Rustenburg Local Municipality [ RLM ]

About the RLM

The Rustenburg Local Municipality is a category B municipal council consisting of 36 wards. It is located in the eastern parts of the North West Province and is accessible to a number of major South African urban centers. These centers include Johannesburg and Tshwane, which are located approximately 120km from Rustenburg. Smaller centres surrounding Rustenburg are Madibeng, Mogale City and Zeerust in the Ramotshere Moilwa Local Municipality. Rustenburg is linked to the above urban centres through an extensive regional road network. The most notable of these is the N4 freeway or Platinum Corridor, which links Rustenburg to Tshwane in the east and Zeerust to the west. The R24 links Rustenburg to Johannesburg in the south and the Pilanesberg to the north. Rustenburg Local Municipality (RLM) is one of the five municipalities within the Bojanala District Municipality in the North West Province and is divided into 36 wards and has a total population of 1 449,775 people comprising of 54.1% males and 45.9% females (source: Statssa community survey 2007). The municipality is reputed to be one of South Africa’s fastest growing urban areas with an annual compound economic growth rate of 6% between 1996 and 2002. This significant growth is largely attributed to the impact of the world’s four largest mines in the immediate vicinity of the town, namely, Anglo Platinum, Impala Platinum, Xstrata and Lonmin. With approximately 97% of the total platinum production occurring in Rustenburg, the mining sector provides around 50% of all formal employment.

Population Figures

According to official estimates the Rustenburg Municipal Area houses a population of approximately 1 500 000 people. Of this total, roughly 1 250 000 people live in settlements that are located on non-tribal land. Opposed to this,Conversely, roughly 150000 people live on tribal land and a further 30000 in mining hostels and approximately 40000 people living on farms located within the Municipal Area. Figure B.1: Rustenburg population distribution

Municipal Structural Processes

Rustenburg Local Municipality is governed by 72 Councillors. A total of 36 councillors are elected on ward representation, whilst 36 are from a system of proportional representation. The Ward Councillors are responsible for conveying local concerns and issues to the Council. The Council, the city’s highest decision making body meets once a month.

Executive Mayor: Cllr Jeanette N Dibetso-Nyathi

The hierarchy of communication flow:

• Councillors
• Office of the Executive Mayor
• Office of the Municipal Manager
• The 7 Directorates

Challenges and Strategic Objectives

Inadequate Staffing
• Insufficient Budget allocation for repairs and maintenance
• High demand for Libraries and insufficient budget to accommodate users’needs
• Develop an Integrated Waste Management Plan, which achieves policy objectives, is environmentally sound, cost effective, technological feasible and publicly acceptable
• Support the creation of employment opportunities, contribute to the stimulation of business growth and promote economic development across the RLM jurisdiction through the waste management service
• Reduce the waste stream to landfill by 30% through waste minimisation activities including reusing, recycling and composting of waste
• Achieve a sustained improvement in the quality of life for the population of the RLM together with improved access to education, awareness and information on preserving the biodiversity of the region and green living