Matjhabeng Local Municipality
| Matjhabeng | ||
|---|---|---|
| Local municipality | ||
|
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.svg) Location in the Free State |
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| Country | South Africa | |
| Province | Free State | |
| District | Lejweleputswa | |
| Seat | Welkom | |
| Wards | 36 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Municipal council | |
| • Mayor | Nkosenjani Speelman (ANC) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5,155 km2 (1,990 sq mi) | |
| Population (2011) | ||
| • Total | 406,461 | |
| • Density | 79/km2 (200/sq mi) | |
| Racial makeup (2011) | ||
| • Black African | 87.7% | |
| • Coloured | 2.1% | |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% | |
| • White | 9.6% | |
| First languages (2011) | ||
| • Sotho | 64.0% | |
| • Xhosa | 12.3% | |
| • Afrikaans | 12.3% | |
| • English | 3.6% | |
| • Other | 7.8% | |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) | |
| Municipal code | FS184 | |
Matjhabeng Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Lejweleputswa District of the Free State in South Africa, that includes the city of Welkom. The name is a Sesotho word meaning "where nations meet". It is derived from the migrant labour system where people from various countries like Lesotho, Mozambique, etc. meet to work in the mines of the Goldfields.
In 2011 the municipality came into the news as one of the worst examples of the widespread corruption under the ANC. In about four years about R2bn went missing
The municipality covers an area of 5,155 square kilometres (1,990 sq mi) in the goldfields of the central Free State, north of Bloemfontein and south of Kroonstad. According to the 2011 census it has a population of 406,461 people in 123,195 households. Of this population, 88% describe themselves as "Black African", 10% as "White", and 2% as "Coloured". The first language of 64% of the population is Sotho, while 12% speak Xhosa, 12% speak Afrikaans and 4% speak English.
In the western part of the municipality there is a string of mining towns that runs from northwest to southeast: Allanridge (pop. 19,337), Odendaalsrus (pop. 63,743), Welkom (pop. 211,011) and Virginia (pop. 66,208). Further to the east are the agricultural towns of Hennenman (pop. 24,355) and Ventersburg (pop. 11,260).
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