The Molemole Local Municipality is a Category B municipality within the 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: | LIM353 |
| Seat: | Mogwadi |
| Number of wards: | 16 |
| Total area: | 3,628 km² ( square miles) |
| Population: | 127,130 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Edward Paya |
About
The Molemole Local Municipality is geographically located in the central and eastern regions of the Capricorn District Municipality about 60 kilometres north of Polokwane.
The Molemole Local Municipality covers an area of 3,628 km² ( square miles), making it the second-smallest local municipality in the Capricorn District as it accounts for 17% of its geographical area..
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Molemole Local Municipality is in Mogwadi (previously known as Dendron), east of Polokwane.
The municipality is divided into 16 wards which comprise 37 settlements.
The Molemole Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Blouberg Local Municipality to the west
- Polokwane Local Municipality to the south
- Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality in the Mopani District Municipality to the southeast
- Greater Letaba Local Municipality in the Mopani District Municipality to the east
- Makhado Local Municipality in the Vhembe District Municipality to the north
Molemole Local Municipality is faced with severe financial limitations to be able to deliver essential services.
About 76% of the population has access to water and infrastructure for water provision within at least 200 meters of the dwelling units.
The lack of a reliable water source within Molemole makes it hard to provide water on a sustainable basis. The municipality relies entirely on ground water for its water supply for primary and agricultural use.
Only about 20% of the households have access to acceptable levels of sanitation or at least a VIP toilet on site. About 83% of the households do not have access to refuse removal.
Most people in Molemole Local Municipality, about 75% of the population use electricity as a form of energy.
The municipality has a high potential for economic development especially agricultural development in Mogwadi (tomatoes and potatoes), game farming, forestry (Morebeng), mineral scanning, and tourism (along the N1 corridor and Tropic of Capricorn needle).
One national road, the N1, which crosses through Molemole Local Municipality linking it with Zimbabwe to the north passes through the Machaka corridor.
The Provincial Road P94/1 (R521) passes through the municipality and links Molemole to Botswana on the western side.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Molemole Local Municipality has a population of 127,130 people, compared to 125,327 in 2016, and 126,506 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.05%.
According to the 2022 Census, 31.6% of the population is under the age of 15, 59.8% is between 15 and 64, and 8.6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 98.4% of the population in Molemole 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, 87.8% of the population speaks Sepedi as their first language, 2.1% speak Xitsonga, 1.9% speak Tshivenḓa, 1.3% speak Afrikaans, and 6.9% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sector of Molemole Local Municipality is agriculture.
Municipal council and management
The Molemole municipal council is comprised of 32 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Sixteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 16 wards, while the remaining 16 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 22 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 22 – EFF: 6 – CICAF: 2 – CIVIC WARRIORS: 1 – DA: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Edward Paya |
| Speaker | Dikeledi Matlou |
| Chief Whip | Masilo Rathaha |
| Other Council Members | – Boitumelo Hlapa (Chairperson: Finance) – Shobane Mafona (Chairperson: LEDP) – ML Moabelo (Chairperson: Corporate Services) – Oscar Motolla (Chairperson: Community Services) |
| Municipal Manager | KE Makgatho |
| Chief Financial Officer | Khanyisile Wendy Zulu |
| Senior Management | – Moyahabo Mabetwa (Acting: Technical Services) – Tiyani Mahatlani (Planning and Economic Development) – Nkoto Modisha (Acting: Corporate Services) – Thimothy Molopa (Acting: Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | Maseforo Mathatho |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Molemole Local Municipality.
- Mogwadi (formerly known as Dendron)
- Morebeng (formerly known as Soekmekaar)
Contact details
The contact details of the Molemole Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X44, Mogwadi, 0715 |
| Physical Address: | 303 Church Street, Mogwadi |
| Telephone: | 015 501 2301 |
| Fax: | 015 501 0419 |
| Website: | www.molemole.gov.za |
| Anti-Fraud Hotline: | 080 020 5053 |
