Ukhozi Lodge Secunda is one of Mpumalanga’s most distinctive and large-scale accommodation and events facilities — a converted former mine complex at 1 Polymer Road, approximately 6 km south of Secunda, where a former Sasol mine shaft complex known as Twistdraai Central Shaft has been completely refurbished and re-established as a modern, homely, and affordable lodge offering up to 600 rooms across a variety of accommodation types, multiple event and function venues, a bar, an ATM, a swimming pool, recreational facilities including table tennis, pool table, and a giant chess set, catering services, and 24-hour access-controlled security across the secured and fenced premises. With 2,538 Facebook likes and a Google rating that consistently returns 5-star reviews praising the cleanliness, the events team, and the peaceful, secure environment, Ukhozi Lodge has established itself as Secunda’s most comprehensive multi-purpose hospitality facility — a venue that serves everything from large-scale contractor accommodation during Sasol and power station shutdowns to private birthday parties, work functions, conferences, and university sports camps.

The Facility: A Mine Complex Reimagined

Ukhozi Lodge’s origin story is genuinely unusual. The property sits at what was known as the Twistdraai Central Shaft Complex — a former Sasol coal mine operation that was completely refurbished, renovated, and converted into a township-style accommodation and hospitality complex. Sasol’s investment in the facility was substantial, creating a quality of infrastructure (roads, buildings, water, electricity, recreation) that purpose-built lodges at this price point in smaller Mpumalanga towns rarely achieve.

The result is a facility that functions on multiple scales simultaneously. Its primary commercial purpose is accommodating the 1,200–1,800 short-term contract workers who descend on Secunda twice a year for Sasol shutdown maintenance operations — and the 600 rooms the lodge provides are sized for exactly this demand. But the same infrastructure that handles industrial-scale contractor accommodation also provides the facilities for private functions, sports teams, corporate events, and family celebrations.

The setting is described as tranquil and secluded — a reflection of the mine complex’s position 6 km outside the Secunda town centre, surrounded by the open Mpumalanga highveld landscape with Eskom’s Kriel and Thutuka Power Stations within a 50 km radius.

Accommodation: 600 Rooms Across Multiple Types

Ukhozi Lodge provides accommodation across suite, double, and standard room configurations — a range that serves both the industrial contractor market and the smaller-group private and corporate guests who book when shutdown season is not in session. All rooms are described as “neat and basic” — clean, functional, and well-maintained accommodation that prioritises comfort and practicality over luxury styling.

Reviewers consistently note the cleanliness of the premises as a standout quality: one guest who visited over the December holiday period described the “very clean and well-maintained” premises as one of the highlights of the stay; another described it as “the best lodge ever experienced — so clean and peaceful.”

Website: ukhozistay.co.za
Check-in: From 14:00 | Check-out: By 10:00

Event Venues: Homely, Modern, and Flexible

Ukhozi Lodge’s Facebook positioning captures the event offering concisely: “popular for its modern, homely, and affordable event venues.” The venue’s function and conference spaces accommodate a range of event sizes and formats:

• Private functions — birthday parties, anniversaries, and family celebrations
• Work functions and year-end events — the most frequently cited event type in Google reviews
• Conferences and corporate meetings — a conference hall for holding business meetings and presentations
• Banquets and catered events
• University sports camps — specifically noted as a recurring use case

The events team has been specifically praised in multiple reviews. One reviewer (Marilize, Africa Biz) described the team as “amazing — taking an idea for a function and running with it, making it better than you could’ve hoped for.” Another reviewer noted “a wide variety of function and catering services” delivered by a very secure and clean establishment. Google reviewer Annalie described it as “a great place to have a work function or party — the food is good.”

Recreational Facilities: Pool, Bar, and Giant Chess

For guests staying at the lodge, the recreational facilities add genuine value to the overnight experience:

• Swimming pool — available to accommodation guests
• Bar — on-site licensed bar for drinks and socialising
• ATM — on-site banking convenience
• Table tennis — specifically praised by a December visitor
• Pool table — indoor recreation
• Giant chess set — a distinctive recreational element that reviewers call out as a fun novelty

The combination of these facilities makes Ukhozi Lodge suitable for group stays — sports teams, contractor groups, and corporate retreats — where recreational options during downtime are important to the overall experience.

Security: Access-Controlled and Fully Fenced

The former mine complex infrastructure provides Ukhozi Lodge with a level of perimeter security that most lodges of this type cannot match. The property is guarded by access-controlled security — a secured, fenced complex where entry and exit are managed at the gate. One Google reviewer specifically noted the security as a key reason to trust the facility for family and children’s events: “a very secure establishment, guarded by access controlled security.”

This security infrastructure is particularly relevant for the lodge’s primary commercial market (contractor workers with valuable equipment and tools) but is equally valued by private function clients and families.

Location and Getting There

Ukhozi Lodge is at 1 Polymer Road (Twistdraai), Secunda, Mpumalanga, 2302 — approximately 6 km south of Secunda town centre, on the gravel Polymer Road that runs through the former mine complex area. The lodge is accessible from Secunda via the main roads south; note that the access to the property requires navigating a gravel road. Own transport is recommended — reviewers note that mobility around the broader complex without a vehicle can be limited.

Tel: 017 614 7121
Website: ukhozistay.co.za

For accommodation bookings, event and function enquiries, and conference availability, contact Ukhozi Lodge directly by phone or via their website.

Explore more accommodation and conference venues in Secunda through our Secunda event venues directory, or browse all Mpumalanga event venue listings for venues across the province.