The Waterberg District Municipality (WDM) is a Category C municipality situated in the western region of the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | Limpopo |
| Municipal code: | DC36 |
| Seat: | Modimolle |
| Local municipalities: | 5 |
| Total area: | 44,913 km² (17,341 square miles) |
| Population: | 762,862 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | S.M Mataboge |
About
The Waterberg District Municipality was established in 2000 and is geographically situated in the western part of the Limpopo Province.
The District’s headquarters/seat is in Modimolle.
The Waterberg District Municipality covers an area of 44,913 km² (17,341 square miles). It is the largest district in Limpopo Province, making up just more than a third of the province’s geographical area.
The Waterberg District is made up of five local municipalities namely:
- Bela-Bela Local Municipality
- Lephalale Local Municipality
- Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality
- Mogalakwena Local Municipality
- Thabazimbi Local Municipality
The Waterberg District Municipality is bordered by:
- Capricorn District Municipality to the east
- Sekhukhune District Municipality to the southeast
- Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga to the southeast
- City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng to the south
- Bojanala Platinum District Municipality in the North West to the south
- Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West to the southwest
- Kgatleng District in the Republic of Botswana to the west
The District is largely rural and comprises 6 towns, 216 villages, 11 townships, 30 informal settlements, and 80 wards.
The Waterberg District is one of the major mining regions in South Africa with coal, iron ore, platinum, and diamonds as the main resources. Importantly, the District houses approximately 40% of South Africa’s coal reserves, the largest remaining known. Other minerals in the district include chrome, nickel, palladium tin, and tungsten.
The District is home to the Medupi Power Station in Lephalale, the fourth-largest power station in the world.
The District also offers a fantastic tourism experience that combines some of South Africa’s best features. The mountains, Big Five game viewing and exploring a captivating pre-historic past are just some of its attractions.
Waterberg’s rolling savannahs also make it a popular safari destination, where herds of wildlife, an abundance of birds, and diverse plant life can be enjoyed.
The Waterberg District is home to the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Waterberg District Municipality has a population of 762,862 residents, compared to 745,758 in 2016, and 679,336 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.13%.
According to the 2022 Census, 27.9% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.5% is between 15 and 64, and 7.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 91.3% of the Waterberg District Municipality population describe themselves as Black African, 8.1% as White, 0.4% as Indian/Asian, and 0.3% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 56.4% of the population speaks Sepedi as their first language, 11.5% speak Setswana, 8.3% speak Xitsonga, 7.7% speak Afrikaans, and 16.1% speak other languages.
Economy
The district’s main economic sectors are mining, tourism, and agriculture.
The greatest contributor to Waterberg’s Gross Value Added (GVA) is mining, followed by community services and trade.
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 21 – EFF: 6 – DA: 7 – TRA: 1 – FF+: 1 |
| Controlling Party | n/a |
| Executive Mayor | S.M Mataboge |
| Speaker | K.R Molokomme |
| Chief Whip | Bernard Monare |
| Other Council Members | – Gumede (MMC: Community Services) – M.H Ledwaba (MMC: Social Development) – P.S Mabe (MPAC Chairperson) – M.J Maeko (MMC: Planning and Economic Development) – K.B Mangakeng (MMC: Budget and Treasury) – S.R Masipa (MMC: Infrastructure and Development) – N.S Morumudi (MMC: Transformation and Administration) – M.S Taueatsoala (MMC: Special Projects) |
| Municipal Manager | Preciousstone Raputsoa |
| Chief Financial Officer | T Tebjani |
| Senior Management | – V.S Kubheka (Manager: Planning and Economic Development) – P Makondo (Executive Assistant) – B Mthombene (Acting Manager: Infrastructure and Development) – M.Z Namate (Manager: Social Development and Shared Services) – M Tsebe (Manager: Corporate Support and Shared Services) |
| Communications Officers | Kabelo Mosito (Divisional Manager: Communications, IGR and Protocol) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Waterberg District Municipality.
- Amandelbult Mine Town
- Bela-Bela
- Lephalale
- Modimolle
- Mokopane (previously known as Potgietersrus)
- Mookgophong (previously known as Naboomspruit)
- Pienaarsrivier
- Thabazimbi
- Vaalwater
Contact details
The contact details of the Waterberg District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | Private Bag X1018, Modimolle, 0510 |
| Physical address: | Harry Gwala Street, Waterberg District Municipality Building, Modimolle |
| Telephone: | 014 718 3300 |
| Fax: | 014 717 2931 |
