Spatial Challenges and Opportunities Report

The report analyzes Mpumalanga's spatial status, identifying a resource-rich province dominated by coal mining and agriculture but facing severe environmental degradation and infrastructure backlogs. Key findings highlight that while the province is a national energy hub, it suffers from poor air quality in the Highveld, critical water scarcity, and significant housing shortages. The analysis emphasizes the need for urban restructuring, agrarian transformation in rural areas, and the protection of strategic water source areas and biodiversity corridors against mining encroachment.

• The province's coal reserves are depleting rapidly, with estimates showing a decline from 28.1 Bt to 12.4 Bt.
• Air quality in the Highveld is among the poorest in South Africa, with towns such as Secunda, Ermelo, Witbank, Delmas, Balfour, Standerton, and Middleburg listed among the 15 most polluted in the country.
• Water resources are critically stressed, with the province expected to have a negative water balance by 2025. The Olifants River system is identified as one of South Africa's most stressed catchments regarding both quantity and quality.
• The province's wastewater infrastructure is in a critical state; 52% of wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) are in a critical risk position, and 51 plants are overloaded, leading to poor effluent quality.
• Mining activities pose a severe threat to biodiversity and water security, with over 60% of the province under prospecting or mining right applications. This includes threats to the Mabola protected environment and strategic water source areas.
• The province faces a significant housing crisis with a backlog of 225,023 households and a total housing demand estimated at 250,849 units.
• Economic activity is highly concentrated; approximately 67.5% of the provincial GDP is generated by only four local municipalities: Govan Mbeki, Emalahleni, Steve Tshwete, and the City of Mbombela.
• The tertiary sector is the most dominant part of the economy, contributing 50.5% to the provincial GVA, while the primary and secondary sectors contribute 27.7% and 21.8% respectively.
• Climate change is projected to increase temperatures by up to 2°C by 2035 and 3-5°C between 2080 and 2100, with increased variability in rainfall and higher evaporation rates.
• The province's road network is poorly maintained, with only 9% of roads rated as being in 'very good' condition, while 26% are in poor condition.
• Agricultural potential is high, with 60% of the land classified as having moderate to high-very high agricultural potential, though it competes with mining and urban expansion.

APA

Mpe, M., & Friedrich, M. (2018). Spatial Challenges and Opportunities Report. Centre for Environmental Rights. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Phase2.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Mpe, Mamonare, and Maartin Friedrich. Spatial Challenges and Opportunities Report. Centre for Environmental Rights, 2018. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Phase2.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mpe |first1=Mamonare |last2=Friedrich |first2=Maartin |title=Spatial Challenges and Opportunities Report |publisher=Centre for Environmental Rights |date=October 2018 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Phase2.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mpe2018spatial, author = {Mpe, Mamonare and Friedrich, Maartin}, title = {{Spatial Challenges and Opportunities Report}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2018}, month = oct, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Phase2.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }