Ventersdorp

Quick Fact

The population of Ventersdorp Municipality equals 56,702.

Quick Fact Image 2,75% Growth rate

Ventersdorp Local Municipality is situated in the eastern part of the North West. It is one of the four local municipalities of Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality. It is situated 70 km from Klerksdorp/Matlosana Local Municipality, 130 km from Mafikeng and 140 km from Johannesburg. It is accessed through the N14 which connects it to both Johannesburg and Mafikeng.

The municipality covers an area of 3 764,05 km2 (Census 2011) and it is subdivided into six wards. Most of the villages in Ventersdorp can be regarded as semi-formalized villages where development is based on settlement layout plans (most of the stands were surveyed). Villages are currently managed by CPAs (Community Property Association), except Ga-Mogopa that is managed by a trust. Ownership of stands/plots within the villages is based on commercial ownership (no individual ownership exists).

Rank By:
164 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Mamusa , North West 60,355 161
Nketoana , Free State 60,324 162
Mafube , Free State 57,876 163
Ventersdorp , North West 56,702 164
Sundays River Valley , Eastern Cape 54,504 165
Lekwa-Teemane , North West 53,248 166
Hessequa , Western Cape 52,642 167
Quick Fact

15% of the population aged 20+ have Matric.

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The population of Ventersdorp Municipality equals 56 702, of which 52% are male and 48% female. The majority of the population in the municipality is black African (90%), with a handful of whites (6%) and coloureds (2,71%).

Ventersdorp faces serious challenges; less than 18% of persons older than 15 years of age have a matric qualification or more. Only 4% have some form of tertiary education.

Group Percentage
Black African90,1%
Coloured2,7%
Indian/Asian0,3%
White5,9%
Other1%
Age Males Females
0-4 6,8% 5,8%
5-9 5,8% 5,4%
10-14 5,3% 4,5%
15-19 4,9% 4,1%
20-24 4,5% 4,4%
25-29 4,2% 4,1%
30-34 3,3% 3,5%
35-39 3,4% 3,2%
40-44 2,7% 2,6%
45-49 2,4% 2,4%
50-54 1,9% 1,9%
55-59 1,9% 1,9%
60-64 1,4% 1,5%
65-69 1,2% 1%
70-74 0,8% 0,8%
75-79 0,5% 0,6%
80-84 0,3% 0,3%
85+ 0,2% 0,4%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 8,9%
English 2,4%
IsiNdebele 0,9%
IsiXhosa 7,3%
IsiZulu 1,3%
Sepedi 0,4%
Sesotho 2,4%
Setswana 74,8%
Sign Language 0,2%
SiSwati 0%
Tshivenda 0,1%
Xitsonga 0,3%
Other 0.6%
Not Applicable 0,2%
Group Percentage
Married 16,5%
Living together like married partners 11,6%
Never married 67,4%
Widower/Widow 3,4%
Separated 0,5%
Divorced 0,6%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 4,8%
Some Primary 52%
Completed Primary 7,3%
Some Secondary 28,8%
Completed Secondary 6,5%
Higher Education 0,6%
Not Applicable 0%
Sex Percentage
Female 48,4%
Male 51,6%
Quick Fact

76,1% of households had access to electricity for lighting.

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There are about 14 562 households in the municipality; 39% are female-headed. The average household size for the municipality is 3,9 persons per household.

Area Percentage
Urban 39,2%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 60,8%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 78,1% 21,9%
Computer 8,6% 91,4%
Television 68,5% 31,5%
Satellite Television 11,1% 88,9%
Radio 60,3% 39,7%
Landline / Telephone 5% 95%
Motor Car 18,1% 81,9%
Refrigerator 55,3% 44,7%
Electric / Gas-Stove 69,5% 30,5%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 66,8% 44,8% 76,1%
Gas 2,6% 1% 0,1%
Paraffin 11,1% 2,6% 0,9%
Solar 0,1% 0% 0,2%
Candles 0% 0% 22,2%
Wood 17% 27,5% 0%
Coal 0,2% 1,2% 0%
Animal Dung 1,9% 3,2% 0%
Other 0% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 19,6% 0,4%
Access Percentage
From Home 2,9%
From Cellphone 14,4%
From Work 1,5%
From Elsewhere 1,9%
No Access 79,2%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 14,1%
Owned and fully paid off 50,1%
Owned but not yet paid off 5,7%
Occupied rent free 27,8%
Other 2,3%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 55,1%
Borehole 31,7%
Spring 0,2%
Rain water tank 0,7%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 0,8%
River/Stream 0,5%
Water vendor 0,6%
Water tanker 9,2%
Other 1,3%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 4,9%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 40,3%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 3,4%
Chemical toilet 1,6%
Pit toilet with ventilation 32,1%
Pit toilet without ventilation 16,4%
Bucket toilet 0,2%
Other 1,1%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 36,3%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,6%
Communal refuse dump 2,6%
Own refuse dump 49,8%
No rubbish disposal 10,1%
Other 0,5%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 36,3%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,6%
Communal refuse dump 2,6%
Own refuse dump 49,8%
No rubbish disposal 10,1%
Other 0,5%
Quick Fact

27%  unemployment rate.

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The economy of Ventersdorp Municipality is driven mostly by the agriculture sector which contributes 49% to the total economy of Ventersdorp, followed by manufacturing at 20% and community services – including general government – at 14%. Agriculture is dominated by large scale commercial farming specializing in production of grains, cereals, beef and mutton.  There are insignificant small-scale farming activities.

Ventersdorp Local Municipality can be regarded as a central strategic grain crop production hub; this includes the current commercial farmers’ production capabilities as well as their ongoing contribution to sustain Ventersdorp. On the other hand, land has been given back to various communities through a number of government land reform programmes. To date, some success is visible in some communities; however, challenges seem to be exceeding the current rate of success. This is demonstrated by the amount of land that is unutilized as a result of various challenges in different communities.

Other sectors with meaningful contributions include the manufacturing and trade sectors. The potential for growth shown by these sectors needs to be enhanced to improve overall productivity of the municipality.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy. Ventersdorp has a number of tourist attractions and tourism establishments. Given the historical background of the municipality, the tourism market has the potential to grow.

Employment Status Number
Employed 11705
Unemployed 4321
Discouraged Work Seeker 2273
Not Economically Active 15851
Income Percentage
None income 13,8%
R1 - R4,800 5,5%
R4,801 - R9,600 9,4%
R9,601 - R19,600 24,1%
R19,601 - R38,200 25%
R38,201 - R76,4000 12,2%
R76,401 - R153,800 5,2%
R153,801 - R307,600 2,8%
R307,601 - R614,400 1,4%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,3%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,1%
R2,457,601+ 0,1%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 1,681
Poultry production 3,016
Vegetable production 729
Production of other crops 790
Other 385

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 735
Animals only 3,164
Mixed farming 689
Other 129

**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 1,352
R1-R4 800 114
R4 801-R38 400 2,742
R38 401-R307 200 371
R307 201+ 64
Unspecified 74

Place names

Places in Ventersdorp Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population56,702
Young (0-14)33,6%
Working Age (15-64)60,2%
Elderly (65+)6,1%
Dependency ratio66
Sex ratio106,5
Growth rate2,75% (2001-2011)
Population density15 persons/km2
Unemployment rate27%
Youth unemployment rate34%
No schooling aged 20+17,2%
Higher education aged 20+4%
Matric aged 20+15%
Number of households14,562
Number of Agricultural households4,717
Average household size3,8
Female headed households38,3%
Formal dwellings69,1%
Housing owned/paying off55,8%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage40,3%
Weekly refuse removal36,3%
Piped water inside dwelling20%
Electricity for lighting76,1%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population43,078
Young (0-14)30,9%
Working Age (15-64)60,2%
Elderly (65+)6%
Dependency ratio58,4%
Sex ratio96,8
Growth rate6% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate33%
Youth unemployment rate43,1%
No schooling aged 20+25,2%
Higher education aged 20+4,2%
Matric aged 20+12,6%
Number of households11,109
Average household size3,8
Female headed households32,7%
Formal dwellings67,2%
Housing owned/paying off41,2%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage36,2%
Weekly refuse removal35,4%
Piped water inside dwelling19,8%
Electricity for lighting61,5%