Let’s dig into the past of the City of Coal

eMalahleni grew from a farming and mining community into a significant business and commercial centre known for its industrial activities.

January 4, 2026

Lindokuhle Ndhlovu 1 minute read

eMalahleni grew from a farming and mining community into a significant business and commercial centre known for its industrial activities.

Let’s uncover the layers of eMalahleni’s past through five fascinating facts that show how the city evolved from coal mining to industrial growth.

1. Did You Know?

The name ‘Witbank’ originated from a white sandstone outcrop where wagon transport drivers used to rest, with ‘Witbank’ being Afrikaans for ‘white ridge’.

2. Did You Know?

Winston Churchill, the famous British leader, was hidden in a colliery near Witbank before being smuggled out to Mozambique in a shipment of wool.

3. Did You Know?

eMalahleni was founded in 1890, but it wasn’t until the railway line from Pretoria reached the area in 1894 that the town began to grow into a major coal-mining hub.

4. Did You Know?

The city’s coal reserves transformed Witbank into South Africa’s energy centre, attracting major mining and heavy industry companies.

5. Did You Know?

eMalahleni was officially renamed from Witbank in 2006, adopting a name that reflects the city’s identity and local linguistic landscape, with ‘eMalahleni’ meaning ‘place of coal’ in Ndebele and Zulu dialects.

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