The Greater Taung Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the southwestern region of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | North West |
| District: | Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati |
| Municipal code: | NW394 |
| Seat: | Taung |
| Number of wards: | 24 |
| Total area: | 5,639 km² (2,177 square miles) |
| Population: | 202,009 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Tumisang Gaoraelwe |
About
The Greater Taung Local Municipality was established in 2000 after the amalgamation of Reivilo Municipality and Pudimoe Transitional Council.
The Greater Taung Local Municipality is geographically located in the southwestern region of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
The Greater Taung Local Municipality comprises 24 wards and covers an area of 5,639 km² (2,177 square miles), making it the third-largest of five local municipalities in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
The municipal area is predominantly rural and contains 106 widely scattered villages.
The Greater Taung Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Kagisano-Molopo and Naledi Local Municipalities to the north
- Mamusa and Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipalities to the east
- Phokwane, Magareng, and Dikgatlong Local Municipalities in the Frances Baard District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province to the south
- Ga-Segonyana and Joe Morolong Local Municipalities in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province to the west
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Greater Taung Local Municipality is in Taung.
Taung has recognisable tourism sites which can contribute to job creation and entertainment for local and neighbouring communities. These are in the form of Thomeng Waterfalls, Taung Skull, Morathong, and Dinkgwaneng.
Taung College of Agriculture, Taung Hotel School & Convention Centre, and Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sport Development Foundation, as well as proximity to Sol Plaatjie and North West Universities, contribute to the development of critical skills among the Young people of Taung.
Greater Taung has a rich heritage that visitors can explore. The area also has strong agricultural significance in the South African economy.
The Taung Skull Heritage Route is a fascinating journey of discovery. The route follows an area in which early man once lived, and it has many sites that show us the existence and evolution of our ancient ancestors.
Spanning more than 45 kilometres, the route includes several natural wonders, such as Thomeng (an unusual limestone waterfall) and Blue Pools (a collection of rock pools, streams, and caves in a valley). It was at the limestone diggings on this route, at the old Buxton quarry, that the lime-encrusted skull of a child was found in 1924. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a monument has been put in place to mark the discovery.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Greater Taung Local Municipality has a population of 202,009 people, compared to 167,827 in 2016 and 177,642 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.25%.
According to the 2022 Census, 32.7% of the population is under the age of 15, 59.3% is between 15 and 64, and 8.1% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 98.2% of the population in the Greater Taung Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 1% as Coloured, 0.4% as White, and 0.2% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 90.3% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 1.7% speak isiXhosa, 1.5% speak Sesotho, 1.5% speak English, and 5% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Greater Taung Local Municipality are tourism, agriculture, and culture.
Agriculture
Agriculture contributes to employment for low, semi, and high-skilled workers, contributes to rural income, improves food security, and reduces poverty in Greater Taung.
The sector comprises subsistence and commercial farming. Bolstered by high-quality soil and water availability, agriculture in the Greater Taung Local Municipality consists of crop (maize, barley, and wheat) and livestock.
Culture
Promotion and development of Arts, Culture and Heritage is a key strategy imperative for the Greater Taung Local Municipality. A sound working relationship between the Municipality and the three Traditional Authorities (Ba-Ga Maidi, Ba-Ga Phuduhucwana, and Ba-Ga Mothibi) plays an important role in this regard.
The annual Cultural Calabash hosted by Mmabana Foundation goes a long way in unearthing and nurturing Arts and Culture talent and boosting the local economy.
Tourism
In the Taung Skull Heritage Route, which spans 45 kilometres of natural wonders from Bluepool to Thomeng Waterfalls, as well as Morathong and Dikgwaneng, Taung has promising tourist attractions.
In Taung and Spitskop Dams, Taung has a huge potential for fishing, water sports, and recreation.
The main tourist attractions in the Greater Taung Local Municipality are;
- Taung Skull & Thomeng Waterfall (World Heritage Site)
- Taung Dam
- Dinkgwaneng San Rock Art Site
- Kgosi Galeshewe Memorial Site
- Mmabana Cultural Centre
Municipal council and management
The Greater Taung municipal council is comprised of 48 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 24 wards, while the remaining 24 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 28 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 28 – EFF: 11 – AICM: 2 – F4SD: 2 – ACDP: 1 – AIC: 1 – DA: 1 – NFP: 1 – PA: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Tumisang Gaoraelwe |
| Speaker | Keamogetse Moipolai |
| Chief Whip | Masego Mokua |
| Other Council Members | – Linda Mabengwane (Chairperson: Information and Communication Technology) – Itumeleng Maribe (Chairperson: Infrastructure) – Amogelang Matuane (Chairperson: Human Settlement and Spatial Planning) – Mosetsanagape Mosinkiemang (Chairperson, Community Services) – Nonteto Tafane (Chairperson: Corporate Services) – Nosi Ntasi (Chairperson: Finance) – Thandiwe Sebe (Chairperson: Local Economic Development) – Tebogo Monchonyane Tebogo Monchonyane (Chairperson: Planning and Development) |
| Municipal Manager | Katlego Gabanakgosi |
| Chief Financial Officer | Mika Moeti |
| Senior Management | – Tshepang Baloyi (Manager: LED) – Grace Moipolai (Corporate Governance, HR, Planning, Communication, and Marketing) – Hendrick Keohitlhetse (Acting Director: Technical Services) – Paballo Ntlharipane (Acting Director: Community Services) – Beauty Tlholagae (Acting Director: Human Settlement and Land Use) |
| Communications Officers | Ricky Oliphant |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Greater Taung Local Municipality.
- Kameelputs
- Magogong
- Majeakgoro
- Manthe
- Pudimoe
- Reivilo
- Taung
Contact details
The contact details of the Greater Taung Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X1048, Taung, 8580 |
| Physical Address: | Shop 5, Station Road, Taung, 8584 |
| Telephone: | 053 994 9400 |
| Fax: | 053 994 9611 |
| Email: | info@gtlm.gov.za |
| Website: | www.gtlm.gov.za |
