The Moqhaka Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the western region of the Fezile Dabi District Municipality in the Free State Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B2 (large town) |
| Province: | Free State |
| District: | Fezile Dabi |
| Municipal code: | FS201 |
| Seat: | Kroonstad |
| Number of wards: | 22 |
| Total area: | 7,925 km² (3,060 square miles) |
| Population: | 155,410 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Motloheloa Ellis Mokatsane |
About
Moqhaka Local Municipality is geographically located in the western and southern regions of the Fezile Dabi District Municipality.
The former Kroonstad, Viljoenskroon, and Steynsrus Transitional Local Councils and sections of the Riemland, Koepel, and Kroonkop Transitional Rural Councils are included in the municipality.
Moqhaka is a Sesotho word meaning “crown”.
Moqhaka Local Municipality covers an area of 7,925 km² (3,060 square miles), making it the largest of four local municipalities in the Fezile Dabi District as it accounts for over a third of its geographical area.
The municipality is divided into 22 wards.
Moqhaka Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Ngwathe Local Municipality to the east
- Nketoana Local Municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality to the east
- Setsoto Local Municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality to the east and south
- Matjhabeng and Nala Local Municipalities in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality to the west
- The City of Matlosana and JB Marks Local Municipalities in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West Province to the north
The municipality is experiencing rural to urban migration as is the case in the rest of the Free State Province.
Moqhaka Local Municipality is significantly less urbanised as compared to the other local municipalities within the Fezile Dabi District.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Moqhaka Local Municipality is in Kroonstad.
The Greater Kroonstad area is the centre of a large agricultural community that plays an important role in the economy of the district. Subsequently, industrial activities contribute significantly to the district’s economy.
The Department of Correctional Services and the School of Engineers military bases are situated in the town.
The urban area of Kroonstad is situated adjacent to the N1 National Road and is located adjacent to one of the largest and most important four-way railway junctions in South Africa.
Kroonstad has recently become a distinguished holiday destination due to the ultra-modern and popular holiday resort of Kroonpark, adjacent to the Vals River.
The Viljoenskroon/Rammulotsi urban area is located within an area of extreme agricultural significance. The urban area plays a significant role in providing residential opportunities to the adjacent goldfields and mining activities in the North West province.
The Provincial Roads P15/1 and P15/2 from Kroonstad to Klerksdorp in the North West province extend through the area from north to south.
The Steynsrus/Matlwangtlwang urban area is situated approximately 45 kilometres east of Kroonstad and 92 kilometres west of Bethlehem. The major link road between Bethlehem and Kroonstad stretches adjacent to the urban area.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Moqhaka Local Municipality has a population of 155,410 people, compared to 154,732 in 2016, and 160,532 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -0.31%.
According to the 2022 Census, 25.2% of the population is under the age of 15, 66.2% is between 15 and 64, and 8.6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 85.8% of the population in Mafube Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 10.9% as White, 2.9% as Coloured, and 0.3% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 74.6% of the population speaks Sesotho as their first language, 13.6% speak Afrikaans, 3.9% speak isiXhosa, 2.5% speak English, and 5.4% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Moqhaka Local Municipality are mining, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction, electricity, finance, and commercial transport.
Municipal council and management
The Moqhaka municipal council is comprised of 44 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-two councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 22 wards, while the remaining 22 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 twenty-two seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 22 – DA: 10 – EFF: 5 – MOQHAKA COMMUNITY FORUM: 3 – VF PLUS: 3 – PAU: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Motloheloa Ellis Mokatsane |
| Speaker | Selloane Khiba |
| Chief Whip | Mamajeremane Semakale |
| Other Council Members | – Audrey Khotle (MMC: Community Services) – Mapule Lama (MMC: Integrated Development Plan) – Lindiwe Mbona (MMC: Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation) – Tshokolo Ntsala (MMC Finance) – Pile Phamotse (MMC: Public Safety) – Lehlohonolo Ramajoe (MMC: Corporate Services) – Solomon Ramathibe (MMC: Infrastructure Development) – Ramasimong Tau (MMC: Local Economic Development) – Moeketsi Tshabalala (MMC: Human Settlements and Spatial Planning) |
| Municipal Manager | S Mokgatle |
| Chief Financial Officer | J Maswanganyi |
| Senior Management | – T Leie (Director: Planning and LED) – R Oodendaal (Director: Corporate Support) – T Qhena (Director: Community and Social Services) |
| Communications Officers | Dika Kheswa |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Moqhaka Local Municipality.
- Kroonstad
- Renovaal
- Steynsrus
- Vierfontein
- Viljoenskroon
Contact details
The contact details of Moqhaka Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X503, Kroonstad, 9500 |
| Physical Address: | Municipal Building, Hill Street, Kroonstad, 9499 |
| Telephone: | 056 216 9911 |
| Fax: | 056 216 9122 |
| Website: | www.moqhaka.gov.za |
| Customer Care (24/7): | 086 011 2000 or 056 216 9321 |
| National Anti-Corruption Hotline: | 0800 701 701 |
