Matjhabeng Local Municipality
| Matjhabeng | ||
|---|---|---|
| Local municipality | ||
| ||
.svg.png) Location in the Free State | ||
| Country | South Africa | |
| Province | Free State | |
| District | Lejweleputswa | |
| Seat | Welkom | |
| Wards | 36 | |
| Government[1] | ||
| • Type | Municipal council | |
| • Mayor | Sebenzile Ngangelizwe (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
- ↑ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Table: Census 2011 by district council, gender, age in 5 year groups and population group". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ↑ "Table: Census 2011 by district council, gender, language and population group". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ↑ South African Languages - Place names
- ↑ Times Live June 11, 2011
- ↑ "Matjhabeng Local Municipality". Census 2011.
- ↑ Sum of the Main Places Allanridge and Phathakahle from Census 2011.
- ↑ Sum of the Main Places Odendaalsrus and Kutlwanong from Census 2011.
- ↑ Sum of the following Main Places from Census 2011: Hani Park, Riebeeckstad, Thabong, Welkom.
- ↑ Sum of the Main Places Virginia and Meloding from Census 2011.
- ↑ Sum of the Main Places Hennenman and Phomolong from Census 2011.
- ↑ Sum of the Main Places Ventersburg, Mmamahabane and Tswelangpele from Census 2011.
- ↑ "Results Summary – All Ballots: Matjhabeng". Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ↑ "Seat Calculation Detail: Matjhabeng". Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
External links
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