The Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the southeastern region of the John Taolo Gaetsewe 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: | John Taolo Gaetsewe |
| Municipal code: | NC452 |
| Seat: | Kuruman |
| Number of wards: | 15 |
| Total area: | 4,495 km² (1,736 square miles) |
| Population: | 117,454 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Neo George Masegela |
About
The Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality was established in 2000 through the amalgamation of the Kuruman and Mothibistad Municipalities. The area is also administered through a traditional authority system with two paramount chiefs and headmen.
The name Ga-Segonyana means “small calabash” with bubbling water. It is derived from Segonyana, the Setswana name of a spring, commonly known as Eye of Kuruman.
The Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality is geographically located in the southeastern region of the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.
The Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality covers an area of 4,495 km² (1,736 square miles), making it the second-largest of three local municipalities in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, as it accounts for 16% of its geographical area.
The municipality is divided into 15 wards.
The Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Joe Morolong Local Municipality to the north
- Gamagara Local Municipality to the west
- Tsantsabane and Kgatelopele Local Municipalities in the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality to the south
- Dikgatlong Local Municipality in the Frances Baard District Municipality to the south
- Greater Taung Local Municipality in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West Province to the east
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality is in Kuruman, which is situated on the Namaquari route, forming part of the main route between the Republic of Namibia, Gauteng Province, and Cape Town via Upington.
Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality is a former cross-boundary municipality with areas in the Northern Cape and the North West Provinces.
The municipal jurisdiction consists of 33 residential areas within a radius of approximately 80 kilometres in and around Kuruman.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality has a population of 117,454 people, compared to 104,408 in 2016 and 93,651 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.2%.
According to the 2022 Census, 29.6% of the population is under the age of 15, 65.9% is between 15 and 64, and 4.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 87% of the population in the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 7.6% as Coloured, 4.6% as White, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 79.2% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 12.9% speak Afrikaans, 2.9% speak English, 1% speak isiNdebele, and 4% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality are agriculture and mining.
Municipal council and management
The Ga-Segonyana municipal council comprises 29 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Fifteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 15 wards, while the remaining 14 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 17 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 17 – EFF: 7 – DA: 3 – F4SD: 1 – SARKO: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Neo George Masegela |
| Speaker | Keamogetse Madikiza |
| Chief Whip | Charles Phillips |
| Other Council Members | – Kealeboga Matlhole (Chairperson: IDP Standing Committee) – Thabisho Merementsi (MPAC Chairperson) – Lesangkgang Moagi (Chairperson: Finance Standing Committee) – Mosiamiemang Reetsang (Chairperson: Community Services) – Braam van der Westhuizen (Chairperson: Human Resource Standing Committee) |
| Municipal Manager | Martin Tsatsimpe |
| Chief Financial Officer | Levy Mashiane |
| Senior Management | – Kelibone Baloyi (Director: Community Services) – Bonolo Kgosieng (Director: Infrastructure Services) – Clifford Pule (Director: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | – Ntefang Edward – Martin Tsatsimpe (Head of Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality.
- Bankhara-Bodulong
- Kuruman
- Mothibistad
Contact details
The contact details of the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X1522, Kuruman, 8460 |
| Physical Address: | Cnr of Voortrekker and School Streets, Kuruman |
| Telephone (Municipal Switchboard): | 053 712 9300 |
| Fax: | 053 712 3581 |
| Email: | registry@ga-segonyana.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ga-segonyana.gov.za |
