Matjhabeng Local Municipality

Local municipality in Free State, South Africa

Matjhabeng

Local municipality

Seal

Location in the Free State

Coordinates: 27°58′S 26°44′E﻿ / ﻿27.967°S 26.733°E﻿ / -27.967; 26.733
Country| South Africa
Province| Free State
District| Lejweleputswa
Seat| Welkom
Wards| 36
Government

[2]

• Type| Municipal council
• Mayor| Thanduxolo Khalipha[1] (ANC)
Area

• Total

| 5,155 km2 (1,990 sq mi)
Population

(2022)[3]

• Total

| 439,034
• Density| 85/km2 (220/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2022)

[4]

• Black African| 88.1%
• Coloured| 2.3%
• Indian/Asian| 0.5%
• White| 9.0%
First languages (2011)

[4]

• Sotho| 64.0%
• Xhosa| 12.3%
• Afrikaans| 12.3%
• English| 3.6%
• Other| 7.8%
Time zone| UTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal code| FS184

Matjhabeng Municipality (Sotho: Masepala wa Matjhabeng; Xhosa: uMasipala wase Matjhabeng; Afrikaans: Matjhabeng Munisipaliteit) is a local municipality within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, in the Free State province of South Africa. The municipality includes Welkom, Virginia, Odendaalsrus and Allanridge.[5] Matjhabeng 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. met to work in the mines.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

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.[7]

In the western part of the municipality there is a string of mining towns that runs from northwest to southeast: Allanridge (pop. 19,337[8]), Odendaalsrus (pop. 63,743[9]), Welkom (pop. 211,011[10]) and Virginia (pop. 66,208[11]). Further to the east are the agricultural towns of Hennenman (pop. 24,355[12]) and Ventersburg (pop. 11,260[13]).

## Politics

[edit]

Main article: Matjhabeng Local Municipality elections

The municipal council consists of seventy-two members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Thirty-six councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in thirty-six wards, while the remaining thirty-six 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 thirty-nine seats on the council.

The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.[14]

Party| Ward| List| Total
seats

|
|
|

Votes| %| Seats| Votes| %| Seats
| African National Congress| 46,035| 53.08| 28| 46,605| 53.88| 11| 39
| Democratic Alliance| 18,785| 21.66| 8| 18,869| 21.82| 8| 16
| Economic Freedom Fighters| 9,906| 11.42| 0| 10,093| 11.67| 9| 9
| Freedom Front Plus| 2,720| 3.14| 0| 2,614| 3.02| 2| 2
| African Democratic Change| 2,113| 2.44| 0| 2,154| 2.49| 2| 2
| Independent South African National Civic Organisation| 1,801| 2.08| 0| 1,770| 2.05| 2| 2
| Independent candidates| 2,078| 2.40| 0| | 0
| African Transformation Movement| 729| 0.84| 0| 705| 0.82| 1| 1
| Congress of the People| 424| 0.49| 0| 693| 0.80| 1| 1
| 10 other parties| 2,129| 2.46| 0| 2,989| 3.46| 0| 0
Total| 86,720| 100.00| 36| 86,492| 100.00| 36| 72
Valid votes| 86,720| 98.57| | 86,492| 98.57| |
Invalid/blank votes| 1,259| 1.43| | 1,259| 1.43| |
Total votes| 87,979| 100.00| | 87,751| 100.00| |
Registered voters/turnout| 197,853| 44.47| | 197,853| 44.35| |

### Corruption and mismanagement

[edit]

In 2011 the municipality was described by media as one of the worst-run municipalities in the country. In about four years about R2 billion went missing.[15] An enquiry led by the MEC Mosebenzi Zwane blamed the losses on the municipal manager Ben Malakoane and his predecessor Thabo Pietersen. Zwane's report slated Malakoane as "grossly negligent", "undermining the rule of law" and engaging in contracts "without due process", but premier Ace Magashule referred to the duo as his "comrades".[15] In 2021 five municipality officials were arrested by the Hawks after over R1 million of municipal funds was allegedly misspent.[16] One of the accused was involved in appointing the remaining accused as municipal officials.

In October 2024, the Free State High Court found that the municipality had violated the constitution by failing to deliver essential services and issued a declaratory order. The municipality appealed, but this was rejected in March 2025.[17]

In June 2025, the municipality and its acting municipal manager Thabo Panyani were found guilty of contempt of court and fined R250,000 for repeatedly failing to address sewage spillage issues.[18]

## Socioeconomic issues

[edit]

The municipality experiences high unemployment which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] As of 2021, about 150,000 adults are unemployed. Some 10 gold mines closed their shafts, and suppliers of these mines closed shop. Crime has increased in its towns and townships, especially in Meloding, Virginia, Thabong and Welkom. The reported crimes include theft and vandalism of municipal property and infrastructure, besides illegal mining by zama zamas, costly cable theft, theft of fencing material and vandalism of cemeteries.[5]

## Corruption

[edit]

On 28 July 2025, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, revealed that Matjhabeng's expanded public works programme salaries were being used to fund former councillors and political office bearers.[19][20][21]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lethoba, Thomas (2021-11-29). "Matjhabeng council appoints new mayor, welcome Thanduxolo Khalipa!". Kasi Voice News. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
2. ^ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
3. ^ "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
4. ^ a b "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
5. ^ a b c Seleka, Ntwaagae (5 September 2021). "Matjhabeng municipality: Rampant looting, illegal mining and theft could wipe out ailing entity". news24.com. News24. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
6. ^ South African Languages - Place names
7. ^ "Matjhabeng Local Municipality". Census 2011.
8. ^ Sum of the Main Places Allanridge and Phathakahle from Census 2011.
9. ^ Sum of the Main Places Odendaalsrus and Kutlwanong from Census 2011.
10. ^ Sum of the following Main Places from Census 2011: Hani Park, Riebeeckstad, Thabong, Welkom.
11. ^ Sum of the Main Places Virginia and Meloding from Census 2011.
12. ^ Sum of the Main Places Hennenman and Phomolong from Census 2011.
13. ^ Sum of the Main Places Ventersburg, Mmamahabane and Tswelangpele from Census 2011.
14. ^ "Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Matjhabeng". wikitable.frith.dev. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
15. ^ a b Wa Afrika, Mzilikazi; Hofstatter, Stephan (12 June 2011). "How a small town blew R2bn on dodgy deals". South Africa. timeslive.co.za. TimesLive. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
16. ^ Maroela redaksie (23 March 2021). "Valke trek vyf vas vir munisipale bedrog". Maroela Media. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
17. ^ Seeletsa, Molefe (2025-05-16). "Matjhabeng municipality's appeal rejected amid financial challenges, service delivery collapse". The Citizen. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
18. ^ Sidimba, Loyiso. "Matjhabeng Municipality fined R250,000 for contempt of court over sewage spill". IOL. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
19. ^ Tamelinth, Michael (2025-07-28). "Matjhabeng's EPWP payroll funds former councillors and political office bearers - Free State World". Retrieved 2025-07-28.
20. ^ https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2025-07-28-macpherson-halts-epwp-funds-to-free-state-municipality-amid-political-gains/#Echobox=1753702272
21. ^ SABC News (2025-07-28). Matjhabeng Local Municipality | EPWP funds halted over salary irregularities. Retrieved 2025-07-28 - via YouTube.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Lejweleputswa District Municipality, Free State

District seat: Welkom

Masilonyana|

* Brandfort
* Florisbad
* Soutpan
* Theunissen
* Verkeerdevlei
* Winburg

Lejweleputswa District within South Africa

Tokologo|

* Boshof
* Dealesville
* Hertzogville

Tswelopele|

* Bultfontein
* Hoopstad

Matjhabeng|

* Allanridge
* Hennenman
* Odendaalsrus
* Riebeeckstad
* Thabong
* Ventersburg
* Virginia
* Welkom
* Whites

Nala|

* Balkfontein
* Bothaville
* Wesselsbron

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities of the Free State

Metropolitan|

* Mangaung

District
and local|

| Xhariep|

* Letsemeng
* Kopanong
* Mohokare

|

Lejweleputswa|

* Masilonyana
* Tokologo
* Tswelopele
* Matjhabeng
* Nala

Thabo Mofutsanyana|

* Setsoto
* Dihlabeng
* Nketoana
* Maluti-a-Phofung
* Phumelela
* Mantsopa

Fezile Dabi|

* Moqhaka
* Ngwathe
* Metsimaholo
* Mafube

List of municipalities in the Free State

Authority control databases |

* Yale LUX

|

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