Umjindi Municipality has proven itself to be a progressive and economically viable local authority in the province of Mpumalanga.

Location
Umjindi is an historical gold-mining area set in magnificent surroundings, 45km by road from Nelspruit. The municipality is one of five local municipalities within Ehlanzeni District Municipality, situated in the southern Lowveld of Mpumalanga and is predominantly a Swazi area. Umjindi’s economy centres around gold mining, forestry, agriculture and tourism, where large initiatives have been identified.

With its proven track record in developmental governance, the municipality is looking forward to unlocking more initiatives, including the Barberton/Makhonjwa Mountainlands World Heritage Declaration process, the completion of the R40 road to Nelspruit and Swaziland and the upgrading of the R38 leading to Kaapmeiden.

Achievements
Umjindi Municipality was the second-best municipality at the 2008 Vuna Awards in the Mpumalanga Province, receiving a trophy and R200 000. The municipality also received a special MEC recognition award for the best-planned MIG (Municipal Infrastructure Grants) projects in the province during 2008/09. These awards generated excitement around the Umjindi Municipality. Umjindi has won in this competition on a number of occasions since the inception of the awards in 2004. Umjindi is the only municipality that is under the administration of a woman in the entire Mpumalanga Province. Under the vibrant administrative leader Ms Sibongile Mnisi, Umjindi’s municipal manager, the institution has achieved much through quality service delivery.

Umjindi Municipality received its first unqualified audit opinion on its financial statements for the 2006/07 financial year and is proud of that accomplishment.

Umjindi has excelled in HIV/Aids coordination during the third Mpumalanga Aids Council Lekgotla in 2008/09. Umjindi’s HIV/Aids coordinator received a certificate as the Best Performing Local Aids Council Coordinator in the province. Umjindi Local Aids Council received a certificate in recognition of being the Best Performing Local Aids Council in the Mpumalanga Province and received the overall winner for Local Aids Councils. Umjindi Local Municipality was named as the winner in recognition of excellent performance in support to home- and community-based care.

Key facts and figures
Municipality type: Category B – Local Municipality (Municipal Structures Act)
Barberton municipal area: 1739.71km2
District municipality: Ehlanzeni
Population: 81 577 (2007 census)
Major towns: Barberton, Emjindini

Key infrastructure
Main roads: R38, R40
Railway: rail link to the Gauteng-Maputo line

Contact details
Key personnel:
Cllr Richard Lukhele, Executive Mayor
Sibongile Mnisi, Municipal Manager
Key contact person:
Sam Jele, Communication Officer
Tel: +27 13 712 8800 Fax: +27 13 712 8948
Email: mm@umjindi.gov.za
Physical address: General Street, Barberton 1300
Postal address: PO Box 33, Barberton 1300
Website: www.umjindi.gov.za













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