The Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) is a Category C municipality situated in the central region of the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | Limpopo |
| Municipal code: | DC35 |
| Seat: | Polokwane |
| Local municipalities: | 4 |
| Total area: | 21,705 km² (8,380 square miles) |
| Population: | 1,447,103 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Mamedupi Teffo |
About
The Capricorn District Municipality is geographically situated in the central part of the Limpopo Province.
The District’s location makes it a stopover between Gauteng and the northern areas of Limpopo and between the northwestern areas and the Kruger National Park. The District also forms a gateway to Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
The District is named after the Tropic of Capricorn which runs through its northern parts.
The Capricorn District Municipality is situated at the core of economic development in the Limpopo Province and includes the provincial capital, the city of Polokwane (previously Pietersburg), which is also the administrative headquarters/seat of the District.
The Capricorn District Municipality covers an area of 21,705 km² (8,380 square miles), making it the third-largest district in Limpopo Province.
The District is divided into four local municipalities namely;
- Blouberg Local Municipality
- Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality
- Molemole Local Municipality
- Polokwane Local Municipality
The Capricorn District Municipality is bordered by the Republic of Botswana to the northwest and District Municipalities, Waterberg to the west, Sekhukhune to the south, Mopani to the east, and Vhembe to the northeast.
The District is predominantly rural, it is made up of 113 wards and has 28 traditional authorities.
The District is home to the Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho Open-Air Museum in Polokwane which showcases the traditional and modern-day lifestyle of the Bakone people.
The District is also home to Eersteling Monuments in Polokwane, the site of South Africa’s first gold crushing site and first gold power plant.
The Capricorn District Municipality has an internal airport, Polokwane International Airport, and is linked to Gauteng by one of the best stretches of the N1 national route in South Africa. Other major provincial routes also pass through the district.
Map
Population
The most populated local municipality in the District is Polokwane, while Molemole is the least populous.
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Capricorn District Municipality has a population of 1,447,103 residents, compared to 1,330,436 in 2016, and 1,261,463 in 2011.
The District has a population growth per annum of 1.33%.
According to the 2022 Census, 30.2% of the population is under the age of 15, 62.3% is between 15 and 64, and 7.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 97% of the Capricorn District Municipality population describe themselves as Black African, 2% as White, 0.6% as Coloured, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 84.9% of the population speaks Sepedi as their first language, 3% speak Afrikaans, 2.6% speak Xitsonga, 2% speak English, and 7.5% speak other languages.
Economy
The district’s main economic sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, community services, finance, trade, transport, construction, and electricity.
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 15 – EFF: 5 – DA: 1 – DOP: 1 |
| Controlling Party | n/a |
| Executive Mayor | Mamedupi Teffo |
| Speaker | Maseka Solomon Pheedi |
| Chief Whip | Chuene Malebana |
| Other Council Members | – Solly Mahlatjie (MMC: Strategic Executive Management Services) – Makgalemela Makhura (MMC: Sports, Arts and Culture) – Caroline Mamabolo (MMC: Local Economic Development) – Matome Calvin Masoga (MMC: Development Planning and Environmental Management) – Maite Mohale (MMC: Infrastructure Services) – Elizabeth Rahlana (MMC: Community Services) – Maria Ramokolo (MMC: Finance) – Samson Selamolela (MMC: Corporate Services) |
| Municipal Manager | N.R Selepe |
| Chief Financial Officer | Thabo Nonyane |
| Senior Management | – Makgato Machaba (Executive Manager: Corporate Services) – Thuso Nemugumoni (Executive Management) |
| Communications Officers | Jabu Masondo |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Capricorn District Municipality.
- Alldays
- Dendron
- Morebeng (previously known as Soekmekaar)
- Polokwane
- Senwabarwana (previously known as Bochum)
- Zebediela
- Moletlane
- Lebowakgomo
Contact details
The contact details of the Capricorn District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | P.O Box 4100, Polokwane, 0700 |
| Physical address: | 41 Biccard Street, Polokwane |
| Telephone: | 015 294 1000 |
| Fax: | 015 291 4297 |
| Email (General Information): | communications@cdm.org.za |
| Email (Webmaster): | info@cdm.org.za |
| Website: | www.cdm.org.za |
| Anti-fraud line: | 0800 205 053 |
| Emergency toll-free: | 0800 666 777 |
| Disaster centre: | – 0800 666 777 – 015 293 9777 |
