White River, Mpumalanga
White River () is a small holiday and farming town situated just north of Mbombela in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The farms in the region produce tropical fruits, macadamia nuts, vegetables, flowers and timber. As of 2011, White River had a population of 16,639. History. Pre-colonial Era. Archaeological evidence from surrounding areas suggests the land that later became White River has been occupied for thousands of years. Remains of settlements from the 6th-century point to Iron Age African agricultural and livestock-keeping societies that lived in the area. The Plaston site, east of White River, shows evidence  of communities in the area from circa 900 AD. Numerous Khoe-San rock painting sites nearby are indicative of even longer human settlement. When white colonial settlers arrived in the 1800s, the area was inhabited by Swazi and Sotho (Pulana & Pai) people. What was known as the Emanzimhlope River, a tributary of the Crocodile River flowed through the region. Emanzimhlope translates to 'White Waters' in siSwati. Colonial Era. In the first decade of the 1900s, after the South African War, Lord Alfred Milner (British administrator of the Transvaal) demarcated land along the Emanzimhlope river for settlement by British settlers, mainly  demobilised British Anglo-Boer War soldiers. Milner tasked soldier Tom Lawrence to allocate land to the settlers, alienating the Africans who were already present in the area from the land. Lawrence became the first manager of the new settlement and the longest street in town is still named after him. Initially, the colonial administration provided settlers with farming equipment and a weekly salary until they began to make an income from their tobacco, citrus, maize and other vegetable crops. However, this scheme largely failed and many settlers gave up farming with the citrus industry gradually being dominated by a few  large estates by the 1930s. Apartheid Era. Under Apartheid, White River was designated a white area and Emaswati and Pedi people living in White River were forcibly resettled to Kabokweni. It was the base for the Whiteriver Commando, an infantry regiment of the South African Army. Region. White River lies 20 km north of Mbombela, and 46 km south of Hazyview, not far from the border with Kruger National Park. It is 15km west of the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. The town includes a residential, commercial, and industrial areas while agricultural holdings are on the outskirts of the town . The town features a library, municipal buildings, car dealerships, filling stations, lodges and hotels, churches, a mosque, a police station, and retail centers. It is a popular holiday destination for those looking to visit the Crocodile River Valley, Panorama and Lowveld Legogote Tourism Routes and the Kruger National Park. The town itself has a reputation for its arts and crafts. The Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre situated on the outskirts of the city is a popular tourist stop. Once a mango plantation, the centre now has a cinema, a vintage motor museum and restaurants and hosts art exhibitions, plays and concerts. Government . White River is in the Mbombela A Municipal Zone, falling under Ward 30 and is currently governed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s official opposition party. Rowan Torr was placed as councillor after a by election on the 7 August 2019, where he succeeded Trudie Grove Morgan. Agriculture. The White River area is one of the most fertile in the province and farming continues to be a central part of the local economy. After a 26 km canal to channel water from the river was built, new farmers planted fruit trees and established new cultivation methods. Today, agriculture  involves largely the production of tropical fruits, macadamia nuts, vegetables, flowers and timber. The farms tend to be relatively small and the agriculture is intensive. Many farmers produce for the export market. Farms are irrigated by nearby dams such as Longmere, Witklip and Klipkoppie. Climate. White River is located in the low altitude subtropical Lowveld climatic zone. Savannah and woodland scattered with granite outcrops form the indigenous habitat. Compared to other parts of South Africa, the climate is mild with good rainfall. Nevertheless, like the rest of South Africa, White River and its surrounding farms are being adversely impacted by  climate change. The area is especially prone to frost, veld fires and droughts that pose food production threats and economic risks to farmers. Housing and Land. In 2003, 6 000 hectares of land on the outskirts of White River and surrounding areas were redistributed to the Matsafeni trust when the state purchased the land from Hall & Sons for R63 million under the South African national land reform program. As of 2016, Mbombela, the municipality that White River falls under, had a housing backlog of 34 000 units, impacting low income families especially hard. The persistence of Apartheid-era spatial planning  means that land close to the town is expensive and privately owned. This, combined with the economic opportunities and employment, mainly in White River and Mbombela mean that informal settlements around Rocky Drift (Msholozi and Phumlani) and other nearby areas have been established in recent years. Media. The town's local newspaper, the White River Post was established in 2006 has a distribution of 5000 copies every two weeks. Larger local papers, such as the Lowvelder and Mpumalanga News also cover news in White River. External Links. We Are White River White River Artefacts Architecture Profile White River, Mpumalanga White