Mpumalanga Spatial Development Framework

The Mpumalanga Provincial Spatial Development Framework proposes a polycentric growth management model to address apartheid-era spatial imbalances and promote sustainable economic diversification. It identifies five key economic growth and innovation centres—Mbombela, Emalahleni, Middleburg, Secunda, and Ermelo—and a network of alternative growth centres to decentralise economic activity. The framework emphasises enhancing connectivity via the N4 Maputo Corridor and other strategic routes, protecting high-potential agricultural land and biodiversity, and transitioning the province's coal-dependent economy toward low-carbon and climate-resilient alternatives. It also outlines strategies for urban densification, the development of sustainable human settlements, and the creation of Rural Economic Zones (REZ) to transform rural livelihoods.

• The province adopts a Polycentric Growth Management Model, which uses a hierarchy of growth centres to manage intensification at strategic locations while maintaining lower-density areas.
• Five towns are designated as Key Economic Growth and Innovation Centres: Mbombela, Emalahleni, Middleburg, Secunda, and Ermelo, which currently generate nearly 70% of the province's Gross Value Added (GVA).

APA

Mpe, M., & Friedrich, M. (2019). Mpumalanga Spatial Development Framework. Centre for Environmental Rights. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Phase3.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Mpe, Mamonare, and Maartin Friedrich. Mpumalanga Spatial Development Framework. Centre for Environmental Rights, 2019. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Phase3.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mpe |first1=Mamonare |last2=Friedrich |first2=Maartin |title=Mpumalanga Spatial Development Framework |publisher=Centre for Environmental Rights |date=January 2019 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Phase3.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mpe2019mpumalanga, author = {Mpe, Mamonare and Friedrich, Maartin}, title = {{Mpumalanga Spatial Development Framework}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2019}, month = jan, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Phase3.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }