Matjhabeng Local Municipality

Last updated
Matjhabeng
Local municipality
Matjhabeng CoA.png
Seal
Map of the Free State with Matjhabeng highlighted.svg
Location in the Free State
Coordinates: 27°58′S26°44′E / 27.967°S 26.733°E / -27.967; 26.733
Country South Africa
Province Free State
District Lejweleputswa
Seat Welkom
Wards 36
Government
[1]
 • Type Municipal council
 • Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha [2] (ANC)
Area
 • Total5,155 km2 (1,990 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [3]
 • Total406,461
 • Density79/km2 (200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[3]
 •  Black African 87.7%
 •  Coloured 2.1%
 •  Indian/Asian 0.4%
 •  White 9.6%
First languages (2011)
[3]
 •  Sotho 64.0%
 •  Xhosa 12.3%
 •  Afrikaans 12.3%
 •  English 3.6%
 • Other7.8%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeFS184

Matjhabeng Municipality (Sotho : Masepala wa Matjhabeng; Xhosa : uMasipala wase Matjhabeng; Afrikaans : Matjhabeng Munisipaliteit) is a local municipality within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, in the Free State province of South Africa. The municipality includes Welkom, Virginia, Odendaalsrus and Allanridge. [4] Matjhabeng is a Sesotho word meaning "where nations meet". It is derived from the migrant labour system where people from various countries like Lesotho, Mozambique, etc. met to work in the mines. [5]

Contents

Reported corruption

In 2011 the municipality came into the news as one of the worst examples of the widespread corruption under the ANC. In about four years about R2bn went missing. [6] An enquiry led by the MEC Mosebenzi Zwane blamed the losses on the municipal manager Ben Malakoane and his predecessor Thabo Pietersen. Zwane's report slated Malakoane as "grossly negligent", "undermining the rule of law" and engaging in contracts "without due process", but premier Ace Magashule referred to the duo as his "comrades". [6] In 2021 five officials of the municipality were arrested by the Hawks after over R1 million of municipal funds was allegedly misspent. [7] One of the accused was involved in appointing the remaining accused as municipal officials.

Socioeconomic issues

The municipality experiences high unemployment which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] As of 2021, about 150,000 adults are unemployed. Some 10 gold mines closed their shafts, and suppliers of these mines closed shop. Crime has increased in its towns and townships, especially in Meloding, Virginia, Thabong and Welkom. The reported crimes include theft and vandalism of municipal property and infrastructure, besides illegal mining by zama zamas, costly cable theft, theft of fencing material and vandalism of cemeteries. [4]

Geography

The municipality covers an area of 5,155 square kilometres (1,990 sq mi) in the goldfields of the central Free State, north of Bloemfontein and south of Kroonstad. According to the 2011 census it has a population of 406,461 people in 123,195 households. Of this population, 88% describe themselves as "Black African", 10% as "White", and 2% as "Coloured". The first language of 64% of the population is Sotho, while 12% speak Xhosa, 12% speak Afrikaans and 4% speak English. [8]

In the western part of the municipality there is a string of mining towns that runs from northwest to southeast: Allanridge (pop. 19,337 [9] ), Odendaalsrus (pop. 63,743 [10] ), Welkom (pop. 211,011 [11] ) and Virginia (pop. 66,208 [12] ). Further to the east are the agricultural towns of Hennenman (pop. 24,355 [13] ) and Ventersburg (pop. 11,260 [14] ).

Politics

The municipal council consists of seventy-two members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Thirty-six councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in thirty-six wards, while the remaining thirty-six are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.

In the 2021 South African municipal elections the African National Congress (ANC) won a reduced majority of thirty-nine seats on the council.

The following table shows the results of the 2021 election. [15]

PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
African National Congress 46,03553.082846,60553.881139
Democratic Alliance 18,78521.66818,86921.82816
Economic Freedom Fighters 9,90611.42010,09311.6799
Freedom Front Plus 2,7203.1402,6143.0222
African Democratic Change 2,1132.4402,1542.4922
Independent South African National Civic Organisation 1,8012.0801,7702.0522
Independent candidates 2,0782.4000
African Transformation Movement 7290.8407050.8211
Congress of the People 4240.4906930.8011
10 other parties2,1292.4602,9893.4600
Total86,720100.003686,492100.003672
Valid votes86,72098.5786,49298.57
Invalid/blank votes1,2591.431,2591.43
Total votes87,979100.0087,751100.00
Registered voters/turnout197,85344.47197,85344.35

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free State (province)</span> Province in South Africa

The Free State, formerly known as the Orange Free State, is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Boer republic called the Orange Free State and later the Orange Free State Province.

Virginia is a gold mining town located in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality and on goldfields of the Free State province in South Africa about 140 km (90 mi) northeast of Bloemfontein, the provincial capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bultfontein</span> Place in Free State, South Africa

Bultfontein is a town in the Free State province of South Africa with a total population of about 23,400 people. It is situated in the Tswelopele Local Municipality, about 100 kilometres (60 mi) north of Bloemfontein. The town site was laid out in 1873; it had been delayed because of a location dispute which also led to the establishment of Hoopstad 55 kilometres (35 mi) to the north-west. The township of Phahameng was established on the outskirts of Bultfontein in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welkom</span> City in Free State, South Africa

Welkom is the second-largest city in the Free State province of South Africa, located about 140 kilometres (90 mi) northeast of Bloemfontein, the provincial capital. Welkom is also known as Circle City, City Within A Garden, Mvela and Matjhabeng. The city's Sesotho name, Matjhabeng means 'where nations meet', derived from the migrant labour system, where people of various countries such as Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique etc. met to work in the mines of the gold fields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allanridge</span> Place in Free State, South Africa

Allanridge is a gold-mining town in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality of the Free State province in South Africa. It is the main centre of the Loraine Gold Mining Company and is dominated by the tall headgear and complex reduction works that processes thousands of tons of gold-bearing ore every month.

Hennenman is a town in the Free State Goldfields in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality of the Free State province of South Africa. The settlement is unusual for the district being supported by agriculture rather than the mining industry which is common in other towns.

Hertzogville is a small cattle and sheep farming town in the Free State province of South Africa. It is named after South Africa's longest-serving prime minister, James Barry Munnik Hertzog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odendaalsrus</span> Place in Free State, South Africa

Odendaalsrus is the oldest gold mining town in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality in the goldfields of the Free State province in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ventersburg</span> Place in Free State, South Africa

Ventersburg is a small town in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality of the Free State province in South Africa, 148 km north of Bloemfontein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaufort West Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Western Cape, South Africa

Beaufort West Municipality is a local municipality located in the Western Cape province of South Africa. As of 2011, the population is 49,586. Its municipality code is WC053.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Free State (province)</span> Former South African province (1910–1994)

The Province of the Orange Free State, commonly referred to as the Orange Free State, Free State or by its abbreviation OFS, was one of the four provinces of South Africa from 1910 to 1994. After 27 April 1994 it was dissolved following the first non-racial election in South Africa. It is now called the Free State Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emalahleni Local Municipality, Mpumalanga</span> Local municipality in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Emalahleni Municipality is a local municipality within the Nkangala District Municipality, in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. eMalahleni is a Nguni word meaning place of coal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mogale City Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Gauteng, South Africa

Mogale City Local Municipality is a local municipality within the West Rand District Municipality, in the Gauteng province of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Matlosana</span> Local municipality in North West, South Africa

The City of Matlosana, formerly the City Council of Klerksdorp, is a local municipality within the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, in the North West province of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ntabankulu Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Ntabankulu Municipality is a local municipality within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, in the Wild Coast Region of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Ntabankulu is an isiXhosa word meaning "great or big mountain", since the municipal area is mountainous in character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohokare Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Free State, South Africa

Mohokare Municipality is a local municipality within the Xhariep District Municipality, in the Free State province of South Africa. Mohokare is the Sesotho word for the Caledon River, which runs through the municipality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ritchie, South Africa</span> Place in Northern Cape, South Africa

Ritchie is a small town situated 40 kilometres (20 mi) south of Kimberley on the north bank of the Riet River in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The town, with a population of approximately 15,000, is in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, which forms part of the Frances Baard District Municipality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thabong</span> Place in Free State, South Africa

Thabong is the second largest township after Botshabelo in the Free State province of South Africa. The township was established during the years of segregation of black people as well as the township of Bronville for coloured people adjacent to the city of Welkom, to accommodate workers at the world's richest gold mines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rand West City Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Gauteng, South Africa

Rand West City Municipality is a local municipality in the Gauteng province of South Africa. It was established after the August 2016 local elections by merging the Randfontein and Westonaria local municipalities. It is a division of the West Rand District Municipality.

References

  1. ↑ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. ↑ Lethoba, Thomas (2021-11-29). "Matjhabeng council appoints new mayor, welcome Thanduxolo Khalipa!". Kasi Voice News. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  3. 1 2 3 "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Seleka, Ntwaagae (5 September 2021). "Matjhabeng municipality: Rampant looting, illegal mining and theft could wipe out ailing entity". news24.com. News24. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  5. ↑ South African Languages - Place names
  6. 1 2 Wa Afrika, Mzilikazi; Hofstatter, Stephan (12 June 2011). "How a small town blew R2bn on dodgy deals". South Africa. timeslive.co.za. TimesLive. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  7. ↑ Maroela redaksie (23 March 2021). "Valke trek vyf vas vir munisipale bedrog". Maroela Media. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "Matjhabeng Local Municipality". Census 2011.
  9. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Allanridge and Phathakahle from Census 2011.
  10. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Odendaalsrus and Kutlwanong from Census 2011.
  11. ↑ Sum of the following Main Places from Census 2011: Hani Park, Riebeeckstad, Thabong, Welkom.
  12. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Virginia and Meloding from Census 2011.
  13. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Hennenman and Phomolong from Census 2011.
  14. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Ventersburg, Mmamahabane and Tswelangpele from Census 2011.
  15. ↑ "Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Matjhabeng". wikitable.frith.dev. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.