About eMalahleni

eMalahleni, still widely known by its former name Witbank, sits on the Mpumalanga Highveld and takes its isiNdebele name from the coal seams beneath it: eMalahleni means "place of coal." It is the beating heart of South Africa's coal-mining industry, ringed by collieries and Eskom power stations that supply much of the country's electricity, and mining remains the backbone of the local economy. The town grew up around the railway line linking Pretoria to Maputo, and its centre still reflects that early 20th-century mining-town layout. Witbank Dam, just outside the CBD, offers a break from the industrial landscape with boating, fishing and lakeside recreation, while the Highveld Mall anchors the town's retail and social life.

eMalahleni's spring weekends start small with the Witbank Community Market at 24 OR TAMBO Road, before the Coal city clash brings a night of entertainment to the Civic Centre's banquet hall. The long-running Dinosaur World - Witbank - Friday - 23rd October, 2026 exhibit keeps families busy at Jumbo Mall for weeks on end, while the KOTINI-DESIGNERS FASHION SHOW puts local design on the runway at Reyno Ridge. Gospel fans can look forward to the #2nd Nkangala Region Gospel Music Awards, and the season wraps with the two-day Spark Music Festival.