Emalahleni (previously known as Witbank) is a small city situated in the Highveld heartland of Mpumalanga Province. The name ‘Witbank’ is Afrikaans for ‘white ridge’, and was named after a white sandstone outcrop in 1890. The city was renamed Emalahleni in 2006.
Witbank was established as a settlement in 1890 when farmers settled in the Highveld area. In 1894, the railway was extended from Pretoria, which allowed the coalfields in the area to be mined successfully.
The town grew from a mining camp into a city and was proclaimed as such in 1903. Witbank was also known for its steel manufacturing and power generation, and today it is the energy centre of South Africa. It is known as the largest coal producing town in Africa and almost 75 000 million tons of coal are mined annually here. The town boasts some 22 mines in the region, as well as several power stations in close proximity.
Visitors to Emalahleni can enjoy a range of activities such as watersports at Witbank Dam, exploring the 900 hectares of Witbank Nature Reserve and performance art at the Witbank Cultural Centre.