Gamagara

Quick Fact

The total population of the municipality is 41 617 people.

Quick Fact Image 5,84% Growth Rate

Gamagara Local Municipality comprises an area of 2 619 square kilometers, and is located in the north-eastern sector of the Northern Cape on the N14 between Upington and Vryburg. It is approximately 200km north-east of Upington and 280km north-west of Kimberley.

The municipal area of Gamagara consists of five towns:Kathu, Shesheng, Dibeng, Dingleton, and Olifantshoek, a large farming area and a considerable mining area. Kathu is the largest town within the municipality and is also the administrative center of the Gamagara Local Municipality. Olifantshoek is the second largest town and is located near the Gamagara River to the north-west of Kathu. Dingleton is the smallest of the five towns and is located in the centre of the mining activities directly south of Kathu.

Gamagara Municipality has grown from 23 202 people in 2001 to 41 617 people in 2011 (Census 2011).

Rank By:
185 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Maletswai , Eastern Cape 43,800 182
Dipaleseng , Mpumalanga 42,390 183
Emthanjeni , Northern Cape 42,356 184
Gamagara , Northern Cape 41,617 185
Kou-Kamma , Eastern Cape 40,663 186
Great Kei , Eastern Cape 38,991 187
Letsemeng , Free State 38,628 188
Quick Fact

10,5% of those 20+ have no schooling.

Quick Fact Image

The sex ratio is 120,1 males per 100 female, which indicates more males than females. There are  89,5% of the people who attended primary school, with a further 24,9% attaining matric and only 3,6% with higher education.

 

 

Group Percentage
Black African55%
Coloured28,7%
Indian/Asian0,6%
White14%
Other1,7%
Age Males Females
0-4 4,9% 4,6%
5-9 4,2% 4%
10-14 4,1% 3,7%
15-19 3,7% 3,9%
20-24 6,3% 4,9%
25-29 8% 5,5%
30-34 6,3% 4,5%
35-39 4,5% 3,4%
40-44 3,4% 2,5%
45-49 2,7% 2,7%
50-54 2,4% 2,1%
55-59 1,9% 1,4%
60-64 1,1% 0,9%
65-69 0,5% 0,5%
70-74 0,3% 0,4%
75-79 0,2% 0,3%
80-84 0,1% 0,1%
85+ 0,1% 0,1%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 51,6%
English 3,5%
IsiNdebele 0,9%
IsiXhosa 1,1%
IsiZulu 1,2%
Sepedi 0,5%
Sesotho 1,3%
Setswana 32,3%
Sign Language 0,3%
SiSwati 0,1%
Tshivenda 0,1%
Xitsonga 0,4%
Other 2.4%
Not Applicable 4,4%
Group Percentage
Married 26,7%
Living together like married partners 9%
Never married 60,9%
Widower/Widow 2,1%
Separated 0,4%
Divorced 0,9%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 4,2%
Some Primary 40,9%
Completed Primary 6,3%
Some Secondary 30,9%
Completed Secondary 13,5%
Higher Education 1,5%
Not Applicable 2,6%
Sex Percentage
Female 45,4%
Male 54,6%
Quick Fact

87,9% Use electricity for lighting.

Quick Fact Image

Of the households in the municipality, 87,6% have access to flush toilets, 97% have access to piped water.

 

Area Percentage
Urban 97,6%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 2,4%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 93% 7%
Computer 26,5% 73,5%
Television 71,4% 28,6%
Satellite Television 36,9% 63,1%
Radio 61,4% 38,6%
Landline / Telephone 10,4% 89,6%
Motor Car 42,2% 57,8%
Refrigerator 69,3% 30,7%
Electric / Gas-Stove 82,6% 17,4%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 82,4% 72,9% 87,9%
Gas 6,4% 2,8% 0,4%
Paraffin 6,8% 2,4% 2,3%
Solar 0,2% 0,4% 0,3%
Candles 0% 0% 8,7%
Wood 3,5% 8% 0%
Coal 0% 0,1% 0%
Animal Dung 0,1% 0,1% 0%
Other 0,4% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 13,2% 0,4%
Access Percentage
From Home 9,4%
From Cellphone 21,7%
From Work 7,7%
From Elsewhere 1,8%
No Access 59,4%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 46,2%
Owned and fully paid off 22,3%
Owned but not yet paid off 12,2%
Occupied rent free 13,5%
Other 5,8%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 92%
Borehole 5,5%
Spring 0,3%
Rain water tank 0,2%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 0,1%
River/Stream 0,1%
Water vendor 0,4%
Water tanker 0,5%
Other 0,8%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 3,5%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 77,6%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 10%
Chemical toilet 0,7%
Pit toilet with ventilation 3,9%
Pit toilet without ventilation 2,8%
Bucket toilet 0,6%
Other 1%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 90,6%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 2,2%
Communal refuse dump 0,8%
Own refuse dump 3,2%
No rubbish disposal 1,5%
Other 1,7%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 90,6%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 2,2%
Communal refuse dump 0,8%
Own refuse dump 3,2%
No rubbish disposal 1,5%
Other 1,7%
Quick Fact

22,4% Youth unemployment rate.

Quick Fact Image

The single largest factor that has guided the development of the Gamagara area is the iron ore mine at Sishen. Not only does the mine provide jobs to thousands of people, but it was also the reason for the establishment of the town of Kathu.

youth unemployment in the area standing at 22,4%.

Employment Status Number
Employed 16058
Unemployed 3453
Discouraged Work Seeker 873
Not Economically Active 9553
Income Percentage
None income 10,1%
R1 - R4,800 1,9%
R4,801 - R9,600 3,9%
R9,601 - R19,600 11,2%
R19,601 - R38,200 16,8%
R38,201 - R76,4000 16,6%
R76,401 - R153,800 15,1%
R153,801 - R307,600 12,5%
R307,601 - R614,400 8,3%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 2,7%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,6%
R2,457,601+ 0,3%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 612
Poultry production 573
Vegetable production 250
Production of other crops 256
Other 367

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 173
Animals only 731
Mixed farming 216
Other 81

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

Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 174
R1-R4 800 16
R4 801-R38 400 475
R38 401-R307 200 384
R307 201+ 106
Unspecified 45

Place names

Places in Gamagara Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population41,617
Young (0-14)25,5%
Working Age (15-64)71,9%
Elderly (65+)2,6%
Dependency ratio39
Sex ratio120,1
Growth rate5,84% (2001-2011)
Population density16 persons/km2
Unemployment rate17,7%
Youth unemployment rate22,4%
No schooling aged 20+10,5%
Higher education aged 20+12,6%
Matric aged 20+26,5%
Number of households10,808
Number of Agricultural households1,201
Average household size3,4
Female headed households27,7%
Formal dwellings74,4%
Housing owned/paying off34,5%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage77,6%
Weekly refuse removal90,6%
Piped water inside dwelling59,1%
Electricity for lighting87,9%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population23,202
Young (0-14)30,2%
Working Age (15-64)71,9%
Elderly (65+)3,5%
Dependency ratio50,9%
Sex ratio101
Growth rate0,87% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate27,1%
Youth unemployment rate37,2%
No schooling aged 20+21,4%
Higher education aged 20+9,6%
Matric aged 20+23%
Number of households5,306
Average household size3,4
Female headed households31,3%
Formal dwellings84,3%
Housing owned/paying off49%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage70,7%
Weekly refuse removal89%
Piped water inside dwelling61,5%
Electricity for lighting94%