Ditsobotla Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the eastern region of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | North West |
| District: | Ngaka Modiri Molema |
| Municipal code: | NW384 |
| Seat: | Lichtenburg |
| Number of wards: | 20 |
| Total area: | 6,387 km² (2,466 square miles) |
| Population: | 164,176 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Thabo Nkashe |
About
The Ditsobotla Local Municipality was established through the amalgamation of the former Biesiesvlei, Lichtenburg, and Coligny Transitional Councils.
Ditsobotla Local Municipality is geographically located in the eastern region of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality.
The Ditsobotla Local Municipality comprises 20 wards and covers an area of 6,387 km² (2,466 square miles), making it the second-largest local municipality in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, as it accounts for almost a quarter of its geographical area.
Ditsobotla Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality to the north
- Mahikeng Local Municipality to the west
- Tswaing Local Municipality to the southwest and south
- The City of Matlosana Local Municipality in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality to the south
- JB Marks Local Municipality in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality to the east
- Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality to the east and northeast
The administrative headquarters/seat of Ditsobotla Local Municipality is in Lichtenburg.
The Ditsobotla Municipality is accessible through roads, a railway line that runs from Mahikeng to Johannesburg, and two airports, namely the Lichtenburg Airfield and Mmabatho Airport (Mafikeng Airport).
The main attractions in the municipality are;
- The Lichtenburg Game Breeding Centre
- Cultural, heritage, and agricultural museums
- The burning vlei is a unique vlei consisting of the thick layers of subterranean peat that burned for years, creating a rare natural phenomenon
- Eufees and Duch Roode Dams, situated between the CBD and Burgersdorp, and Molopo Oog/Wondergat
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Ditsobotla Local Municipality has a population of 164,176 people, compared to 181,865 in 2016 and 168,902 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -0.28%.
According to the 2022 Census, 29.6% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.4% is between 15 and 64, and 6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 89.1% of the population in Ditsobotla Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 8.2% as White, 1.9% as Coloured, and 0.6% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 78.6% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 9.8% speak Afrikaans, 3% speak isiXhosa, 2.4% speak English, and 6.2% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Ditsobotla Local Municipality are agriculture, manufacturing, mining and quarrying, insurance, financial services, business services, real estate, wholesale, and retail trade.
Municipal council and management
The municipality is under S139 administration, effective from April 2023.
The Ditsobotla municipal council is comprised of 39 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 20 wards, while the remaining 19 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 21 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 16 – EFF: 10 – DA: 6 – PA: 2 – F4SD: 2 – AHC: 1 – SAVE DITSOBOTLA MOVEMENT: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Thabo Nkashe |
| Speaker | Mpho Lekaba |
| Chief Whip | Kgotso Montso Jano |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | Olaotse Bojosinyane |
| Chief Financial Officer | Letlhogonolo Mokoena |
| Senior Management | – Mali Ledwaba (Department Head: Human Resources Department and Acting Director: Corporate Services Department) – Rasupang Mooketsi (Acting Director: Community Services Department) – Thami Mtshali (Acting Director: Technical Services Department) |
| Communications Officers | Pius Batsile |
Towns/places
The major towns in Ditsobotla Local Municipality are Lichtenburg and Coligny.
Below are the towns/places in Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
- Bakerville
- Biesiesvlei
- Coligny
- Itsoseng
- Lichtenburg
Contact details
The contact details of Ditsobotla Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 7, Litchtenburg, 2740 |
| Physical Address: | Civic Centre, Cnr Nelson Mandela Drive and Transvaal Street, Lichtenburg, 2740 |
| Telephone: | – 018 100 0950 – 018 633 3800 |
| Fax: | 018 632 5247 |
| Email: | info@ditsobotla.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ditsobotla.gov.za |
