The Kopanong Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the central region of the Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | Free State |
| District: | Xhariep |
| Municipal code: | FS162 |
| Seat: | Trompsburg |
| Number of wards: | 9 |
| Total area: | 15,645 km² (6,041 square miles) |
| Population: | 51,832 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Xolani Tseletsele |
About
Kopanong Local Municipality is geographically located in the central and southern regions of the Xhariep District Municipality.
The name ‘Kopanong’ is a Sesotho word meaning “meeting place or where people are invited”. The name earmarks unity and seeks to encourage cooperation.
Kopanong Local Municipality covers an area of 15,645 km² (6,041 square miles), making it the largest of three local municipalities in the Xhariep District as it accounts for almost half of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Kopanong Local Municipality is in Trompsburg.
The municipality is divided into 9 wards.
Kopanong Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Mohokare Local Municipality to the east
- Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality to the northeast and north
- Letsemeng Local Municipality to the north and west
- Renosterberg Local Municipality in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province to the west
- Umsobomvu Local Municipality in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province to the west and southwest
- Walter Sisulu Local Municipality in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province to the south
The southern border of Kopanong Local Municipality is the Orange River, which was called the Gariep River by the indigenous Khoikhoi people.
The Gariep Dam is one of the major tourist attractions, as it offers a variety of accommodation and leisure facilities, which are mainly centered around water sports.
There are four formal land-based protected areas in Kopanong Local Municipality, namely the Oviston Nature Reserve, Wurasdam Nature Reserve, Xhariep Dam Nature Reserve, and Rolfontein Nature Reserve. These reserves cover 45740.2ha (3%) of the municipal area.
There are no Ramsar sites in the municipality. There are two biomes in the Kopanong Municipality covering 1524830.3 ha, namely Nama-Karoo and Grassland. Ten vegetation types occur in the municipality. There is also one vulnerable ecosystem, the Bloemfontein Dry Grassland, covering 7.2 % of the Kopanong Municipality.
The Freshwater Ecosystems in the municipality are characterized by one water management area, namely the Upper Orange. Fourteen rivers run through the municipality and wetlands cover 2.3 % of the municipal area.
Basic agricultural products are exported from the municipality for processing and re-imported into the area as consumer products.
Historical events that took place in the municipality, aspects of the natural and man-made environment, and local activities may form the basis for promoting tourism as a significant economic activity.
Some of these events, and man-made and natural environment aspects are: ‘Lake Gariep’ and the Gariep Water Festival, the game reserve at Lake Gariep, Jagersfontein Mine, the ‘Tiger Project’ in Philippolis, the Orange River Ravine from the Gariep Dam wall to the PK le Roux Dam wall, battlefields of significant battles conducted during the Anglo-Boer War, e.g. Mostert’s Hoek, Philippolis ‘Witblits’ Festival, historical buildings in Philippolis, e.g. the Dutch Reformed Church, library, old jail, the house where Lourens van der Post was born, Adam Kok’s house (the Griqua leader) and a kraal and structure where gunpowder was kept, and Fauresmith horse endurance run.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Kopanong Local Municipality has a population of 51,832 people, compared to 49,999 in 2016, and 49,171 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.51%.
According to the 2022 Census, 27.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 63.4% is between 15 and 64, and 8.8% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 71.5% of the population in Kopanong Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 18.2% as Coloured, 9.4% as White, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 37.9% of the population speaks Sesotho as their first language, 34.8% speak Afrikaans, 20.6% speak isiXhosa, 2.4% speak Setswana, and 4.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Kopanong Local Municipality are agriculture, trade, finance, and general government.
Municipal council and management
The Kopanong municipal council is comprised of 17 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Nine councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 9 wards, while the remaining 8 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the 2021 South African municipal elections the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of 11 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 11 – DA: 3 – EFF: 2 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Xolani Tseletsele |
| Speaker | Morekiemang Jerry Moitse |
| Chief Whip | Matana Ennie Masana |
| Municipal Manager | Martin Kubheka |
| Chief Financial Officer | Jabulani Makubu |
| Senior Management | – Marshall Madolo (Acting Head: Technical Services) – Malefetsane Makau (Acting Head: Community Services) – C Pitso (Head: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | Solly Phama |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Kopanong Local Municipality.
- Bethulie
- Edenburg
- Fauresmith
- Gariep Dam
- Jagersfontein
- Philippolis
- Reddersburg
- Springfontein
- Trompsburg
- Waterkloof
Contact details
The contact details of Kopanong Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 23, Trompsburg, 9913 |
| Physical Address: | 20 Louw Street, Trompsburg, 9913 |
| Telephone: | 051 713 9200 |
| Fax: | 051 713 9335 |
| Website: | www.kopanong.fs.gov.za |
