Emalahleni, South Africa

With a population of 455,228, Emalahleni is a bustling South African municipality that lives up to its Nguni name - "place of coal." While the region's coal industry powers the local economy, residents face the persistent headache of heavy bureaucracy. Emalahleni's municipal council is dominated by the African National Congress, who won 35 of 68 seats in the 2021 election. For those drawn to the energy of an industrial hub, Emalahleni may be a practical choice, but the red tape and political machine should give prospective expats pause.