Rustenburg

Quick Fact

According to Census 2011, the  total population is 549 575.

Quick Fact Image 3,5% Growth Rate

Rustenburg Local Municipality is a local municipality in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, North West Province, South Africa. It is home to Boekenhoutfontein, the farm of Paul Kruger, former president of the South African Republic.

Rustenburg is a large town situated at the foot of the Magalies mountain range in the North West province of South Africa. Rustenburg (meaning “town of rest” or “resting place”) was proclaimed a township in 1851.

Rustenburg is the most populous municipality in the North West province.

Rank By:
6 ranking by population size
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Msunduzi , KwaZulu-Natal 618,536 3
Thulamela , Limpopo 618,462 4
Mbombela , Mpumalanga 588,794 5
Rustenburg , North West 549,575 6
Bushbuckridge , Mpumalanga 541,248 7
Makhado , Limpopo 516,031 8
Madibeng , North West 477,381 9
Quick Fact

31% of those aged 20 years and older have Matric.

Quick Fact Image

According to Census 2011, Rustenburg Local Municipality has a total population of 549 575 people, of whom88,5% are black African,9,4% are white, with the other population groups make up the remaining 2,1%.

Of those aged 20 years and older, 5,4% have completed primary school, 36,2% have some secondary education, 31,1% have completed matric, and 8,9% have some form of higher education, while 5,4% of those aged 20 years and older have no form of schooling.

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Population GroupsBlack AfricanColouredIndian/AsianWhiteOtherStatistics South Africa
Group Percentage
Black African88,5%
Coloured0,9%
Indian/Asian0,8%
White9,4%
Other0,4%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Sex and Age DistributionMaleFemale0-45-910-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-8485+8%7%6%5%4%3%2%1%0%1%2%3%4%5%6%Statistics South Africa
Age Males Females
0-4 5,3% 5,1%
5-9 3,7% 3,6%
10-14 3,3% 3,2%
15-19 3,7% 3,6%
20-24 5,8% 4,9%
25-29 6,9% 5,3%
30-34 6,2% 4,2%
35-39 4,9% 3,5%
40-44 4,1% 3%
45-49 3,9% 3,9%
50-54 3% 1,9%
55-59 1,9% 1,3%
60-64 1% 0,9%
65-69 0,6% 0,7%
70-74 0,4% 0,5%
75-79 0,2% 0,4%
80-84 0,1% 0,2%
85+ 0,1% 0,2%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4LanguagesAfrikaansEnglishIsiNdebeleIsiXhosaIsiZuluSepediSesothoSetswanaSign LanguageSiSwatiTshivendaXitsongaOtherNot Applicable0%2.5%5%7.5%10%12.5%15%17.5%20%22.5%25%27.5%30%32.5%35%37.5%40%42.5%45%47.5%50%52.5%55%57.5%Statistics South Africa
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 9,6%
English 5,2%
IsiNdebele 1%
IsiXhosa 9,3%
IsiZulu 2,8%
Sepedi 1,8%
Sesotho 5,1%
Setswana 52,4%
Sign Language 0,4%
SiSwati 0,6%
Tshivenda 0,5%
Xitsonga 5,4%
Other 3%
Not Applicable 2,9%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Marital StatusMarriedLiving TogetherNever MarriedWidower/WidowSeparatedDivorcedStatistics South Africa
Group Percentage
Married 29,2%
Living together like married partners 9,3%
Never married 57,8%
Widower/Widow 2,2%
Separated 0,5%
Divorced 1%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Highest Educational Level (All Ages)No SchoolingSome PrimaryCompletedPrimarySomeSecondaryCompletedSecondaryHigherEducationNot Applicable0%2.5%5%7.5%10%12.5%15%17.5%20%22.5%25%27.5%30%32.5%35%37.5%40%Statistics South Africa
Group Percentage
No Schooling 4,4%
Some Primary 37%
Completed Primary 5,6%
Some Secondary 31,7%
Completed Secondary 17,8%
Higher Education 2,1%
Not Applicable 1,4%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4SexMaleFemaleStatistics South Africa
Sex Percentage
Female 45,1%
Male 54,9%
Quick Fact

83,0% of households have access to electricity for lighting.

Quick Fact Image

There are 199 044 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 2,5 persons per household.

84,3% of households have access to piped water either in their dwelling or in the yard. Only 6,3% of households do not have access to piped water.

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Settlement TypeUrban areaTribal/Traditional areaFarmStatistics South Africa
Area Percentage
Urban 68%
Tribal/Traditional 30%
Farm 2%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Household GoodsYesNoCellphoneComputerTelevisionSatellite TelevisionRadioLandline/TelephoneMotor CarRefrigeratorElectric/Gas-Stove0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%Statistics South Africa
Item Yes No
Cellphone 92,2% 7,8%
Computer 15,9% 84,1%
Television 72,1% 27,9%
Satellite Television 24,1% 75,9%
Radio 63,5% 36,5%
Landline / Telephone 5,7% 94,3%
Motor Car 25,1% 74,9%
Refrigerator 62,8% 37,2%
Electric / Gas-Stove 78,8% 21,2%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Energy or fuel for cooking, heating & lightingElectricityGasParaffinSolarCandlesWoodCoalAnimal DungOtherNoneCookingHeatingLighting0%25%50%75%100%Statistics South Africa
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 80,2% 71,9% 83%
Gas 1,7% 1,1% 0,2%
Paraffin 15,7% 8,9% 5,3%
Solar 0,2% 0,3% 0,3%
Candles 0% 0% 10,9%
Wood 1,8% 4,2% 0%
Coal 0,1% 0,2% 0%
Animal Dung 0% 0,1% 0%
Other 0,1% 0% 0%
None 0,1% 13,3% 0,3%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Access to InternetFrom HomeFrom CellphoneFrom WorkFrom ElsewhereNo AccessStatistics South Africa
Access Percentage
From Home 5,4%
From Cellphone 16,9%
From Work 4%
From Elsewhere 3,2%
No Access 70,6%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Tenure StatusRentedOwned andfully paid offOwned butnot yetpaid offOccupiedrent freeOtherStatistics South Africa
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 45,2%
Owned and fully paid off 22,1%
Owned but not yet paid off 9,3%
Occupied rent free 20,1%
Other 3,3%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Source of WaterRegional/Localwater schemeBoreholeSpringRain water tankDam/Pool/StagnantwaterRiver/StreamWater vendorWater tankerOther0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%Statistics South Africa
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 83,4%
Borehole 6,6%
Spring 0,3%
Rain water tank 0,2%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 0,4%
River/Stream 0,1%
Water vendor 2,5%
Water tanker 3%
Other 3,6%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Toilet FacilitiesNoneFlush toilet (connected tosewerage system)Flush toilet (with septictank)Chemical toiletPit toilet with ventilationPit toilet withoutventilationBucket toiletOther0%2.5%5%7.5%10%12.5%15%17.5%20%22.5%25%27.5%30%32.5%35%37.5%40%42.5%45%47.5%50%52.5%55%57.5%Statistics South Africa
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 3,9%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 52,7%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 3,5%
Chemical toilet 1,2%
Pit toilet with ventilation 8,1%
Pit toilet without ventilation 28,9%
Bucket toilet 0,6%
Other 1,1%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Refuse DisposalRemoved by localauthority/private companyat least once a weekRemoved by localauthority/private companyless oftenCommunal refuse dumpOwn refuse dumpNo rubbish disposalOther0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%Statistics South Africa
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 69,2%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 2,2%
Communal refuse dump 2,3%
Own refuse dump 19,1%
No rubbish disposal 5,7%
Other 1,5%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Refuse DisposalRemoved by localauthority/private companyat least once a weekRemoved by localauthority/private companyless oftenCommunal refuse dumpOwn refuse dumpNo rubbish disposalOther0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%Statistics South Africa
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 69,2%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 2,2%
Communal refuse dump 2,3%
Own refuse dump 19,1%
No rubbish disposal 5,7%
Other 1,5%
Quick Fact

26,4% Unemployment rate.

Quick Fact Image

266 471 people are economically active (employed or unemployed but looking for work), and of these, 26,4% are unemployed.

34,7% of the 142 219 economically active youth (15 – 34 years) in the municipality are unemployed.

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Employment for those aged 15-64EmployedUnemployedDiscouraged Work SeekerNot Economically Active050000100000150000200000250000Statistics South Africa
Employment Status Number
Employed 196080
Unemployed 70391
Discouraged Work Seeker 11265
Not Economically Active 120867
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Average Household IncomeNo incomeR1 - R4,800R4,801 - R9,600R9,601 - R19,600R19,601 - R38,200R38,201 - R76,400R76,401 - R153,800R153,801 - R307,600R307,601 - R614,400R614,001 - R1,228,800R1,228,801 - R2,457,600R2,457,601+0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%22%24%26%Statistics South Africa
Income Percentage
None income 16,8%
R1 - R4,800 2,7%
R4,801 - R9,600 4,1%
R9,601 - R19,600 11,2%
R19,601 - R38,200 17,2%
R38,201 - R76,4000 23,1%
R76,401 - R153,800 12,1%
R153,801 - R307,600 7,1%
R307,601 - R614,400 4%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 1,2%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,3%
R2,457,601+ 0,2%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4PercentageAgricultural households in specific activity18,126,617,117,021,2LivestockPoultryVegetableOther cropsOther051015202530Source: Stats SA
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 5,547
Poultry production 8,164
Vegetable production 5,232
Production of other crops 5,197
Other 6,504

**An agricultural household may engage in more than one agricultural activity

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Agricultural households by type of activity42%26%21%11%Source: Stats SA
Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 4,590
Animals only 7,368
Mixed farming 3,603
Other 1,859

**An agricultural household may not fall under more than one agricultural activity

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4PercentageIncome category of agricultural households22,82,339,329,33,50,0No incomeR1-R4 800R4 801-R38 400R38 401-R307 200R307 201+501020304050Source: Stats SA
Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 3,980
R1-R4 800 397
R4 801-R38 400 6,839
R38 401-R307 200 5,105
R307 201+ 613
Unspecified 487

Place names

Places in Rustenburg Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population549,575
Young (0-14)24,1%
Working Age (15-64)72,5%
Elderly (65+)3,4%
Dependency ratio37,9
Sex ratio121,8
Growth rate3,5% (2001-2011)
Population density161 persons/km2
Unemployment rate26,4%
Youth unemployment rate34,7%
No schooling aged 20+5,4%
Higher education aged 20+8,9%
Matric aged 20+31%
Number of households199,044
Number of Agricultural households17,421
Average household size2,5
Female headed households26,4%
Formal dwellings68,7%
Housing owned/paying off31,4%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage52,7%
Weekly refuse removal69,2%
Piped water inside dwelling35,8%
Electricity for lighting83%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population387,096
Young (0-14)25,5%
Working Age (15-64)72,5%
Elderly (65+)3,6%
Dependency ratio40,9%
Sex ratio118,2
Growth rate4,33% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate31,8%
Youth unemployment rate43,5%
No schooling aged 20+12,9%
Higher education aged 20+6,9%
Matric aged 20+24,5%
Number of households113,394
Average household size3,1
Female headed households34,5%
Formal dwellings57,2%
Housing owned/paying off52,6%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage39,9%
Weekly refuse removal43,7%
Piped water inside dwelling21,3%
Electricity for lighting71,4%