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).

MIER Local Municipality is situated adjacent to one of the world’s largest conservation areas, namely the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and comprises a municipality bigger than the Free State province. Rietfontein, which is the main town, is situated approximately 280km north-west from the nearest big town of Upington. Mier Local Municipality borders with Namibia in the west, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the north, and Botswana in the north-east. It forms part of the Siyanda District Municipality. Mier Local Municipality consists of nine small towns, namely Rietfontein, Philandersbron, Loubos, Klein Mier, Groot Mier, Welkom, Askham, Noenieput and the !Khomani San community within its jurisdiction. The name "Mier" is an Afrikaans word that originates from the word "mere" which means "lakes". When German missionaries visited the area a long time ago, they found the pans in the area full of water that they called them "mere". As language changed, the people later pronounced it as "mier". Area: 22 468km²read more »