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North West Province, South Africa

North West
Bokone Bophirima (Tswana)
Noordwes (Afrikaans)
Province of South Africa
Coat of arms of North West
Coat of arms
Motto: Kagiso le Tswelelopele (Peace and Prosperity)
Map showing the location of the North West province in South Africa
Location of North West in South Africa
Country South Africa
Established 27 April 1994
Capital Mahikeng
Largest city Rustenburg
Districts
Government
 • Type Parliamentary system
 • Premier Supra Mahumapelo (ANC)
Area
 • Total 104,882 km2 (40,495 sq mi)
Area rank 6th in South Africa
Highest elevation 1,805 m (5,922 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 3,509,953
 • Estimate (2015) 3,707,000
 • Rank 7th in South Africa
 • Density 33/km2 (87/sq mi)
 • Density rank 7th in South Africa
Population groups
 • Black African 89.8%
 • White 7.3%
 • Coloured 2.0%
 • Indian or Asian 0.6%
Languages
 • Tswana 63.4%
 • Afrikaans 9.0%
 • Sotho 5.8%
 • Xhosa 5.5%
 • Tsonga 3.7%
Time zone SAST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code ZA-NW
Website www.NWPG.gov.za

North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mahikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre of Gauteng.

North West was created after the end of Apartheid in 1994, and includes parts of the former Transvaal Province and Cape Province, as well as most of the former Bantustan of Bophuthatswana. It was the scene of political violence in Khutsong, Merafong City Local Municipality in 2006 and 2007, after cross-province municipalities were abolished and Merafong Municipality was transferred entirely to North West. Merafong has since been transferred to Gauteng province in 2009.

The provincial government consists of a premier, an executive council of ten ministers, and a legislature. The provincial assembly and premier are elected for five-year terms, or until the next national election. Political parties are awarded assembly seats based on the percentage of votes each party receives in the province during the national elections. The assembly elects a premier, who then appoints the members of the executive council.

The premier of North West Province as of 21 May 2014 is Supra Mahumapelo of the African National Congress. He replaced Thandi Modise as premier after the 2014 general election.

Much of the province consists of flat areas of scattered trees and grassland. The Magaliesberg mountain range in the northeast extends about 130 km (about 80 miles) from Pretoria to Rustenburg. The Vaal River flows along the southern border of the province.


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