North West (South African province)

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North West
Noord-Wes
Nyakatho-Ntshonalanga
Coat of Arms of the North West
Location of North West Province
Capital Mafikeng
Largest city Rustenburg
Premier Edna Molewa (ANC)
Area
- Total		 Ranked 6th
116,320 km²
Population
 - Total (2007)
 - Density		 Ranked 6th
3,394,200
33/km²
Languages Setswana (65.4%)
Afrikaans (7.5%)
isiXhosa (5.9%)
Sesotho (5.7%)
Xitsonga (4.7%)
Sepedi (4.2%)
isiZulu (2.5%)
isiNdebele (1.3%)
English (1.2%)
Ethnic composition Black (91.5%)
White (6.7%)
Coloured (1.6%)
Asian (0.3%)
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For Northwest Province of Cameroon, see Northwest Province.


North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mafikeng.

Contents

[edit] History

Main article: History of North West (South African province)

North West was created after the end of Apartheid in 1994, and includes parts of the former Transvaal province and Cape Province, as well as most of the former Bantustan of Bophuthatswana. It was recently the scene of political violence in Khutsong, Merafong City Local Municipality.

[edit] Law and government

Main article: Politics of North West (South African province)

The current premier of North West Province is Edna Molewa of the African National Congress.

[edit] Geography

The Province is not actually located in the west of the country, but it is west of the major population centres of the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

[edit] Borders

North West borders the following districts of Botswana:

Domestically, it borders the following provinces:

[edit] Municipalities

The North West province has 4 district municipalities and 21 local municipalities, listed below.

Bojanala Platinum District Municipality (DC37)

  • Moretele Local Municipality (NW371)
  • Local Municipality of Madibeng (NW372)
  • Rustenburg Local Municipality (NW373)
  • Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality (NW374)
  • Moses Kotane Local Municipality (NW375)

Central District Municipality (DC38)

  • Ratlou Local Municipality (NW381)
  • Tswaing Local Municipality(NW382)
  • Mafikeng Local Municipality (NW383)
  • Ditsobotla Local Municipality (NW384)
  • Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality (NW385)


Bophirima District Municipality (DC39)

  • Kagisano Local Municipality (NW391)
  • Naledi Local Municipality (NW392)
  • Mamusa Local Municipality (NW393)
  • Greater Taung Local Municipality (NW394)
  • Molopo Local Municipality (NW395)
  • Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality (NW396)


Southern District Municipality (DC40)

  • Ventersdorp Local Municipality (NW401)
  • Potchefstroom Local Municipality (NW402)
  • Matlosana Local Municipality (NW403)
  • Maquassi Hills Local Municipality (NW404)
  • Merafong City Local Municipality (NW405)

[edit] Language

Map showing predominant home languages in the province.
Map showing predominant home languages in the province.

Setswana is the predominant language spoken in the province.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links