The Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality is a Category C municipality situated in the southeastern region of the North West Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | North West |
| Municipal code: | DC40 |
| Seat: | Klerksdorp |
| Local municipalities: | 3 |
| Total area: | 14,671 km² (5,665 square miles) |
| Population: | 734,203 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Nikiwe Julia Num |
About
The Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality is geographically situated in the southeastern part of the North West Province.
The District is located about 65 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg and borders the Gauteng Province on that side.
The administrative headquarters/seat of the District is in Klerksdorp.
The Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality covers an area of 14,671 km² (5,665 square miles). It is the smallest district in the North West Province, making up approximately 14% of the province’s geographical area.
The District was previously known as the Southern District Municipality, but its name was changed in 2007 to Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in honour of Kenneth Kaunda, the first President of the Republic of Zambia.
The District’s Executive Mayor at the time, Boitumelo Moloi, stated that Dr Kaunda had played a significant role in the liberation of South Africa and several other African states.
The District is divided into three local municipalities namely;
- City of Matlosana Local Municipality
- JB Marks Local Municipality
- Maquassi Hills Local Municipality
The Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality is bordered by Bojanala Platinum District Municipality to the north, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality to the west, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality to the southwest, Lejweleputswa District Municipality in the Free State to the south, Fezile Dabi District Municipality in the Free State to the southeast, and Gauteng’s Sedibeng and West Rand District Municipalities to the east.
The Region is home to some of the most well-known gold mines in the world and one of the oldest meteor impact sites in the world.
The majority of the District’s residents live in the City of Matlosana and JB Marks Local Municipalities, both of which are peri-urban areas.
The Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality is serviced by several primary roads, with the N12 Treasure Corridor forming the main development axis in the district and serving as a potential concentration point for future industrial, commercial, and tourism development.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality has a population of 734,203 residents, compared to 742,821 in 2016, and 695,933 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.52%.
According to the 2022 Census, 26.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 66.8% is between 15 and 64, and 6.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 80.3% of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality population describe themselves as Black African, 14.5% as White, 4.1% as Coloured, and 0.7% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 44.8% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 18.4% speak Afrikaans, 15.3% speak Sesotho, 11.5% speak isiXhosa, and 10% speak other languages.
Economy
Mining has historically been the main economic activity within the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, but with the industry in steady decline, the District is seeking to diversify the economy from its over-reliance on the mining industry.
Other economic sectors in the District are community services, trade, finance, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, transport, and communications.
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 9 – DA: 3 – VF PLUS: 2 – EFF: 2 |
| Controlling Party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Nikiwe Julia Num |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | n/a |
| Speaker | Xolile Christopher Nxozana |
| Chief Whip | Jeffrey Serame Lesie (Single Whip) |
| Other Council Members | – Wendy Makgate (MMC: Community Services) – Raymond Mampe (MMC: LED and Tourism) – Mpho Matsapola (MMC: Special Programmes) – Lettie Molapisi (MMC: Corporate Services) – Zanale Mphafudi (MMC: Infrastructure) – Rosy Thabanchu (MMC: Budget and Treasury) |
| Municipal Manager | Mokgatlhe Ratlhogo |
| Chief Financial Officer | Lucky Steenkamp |
| Senior Management | S.C Abrams (Senior Manager: Corporate Support Services and ICT) |
| Communications Officers | Xolani Mndaweni (Manager: Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality.
- Hartbeesfontein
- Klerksdorp
- Leeudoringstad
- Makwassie
- Orkney
- Potchefstroom
- Stilfontein
- Ventersdorp
- Witpoort
- Wolmaransstad
Contact details
The contact details of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | Private Bag X5017, Klerksdorp, 2570 |
| Physical address: | Civic Centre, Patmore Road, Orkney |
| Telephone: | 018 473 8000 |
| Fax: | 018 473 2523 |
| Email: | admin@kaundadistrict.gov.za |
| Website: | www.kaundadistrict.gov.za |
