Govan Mbeki

Quick Fact

According to Census 2011, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality has a total population of 294 538

Quick Fact Image 2,84% Growth Rate

Govan Mbeki Local Municipality is located within the Gert Sibande district, Mpumalanga. The municipality boasts both mining and manufacturing sectors that contribute significantly to the local, provincial and national GDP (http://cgta.mpg.gov.za).

Rank By:
23 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
uMhlathuze , KwaZulu-Natal 334,459 20
Thembisile , Mpumalanga 310,458 21
Mogalakwena , Limpopo 307,682 22
Govan Mbeki , Mpumalanga 294,538 23
Mafikeng , North West 291,527 24
Nyandeni , Eastern Cape 290,390 25
Mbizana , Eastern Cape 281,905 26
Quick Fact

7,9% of those aged 20 years and older have no form of schooling.

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According to Census 2011, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality has a total population of 294 538, of which 80,5% are black African, 16,0% are white, with the other population groups making up the remaining 3,5%.

Of those 20 years and older, 3,9% completed primary school, 33,9% have some secondary education, 31,4% completed matric, and 12,6% have some form of higher education. The percentage of those aged 20 years and older with no form of schooling is 7,9%.

Group Percentage
Black African80,5%
Coloured1,5%
Indian/Asian1,5%
White16%
Other0,4%
Age Males Females
0-4 5,1% 5,2%
5-9 4,4% 4,3%
10-14 4% 3,9%
15-19 4,4% 4,4%
20-24 5,9% 4,9%
25-29 6,3% 5%
30-34 4,9% 3,8%
35-39 3,7% 3,3%
40-44 3,1% 3%
45-49 2,8% 2,8%
50-54 2,6% 2,5%
55-59 1,9% 1,7%
60-64 1,1% 1,1%
65-69 0,7% 0,8%
70-74 0,3% 0,6%
75-79 0,2% 0,4%
80-84 0,1% 0,2%
85+ 0,1% 0,2%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 15,8%
English 5,1%
IsiNdebele 7,6%
IsiXhosa 5,7%
IsiZulu 47%
Sepedi 2,4%
Sesotho 6%
Setswana 1,2%
Sign Language 0,4%
SiSwati 3,5%
Tshivenda 0,5%
Xitsonga 2,7%
Other 1.4%
Not Applicable 0,9%
Group Percentage
Married 25,8%
Living together like married partners 8,3%
Never married 62%
Widower/Widow 2,6%
Separated 0,4%
Divorced 0,9%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 3,1%
Some Primary 40,3%
Completed Primary 5,8%
Some Secondary 32,1%
Completed Secondary 16%
Higher Education 2,1%
Not Applicable 0,6%
Sex Percentage
Female 48,3%
Male 51,7%
Quick Fact

90,3% of households have access to electricity for lighting.

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There are 83 874 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 3,4 persons per household. Of the households, 56,5% have access to piped water and 38% have water in their yard. Only 1,1% of households do not have access to piped water.

Area Percentage
Urban 96,4%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 3,6%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 92,4% 7,6%
Computer 24,3% 75,7%
Television 80,5% 19,5%
Satellite Television 31,8% 68,2%
Radio 67,7% 32,3%
Landline / Telephone 11,6% 88,4%
Motor Car 35,7% 64,3%
Refrigerator 73,6% 26,4%
Electric / Gas-Stove 83,3% 16,7%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 80,6% 63,3% 90,3%
Gas 1,9% 3,6% 0,2%
Paraffin 5,9% 2,4% 1,2%
Solar 0,2% 0,2% 0,2%
Candles 0% 0% 7,7%
Wood 1% 1,5% 0%
Coal 9,8% 19,8% 0%
Animal Dung 0,3% 0,3% 0%
Other 0,1% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 8,9% 0,3%
Access Percentage
From Home 8,6%
From Cellphone 19,5%
From Work 5,2%
From Elsewhere 4,5%
No Access 62,3%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 35,8%
Owned and fully paid off 38,4%
Owned but not yet paid off 13,6%
Occupied rent free 9,7%
Other 2,5%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 95,4%
Borehole 1,4%
Spring 0,1%
Rain water tank 0,2%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 0,1%
River/Stream 0,1%
Water vendor 0,4%
Water tanker 1,4%
Other 0,9%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 1,8%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 88,9%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 1,5%
Chemical toilet 0,5%
Pit toilet with ventilation 3,1%
Pit toilet without ventilation 2,3%
Bucket toilet 0,6%
Other 1,3%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 91,7%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1,1%
Communal refuse dump 0,8%
Own refuse dump 4,5%
No rubbish disposal 1,5%
Other 0,3%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 91,7%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1,1%
Communal refuse dump 0,8%
Own refuse dump 4,5%
No rubbish disposal 1,5%
Other 0,3%
Quick Fact

26,2% Unemployment rate.

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There are 99 138 economically active people (employed or unemployed but looking for work) and, of these, 26,2% are unemployed. Of the 70 689 economically active youth (15–34 years) in the area.

Employment Status Number
Employed 99138
Unemployed 35249
Discouraged Work Seeker 6787
Not Economically Active 63301
Income Percentage
None income 16,2%
R1 - R4,800 3,6%
R4,801 - R9,600 5,5%
R9,601 - R19,600 12,6%
R19,601 - R38,200 16,5%
R38,201 - R76,4000 15%
R76,401 - R153,800 11,7%
R153,801 - R307,600 9,1%
R307,601 - R614,400 6,4%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 2,5%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,7%
R2,457,601+ 0,3%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 2,885
Poultry production 4,458
Vegetable production 3,805
Production of other crops 1,750
Other 2,752

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 3,263
Animals only 4,448
Mixed farming 1,632
Other 909

**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 2,351
R1-R4 800 348
R4 801-R38 400 4,540
R38 401-R307 200 2,254
R307 201+ 439
Unspecified 321

Place names

Places in Govan Mbeki Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population294,538
Young (0-14)26,9%
Working Age (15-64)69,4%
Elderly (65+)3,7%
Dependency ratio44
Sex ratio106,9
Growth rate2,84% (2001-2011)
Population density100 persons/km2
Unemployment rate26,2%
Youth unemployment rate34,4%
No schooling aged 20+7,9%
Higher education aged 20+12,6%
Matric aged 20+31,3%
Number of households83,874
Number of Agricultural households10,253
Average household size3,3
Female headed households30,8%
Formal dwellings71%
Housing owned/paying off52%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage88,9%
Weekly refuse removal91,7%
Piped water inside dwelling56,5%
Electricity for lighting90,3%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population221,747
Young (0-14)29%
Working Age (15-64)69,4%
Elderly (65+)2,9%
Dependency ratio46,9%
Sex ratio102,6
Growth rate1,12% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate39,8%
Youth unemployment rate51,5%
No schooling aged 20+16,7%
Higher education aged 20+7,6%
Matric aged 20+21,5%
Number of households61,714
Average household size3,2
Female headed households29,5%
Formal dwellings59%
Housing owned/paying off51,3%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage69,7%
Weekly refuse removal82,9%
Piped water inside dwelling33,3%
Electricity for lighting71,3%