Mahikeng Local Municipality

Mahikeng Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the central region of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West Province of South Africa.

Overview

Type of municipality:Local Municipality (Category B)
MIIF classification:B2 (large town)
Province:North West
District:Ngaka Modiri Molema
Municipal code:NW383
Seat:Mahikeng
Number of wards:35
Total area:3,646 km² (1,408 square miles)
Population:354,504 (in 2022)
Executive mayor:Tshepiso Mphehlo

About

Mahikeng Local Municipality, like other Local Municipalities, was brought about by the new Local Government transformation in South Africa.

Mahikeng Local Municipality is geographically located in the central region of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, next to the Botswana border, a 3-hour drive from Johannesburg, and about 294 kilometres from Pretoria.

Mahikeng is a Setswana word meaning “place among rocks”.

Mahikeng Local Municipality comprises 35 wards and covers an area of 3,646 km² (1,408 square miles), making it the smallest of five local municipalities in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.

Mahikeng Local Municipality is bordered by:

Mahikeng Local Municipality consists of 102 Villages and Suburbs. Approximately 75% of the municipal area is rural. The rural areas are in the southern and western part of the Municipality and are under Tribal control.

The administrative headquarters/seat of Mahikeng Local Municipality is in Mahikeng, which is also the capital city of the North West Province and the seat of the majority of the National State Departments’ regional offices.

Mahikeng’s rich and diverse history dates back to 1852 when the town was founded, 1899 to 1902 during the Anglo-Boer War, and the Mahikeng Siege.

The municipality is home to the Mafikeng Museum, with its antique steel ceiling, old town clock, Sol Plaatjie’s history, and display of rock species.

The Capital City of the Platinum Province, is the birthplace of the Boy Scout Movement, which took place during the historic siege of the city.

The untapped business market in Mahikeng continues to flourish as the municipality still offers lucrative business packages for industrial, residential, and business development projects.

Mahikeng is a city of opportunities in the sectors of manufacturing, agriculture, cargo and aviation management. The Mmabatho Airport (Mahikeng Airport), situated 5 kilometres west of the Mmabatho CBD, boasts a landing strip of 4.6 kilometres, one of the longest runways in the world. The airport is designed to accommodate large aircraft and is not only ideal for both leisure and business activities but has been used on many occasions to host international as well as national air shows.

Population

According to the South African National Census of 2022, Mahikeng Local Municipality has a population of 354,504 people, compared to 314,394 in 2016 and 291,527 in 2011.

The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.9%.

According to the 2022 Census, 28.9% of the population is under the age of 15, 66% is between 15 and 64, and 5.2% is over 65.

Racial makeup

According to the 2022 Census, 95.5% of the population in Mahikeng Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 2.3% as Coloured, 1.3% as White, and 0.8% as Indian/Asian.

Languages

According to the 2022 Census, 78.4% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 4.6% speak English, 3.9% speak isiXhosa, 3.5% speak Sesotho, and 9.6% speak other languages.

Economy

The main economic sectors of Mahikeng Local Municipality are mining, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and trade.

Municipal council and management

The Mahikeng municipal council is comprised of 69 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.

Thirty-five councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 35 wards, while the remaining 34 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: 18
– DA: 5
– F4SD: 2
– UCDP: 2
– ACDP: 1
– AIC: 1
– PA: 1
– VF PLUS: 1
Controlling partyANC
Executive MayorTshepiso Mphehlo
SpeakerGagoangwe Mathe
Chief WhipMonametsi Moeti
Other Council Members– Ntswaki Monnapulaane (MMC: Corporate Support Services)
– Tshepiso Motshabi (MMC: Socio-Economic Development)
– Bongani Ngobeni (MMC: Finance)
– Koyose Phetha (MMC: Public Safety)
– Morulaganyi Segoe (MMC: Infrastructure)
– Stephen van Rooyen (MMC: Communication Services)
Municipal ManagerDineo Mongwaketse
Chief Financial OfficerNkagisang Rachel Gaeepe
Senior Management– Tholo Kgotlagomang (Manager: Stakeholder Relations)
– Lekgowa Mahole (Manager: Office of the Mayor)
– Thabo Marumo (Director: Public Safety)
– Thendo Masia (Director: Planning and Town Development)
– Archibald Vusumzi Mogatle (Manager: Special Programmes)
– Matlhapi Moloi-Tsae (Director: Infrastructure)
– Dr Lefenya Motshegare (Director: Community Services)
– Johnny Nkoane (Manager: Protocol)
– Shomeleile Benjamin Pelele (Acting Director: Corporate Support Services)
Communications OfficersJohnny Nkoane

Towns/places

Below are the towns/places in Mahikeng Local Municipality.

Contact details

The contact details of Mahikeng Local Municipality are listed in the table below.

Postal Address:Private Bag X63, Mmabatho, 2735
Physical Address:Cnr University Drive and Hector Peterson Street, Mmabatho, North West Province
Telephone:018 389 0111
Fax:018 384 4830
Email:communications@mahikeng.gov.za
Website:www.mahikeng.gov.za
GBV Command Centre:0800 428 428
Persons With Disabilities:SMS ‘help’ to 31531
Women Abuse Helpline:0800 150 150
Child Line:0800 055 555
SAPS Crime Stop:0860 10111
SMS Crime Line:32211
National AIDS Helpline:0800 012 322