Phumelela

Quick Fact

The name “Phumelela” means “to succeed” in isiZulu. Phumelela is situated in the Eastern Free State, to the north-east of Bloemfontein. The municipality accommodates approximately 47 772 people and covers an area of 8 183km2. In terms ofenumeration area (EA) types, 73% of the population lives in formal residences.

Quick Fact Image 0,83% Growth Rate

The Phumelela Local Municipality forms part of the Thabo Mofutsanyane District. The local municipality area measures 8 183 km2 in extend and comprises of the following towns:Vrede, Warden and Memel, as well as a part of the former Riemland and Drakensberg TRCs. The terrain indicates that the most eastern part of Phumelela, including Memel and a stretch of ground towards the north-west, consists of low mountains. The Warden and Vrede areas are strongly undulating, irregular land. The whole Phumelela local municipality grounds fall in the Vaal River catchment’s drainage region.

Rank By:
177 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Kopanong , Free State 49,171 174
Bitou , Western Cape 49,162 175
Mthonjaneni , KwaZulu-Natal 47,818 176
Phumelela , Free State 47,772 177
Tswelopele , Free State 47,625 178
Emakhazeni , Mpumalanga 47,216 179
Nama Khoi , Northern Cape 47,041 180
Quick Fact

11,3% of those 20+ have no schooling.

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The Phumelela Local Municipality community comprises of approximately 47 772 individuals and 12 888 households. According to Census 2011, the population has decreasedsince 2001. The total population of Phumelela is approximately 7% in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality. 

Group Percentage
Black African91,6%
Coloured0,4%
Indian/Asian0,3%
White7,3%
Other0,3%
Age Males Females
0-4 5,5% 5,4%
5-9 5,3% 5,5%
10-14 5% 4,9%
15-19 4,7% 4,8%
20-24 4,9% 4,8%
25-29 4,1% 4,2%
30-34 3,6% 3,3%
35-39 2,9% 3,1%
40-44 2,6% 2,8%
45-49 2,2% 2,2%
50-54 2% 2,6%
55-59 1,8% 2,1%
60-64 1,3% 1,6%
65-69 0,9% 1,2%
70-74 0,7% 1%
75-79 0,4% 0,7%
80-84 0,2% 0,5%
85+ 0,2% 0,3%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 7,4%
English 1,2%
IsiNdebele 0,4%
IsiXhosa 0,5%
IsiZulu 55,2%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 32%
Setswana 0,3%
Sign Language 0,6%
SiSwati 0,1%
Tshivenda 0%
Xitsonga 0,1%
Other 0.5%
Not Applicable 1,4%
Group Percentage
Married 20%
Living together like married partners 7,7%
Never married 67,7%
Widower/Widow 3,9%
Separated 0,3%
Divorced 0,4%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 3,4%
Some Primary 44,7%
Completed Primary 7,1%
Some Secondary 33,3%
Completed Secondary 9,8%
Higher Education 0,7%
Not Applicable 1%
Sex Percentage
Female 51,5%
Male 48,5%
Quick Fact

74,9% Use electricity for lighting.

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There are 12 888 households (Census 2011) in thePhumelela Local Municipality, which covers a total area of 8 183km2. The average household size is 3,7 persons per household. Within the municipality,69% of households do not have access to piped water inside the dwelling unit, 41% are without access to flush toilets, and 25% are without access to electricity.

Area Percentage
Urban 75%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 25%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 88,9% 11,1%
Computer 11,6% 88,4%
Television 69,2% 30,8%
Satellite Television 21,5% 78,5%
Radio 68,7% 31,3%
Landline / Telephone 9,6% 90,4%
Motor Car 25,6% 74,4%
Refrigerator 63,4% 36,6%
Electric / Gas-Stove 64,9% 35,1%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 55,7% 40,5% 74,9%
Gas 3,4% 2,1% 0,3%
Paraffin 2,4% 1,5% 0,5%
Solar 0,1% 0,1% 0,3%
Candles 0% 0% 23,8%
Wood 24,8% 26,6% 0%
Coal 11,6% 23,1% 0%
Animal Dung 1,8% 2,2% 0%
Other 0% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 4% 0,3%
Access Percentage
From Home 3,6%
From Cellphone 13,1%
From Work 1,7%
From Elsewhere 2,7%
No Access 79%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 23,1%
Owned and fully paid off 46,4%
Owned but not yet paid off 3,9%
Occupied rent free 23,6%
Other 3%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 75,7%
Borehole 13,1%
Spring 1,4%
Rain water tank 0,8%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 1%
River/Stream 0,5%
Water vendor 0,8%
Water tanker 6,1%
Other 0,6%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 6,2%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 59,3%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 3,3%
Chemical toilet 0,5%
Pit toilet with ventilation 2,2%
Pit toilet without ventilation 23,3%
Bucket toilet 0,7%
Other 4,4%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 65,1%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,5%
Communal refuse dump 4,5%
Own refuse dump 25,9%
No rubbish disposal 3,6%
Other 0,5%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 65,1%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,5%
Communal refuse dump 4,5%
Own refuse dump 25,9%
No rubbish disposal 3,6%
Other 0,5%
Quick Fact

34,6% Youth unemployment rate.

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Unemployment remains a critical challenge in the municipal area.Only 7 961of the Phumelela population are formally employed. Agriculture is the main economic activity in the town. Others of importance are private households, wholesale, retail and community and social services.

Employment Status Number
Employed 10681
Unemployed 3624
Discouraged Work Seeker 3125
Not Economically Active 12336
Income Percentage
None income 9,4%
R1 - R4,800 5%
R4,801 - R9,600 8,3%
R9,601 - R19,600 25,8%
R19,601 - R38,200 25,5%
R38,201 - R76,4000 13,7%
R76,401 - R153,800 6,3%
R153,801 - R307,600 3,6%
R307,601 - R614,400 1,6%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,4%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,2%
R2,457,601+ 0,1%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 2,763
Poultry production 2,030
Vegetable production 1,158
Production of other crops 979
Other 630

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 1,006
Animals only 2,803
Mixed farming 833
Other 121

**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 695
R1-R4 800 214
R4 801-R38 400 3,119
R38 401-R307 200 570
R307 201+ 114
Unspecified 51

Place names

Places in Phumelela Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population47,772
Young (0-14)31,7%
Working Age (15-64)62,3%
Elderly (65+)6%
Dependency ratio60,5
Sex ratio94,1
Growth rate-0,83% (2001-2011)
Population density6 persons/km2
Unemployment rate25,3%
Youth unemployment rate34,6%
No schooling aged 20+11,3%
Higher education aged 20+6,5%
Matric aged 20+19,4%
Number of households12,888
Number of Agricultural households4,762
Average household size3,6
Female headed households39,3%
Formal dwellings73%
Housing owned/paying off50,2%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage59,3%
Weekly refuse removal65,1%
Piped water inside dwelling30,6%
Electricity for lighting74,9%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population51,928
Young (0-14)35,2%
Working Age (15-64)62,3%
Elderly (65+)5,6%
Dependency ratio68,9%
Sex ratio89,8
Growth rate2,14% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate34,1%
Youth unemployment rate48,8%
No schooling aged 20+24,9%
Higher education aged 20+4,8%
Matric aged 20+12,7%
Number of households12,131
Average household size4,2
Female headed households37,3%
Formal dwellings56,7%
Housing owned/paying off45,9%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage29,3%
Weekly refuse removal60%
Piped water inside dwelling14,2%
Electricity for lighting63,9%