Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the southern part of Capricorn District Municipality in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | Limpopo |
| District: | Capricorn |
| Municipal code: | LIM355 |
| Seat: | Lebowakgomo |
| Number of wards: | 30 |
| Total area: | 3,484 km² (1,345 square miles) |
| Population: | 284,404 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Molala Meriam |
About
Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality is geographically located in the southern region of the Capricorn District Municipality.
The municipality is located 55 kilometres south of the district municipality and Polokwane City (previously Pietersburg).
Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality covers an area of 3,484 km² (1,345 square miles), making it the smallest local municipality in the Capricorn District as it accounts for 16% of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality is in Lebowakgomo.
All sittings of the Provincial Legislature take place at Lebowakgomo Old Parliament for the former homeland.
The municipality is divided into 30 wards which comprise a total of 94 settlements..
Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Polokwane Local Municipality to the north
- Mogalakwena and Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipalities in the Waterberg District Municipality to the west
- Ephraim Mogale, Makhuduthamaga, and Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipalities in the Sekhukhune District Municipality to the south
- Maruleng Local Municipality in the Mopani District Municipality to the east
- Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality in the Mopani District Municipality to the northeast
Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality is predominantly rural with about 95% of its land falling under the jurisdiction of Traditional Authorities.
Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality has very high levels of poverty, with more than 15% of households without any form of income.
However, literacy rates have increased over the years, providing labour resources that can take up employment opportunities above basic elementary occupations. The increased literacy levels may also, to some extent, have contributed to the increased employment rates in the area.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality has a population of 284,404 people, compared to 235,380 in 2016, and 231,239 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.01%.
According to the 2022 Census, 32.7% of the population is under the age of 15, 58.8% is between 15 and 64, and 8.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.6% of the population in Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.1% as Coloured, 0.1% as White, and 0.1% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 86.9% of the population speaks Sepedi as their first language, 4.6% speak isiNdebele, 3.8% speak Xitsonga, and 4.7% speak other languages.
Municipal council and management
The Lepelle-Nkumpi municipal council is comprised of 60 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 30 wards, while the remaining 30 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 40 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 40 – EFF: 12 – DOP: 4 – DA: 2 – LEBCO: 1 – MSM: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Molala Meriam |
| Speaker | Ngwanakoane Joyce Nkoabela |
| Chief Whip | Seriting Given Sello |
| Other Council Members | – PE Ledwaba (Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury) – MD Matsimela (Portfolio Head: Community Services) – DP Mazwi (Portfolio Head: Corporate Services) – RO Molomo (Portfolio Head: Land, LED, Planning and Housing) – SM Mphofela (Portfolio Head: Roads, Transport and Electricity) – RTF Nkoana (Portfolio Head: Water and Sanitation) – Itumeleng Gift Ratau (Portfolio Head: Sports, Arts and Culture) – David Tsela (Portfolio Head: Health and Social Development) |
| Municipal Manager | MA Monyepao |
| Chief Financial Officer | Dorothy Diale |
| Senior Management | n/a |
| Communications Officers | Mokgadi Maubane |
Corruption
In late 2023, Thabo Ben Mothogoane, a former municipal manager of Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, and Rosina Mangaka Ngoveni, the former chief financial officer, were arrested in connection with the fraud at VBS Bank.
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality.
- Lebowakgomo
- Moletlane
- Zebediela
Contact details
The contact details of Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X07, Chuenespoort, 0745 |
| Physical Address: | 170 BA Civic Centre, Lebowakgomo, 0737 |
| Telephone: | 015 633 4500 |
| Fax: | 015 633 6896 |
| Email: | communications@lepelle-nkumpi.gov.za |
| Website: | www.lepelle-nkumpi.gov.za |
| Municipality Hot-line Number: | 0800 222 011 |
| Ambulance Services: | 015 633 4101 |
| Disaster Management Center: | 015 293 9700 |
| Lebowakgomo SAPS: | – 015 633 1553 – 015 633 1272 |
| Fire Station: | 015 633 9233 |
