The Nala Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the northern region of the Lejweleputswa 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: | Lejweleputswa |
| Municipal code: | FS185 |
| Seat: | Bothaville |
| Number of wards: | 12 |
| Total area: | 4,129 km² (1,594 square miles) |
| Population: | 90,561 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Nozililo Martha Ntema |
About
The Nala Local Municipality was formed after the merging of the former Bothaville and Wesselsbron Transitional Local Councils and a section of the Vetvaal Transitional Rural Council.
Nala Local Municipality is geographically located in the northern region of the Lejweleputswa District Municipality. The municipality serves the community in and around Bothaville, Kgotsong, Monyakeng, and Wesselsbron.
Nala is a Sesotho word meaning “Affluence or Plenty”. It is derived from the maize belt and the economic prosperity of the area.
Nala Local Municipality covers an area of 4,129 km² (1,594 square miles), making it the smallest local municipality in the Lejweleputswa District. About 34.9% of the municipal area has remained a natural habitat.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Nala Local Municipality is in Bothaville, which is located approximately 50 kilometres south of Klerksdorp, 80 kilometres north of Welkom, and 200 kilometres south of Gauteng Province.
The municipality is divided into 12 wards.
Nala Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Tswelopele Local Municipality to the west and south
- Matjhabeng Local Municipality to the south and east
- Moqhaka Local Municipality in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality to the east
- The City of Matlosana Local Municipality in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West Province to the north
- Maquassi Hills Local Municipality in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West Province to the west
Nala Local Municipality is located within a significant agricultural region. It forms part of the so-called ‘Maize Triangle’ of South Africa.
Bothaville is strategically located close to the gold mining towns of Klerksdorp/Orkney, whilst Wesselsbron is near Welkom/Odendaalsrus. They are directly dependent on these large urban centres for institutional and commercial support.
Three major rivers feature prominently in the Free State Province, of which two flow through Nala Local Municipality.
The Vals River runs from east to west through the town of Bothaville towards the Vaal River, which forms the northwestern boundary of the municipality, and the Vet River flows just south of the Wesselsbron district and forms the southern boundary of the Nala region. Both rivers play a significant role in the provision of water to Bothaville and Wesselsbron.
The topography of the area is homogeneous, with moderate slopes. The only significant natural feature is the sensitive wetland system found just south of Wesselsbron.
There are two formal land-based protected areas in the municipality, these are: the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve and the Wolwespruit Nature Reserve. There are no Ramsar sites in Nala Local Municipality.
Grassland and Savanna are the two biomes in Nala Local Municipality. Six vegetation types are found in the municipal area. There is one endangered ecosystem, namely Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland, covering 7.9% of the municipal area.
Climate
The climate in Nala Local Municipality is typical of the South African Highveld climate zone. The summers are predominantly warm to hot (November to February), and the area falls within the summer rainfall area. Rainfall is predominantly in the form of thunderstorms with the associated lightning and occasional hail.
The annual rainfall for the Free State ranges from 80mm to 800mm, occurring mainly in summer. Occasional heavy rainfall events of 125mm to 150mm transpire in short periods, usually a couple of hours, due to intensive thunderstorms or cloud bursts, resulting in floods that cause extensive environmental, economic, and social damage.
The region also experiences severe frost, but little snow. Temperatures vary between 13 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius, with an average of 14 degrees Celsius.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Nala Local Municipality has a population of 90,561 people, compared to 78,515 in 2016, and 81,220 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.06%.
According to the 2022 Census, 28.6% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.4% is between 15 and 64, and 7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 93.1% of the population in Masilonyana Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 5.8% as White, 0.6% as Coloured, and 0.3% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 73.3% of the population speaks Sesotho as their first language, 8.7% speak isiXhosa, 7.3% speak Afrikaans, 3.9% speak Setswana, and 6.8% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sector of Nala Local Municipality is agriculture.
Municipal council and management
The Nala municipal council is comprised of 24 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twelve councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 12 wards, while the remaining 12 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) lost its majority, winning 12 of the twenty-four seats.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 12 – EFF: 6 – DA: 2 – N.C.F: 2 – VF PLUS: 2 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Nozililo Martha Ntema |
| Speaker | Ndabeni Ntlebi |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | Sekonyela Joseph Lehloenya |
| Chief Financial Officer | Sandile Busakwe |
| Senior Management | – M Malete (Acting: Supply Chain and Assets Manager) – Buti Modupi (Director: Corporate Services) – Itumeleng Mokotedi |
| Communications Officers | Pule Monnamoncho |
Towns/places
The major towns that form part of the Nala Local Municipality are Bothaville and Wesselsbron.
Below are the towns/places in Nala Local Municipality.
- Bothaville
- Wesselsbron
- Balkfontein
- Kgotsong
- Monyakeng
Contact details
The contact details of Nala Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X15, Bothaville, 9660 |
| Physical Address: | 8 Preller Street, Bothaville, 9660 |
| Telephone: | 056 514 9200 |
| Fax: | 056 515 3922 |
| Website: | www.nala.fs.gov.za |
