Witbank Tourism Information

Quick Facts: Witbank

• The city of Witbank is situated on the highveld of Mpumalanga
• Witbank forms part of the South African Emalahleni Local Municipality
• The name Witbank is an Afrikaans word meaning 'white ridge'; Witbank is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wagon transport drivers rested
• Witbank was proclaimed a town in 1903 and became a municipality in 1914
• Several power stations including the Duvha Power Station as well as a steel mill 'Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corporation' are located in Witbank
• In 2006, Witbank was officially renamed eMalahleni which can be translated as 'place of coal'

Distance to Airport: 120 km

Distance to City: 6 km

Introducing Witbank

The city of Witbank is situated on the highveld of Mpumalanga, it forms part of the South African Emalahleni Local Municipality.  The name Witbank is an Afrikaans word meaning 'white ridge'.  The city of Witbank is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wagon transport drivers rested. Witbank was established in 1890 and early attempts to exploit the coal deposits failed until the railway from Pretoria was built in 1894.  

Witbank was proclaimed a town in 1903 and became a municipality in 1914.  Witbank in Mpumalanga is located in the coal mining area. Several power stations including the Duvha Power Station as well as a steel mill called Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corporation are located here. In March 2006, Witbank was officially renamed eMalahleni which can be translated as 'place of coal' matching the name of the municipality in which it is located.