Nawaal Deane It’s boom time in Nelspruit. Set in the subtropical vegetation among granite rocks, the lush town – strategically placed between Mozambique and Gauteng – boasts an economic growth rate far in excess of other urban areas in the country. For the past six years the town’s economy has seen an 8% growth rate a year and a population growth of 5%. The construction of the legislature building, a R190-million international airport, the Emnotoweni casino and the Riverside Mall have made Nelspruit one of South Africa’s most booming economies. The local export industry is diversified, ranging from fruit, tobacco and sugar cane to cultured marble baths. Property sales have skyrocketed with the influx of public servants and professionals in the area. Sakie van Rooyen, owner of the Pam Golding estate agency in Nelspruit, says: “Residents find Nelspruit attractive because it is safe and there are good schools available as well as business opportunities in Maputo. There has been an influx of Mozambican people buying property in Nelspruit, with many opting to buy weekend homes.” Property values here are generally quite high and for the most part remain stable. Prices start at R400 000 and go up to R1,3-million. There is also ample room for urban development in the area. Nelspruit boasts two of the best private schools in the country – Penryn College and Uplands College – and a laid-back, crime- free atmosphere that attracts residents from Gauteng.
“On the weekend you will find cosmopolitan people going to restaurants, the local nightclub or the casino,” says Etienne Garnett-Bennett, manager of Nelspruit information. The numerous B&Bs along the way make Nelspruit a weekend getaway offering 4×4 jaunts, mountain-biking trails, pot- holing trips and walks in the Swaziland biodiversity corridor. Nelspruit’s close proximity to the Kruger National Park and Pilgrims Rest makes it the ideal thoroughfare for tourists and contributes substantially to its reputation as the “second frontier”. Winding its way from Nelspruit into Maputo is the N4, which is not merely a road on which to travel, but also an important bypass linking South Africa to Maputo. Domestic trade between Gauteng and Mozambique passes through this route, especially bulk goods from Mpumulanga. This route, known as the Maputo Corridor, has made Nelspruit a centre for business people wanting to import and export goods. With its favourable tax breaks, good farming land and cheap labour, Mozambique attracts South Africans in droves. Nelspruit is also a beacon for Mozambicans who flock for work opportunities. Mozambicans constitute 20% of Nelspruit’s consumer market, spending approximately R40- million a month collectively on items ranging from car services to toothpaste.