Kopanong

Quick Fact

The Gariep Dam is the largest dam in South Africa.

Quick Fact Image -1,31% Growth Rate

The Kopanong Local Municipalityis situated in southern Free State. It has the largest surface area of the three local municipalities in the Xhariep district, covering 15 190 km2.

The nine towns situated in Kopanong are Trompsburg(municipal head office), Gariep Dam, Springfontein, Bethulie, Philippolis, Jagersfontein, Fauresmith, Edenburg and Reddersburg.

Kopanong has an immense potential for tourism. The largest dam in South Africa, the Gariep Dam, is situated at the southern border of the region. The potential of this huge water body for tourism is endless.

It is ideal for water sport such as sailing, windsurfing, fishing, etc. It is also the venue of the Gariep 500 rubberduck race, which is the longest inland rubber-duck race in the world, and the Gariep Water Sport Festival.

Rank By:
174 ranking by population size
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Camdeboo , Eastern Cape 50,993 171
Cederberg , Western Cape 49,768 172
Beaufort West , Western Cape 49,586 173
Kopanong , Free State 49,171 174
Bitou , Western Cape 49,162 175
Mthonjaneni , KwaZulu-Natal 47,818 176
Phumelela , Free State 47,772 177
Quick Fact

13,4% of those 20+ have no schooling.

Quick Fact Image

According to Census 2011, Kopanong Local Municipality has a total population of 49 171 people, of whom 71,5% are black African, 18,2% are coloured, and 9,4% are white.The other population groups make up the remaining 0,9%.

Of those aged 20 years and older, 6,7% have completed primary school, 33,3% have some secondary education, 20,7% have completed matric, and 6,4% have some form of higher education, while 13,4% of those aged 20 years and older have no form of schooling.

Group Percentage
Black African71,5%
Coloured18,2%
Indian/Asian0,4%
White9,4%
Other0,5%
Age Males Females
0-4 5,4% 5,4%
5-9 5,1% 5,1%
10-14 4,3% 4,3%
15-19 4,5% 4,4%
20-24 4,7% 4,5%
25-29 4,6% 4,1%
30-34 3,6% 3,3%
35-39 3,1% 3,3%
40-44 3% 3,1%
45-49 2,5% 2,5%
50-54 2,1% 2,4%
55-59 1,9% 2,2%
60-64 1,5% 2%
65-69 1% 1,3%
70-74 0,8% 1,1%
75-79 0,5% 0,7%
80-84 0,3% 0,4%
85+ 0,2% 0,5%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 33,8%
English 1,8%
IsiNdebele 0,2%
IsiXhosa 20%
IsiZulu 0,5%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 36,8%
Setswana 2,3%
Sign Language 0,7%
SiSwati 0%
Tshivenda 0,1%
Xitsonga 0,1%
Other 0.5%
Not Applicable 3%
Group Percentage
Married 20,8%
Living together like married partners 11,7%
Never married 61,3%
Widower/Widow 4,4%
Separated 0,8%
Divorced 0,9%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 3,2%
Some Primary 45,8%
Completed Primary 7,2%
Some Secondary 31,2%
Completed Secondary 8,7%
Higher Education 0,6%
Not Applicable 3,3%
Sex Percentage
Female 51%
Male 49%
Quick Fact

92,6% Use electricity for lighting.

Quick Fact Image

There are 15 643 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 3,0 persons per household.

46,7% of households have access to piped water either in their dwelling or in the yard. Only 1,3% of households do not have access to piped water.

92,6% of households have access to electricity for lighting.

Area Percentage
Urban 84,3%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 15,7%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 80,3% 19,7%
Computer 11,8% 88,2%
Television 73% 27%
Satellite Television 27,4% 72,6%
Radio 70,8% 29,2%
Landline / Telephone 11% 89%
Motor Car 22,6% 77,4%
Refrigerator 70,4% 29,6%
Electric / Gas-Stove 86,7% 13,3%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 86,3% 52,3% 92,6%
Gas 3,3% 2,6% 0,1%
Paraffin 6,7% 22,4% 0,7%
Solar 0,2% 0,2% 0,6%
Candles 0% 0% 5,8%
Wood 2,9% 12,5% 0%
Coal 0,1% 0,7% 0%
Animal Dung 0,2% 0,3% 0%
Other 0% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 9% 0,2%
Access Percentage
From Home 3,9%
From Cellphone 13,5%
From Work 2,5%
From Elsewhere 6,9%
No Access 73,3%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 21,8%
Owned and fully paid off 46,6%
Owned but not yet paid off 4,2%
Occupied rent free 23,6%
Other 3,9%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 79,8%
Borehole 16,5%
Spring 0,2%
Rain water tank 0,2%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 0,4%
River/Stream 0,1%
Water vendor 0,3%
Water tanker 1,4%
Other 1,1%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 6,3%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 82,1%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 3,4%
Chemical toilet 0,3%
Pit toilet with ventilation 1,9%
Pit toilet without ventilation 2,3%
Bucket toilet 1,6%
Other 2,1%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 76,5%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1,2%
Communal refuse dump 1,3%
Own refuse dump 17,4%
No rubbish disposal 2,4%
Other 1,3%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 76,5%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1,2%
Communal refuse dump 1,3%
Own refuse dump 17,4%
No rubbish disposal 2,4%
Other 1,3%
Quick Fact

33,6% Youth unemployment rate.

Quick Fact Image 27% are Unemployed

Of the 15 529 people who are economically active (employed or unemployed but looking for work), 27% are unemployed. Of the 8 095 economically active youth (15 – 34years) in the area, 33,6% are unemployed.

Employment Status Number
Employed 11336
Unemployed 4193
Discouraged Work Seeker 2078
Not Economically Active 13625
Income Percentage
None income 11,3%
R1 - R4,800 4,8%
R4,801 - R9,600 6,8%
R9,601 - R19,600 26,2%
R19,601 - R38,200 22,5%
R38,201 - R76,4000 13%
R76,401 - R153,800 7,6%
R153,801 - R307,600 4,6%
R307,601 - R614,400 1,9%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,7%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,3%
R2,457,601+ 0,2%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 1,555
Poultry production 1,470
Vegetable production 1,113
Production of other crops 578
Other 568

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 1,000
Animals only 2,027
Mixed farming 531
Other 139

**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 682
R1-R4 800 116
R4 801-R38 400 2,090
R38 401-R307 200 607
R307 201+ 157
Unspecified 45

Place names

Places in Kopanong Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population49,171
Young (0-14)29,7%
Working Age (15-64)63,5%
Elderly (65+)6,8%
Dependency ratio57,4
Sex ratio96
Growth rate-1,31% (2001-2011)
Population density3 persons/km2
Unemployment rate27%
Youth unemployment rate33,6%
No schooling aged 20+13,4%
Higher education aged 20+6,4%
Matric aged 20+20,7%
Number of households15,643
Number of Agricultural households3,696
Average household size3
Female headed households38,1%
Formal dwellings91,4%
Housing owned/paying off50,8%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage82,1%
Weekly refuse removal76,5%
Piped water inside dwelling46,7%
Electricity for lighting92,6%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population56,079
Young (0-14)31,1%
Working Age (15-64)63,5%
Elderly (65+)6,8%
Dependency ratio60,8%
Sex ratio92,4
Growth rate2,29% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate37,7%
Youth unemployment rate44,4%
No schooling aged 20+21,2%
Higher education aged 20+4,7%
Matric aged 20+13,1%
Number of households17,527
Average household size3,1
Female headed households39,8%
Formal dwellings85,7%
Housing owned/paying off60,5%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage71,3%
Weekly refuse removal69,4%
Piped water inside dwelling24,2%
Electricity for lighting81,3%