Umsobomvu

Quick Fact

1,83% population growth rate.

Quick Fact Image 1,83% Growth Rate

The Umsobomvu Local Municipality forms part of the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality which is located in the south-eastern part of the Northern Cape. The municipality is made up of three main entities, namely Colesberg, Noupoort, and Norvalspont, which is also called Kwa-sasizakhe.

Colesberg is the “capital” of Umsobomvu Local Municipality and was named after Sir Lowry Cole,  governor of the Cape of Good Hope from 1828–1833. Farming in the area is dedicated almost entirely to horses and merino sheep. In a sheep-farming area spread over half-a-million hectares, greater Colesberg breeds many of the country’s top merinos.

It is also renowned for producing high-quality racehorses and many stud farms, including one owned by legendary golfer, Gary Player.

(Source: www.localgovernment.co.za).

Rank By:
203 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Impendle , KwaZulu-Natal 33,105 200
Cape Agulhas , Western Cape 33,038 201
Tokologo , Free State 28,986 202
Umsobomvu , Northern Cape 28,376 203
Kannaland , Western Cape 24,767 204
Naledi , Free State 24,314 205
Nxuba , Eastern Cape 24,264 206
Quick Fact

 16,3% of those 20+ have no schooling.

Quick Fact Image

According to the 2011 Census, Umsombomvu Local Municipality has a total population of 28 376 people. Of the households in the area, 41,5% are headed by females. The majority of the population in the municipality are black African at 62,2%, 30,6% are coloured, 5,7% are white, 0,5% are Indian/Asian, with the other population groups making up the remaining 0,7%.

Of those aged 20 years and older, 17,6% have completed primary school, 30,7% have some secondary education, 23,1% have completed matric and 6,3% have some form of higher education. Of the mentioned age group, 16,3% have no form of schooling.

Group Percentage
Black African62,6%
Coloured30,6%
Indian/Asian0,5%
White5,7%
Other0,7%
Age Males Females
0-4 5,1% 5,5%
5-9 5,2% 5,4%
10-14 5,2% 4,9%
15-19 4,9% 4,6%
20-24 4,2% 4,3%
25-29 4,5% 4,3%
30-34 3,8% 3,7%
35-39 3% 2,8%
40-44 2,7% 2,9%
45-49 2,5% 2,5%
50-54 1,9% 2,6%
55-59 1,7% 2,3%
60-64 1,4% 1,8%
65-69 1% 1,2%
70-74 0,5% 1%
75-79 0,4% 0,5%
80-84 0,2% 0,4%
85+ 0,2% 0,4%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 37,9%
English 1,8%
IsiNdebele 0,2%
IsiXhosa 54,2%
IsiZulu 0,4%
Sepedi 0,3%
Sesotho 1,9%
Setswana 0,4%
Sign Language 0,5%
SiSwati 0,1%
Tshivenda 0%
Xitsonga 0%
Other 0.6%
Not Applicable 1,7%
Group Percentage
Married 19,9%
Living together like married partners 7,5%
Never married 67,3%
Widower/Widow 3,9%
Separated 0,4%
Divorced 0,9%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 3,1%
Some Primary 48,2%
Completed Primary 6,5%
Some Secondary 29,6%
Completed Secondary 11,1%
Higher Education 0,6%
Not Applicable 0,9%
Sex Percentage
Female 51,8%
Male 48,2%
Quick Fact

86,7% Use electricity for lighting.

Quick Fact Image

There are 7 841 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 3,5 persons per household. Of the households, 47,2% have access to piped water either in their dwelling or in the yard, while 86,7% of households have access to electricity for lighting.

Area Percentage
Urban 91,3%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 8,7%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 73,7% 26,3%
Computer 11,6% 88,4%
Television 69,1% 30,9%
Satellite Television 33% 67%
Radio 65,3% 34,7%
Landline / Telephone 10,8% 89,2%
Motor Car 21,6% 78,4%
Refrigerator 64,4% 35,6%
Electric / Gas-Stove 80,3% 19,7%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 78,8% 34,5% 86,7%
Gas 4,5% 2,8% 0,2%
Paraffin 10,6% 34,7% 1,7%
Solar 0,2% 0,2% 0,2%
Candles 0% 0% 10,9%
Wood 5% 15,1% 0%
Coal 0,5% 3,8% 0%
Animal Dung 0,2% 0,2% 0%
Other 0% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 8,8% 0,2%
Access Percentage
From Home 4,8%
From Cellphone 14,8%
From Work 3,8%
From Elsewhere 2,6%
No Access 74,1%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 19,9%
Owned and fully paid off 47%
Owned but not yet paid off 5,7%
Occupied rent free 24,8%
Other 2,6%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 83,5%
Borehole 10,7%
Spring 0,1%
Rain water tank 0,2%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 1,9%
River/Stream 0,5%
Water vendor 0,4%
Water tanker 1,9%
Other 0,7%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 8%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 68,7%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 5,3%
Chemical toilet 2,8%
Pit toilet with ventilation 10,9%
Pit toilet without ventilation 0,9%
Bucket toilet 1,5%
Other 1,8%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 76,3%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 3,5%
Communal refuse dump 2,2%
Own refuse dump 15,9%
No rubbish disposal 1,7%
Other 0,3%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 76,3%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 3,5%
Communal refuse dump 2,2%
Own refuse dump 15,9%
No rubbish disposal 1,7%
Other 0,3%
Quick Fact

40,4% Youth unemployment rate.

Quick Fact Image

There are 9 136 people that are economically active (employed or unemployed but looking for work), and of these, 33,0% are unemployed.

Of the 4 817 economically active youth (15–35 years) in the area, 40,4% are unemployed.

Employment Status Number
Employed 6117
Unemployed 3019
Discouraged Work Seeker 1188
Not Economically Active 7492
Income Percentage
None income 13,5%
R1 - R4,800 4,5%
R4,801 - R9,600 6,3%
R9,601 - R19,600 21,1%
R19,601 - R38,200 21,7%
R38,201 - R76,4000 14,5%
R76,401 - R153,800 9,8%
R153,801 - R307,600 5,4%
R307,601 - R614,400 2,3%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,6%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,2%
R2,457,601+ 0,3%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 473
Poultry production 449
Vegetable production 258
Production of other crops 119
Other 149

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 232
Animals only 665
Mixed farming 125
Other 38

**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 195
R1-R4 800 19
R4 801-R38 400 564
R38 401-R307 200 227
R307 201+ 44
Unspecified 11

Place names

Places in Umsobomvu Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population28,376
Young (0-14)31,4%
Working Age (15-64)62,8%
Elderly (65+)5,8%
Dependency ratio59,3
Sex ratio93,2
Growth rate1,83% (2001-2011)
Population density4 persons/km2
Unemployment rate33%
Youth unemployment rate40,4%
No schooling aged 20+16,3%
Higher education aged 20+6,3%
Matric aged 20+23,1%
Number of households7,841
Number of Agricultural households1,060
Average household size3,5
Female headed households41,5%
Formal dwellings88,2%
Housing owned/paying off52,7%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage68,7%
Weekly refuse removal76,3%
Piped water inside dwelling45,1%
Electricity for lighting86,7%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population23,641
Young (0-14)33,7%
Working Age (15-64)62,8%
Elderly (65+)5,3%
Dependency ratio63,8%
Sex ratio91,8
Growth rate-1,41% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate51,9%
Youth unemployment rate60,6%
No schooling aged 20+27,9%
Higher education aged 20+5,5%
Matric aged 20+13,1%
Number of households5,848
Average household size3,9
Female headed households43,1%
Formal dwellings81,8%
Housing owned/paying off52,4%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage48,3%
Weekly refuse removal76,6%
Piped water inside dwelling21,3%
Electricity for lighting80,6%