The Joe Morolong Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the northern 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: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | Northern Cape |
| District: | John Taolo Gaetsewe |
| Municipal code: | NC451 |
| Seat: | Mothibistad |
| Number of wards: | 15 |
| Total area: | 20,180 km² (7,792 square miles) |
| Population: | 125,420 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Dineo Doris Leutlwetse-Tshabalala |
About
The Joe Morolong Local Municipality (formerly Moshaweng Local Municipality) was established on 6 December 2000.
Moshaweng is a Setswana name meaning “place of sand”.
The Joe Morolong Local Municipality is geographically located in the northern region of the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.
The municipality is named in honour of Taolo Joseph Morolong, an anti-apartheid activist and a member of the South African Congress of Trade Unions, who was born and buried in the region, at Ditshipeng Village.
The Joe Morolong Local Municipality covers an area of 20,180 km² (7,792 square miles), making it the largest of three local municipalities in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, as it accounts for three-quarters of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Joe Morolong Local Municipality is in Mothibistad.
The Joe Morolong Local Municipality comprises 15 wards and 183 villages. It is mostly rural, with about 60% of it comprising virgin land surface.
The municipality has Tribal authorities with eight Paramount Chiefs.
The Joe Morolong Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Ga-Segonyana and Gamagara Local Municipalities to the south
- Tsantsabane and Dawid Kruiper Local Municipalities in the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality to the west
- The Republic of Botswana to the west and north
- Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West Province to the north and east
- Greater Taung Local Municipality in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West Province to the east
The municipality covers one semi-urban area, villages, and commercial farms.
The municipality is accessible via the National infrastructure through the N14, which links the North West and the Northern Cape Provinces.
The Joe Morolong Local Municipality has 4 Police Stations, 168 Schools, 3 Community Health Centers, and 24 Clinics.
Although unemployment is high, the municipality has a great deal of potential for developers, especially those interested in ecotourism and conservation.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Joe Morolong Local Municipality has a population of 125,420 people, compared to 84,201 in 2016 and 89,530 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 3.27%.
According to the 2022 Census, 34.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 58% is between 15 and 64, and 7.1% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 96.4% of the population in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 2% as Coloured, 1.2% as White, and 0.3% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 90.7% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 3.6% speak Afrikaans, 1.9% speak English, and 3.8% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Joe Morolong Local Municipality are mining, agriculture, and community services.
The following mining houses are found within the jurisdiction of our municipality:
- UMK
- South 32
- Assmang
- Blackrock
- Tshipi-e-Ntle
- Kalagadi
- Kudumane Mining Resources
- Baga Phadima Sand Mining
- Sebilo
- Mokala Manganese
- East Manganese
- Khwara
- Lehating
Municipal council and management
The Joe Morolong 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 18 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 18 – EFF: 8 – DA: 1 – F4SD: 1 – SARKO: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Dineo Doris Leutlwetse-Tshabalala |
| Speaker | Violet Jordan |
| Chief Whip | GC Tagane |
| Other Council Members | – N Gomolemo (Chairperson: Planning and Development) – ND Kgosierileng (Chairperson: Community Services) – GG Koatsane (Chairperson: Infrastructure Development) – BM Mbolekwa (Chairperson: Finance, HR and Administration) – KN Tswere (Chairperson: MPAC) |
| Municipal Manager | BD Motlhaping |
| Chief Financial Officer | O Ramukhuvhathi |
| Senior Management | – Tatolo Gopetse (Director: Corporate Services) – MC Melokwe (Acting Director: Community Services) – L Moinwe (Director: Technical Services) – L Mulaudzi (Acting Director: Economic Development, Planning and Tourism) |
| Communications Officers | Tlhompo Mancho |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality.
- Cassel
- Dithakong
- Ditshipeng
- Heuningvlei
- Hotazel
- Santoy
- Van Zylsrus
Contact details
The contact details of the Joe Morolong Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X117, Kuruman, 8460 |
| Physical Address: | D320 Cardington Road, Churchill Village, Kuruman, 8460 |
| Telephone: | 053 773 9300 |
| Toll Free Number: | 080 077 3930 |
| Fax: | 053 773 9350 |
| Email: | – info@joemorolong.gov.za – registry@joemorolong.gov.za |
| Website: | www.joemorolong.gov.za |
