The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the southern region of the Frances Baard District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B1 (secondary city) |
| Province: | Northern Cape |
| District: | Frances Baard |
| Municipal code: | NC091 |
| Seat: | Kimberley |
| Number of wards: | 33 |
| Total area: | 3,145 km² (1,214 square miles) |
| Population: | 270,078 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Kagisho Sonyoni |
About
The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality is geographically located in the southern region of the Frances Baard District Municipality.
The municipality is named after Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje, who was a South African politician, intellectual, linguist, journalist, writer, and translator. He was born just outside Boshof, formerly the Orange Free State (now Free State Province).
The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality covers an area of 3,145 km² (1,214 square miles), making it the second-largest of four local municipalities in the Frances Baard District, as it accounts for a quarter of its geographical area.
The municipality comprises 33 wards.
The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Magareng and Dikgatlong Local Municipalities to the north
- Siyancuma Local Municipality in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality to the west and south
- Letsemeng Local Municipality in the Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State Province to the east
- Tokologo Local Municipality in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality in the Free State Province to the east
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality is in Kimberley, a diamond mining city.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality has a population of 270,078 people, compared to 255,041 in 2016 and 248,041 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.83%.
According to the 2022 Census, 26.5% of the population is under the age of 15, 66.8% is between 15 and 64, and 6.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 62% of the population in Sol Plaatje Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 27.9% as Coloured, 8.7% as White, and 1.3% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 45.2% of the population speaks Afrikaans as their first language, 33.2% speak Setswana, 8% speak English, 5.6% speak isiXhosa, and 8% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality are mining, finance, community services, and trade.
Municipal council and management
The Sol Plaatje municipal council comprises 65 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty-three councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 33 wards, while the remaining 32 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 33 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 33 – DA: 14 – EFF: 6 – PA: 3 – SPSDF: 3 – VF PLUS: 3 – GOOD: 2 – ACDP: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Kagisho Sonyoni |
| Speaker | Dipuo Peters |
| Chief Whip | P van Wyk |
| Other Council Members | – A.N Boqo (Chairperson: Corporate Services) – L Farland (Chairperson: Community Services) – T Gomba (Chairperson: Utility Trading Services) – F Kruger (Chairperson: Intergovernmental, International Relations) – J Makhamba (Chairperson: MPAC) – O Matshediso (Chairperson: Finance) – M Meintjies (Chairperson: Transport, Roads and Storm Water) – P Mohapi (Chairperson: SPELLUM) – R Morwe (Chairperson: Human Settlement Services) – J Ndelaphi (Chairperson: Rules) – O.B Plaatjie (Chairperson: Safety and Security) – N Shushu (Chairperson: IDP, Budget and PM) – Nomazizi Shwababa – P van Wyk (Chairperson: Economic Development, Urban Renewal and Tourism) |
| Municipal Manager | Thapelo Matlala |
| Chief Financial Officer | Kenneth Samolapo |
| Senior Management | – Khuza Bogacwi (Executive Director: Community and Social Development Services) – Desmond Lang (Acting Executive Director: Corporate Services) – Nomonde Tyabashe (Executive Director: Strategy, Economic Development and Planning) |
| Communications Officers | – Sello Matsie – Thokozile Riet (Acting Manager: Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality.
- Beaconsfield
- Galeshewe
- Kimberley
- Modder River
- Ritchie
Contact details
The contact details of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X5030, Kimberley, 8300 |
| Physical Address: | Sol Plaatje Drive, Kimberley |
| Telephone: | – 053 830 6911 – 053 830 6100 |
| Fax: | 053 833 1005 |
| Email: | info@solplaatje.org.za |
| Website: | www.solplaatje.org.za |
