Dikgatlong Local Municipality is a Category B municipality within the Frances Baard District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | Northern Cape |
| District: | Frances Baard |
| Municipal code: | NC092 |
| Seat: | Barkly West |
| Number of wards: | 8 |
| Total area: | 7,316 km² (2,825 square miles) |
| Population: | 56,967 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Joyce Tshwanagae |
About
The Dikgatlong Local Municipality was established in 2000 through the Local Government Demarcation process, whereby the towns of Delpoortshoop, Barkly West, and Windsorton were amalgamated into one municipality.
Dikgatlong Local Municipality is geographically located in the central, western, and northern regions of the Frances Baard District Municipality.
The name Dikgatlong is derived from a Setswana word meaning “confluence”, and refers to the place where the Harts and Vaal Rivers flow into each other at Delportshoop. The name was used as early as 1700.
Dikgatlong Local Municipality comprises 8 wards and covers an area of 7,316 km² (2,825 square miles), making it the largest of four local municipalities in the Frances Baard District, as it accounts for more than half of its geographical area.
Dikgatlong Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Magareng Local Municipality to the east
- Sol Plaatje Local Municipality to the south
- Siyancuma Local Municipality in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality to the south
- Kgatelopele Local Municipality in the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality to the west
- Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality to the north
- Greater Taung Local Municipality in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West Province to the north and east
The administrative headquarters/seat of Dikgatlong Local Municipality is in Barkly West, approximately 35 kilometres northwest of the city of Kimberley on the northern bank of the Vaal River.
Barkly West is situated on the Kimberley-Postmasburg growth corridor.
Dikgatlong Local Municipality includes the urban areas of Barkly West, Windsorton, and Delportshoop as well as all areas previously part of the former Diamantveld District Council, in the central region of the District Municipality.
Dikgatlong municipality is situated about 35km from Kimberley, and has potential for mineral development and tourism.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Dikgatlong Local Municipality has a population of 56,967 people, compared to 48,473 in 2016 and 46,841 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.9%.
According to the 2022 Census, 29.2% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.9% is between 15 and 64, and 5.9% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 58.5% of the population in Dikgatlong Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 28.5% as Coloured, 3.6% as White, and 0.6% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 52.7% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 39.2% speak Afrikaans, 2.1% speak English, 1.7% speak Sesotho, and 4.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The economy of Dikgatlong Local Municipality is based on two major capital and labour-intensive sectors, namely the Agriculture and Mining industries.
Another promising economic sector in the municipality is manufacturing.
Municipal council and management
The Dikgatlong municipal council comprises 15 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Eight councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 8 wards, while the remaining 7 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 8 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 8 – EFF: 3 – PA: 2 – D.I.F: 1 – DA: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Joyce Tshwanagae |
| Speaker | Letlhogonolo George Phetlhane |
| Chief Whip | Montesque Nceba Jacobs |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | B. Tsinyane |
| Chief Financial Officer | C Mokeng |
| Senior Management | – Letshegetswe Abrahm Kesekile (Senior Manager: Human Resources) – Eddie Charles Manuel (Manager: LED) – Nomathemba Masenge (Manager: Mayoral Office) – Boitumelo Christian Mokeng (Senior Accountant) – Paballo Abrahm Nthoba (Manager: Technical) – Odirile Thejane (Acting Manager: Housing) – B Tsinyane (Manager: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | – George Damoense (Head of Communications) – Kgotso Moeketsi (Information Officer (PAIA)) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Dikgatlong Local Municipality.
- Barkly West
- Boetsap
- Delportshoop
- Koopmansfontein
- Sydney on Vaal
- Ulco
- Windsorton
Contact details
The contact details of Dikgatlong Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X5, Barkly West, 8375 |
| Physical Address: | 33 Campbell Street, Barkly West |
| Telephone: | 053 531 6500 |
| Fax: | 053 531 0624 |
| Email: | info@dikgatlong.gov.za |
| Website: | www.dikgatlong.gov.za |
