while the overall 95.61% is received from the National Government in the form of

Equitable Share and other Grants from the National Government.


6.2 Municipal Capacity

Many municipalities across the country have simply not been able to perform their

functions adequately. In the worst-case scenario, Section 139 of the Constitution has

had to be invoked as part of provincial government’s intervention in these

municipalities. Three municipalities in the district are currently under Section 139(5)(a)

which provides for the development of Financial Recovery Plans. The affected

municipalities are Lekwa, Govan Mbeki and Msukaligwa

From a financial capacity point of view, it is critical to note that the Gert Sibande District

Municipality is currently 98% dependent on grants for operational income. Chief Albert

Luthuli and Mkhondo LMs also have the highest levels of dependency for operational

income, with 62% and 58% dependency, respectively. Lekwa LM has the lowest level

of dependency at 14%, followed by Govan Mbeki at 18%.

6.3 Traditional Affairs Governance

The Province of Mpumalanga has a total of 2 Kings, but none of them are located in

the Gert Sibande District. Within the district, however, there are 17 Senior Traditional

Leaders (Chiefs) and 107 Headmen and Headwomen.

Province District Locals Senior Traditional

Leader Headman /

Headwomen

Mpumalanga

Kings = 2

Gert

Sibande

Chief Albert Luthuli LM 12 79

Mkhondo LM 4 25

Pixley Ka Seme LM 1 3

Total 17 107


7. Projects to Diversify and Grow People and the Economy

7.1 Social Development Projects

Working together with a variety of stakeholders in the sports, arts and cultural sector,

the Gert Sibande District has developed and is continuously implementing Sport and

Recreation Strategy. This is the primary guiding document for District Programmes,

and includes the following:

• GSDM Mayoral Cup (SAMSRA Games)

• GSDM Gert Sibande Cup

• Promotional Play Off

• Municipal Official Games

• Regional School Championship (Athletics)

• GSDM Marathon (Road Running, Track & Field and Cross Country)

• Cultural Festival

• Disability Sport

The district, however, does have a challenge with facilitating the support for Youth to

be able to safely and effectively participate in Sports, Arts and Cultural activities. The

major challenge is with regards to inadequate and dilapidated facilities within the

communities. The Sector Department responsible for promotion and support of these

programmes has very limited capacity and resources. The Local Municipalities within

the District also have huge backlogs in terms of provision of basic services, hence little

is provided for development and upgrading of these facilities.

7.2 Spatial Development

The Spatial Development Framework of the Gert Sibande District is represented in the

Map below:


In terms of the Map, The spatial economy of the district may be broadly divided as

follows:

• Evander in the north-west has been identified as a primary Industrial Cluster.

Mining focus areas are mainly around Evander, Secunda and Leandra; around

Standerton; along the belt between Carolina-Breyten-Ermelo-Sheepmoor and

south of Amsterdam.

• The area around eMkhondo (formerly Piet Retief) town is home to large-scale

forestry activity and was identified as a Forestry Cluster.

• Balfour, Bethal, Standerton and Ermelo were identified as Agricultural Clusters.

• Generally, the western extents of the District were earmarked for extensive

commercial agriculture.

• The eastern extents of the District comprise a number of nature reserves and

conservation areas, as well as proposed conservancies. Accordingly, the area from

Carolina, Chrissiesmeer and Daggakraal eastwards up to the Swaziland border

was earmarked as the primary tourism corridor.

• The rural area to the south of Nkomazi Wilderness and Songimvelo Nature

Reserve in Albert Luthuli LM was earmarked as a subsistence farming focus area.

• Chressiesmeer-Heyshope-Wakkerstroom precincts are utilised as tourism

anchors around which to develop and promote the eastern parts of the District

(around route R33) as a Primary Tourism Corridor.


• Development of industry specific Special Economic Zones/Economic Clusters

throughout the District in order to unlock the industrial development potential of

existing towns. In line with the Mpumalanga SDF and the Mpumalanga Vision 2030

Strategy, this will be done in accordance with the following sectors:

o Agricultural Cluster

o Forestry Cluster

o Industrial Cluster

o Enhancement of business activities (formal and informal) in the Central

Business Districts. There are certain identified nodal points in the District,

with consolidation of business activities around Thusong Centres and modal

transfer facilities in rural area.

7.3 Infrastructure Projects

Gert Sibande District’s Infrastructure projects are reflected in the Table below:

Project Details

The Upgrading and

Refurbishment of Balfour /

Siyathemba Bulk Water Supply

Scheme Phase 2a

• The scheme will improve the security of water supply to residents

of the greater Balfour area. “Balfour, Siyathemba, Greylingstad,

Willemsdal, Nthorwane and Grootvlei

Construction of Bulk Water

Scheme of Sheepmoor Bulk

Water Supply Scheme Phase 2

• The project goal is to provide safe and sustainable water for the

residents of Sheepmoor community, using creative ideas in

creating jobs to benefit the community.

Lusushwane Bulk Water Supply

Scheme Phase 2 and 3

• The project is aimed to increase potable water supply to

communities in Lusushwane area to benefit Bettysgoed, Lochiel,

Aankomst, Harteeskop and Houtbosch communities.

Lusushwane Bulk Water Supply

Scheme Electrification Phase

4a&4b

• The aim of this project is to provide the bulk electrical supplies to

the main pump station and upgrades in bulk electrical supplies at

the two booster pump stations.

Upgrading of the Balfour

WWTW

• The primary objective of the project is to upgrade the Balfour

WWTW to be capable of handling effluent produced by the

existing waterborne sewerage system serving Balfour and future

requirements analysed to the 2038 demand horizon.

Construction of Reservoirs at

Redhill and Glenmore

• The construction of these reservoirs forms part of a scheme

intended to serve the current population of 47 884 and 24 095 at

Empuluzi and Methula respectively by providing adequate

storage for purified water.

Refurbishment of Methula WTW • The primary objective of the project is to refurbish the Mayflower

WTW to be capable of purifying the water and producing clean

water for the communities that benefit from this WTW. The

current population to benefit is 47 884 and 24 095 at Empuluzi

and Methula respectively by providing purified water.


7.4 Economic Projects

Details of Gert Sibande District’s Economic projects are as follows:

• The Mkhondo Agri-Hub in Gert Sibande is completed and partially operational.

The Agri-Hub will be fully operational in the next financial year. The focus of the

Agri-Park is primarily the processing of ‘agricultural products’ (and the mix of ‘non-

agricultural’ industries may be low or non-existent). The Agri-Park approach will

include the selection and training of smallholder farmers, as well as selecting farms

per province for the placement, incubation and training of unemployed agricultural

graduates and other agro-entrepreneurs.

• Retiefville Integrated Human Settlement is planned for the Mkhondo Local

Municipality and will yield approximately 620 housing opportunities.

• Secunda West Integrated Human Settlement in Govan Mbeki Municipality will

yield approximately 9 000 housing opportunities.

7.5 Environmental forecast

The impact of climate change is a reality in the district, and it cuts across all climate-

sensitive sectors including the agriculture and water sectors. The changes in the

climate have led to a decrease in food production and therefore putting pressure on

the existing sectors.

The recent severe drought has meant that the traditional sources of water, i.e., dams

and underground water cannot suffice. In the Sheepmoor and Warburton areas,

boreholes have dried up and only mud was being pumped out. There is a need to plan

for recurrence of such severe phenomenon in the future. Budgets must be made

available for water carting and other means of conveying water to communities.

The changing climate patterns (i.e. Climate change) have also increased hazard levels

to the extreme. This has severe impact to human lives, animal species, economy and

the environment. The impact of these incidents also stretches disaster relief resources

and efforts to the extreme and the municipalities alone cannot cope using their own

resources, hence the need for frequent external support.

The following are some of the hazards prevailing within the district:


• Veld and structural fires

• Flash floods

• Motor Vehicles Accidents

• Hazmat incidents

• Lightning and storm incidents

The following are some challenges which are existing within the district:

• Non-establishment of the disaster management function by local municipalities

within their administration

• Insufficient capacity, poor coordination and implementation of the Disaster

Management Key Performance Areas and Enablers at local municipality’s level.

• Limited funding allocation for the disaster management functions at local

municipalities.

• Key Strategic approach / issues to be addressed to improve the Disaster

Management function within the district:

The following are key strategic and sustainable approaches that need to be addressed

by the district and local municipalities, respectively, in order to improve the disaster

management function throughout the district.

• Capacitating the district municipality to be able to support local municipal disaster

management centres.

• Identify and implement capacity building programmes.

• Establishment and capacitating local municipal disaster management centres/

function by local municipalities.

• Develop and enter into agreements with local municipalities on specific

deliverables regarding the disaster management function.

8. Key Recommendations

In order to support the development of the Gert Sibande District, it is recommended

that the whole of government and the private sector must support the municipalities

across the district in the following strategic areas:


• Strengthen the IDP to prioritise projects that are immediate and implementable in

the short to medium term. The current IDP lists a number of projects that may not

add to the bigger picture, may not lead to broader district development zone.

• Improve bulk infrastructure investment.

• Leverage on the investor and sponsorship opportunities that exist in the areas of

mining, forestry and agriculture.

• Sharing of lessons from districts with similar areas of economic development.

• Develop of viable strategies to attract investments.


Documents

DISTRICT MPUMALANGA...2020/06/26 · With a GDP of R 101 billion in 2018 (up from R 48.2 billion in 2008), the Gert Sibande District Municipality contributed 27.68% to the Mpumalanga