Setsoto Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the western region of the Thabo Mofutsanyana 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: | Thabo Mofutsanyana |
| Municipal code: | FS191 |
| Seat: | Ficksburg |
| Number of wards: | 17 |
| Total area: | 5,431 km² (2,097 square miles) |
| Population: | 127,918 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Seipati Justina Mbiwe |
About
The Setsoto Local Municipality was established in terms of Section 14 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998 and was published in Provincial Gazette No. 184 dated 28 September 2000.
Setsoto is a Sesotho word meaning “beauty” of the amalgamated municipalities.
Setsoto Local Municipality is geographically located in the western region of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality.
Setsoto Local Municipality comprises 17 wards and covers an area of 5,431 km² (2,097 square miles), making it the third-largest of the six local municipalities in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, accounting for 17% of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Setsoto Local Municipality is in Ficksburg.
Setsoto Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Dihlabeng Local Municipality to the east
- Nketoana Local Municipality to the northeast
- Moqhaka Local Municipality in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality to the north
- Matjhabeng and Masilonyana Local Municipalities in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality to the west
- Mantsopa Local Municipality and the country of Lesotho to the south
The Setsoto Local Municipality is characterised by its unique demographics, environmental features, and natural beauty, for example, the historical heritage of the mountains near Senekal called Thaba-Tshweu. Also, the richness in agriculture, for example, wheat, orchards, etc. and beautiful mountains boasting of holiday resorts underscore the choice of name.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Setsoto Local Municipality has a population of 127,918, compared to 117,362 in 2016 and 112,038 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.29%.
According to the 2022 Census, 29% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.1% is between 15 and 64, and 7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 92.3% of the population in Dihlabeng Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 4.7% as White, 1.9% as Indian/Asian, and 0.7% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 87.2% of the population speaks Sesotho as their first language, 7.1% speak Afrikaans, 2.9% speak English, 1.2% use South African Sign Language, and 1.6% speak other languages.
Economy
The municipality is rich in agriculture and is known for producing cherries.
The main economic sectors of the Setsoto Local Municipality are agriculture, finance, insurance, real estate and business, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, hunting, forestry and fishing, government services, community, social and personal services, transport, storage and communication, electricity, gas and water, and construction.
Municipal council and management
The Setsoto municipal council is comprised of 33 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Seventeen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 17 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 17 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 17 – SSDF: 8 – EFF: 3 – DA: 2 – VF PLUS: 2 – ATM: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Seipati Justina Mbiwe |
| Speaker | Pakalitha Isaac Mavaleliso |
| Chief Whip | Motsamai William Selasi |
| Other Council Members | – Tommy Ancell (MMC: Admin and Human Resource) – Ntema Khatlake (MPAC Chairperson) – Komane Koalane (MMC: Community Services) – Thabang Elias Makae (MMC: Urban and Planning and Housing) – Thabo Isaac Mthimkhulu (MMC: Infrastructure) – Motsamai Selasi (MMC: Finance) |
| Municipal Manager | Nomvula Malatjie |
| Chief Financial Officer | Lefa Moletsane |
| Senior Management | – Luvuyo Ceta (Manager: Roads) – Wessel De Villiers (Manager: Electricity) – Senzo Kunene (Manager: Project Management Unit and Director: Acting Director: Engineering Services) – Thabo Mokhethoa (Manager: Water Services) – Tshepiso Motsima (Director: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | Moroesi Gaba |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Setsoto Local Municipality.
- Clocolan
- Ficksburg
- Marquard
- Senekal
Contact details
The contact details of the Setsoto Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 116, Ficksburg, 9730 |
| Physical Address: | 27 Voortrekker Street, Ficksburg, 9730 |
| Telephone: | 051 933 9300 |
| Fax: | 051 933 9383 |
| Website: | www.setsoto.gov.za |
