North West Province, South Africa

The North West is a province of South Africa that lies in the north of the country. It was created in 1994 after the end of apartheid from portions of the former Province of the Cape of Good Hope, Transvaal Province, and most of the former Bantustan of Bophuthatswana.

The North West is bordered by the country of Botswana on the north and northwest, provinces Northern Cape on the southwest, Free State on the southeast, Gauteng on the east, and Limpopo on the northeast.

The provincial capital of North West is Mahikeng (previously Mafikeng) which lies close to South Africa’s border with Botswana.

Rustenburg is the largest and most populous city in the province. Other major cities and towns in the North West include Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom, Orkney, Brits, and Lichtenburg.

North West covers an area of 104,882 square kilometres (40,495 square miles) making it the sixth-largest province in South Africa.

With a population of 4,155,303 inhabitants (6.6% of the national population) according to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa, North West is the seventh most populous province in the country.

North West is the birthplace of famous political figures: Aziz Pahad, Ruth Mompati, Abram Onkgopotse Tiro, Moses Kotane, J. B. Marks, Lucas Mangope, Essop Pahad, and Ahmed Kathrada.

Much of the North West province consists of flat areas of scattered grassland and trees. The Magaliesberg mountain range in the northeast stretches about 130 km (about 80 miles) from Pretoria to Rustenburg. The Vaal River flows along the southern border of the province.

The economic hub of the North West is Klerksdorp. Most economic activity in the province happens place between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp, as well as Rustenburg.

Mining is the heart of the North West’s economy and accounts for almost a quarter of South Africa’s mining industry as a whole.

The main minerals are gold, uranium, diamonds, and platinum, mined at Rustenburg and Brits. Together, Rustenburg and Brits produce more platinum than any other single area in the world.

North West also produces a quarter of South Africa’s gold, as well as diamonds, fluorspar, granite, and marble.

North West is also known for cattle and sheep farming. Maize and sunflowers are the North West’s most important crops, and the province is the major producer of white maize in South Africa. Other crops grown in the province include cotton, tobacco, citrus fruits, wheat, and groundnuts.

North West has several tourist attractions that contribute to the provincial economy, including the famous Sun City, the Pilanesberg National Park and Game Reserve, the Kgaswane Mountain Reserve, and the Madikwe Game Reserve.

The North West has a total of 22 municipalities, it is divided into four district municipalities which are in turn divided into 18 local municipalities.

District municipalities

NameCodeSeatArea (km²)
Bojanala Platinum District MunicipalityDC37Rustenburg18,333
Dr Kenneth Kaunda District MunicipalityDC40Klerksdorp14,671
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District MunicipalityDC39Vryburg43,764
Ngaka Modiri Molema District MunicipalityDC38Mahikeng28,114

Local municipalities

NameCodeDistrictSeatArea (km²)
Kgetlengrivier Local MunicipalityNW374Bojanala PlatinumKoster3,973
Madibeng Local MunicipalityNW372Bojanala PlatinumBrits3,720
Moretele Local MunicipalityNW371Bojanala PlatinumMakapanstad1,498
Moses Kotane Local MunicipalityNW375Bojanala PlatinumMogwase5,726
Rustenburg Local MunicipalityNW373Bojanala PlatinumRustenburg3,416
City of Matlosana Local MunicipalityNW403Dr Kenneth KaundaKlerksdorp3,602
JB Marks Local MunicipalityNW405Dr Kenneth KaundaPotchefstroom6,398
Maquassi Hills Local MunicipalityNW404Dr Kenneth KaundaWolmaransstad4,671
Greater Taung Local MunicipalityNW394Dr Ruth Segomotsi MompatiTaung5,639
Kagisano-Molopo Local MunicipalityNW397Dr Ruth Segomotsi MompatiGanyesa23,827
Lekwa-Teemane Local MunicipalityNW396Dr Ruth Segomotsi MompatiChristiana3,654
Mamusa Local MunicipalityNW393Dr Ruth Segomotsi MompatiSchweizer-Reneke3,614
Naledi Local MunicipalityNW392Dr Ruth Segomotsi MompatiVryburg7,030
Ditsobotla Local MunicipalityNW384Ngaka Modiri MolemaLichtenburg6,387
Mahikeng Local MunicipalityNW383Ngaka Modiri MolemaMahikeng3,646
Ramotshere Moiloa Local MunicipalityNW385Ngaka Modiri MolemaZeerust7,323
Ratlou Local MunicipalityNW381Ngaka Modiri MolemaSetlagole4,884
Tswaing Local MunicipalityNW382Ngaka Modiri MolemaDelareyville5,875

List of South African Municipalities under Administration