Local Municipality | Statistics South Africa

Maluti a Phofung

Quick Fact

The municipality is named after the Drakensberg mountains (known as “Maluti” in Sesotho). The peak in Qwaqwa is known as the Sentinel, which is called “Phofung” in Sesotho. Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality was established in 1998 and proclaimed in 2000. The most densely populated local municipality is Maluti-A-Phofung which contains 46% of the district’s total population. In terms of enumeration area (EA) types, 27% of the population lives in traditional residences.

Maluti-A-Phofung local municipality is situated in the Free State. Maluti-A-Phofung is a local municipality and was established on 5 December 2001, and comprises of four former TLC local authorities, which are Qwaqwa Rural, Phuthaditjhaba, Harrismith and Kestell. The municipality is comprised of 35 wards and covers approximately 4 421 km2 in extent. Phuthaditjhaba is the urban centre of Qwaqwa and serves as the administrative head office of Maluti-A-Phofung municipality. Surrounding Phuthaditjhaba are the rural villages of Qwaqwa, established on tribal land administered by the Department of Land Affairs. Harrismith is a service center for the surrounding rural areas and a trading belt serving the national road, N3, which links the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Harrismith is surrounded by Tshiame located 12 km to the west and Intabazwe, which is located 1,5 km to the north.

The town is an economic hub for people living in Tshiame, Intabazwe and Qwaqwa. Kestell is a service center for the surrounding agricultural oriented rural area, with Tlholong as the township. Kestell is situated along the N5 road that links Harrismith with Bethlehem. The rural areas of Maluti-A-Phofung comprise commercial farms and major nature conservation centres such as Qwaqwa National Park, Platberg, Sterkfontein Dam and the Maluti Mountain Range. The area is not only a tourist attraction destination, but also makes a big contribution in generating gross agricultural income for the whole of the province and is also highly regarded for its beef production.

Rank By:

18 ranking by population size

Rank view all

Greater Tzaneen , Limpopo

390,095

Newcastle , KwaZulu-Natal

363,236

Mogale City , Gauteng

362,422

Maluti a Phofung , Free State

335,784

Greater Tubatse , Limpopo

335,676

uMhlathuze , KwaZulu-Natal

334,459

Thembisile , Mpumalanga

310,458

People

Quick Fact

8,9% of those 20+ have no schooling.

The cultural and historic landscape of Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality lies within a rich heritage heartland of the Free State. Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality extends over the smallest area in the Thabo Mofutsanyana municipal district but has the highest population density. It accommodates almost 46% of the population of the district municipality. The population is relatively young; almost 33% is younger than 15 years.

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Data

Group	Percentage
Black African	98,2%
Coloured	0,2%
Indian/Asian	0,2%
White	1,3%
Other	0,1%

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Data

Age	Males	Females
0-4	5,8%	5,8%
5-9	5,5%	5,5%
10-14	5,1%	4,9%
15-19	5,9%	5,7%
20-24	4,9%	5,3%
25-29	3,7%	4,6%
30-34	2,8%	3,6%
35-39	2,4%	3,2%
40-44	2%	3,1%
45-49	1,9%	1,9%
50-54	1,5%	2,5%
55-59	1,3%	2,1%
60-64	1%	1,6%
65-69	0,7%	1,1%
70-74	0,5%	0,9%
75-79	0,3%	0,7%
80-84	0,2%	0,5%
85+	0,1%	0,4%

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Data

Language	Percentage
Afrikaans	2%
English	1,5%
IsiNdebele	0,3%
IsiXhosa	0,6%
IsiZulu	10,7%
Sepedi	0,1%
Sesotho	81,7%
Setswana	0,3%
Sign Language	1,4%
SiSwati	0%
Tshivenda	0%
Xitsonga	0%
Other	0.2%
Not Applicable	1%

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Data

Group	Percentage
Married	19,4%
Living together like married partners	6,2%
Never married	67,6%
Widower/Widow	5,3%
Separated	0,9%
Divorced	0,6%

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Data

Group	Percentage
No Schooling	1,9%
Some Primary	42,3%
Completed Primary	5,7%
Some Secondary	34,4%
Completed Secondary	12,7%
Higher Education	1,5%
Not Applicable	1,5%

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Data

Sex	Percentage
Female	54,4%
Male	45,6%

Living Conditions

Quick Fact

89% Use electricity for lighting.

There are 100 228 households (Census 2011) in Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality, with a total area of 4 338 km² and an average household size of 3,4 persons per household. Maluti-A-Phofung is rated as the most poverty-stricken area in the Free State: about 60% of households earn less than R1 650 per month. About 68% of households do not have access to piped water inside the dwelling unit, 70% are without access to flush toilets, and 11% are without access to electricity.

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Data

Area	Percentage
Urban	39,2%
Tribal/Traditional	57,9%
Farm	2,9%

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Data

Item	Yes	No
Cellphone	89,2%	10,8%
Computer	11,8%	88,2%
Television	76%	24%
Satellite Television	27,8%	72,2%
Radio	78%	22%
Landline / Telephone	5,5%	94,5%
Motor Car	17,7%	82,3%
Refrigerator	69,2%	30,8%
Electric / Gas-Stove	80%	20%

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Data

Energy Source	Cooking	Heating	Lighting
Electricity	81%	49,4%	89%
Gas	3,2%	3,5%	0,1%
Paraffin	8,7%	17,9%	1,1%
Solar	0,1%	0,1%	0,2%
Candles	0%	0%	9,4%
Wood	4,4%	11,1%	0%
Coal	1,8%	9,6%	0%
Animal Dung	0,5%	0,6%	0%
Other	0%	0%	0%
None	0,2%	7,6%	0,2%

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Data

Access	Percentage
From Home	3,3%
From Cellphone	16,9%
From Work	2%
From Elsewhere	5,9%
No Access	71,9%

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Data

Tenure Status	Percentage
Rented	8,3%
Owned and fully paid off	65%
Owned but not yet paid off	7,3%
Occupied rent free	16,4%
Other	3%

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Data

Source of water	Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider)	89,1%
Borehole	3,3%
Spring	0,3%
Rain water tank	0,3%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water	1,3%
River/Stream	0,3%
Water vendor	0,7%
Water tanker	1,6%
Other	3%

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Data

Toilet Facility	Percentage
None	2,6%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system)	30,3%
Flush toilet (with septic tank)	2,4%
Chemical toilet	2,9%
Pit toilet with ventilation	15,4%
Pit toilet without ventilation	44,1%
Bucket toilet	0,6%
Other	1,7%

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Data

Refuse Disposal	Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week	24,8%
Removed by local authority/private company less often	0,4%
Communal refuse dump	4,6%
Own refuse dump	61,8%
No rubbish disposal	7,4%
Other	1%

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Data

Refuse Disposal	Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week	24,8%
Removed by local authority/private company less often	0,4%
Communal refuse dump	4,6%
Own refuse dump	61,8%
No rubbish disposal	7,4%
Other	1%

Economy

Quick Fact

53% Youth unemployment rate.

The greater majority of the population depends on subsistence farming and backyard gardens as characteristically is the case with the agricultural landscape and topology of MAP Municipality. The mushrooming of support and service sectors, i.e. arts and crafts, beadwork, sculpting, pottery, entertainment, cultural heritage projects, B&Bs, conservation product owners etc. enable the unemployed and self-employed to earn an income.

Statistics depict a picture of inequality with regard to income generation amongst the community. 42% of the community of Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality is unemployed. The youth unemployment rate is 53%, and 62% of the municipal population is economically active.

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Data

Employment Status	Number
Employed	52867
Unemployed	38002
Discouraged Work Seeker	18379
Not Economically Active	99048

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Data

Income	Percentage
None income	13,5%
R1 - R4,800	9%
R4,801 - R9,600	13,7%
R9,601 - R19,600	23,7%
R19,601 - R38,200	20,7%
R38,201 - R76,4000	9%
R76,401 - R153,800	5,2%
R153,801 - R307,600	3,3%
R307,601 - R614,400	1,4%
R614,001 - R1,228,800	0,3%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600	0,1%
R2,457,601+	0,1%

Agricultural Statistics

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Data

Agricultural households
Type of specific activity	Number
Livestock production	6,161
Poultry production	11,435
Vegetable production	39,772
Production of other crops	17,085
Other	3,461

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

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Data

Agricultural households
Type of activity	Number
Crops only	36,222
Animals only	6,794
Mixed farming	8,067
Other	650

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

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Data

Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads	Number
No income	17,151
R1-R4 800	3,740
R4 801-R38 400	25,495
R38 401-R307 200	4,423
R307 201+	269
Unspecified	655

Agricultural households municipal data per province
Western Cape (download)
Eastern Cape (download)
Northern Cape (download)
Free State (download)
KwaZulu-Natal (download)
North West (download)
Gauteng (download)
Mpumalanga (download)
Limpopo (download)

**Please note that each province contains twenty five tables

Place names

Places in Maluti a Phofung Municipality
Boiketlo Bolata Botjhabelo Dinkweng Dithotaneng Glen Lenie Ha-Rankopane Ha-Sethunya Ha-Taudi Harrismith Jwala Boholo Kestell Kgibiditing Kudumane Lejwaneng Letshalemaduke Mabolela Mafikeng Makeneng Makgemeng Makhalaneng Makwane Maluti A Phofung NU Mangaung Mantsubise Marabeng Marakong Masaleng Masianokeng Matshaneng Matshidiso Matsieng Matsikeng Matsopaneng Mmakong Moeding Mokabatane Monontsha Mphatlalatsane Naledi Namahadi Ntshehele Paballong Phahameng Phamong Phuthaditjhaba Pitseng Poelong Qholaqhwe Qoqolosing Sebokeng Sedibeng Sejwalejwale Sekgutlong Setaseng Setlabotjha Slovo Park Sobea Tebang Thaba Bosiu Thaba Tshweu Thaba Tsoana Thabang Thajaneng Theosane Thibela Tlholong Toropong Tseki Tshiame Tshirela

Key Statistics 2011

Total population	335,784
Young (0-14)	32,7%
Working Age (15-64)	62%
Elderly (65+)	5,3%
Dependency ratio	61,2
Sex ratio	83,9
Growth rate	-0,71% (2001-2011)
Population density	77 persons/km2
Unemployment rate	41,8%
Youth unemployment rate	53%
No schooling aged 20+	8,9%
Higher education aged 20+	7,9%
Matric aged 20+	26,8%
Number of households	100,228
Number of Agricultural households	51,733
Average household size	3,3
Female headed households	50,9%
Formal dwellings	80,4%
Housing owned/paying off	72,3%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	30,3%
Weekly refuse removal	24,8%
Piped water inside dwelling	31,9%
Electricity for lighting	89%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population	360,549
Young (0-14)	34,5%
Working Age (15-64)	62%
Elderly (65+)	4,9%
Dependency ratio	65,1%
Sex ratio	85,3
Growth rate	0,41% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate	57,5%
Youth unemployment rate	67,8%
No schooling aged 20+	23,1%
Higher education aged 20+	5,9%
Matric aged 20+	17,3%
Number of households	90,349
Average household size	3,9
Female headed households	49,2%
Formal dwellings	65,2%
Housing owned/paying off	60,1%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	21,6%
Weekly refuse removal	22,8%
Piped water inside dwelling	16,9%
Electricity for lighting	57%

2011
2001

Economic Stats

Joe de Beer (Deputy Director-General)
012 310 8024
082 888 2600
joedb@statssa.gov.za

Peter Perkins
(Economist)
012 310 8389
082 883 9532
peterp@statssa.gov.za

Social Stats

Gwen Lehloenya (Acting Deputy Director-General)
012 310 8333
082 888 2323
gwenL@statssa.gov.za

Neo Nghenavo
(Director)
012 310 8047
082 888 2613
neon@statssa.gov.za

**Scroll for more contacts by subject area**
Topic	Contact	Alternative Contact
Consumer price index (CPI), Producer price index (PPI), Unit value indices: exports / imports, Construction materials price indices	Patrick Kelly (Chief Director) 012 310 8290 082 888 2248 patrickke@statssa.gov.za	Marietjie Bennett (Director) 012 310 8077 082 888 2194 marietjieb@statssa.gov.za
Government finance: national and provincial government	Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za	Elizabeth Makhafola (Director) 012 310 8977 082 888 9062 elizabethma@statssa.gov.za
Government finance: local government	Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za	Malibongwe Mhemhe (Director) 012 310 6928 082 906 8964 malibongwem@statssa.gov.za
Supply and use tables, Satellite accounts, Regional GDP	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za
Gross domestic product (GDP), production	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za	Bontlenyana Makhoba(Chief Economist) 012 310 8567 bontlenyanam@statssa.gov.za
Gross domestic product (GDP), expenditure	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za	Litshani Ligudu (Director) 012 310 4674 082 884 4279 litshanil@statssa.gov.za
Environmental-economic accounts	Gerhardt Bouwer (Chief Director) 012 310 8241 082 888 2409 gerhardb@statssa.gov.za	Riaan Grobler (Director) 012 406 3474 084 515 2908 riaang@statssa.gov.za
Mining, manufacturing, electricity, capacity utilisation	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Nicolai Claassen (Director) 012 310 8007 076 759 0200 nicolaic@statssa.gov.za
Retail, wholesale, motor, land transport	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Keshnee Naidoo (Director) 012 310 8423 083 689 5341 keshneen@statssa.gov.za
Building, liquidations, civil cases for debt, food & beverages, tourist accommodation	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Joyce Essel-Mensah (Director) 012 310 8255 082 888 2374 joycee@statssa.gov.za
Annual financial statistics (AFS)	Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za	Amukelani Ngobeni (Director) 012 310 2938 082 677 4536 amukelanin@statssa.gov.za
Quarterly financial statistics (QFS)	Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za	Krisseelan Govinden (Director) 012 310 4651 082 901 7960 krisseelang@statssa.gov.za
Structural industry statistics (large sample surveys of industries every 3 to 5 years; agriculture)	Itani Magwaba (Chief Director) 012 337 6471 / 6254 082 905 5143 itanim@statssa.gov.za	Tshepo Pekane (Director) 012 310 8191 083 675 8654 tshepop@statssa.gov.za
Population Statistics (Census and Community Survey)	Christine Khoza (Chief Director) 012 310 2185 071 670 2672 christinek@statssa.gov.za	Angela Ngyende (Chief Statistician) 012 310 4699 079 519 3212 angelan@statssa.gov.za
Demography-Mid-year Population Estimates	Diego Iturralde (Chief Director) 012 310 8922 082 413 2661 diegoi@statssa.gov.za	Chantal Munthree (Chief Statistician) 012 310 6648 082 888 2289 chantalMu@statssa.gov.za
Labour Statistics- Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS)	Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za	Desiree Manamela (Director) 012 310 2145 071 681 2768 DesireeM@statssa.gov.za Malerato Mosiane (Chief Statistician) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za
Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES)	Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 8882449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za	Matlapane Masupye (Acting Director) 012 310 8168 082 317 5340 matlapanem@statssa.gov.za
Tourism Statistics (Domestic Tourism Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Brenda Mosima (Director) 012 310 8168 082 906 7925 BrendaMo@statssa.gov.za
Crime and Safety Statistics (Victims of Crime Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Joseph Lukhwareni (Director) 012 310 8485 082 888 2486 JosephL@statssa.gov.za
Service Delivery Statistics (General Household Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Niel Roux (Director) 012 310 2939 082 904 7919 NielR@statssa.gov.za
Transport Statistics (National Travel Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Solly Molayi (Director) 012 310 6442 083 440 7035 SollyMol@statssa.gov.za
Gender Statistics	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Tshepo Mabela (Director) 012 310 8587 082 941 9383 TshepoMab@statssa.gov.za
Mortality and Causes of Deaths	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Tourism and Migration	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za
Registered Births	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Marriages and Divorces	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za
Living Conditions Survey	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Income and Expenditure Survey	Nozipho Shabalala (Chief Director ) 012 310 6994 082 904 8896 Noziphos@statssa.gov.za	Werner Ruch (Director) 012 310 6318 082 906 7967 wernerr@statssa.gov.za

Maluti a Phofung

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