Matjhabeng Local Municipality

Matjhabeng
Local municipality

Seal
Location in the Free State
Location in the Free State
Country South Africa
Province Free State
District Lejweleputswa
Seat Welkom
Wards 36
Government[1]
 • Type Municipal council
 • Mayor Nkosenjani Speelman (ANC)
Area
 • Total 5,155 km2 (1,990 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 406,461
 • Density 79/km2 (200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
 • 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%
 • Other 7.8%
Time zone SAST (UTC+2)
Municipal code FS184

Matjhabeng Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Lejweleputswa District of the Free State in South Africa, that includes the city of Welkom. The name 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. meet to work in the mines of the Goldfields.[4]

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 [5]

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.[6]

In the western part of the municipality there is a string of mining towns that runs from northwest to southeast: Allanridge (pop. 19,337[7]), Odendaalsrus (pop. 63,743[8]), Welkom (pop. 211,011[9]) and Virginia (pop. 66,208[10]). Further to the east are the agricultural towns of Hennenman (pop. 24,355[11]) and Ventersburg (pop. 11,260[12]).

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 election of 18 May 2011 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of fifty-two seats in the council. The following table shows the results of the election.[13][14]

Party Votes Seats
Ward List Total % Ward List Total
African National Congress 77,277 79,583 156,860 71.6 30 22 52
Democratic Alliance 23,459 22,989 46,448 21.2 6 10 16
Congress of the People 4,214 4,974 9,188 4.2 0 3 3
Independent 2,101 – 2,101 1.0 0 – 0
Freedom Front Plus 829 696 1,525 0.7 0 1 1
African Christian Democratic Party 438 326 764 0.3 0 0 0
African People's Convention 160 437 597 0.3 0 0 0
Dikwankwetla Party 323 268 591 0.3 0 0 0
Pan Africanist Congress 282 284 566 0.3 0 0 0
Independent Civic Organisation 186 189 375 0.2 0 0 0
United Residents Front 49 43 92 0.0 0 0 0
Total 109,318 109,789 219,107 100.0 36 36 72
Spoilt votes 1,867 1,471 3,338

References

  1. ↑ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. ↑ South African Languages - Place names
  5. ↑ Times Live June 11, 2011
  6. ↑ "Matjhabeng Local Municipality". Census 2011.
  7. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Allanridge and Phathakahle from Census 2011.
  8. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Odendaalsrus and Kutlwanong from Census 2011.
  9. ↑ Sum of the following Main Places from Census 2011: Hani Park, Riebeeckstad, Thabong, Welkom.
  10. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Virginia and Meloding from Census 2011.
  11. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Hennenman and Phomolong from Census 2011.
  12. ↑ Sum of the Main Places Ventersburg, Mmamahabane and Tswelangpele from Census 2011.
  13. ↑ "Results Summary – All Ballots: Matjhabeng" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  14. ↑ "Seat Calculation Detail: Matjhabeng" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 November 2013.

Coordinates: 27°58′S 26°44′E / 27.967°S 26.733°E / -27.967; 26.733

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