The Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the northern 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: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | North West |
| District: | Ngaka Modiri Molema |
| Municipal code: | NW385 |
| Seat: | Zeerust |
| Number of wards: | 19 |
| Total area: | 7,323 km² (2,827 square miles) |
| Population: | 161,605 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Dina Pitso |
About
The Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality (previously Zeerust Local Municipality) is geographically located in the northern region of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality.
The municipality is named after Abram Ramotshere Pogiso Moiloa, a key figure in the Bahurutshe resistance of the 1950s. In March 1957, Moiloa, the ruling Kgosi in Dinokana, was banished by the Apartheid Government after he refused to enforce the carrying of passbooks by Hurutshe women as obliged by apartheid law.
The women of Dinokana had largely refused to carry the passbooks, and Kgosi Moiloa had supported their decision. At the first meeting held by the native commissioner, 1,000 women gathered, but only 70 passbooks were taken out, Kgosi Moiloa was deposed a week later. His banishment order was revoked on 1 January 1971. Today, in acknowledgment of his contributions to the struggle for democracy, the local municipality bears his name.
The Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality covers an area of 7,323 km² (2,827 square miles), making it the largest of five local municipalities in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, as it accounts for a quarter of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality is in Zeerust.
The Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Mahikeng and Ditsobotla Local Municipalities to the south
- Kgetlengrivier and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality to the east
- Thabazimbi Local Municipality in the Waterberg District Municipality in the Limpopo Province to the east
- The Republic of Botswana to the north and west
Comprised of 19 wards, Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality is predominantly rural, including considerable land under traditional authorities (around 35% of the municipal area).
The rural part of Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality is estimated at 70% of its total area, with over 40 villages spread across distances of up to 120 kilometres from the main town. Mountainous terrain forms a significant divide between the areas along the N4 and the remainder of the municipal area.
The huge majority of the population lives in a rural or peri-urban environment, which for the most part is unplanned and poorly serviced.
Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality also has a few urban areas, including Zeerust Town (the municipality’s main town) as well as a few formal settlements at Henryville, Ikageleng, Olienhout Park, Lehurutshe (Welbedacht Town), Shalimar Park, and Groot Marico.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality has a population of 161,605 people, compared to 157,690 in 2016 and 150,713 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.68%.
According to the 2022 Census, 30% of the population is under the age of 15, 61.6% is between 15 and 64, and 8.3% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 94.4% of the population in Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 3.8% as White, 0.9% as Coloured, and 0.7% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 86% of the population speaks Setswana as their first language, 4.5% speak Afrikaans, 3.8% speak English, 1.2% speak isiXhosa, and 4.5% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality are
Municipal council and management
The municipality is under S139 administration, effective from January 2022.
The Ramotshere Moiloa municipal council is comprised of 38 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Nineteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 19 wards, while the remaining 19 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 23 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 23 – EFF: 6 – F4SD: 5 – DA: 1 – UCDP: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Dina Pitso |
| Speaker | Portia Letshufi |
| Chief Whip | Petrus Mokgatlhe |
| Other Council Members | – T.G Katametsi (Chairperson: Local Economic Development) – V Kena (Chairperson: Corporate Services) – K Ledikwa (Chairperson: Municipal Planning and Development) – V Mogale (Chairperson: Budget and Treasury) – J.K Mokgatle (Chairperson: Technical Services) – A Thale (Chairperson: Community Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Lekgetho Mokgatlhe |
| Chief Financial Officer | Kagiso Noke |
| Senior Management | – Karabo Masuku (Corporate Services) – Ramojakgomo Mojapelo (Municipal Planning and Development) – Motsumi Mpshe (Technical Services) – Tiro Seleka (Community Development Services) |
| Communications Officers | Dirontsho Sebego (Communication Manager) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality.
- Dinokana
- Doornlaagte
- Driefontein
- Groot Marico
- Henryville
- Ikageleng
- Jacobsdal
- Leeufontein
- Lehurutshe (previously known as Welbedacht)
- Motswedi
- Olienhout Park
- Pachsdraai
- Rietpan
- Shalimar Park
- Skilpadshek
- Supingstad
- Zeerust
Contact details
The contact details of Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 92, Zeerust, 2865 |
| Physical Address: | Cnr President and Coetzee Street, Zeerust, 2865 |
| Telephone: | 087 945 1747 |
| Fax: | 086 697 0729 |
| Email: | – communications@ramotshere.gov.za – info@ramotshere.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ramotshere.gov.za |
