The John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality (previously known as Kgalagadi) is a Category C municipality situated in the northeastern region of the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | Northern Cape |
| Municipal code: | DC45 |
| Seat: | Kuruman |
| Local municipalities: | 3 |
| Total area: | 27,322 km² (10,549 square miles) |
| Population: | 272,454 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Pulane Mogatle-Thoane |
About
The John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality is geographically situated in the northeastern corner of the Northern Cape province.
The district was previously known as the Kgalagadi District Municipality but was renamed in honour of John Taolo Gaetsewe (1916 – 1988) in 2008.
The district was previously known as the Kgalagadi District Municipality, but in 2008, it was renamed in honour of the late John Taolo Gaetsewe, in recognition of his contribution to the struggle against Apartheid. John Taolo Gaetsewe was a trade unionist and activist born in 1916 in Maruping village in Ga-Segonyana, Northern Cape. He died in December 1988 in neighbouring Botswana.
The John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality covers an area of 27,322 km² (10,549 square miles) and is the second-smallest district in the Northern Cape province.
The seat of the John Taolo Gaetswe District is in Kuruman, a name derived from Chief Kudumane, who lived in the area.
The district is divided into three local municipalities, namely;
The John Taolo Gaetsewe District comprises 186 towns and settlements, of which the majority (80%) are villages mainly located in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality.
The John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality is bordered by ZF Mgcawu District Municipality to the west and south, Frances Baard District Municipality to the southeast, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West to the east and north, and the Republic of Botswana to the northwest.
The boundaries of John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality were demarcated in 2006 to include the once north-western part of Olifantshoek and Joe Morolong, along with its surrounds, into the Gamagara Local Municipality.
The District’s municipal area is characterised by a mixture of land uses, but mining and agriculture are the most dominant.
The John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality was the richest mining region in the Northern Cape until a decline in mining employment and the near extinction of the asbestos mining industry in the 1980s.
Today, minerals mined include manganese ore, iron ore, and tiger’s eye. The Sishen iron ore mine is one of the largest open-cast mines in the world, and the iron ore railway from Sishen to Saldanha is one of the world’s longest iron ore carriers.
The rural land of the District is used extensively for cattle, goat, sheep, and game farming. The region is also famous for its commercial hunting in the winter and holds potential as a tourism destination.
The north-eastern region of the District is comprised mainly of high-density rural and peri-urban areas, while the western and southern areas are sparsely populated and consist mainly of commercial farms and mining activities.
The District Municipality has an established rail network from Sishen South and between Black Rock and Dibeng.
The John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality entirely falls within the Savanna Biome known as typical Kalahari surroundings.
Apart from Heuningvlei, all the other wetlands in the District are temporary, only filling up briefly after the summer rains. The majority of these wetlands, including Heuningvlei, are classified as “National Priority Wetland Areas”.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality has a population of 272,454 residents, compared to 242,264 in 2016 and 224,799 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.87%.
According to the 2022 Census, 31.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 62.9% is between 15 and 64, and 5.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 84.8% of the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality population describe themselves as Black African, 9.3% as Coloured, 5% as White, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 75.6% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 16.5% speak Afrikaans, 2.6% speak English, and 5.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The district’s main economic sectors are mining, agriculture, and retail.
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 14 – EFF: 5 – DA: 4 |
| Controlling Party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Pulane Mogatle-Thoane |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | n/a |
| Speaker | Ikgopoleng Ephraim Aiseng |
| Chief Whip | Nkagisang Ngesi |
| Other Council Members | – Gomolemo Chere – Abraham Eilerd – Onthusitse Etshetshang – Mosadiwapula Filipo – Goitseone Kaotsane – Ontlametse Kgopodithata (Chairperson: Community Development Services) – Michael Kgosienewang (Chairperson: Basic Services and Infrastructure) – Itumeleng Matebese (Chairperson: Finance, Corporate and Planning) – Djundju Mathibe – Nametsegang Mereotlhe – Tshwaroyaone Moilwe – Kegomoditswe Molusi (Chairperson: Strategic Planning and Organisational Performance) – Thapelo Mosegedi – Michael Motsoare (Chairperson: Municipal Public Accounts Committee) – Phenyo Ohentswe – Koketso Paul – Boitumelo Sebego – Kebolelang Setlhodi – Keikantsemang Tswere – Mthuthuzeli Valela |
| Municipal Manager | Klaas Teise |
| Chief Financial Officer | C.C. Sibanyoni |
| Senior Management | – Tlhomelang Matlhare (Director: Community Development Services) – Motshabi Molusi (Director: Basic Services and Infrastructure) – Lorato Shupu (Manager: Budget and Reporting) – Gerrie van der Westhuizen (IDP/PMS Manager) – Cecilia van Wyk (Manager: Internal Audit) |
| Communications Officers | – Dineo Leserwane – Reginald Mathobela (Secretary: Executive Mayor) – Refentse Mogodie (Secretary: Office of the Speaker) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.
- Bankhara-Bodulong
- Deben
- Hotazel
- Kathu
- Kuruman
- Mothibistad
- Olifantshoek
- Santoy
- Van Zylsrus
Contact details
The contact details of the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | PO Box 1480, Kuruman, 8460 |
| Physical address: | 4 Federale Mynbou Street, Kuruman |
| Telephone: | 053 712 8700 |
| Fax: | 053 712 2502 |
| Email: | info@taologaetsewe.gov.za |
| Website: | www.taologaetsewe.gov.za |
