The Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the eastern region of the Mopani District Municipality in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | Limpopo |
| District: | Mopani |
| Municipal code: | LIM334 |
| Seat: | Phalaborwa |
| Number of wards: | 19 |
| Total area: | 7,489 km² (2,892 square miles) |
| Population: | 188,603 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Merriam Malatji |
About
The Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is geographically located in the eastern region of the Mopani District Municipality, just less than 1 kilometre from the Kruger National Park border.
The Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality covers an area of 7,489 km² (2,892 square miles) in the northeastern part of South Africa, making it the largest local municipality in the Mopani District. It accounts for over a third of the district’s geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is in Phalaborwa.
The municipality is divided into 19 wards.
The Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Greater Giyani Local Municipality to the north
- Greater Letaba Local Municipality to the northwest
- Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality to the west
- Maruleng Local Municipality to the south
- Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality of the Mpumalanga Province to the south
- The Republic of Mozambique to the east
The municipal area is covered with private farms, as well as tribal land that is under the control of traditional leaders (namely, Ba-Phalaborwa Traditional Authority, Majeje Traditional Authority, Selwane Traditional Authority, and Maseke Traditional Authority).
The other areas are proclaimed towns of Namakgale, Gravelotte, and Lulekani. Farms make up 27% of the total municipal area. Most farms in Ba-Phalaborwa are owned by private individuals and are used for citrus farming and game.
Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is 220 kilometres from Polokwane (previously Pietersburg) and Mbombela (previously Nelspruit) and serves as a convenient gateway to the Kruger National Park and the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park through the Mozambique (Masingir-Xai-Xai) Channel.
Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is an entry and exit point to the Mozambican side of the Xai-Xai beaches. The municipality has vast tourism and manufacturing investment opportunities.
The municipality has some key economic infrastructure like the main roads the R71 to Tzaneen/Polokwane and the R40 to Hoedspruit. There is also a railroad that connects Phalaborwa to Hoespruit/Tzaneen and Mpumalanga, as well as an airport, the Kruger Park Gateway Airport connecting Phalaborwa to Johannesburg.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality has a population of 188,603 people, compared to 168,937 in 2016, and 150,637 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.18%.
According to the 2022 Census, 31.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 63.2% is between 15 and 64, and 5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 93.1% of the population in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 6.4% as White, 0.3% as Coloured, and 0.2% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 47.7% of the population speaks Sepedi as their first language, 38.1% speak Xitsonga, 5.1% speak Afrikaans, 2.8% speak Sesotho, and 6.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality are agriculture, tourism, mining, and manufacturing.
Municipal council and management
The Ba-Phalaborwa municipal council is comprised of 37 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Nineteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 19 wards, while the remaining 18 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 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of 24 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 24 – EFF: 5 – DA: 4 – NIP: 2 – MIM: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Merriam Malatji |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | n/a |
| Speaker | Nhlamulo Oliver Mabunda |
| Chief Whip | Didodo Mary Rapatsa |
| Other Council Members | – Sobrant de Beer (Chairperson: Community and Social Services) – Mokgadi Paulina Mailula (Chairperson: Planning and Development) – Richard Makasela (Chairperson: Finance) – Pontsho Mashumu (Exco Member) – Thompson Nkuna (Chairperson: Corporate Services) – Victor Rapatsa (Chairperson: Technical Services) – Jamela Selapyane (Acting) |
| Municipal Manager | Maite Moakamela |
| Chief Financial Officer | T.J Mogano |
| Senior Management | – T Hlongwane – MC Mashale (Manager: LED) – Motlalepula Mphachoe – JB Selapyyane |
| Communications Officers | Jonas Mahesu (Municipal Spokesperson) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality.
- Gravelotte
- Leydsdorp
- Lulekani
- Namakgale
- Phalaborwa
Tourism
The Kruger National Park (Phalaborwa Gate) is just 1km away from Phalaborwa town. Phalaborwa serves as the gateway to the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park through the Giriyondo Border into Mozambique.
The Giriyondo border links South Africa and Mozambique using Ba-Phalaborwa as a suitable stopover to restock.
Ba-Phalaborwa is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region that covers some parts of Mpumalanga, Maruleng in Limpopo, and Phalaborwa into the Kruger National Park. A variety of exotic birds can be identified in the Biosphere zone for the pleasure of potential bird watchers.
Ba-Phalaborwa has over 1,200 hotel and guesthouse beds to cater for tourists. The tourism industry is poised for growth entrenching Ba-Phalaborwa as the best tourist destination in Limpopo Province.
The annual Marula Festivities taking place between February and March and the annual Orchid Show that takes place during the September Tourism Month remain the main draw card activities.
Below are the key attractions of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality;
- The Kruger National Park
- Game farms
- Letaba Ranch Game Conservancy
- Micro-light flights
- Heritage sights
- Township and rural cultural tours
- Hans Merensky Golf Course in the Wild and Estate
- World-class accommodation facilities
- Water-based activities in the lower Olifants River
- The Big Copper Hole tours
- The Big baobab tree in Gravelotte
- Eiland Resort and Spa
- Tsonga Kraal
- Grietjie Private Nature Reserve
- Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park
- Mopani Worms
- Marula Oil Extraction Route
- Palaborwa Copper Biggest Mine Pit
- Freak of Nature – Moparula
Contact details
The contact details of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X01020, Phalaborwa, 1390 |
| Physical Address: | Civic Centre, Cnr. Nelson Mandela and Selati Roads, Phalaborwa, 1390 |
| Telephone: | 015 780 6300 |
| Fax: | 015 781 0726 |
| Website: | www.phalaborwa.gov.za |
