The Tswelopele Local Municipality is a Category B municipality within 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: | FS183 |
| Seat: | Bultfontein |
| Number of wards: | 8 |
| Total area: | 6,524 km² (2,519 square miles) |
| Population: | 56,896 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Kenalemang Rose Phukuntsi |
About
Tswelopele Local Municipality is geographically located in the northwestern region of the Free State Province, about 100 kilometres from Bloemfontein. It is one of the five municipalities that make up Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
The name Tswelopele is a Sesotho word meaning “progress”.
Tswelopele Local Municipality covers an area of 6,524 km² (2,519 square miles), making it the third-largest local municipality in the Lejweleputswa District, as it accounts for almost a quarter of its geographical area. Approximately 47% of the municipal area has remained as a natural habitat.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Tswelopele Local Municipality is in Bultfontein, which is located about 80 kilometres from Welkom and 100 kilometres from Bloemfontein.
The municipality is divided into 8 wards.
Tswelopele Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Nala and Matjhabeng Local Municipalities to the east
- Masilonyana Local Municipality to the southeast and south
- Tokologo Local Municipality to the south and west
- Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West Province to the north
- The Maquassi Hills Local Municipality in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West Province to the north
There are two formal land-based protected areas in the municipality, these are; the Sandveld Nature Reserve and the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve.
There are no Ramsar sites in the municipality and wetlands cover 5.7% of the municipal area.
Grassland and Savanna are the two biomes in the municipality.
There is one endangered ecosystem in the Tswelopele Municipality, namely the Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland, covering 3.2% of the municipal area.
Seven vegetation types are found in Tswelopele Local Municipality, these are: Bloemfontein Karroid Shrubland, Highveld Alluvial Vegetation, Highveld Salt Pans, Kimberley Thornveld, Vaalbos Rocky Shrubland, Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland, and Western Free State Clay Grassland.
Two rivers run through Tswelopele Local Municipality, namely the Vaal and Vet Rivers.
The municipal area is generally flat with a difference of altitude of only 200 metres over 80 kilometres. It gently slopes towards the Vet and Vaal Rivers along its northern and western boundaries.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Tswelopele Local Municipality has a population of 56,896 people, compared to 47,373 in 2016 and 47,625 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.73%.
According to the 2022 Census, 30.1% of the population is under the age of 15, 64% is between 15 and 64, and 5.9% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 91.2% of the population in Masilonyana Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 6.9% as White, 1.2% as Coloured, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 54% of the population speaks Sesotho as their first language, 19.9% speak isiXhosa, 12% speak Setswana, 8.3% speak Afrikaans, and 5.8% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sector of Tswelopele Local Municipality is agriculture
Municipal council and management
The Tswelopele municipal council is comprised of 15 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Eight councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 8 wards, while the remaining 7 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the 2021 South African municipal elections, the African National Congress (ANC) won a reduced majority of 10 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 10 – DA: 3 – EFF: 2 – TYP: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Kenalemang Rose Phukuntsi |
| Speaker | Motshabinyana Raseu |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | – M.S Baleni – K.P Dial – S.H Gaebee – M.C Mphatsoe – M.A Muller – W.M Nkomo – M.J Noosi – R.A Potsanyane – E.J Pretorius (Exco Member) – M.J Rabannye – J.M Radienyane (Exco Member) – T.S Shuping – M.M Snyer – T.A Soaisa – L.E Verwey |
| Municipal Manager | Lucky Leseane |
| Chief Financial Officer | Thabiso Matyesini |
| Senior Management | – M.J Mahlanyane (Director: Community Services) – L.S Malokase (Director: Infrastructure Services) |
| Communications Officers | S.S Rabanye (Director Corporate Services) |
Towns/places
The major towns that form Tswelopele Local Municipality are Bultfontein, Hoopstad, Phahameng, Tikwana as well as their surrounding rural farming areas.
Below are the towns/places in Tswelopele Local Municipality.
- Bultfontein
- Hoopstad
- Phahameng
- Tikwana
Contact details
The contact details of Tswelopele Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 3, Bultfontein, 9670 |
| Physical Address: | 3 Bosman Street, Bultfontein |
| Telephone: | 051 853 1111 |
| Fax: | 051 853 1332 |
| Website: | www.tswelopele.gov.za |
| Anti-corruption toll-free line: | 0800 701 701 |
