List of Towns, Villages and Cities in Metsimaholo Local Municipality

Metsimaholo Local Municipality is one of four local municipalities in the Fezile Dabi District of the Free State, South Africa. The 2022 census recorded 158,391 residents across 1,717.1 km², and the seat is Sasolburg.

“Metsimaholo” is Sesotho for “big water,” a reference to the Vaal River, which forms the municipality’s northern boundary. It is the most industrialised of the four Fezile Dabi municipalities, anchored by the Sasol petrochemical complex.

Key Facts

Towns and Villages in Metsimaholo

Sasolburg dominates Metsimaholo, with Deneysville and Oranjeville serving as smaller Vaal Dam-side towns. GeoNames lists 20 named places.

Sasolburg’s surrounding places include the townships of Zamdela and Vaalpark, and the industrial settlements of Vaal, Viljoensdrif, Sigma Myn, Wolwehoek and Weltevrede. Other small settlements include Clifton, Clydesdale, Coalbrook, Coalbrook Collieries, De Rust, Middelbult, Riviera Settlement and Roodia.

Geography

Metsimaholo is the smallest local municipality in Fezile Dabi District by area but among the most populous, sitting where the Vaal River meets the Free State’s northern edge across from Gauteng’s Vaal Triangle. Deneysville and Oranjeville lie on the southern shore of the Vaal Dam. Within the district it borders Moqhaka, Ngwathe and Mafube.

Demographics

The population grew from 149,108 at the 2011 census to 158,391 in 2022, up about 6.2%. Sotho is the leading first language at 59.9%, followed by Afrikaans at 16.7% — a higher Afrikaans-speaking share than most of Fezile Dabi, reflecting Sasolburg’s industrial workforce history. Metsimaholo is the smallest local municipality in the district by area but among its most densely populated, a direct result of Sasolburg’s size relative to its surrounding land.

Economy and Local Life

Metsimaholo’s economy is built on Sasol’s petrochemical operations at Sasolburg, one of the largest single industrial employers in the Free State, converting coal and natural gas into fuel and chemical products. Deneysville and Oranjeville, on the Vaal Dam, draw weekend and holiday visitors and support a smaller boating and tourism economy. Coal mining around Coalbrook has a long history in the area, though most of the historic collieries have since closed.

Getting There

The N1 national route runs through Sasolburg, connecting it directly to Johannesburg (about 80 km north) and Bloemfontein to the south. The R716 links Sasolburg to Deneysville and the Vaal Dam. OR Tambo International Airport, roughly 100 km away, is the nearest major airport.

Sasolburg’s closeness to Gauteng means many residents commute across the Vaal River into Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging for work and shopping, and the town functions almost as an extension of the Vaal Triangle rather than a typical Free State country town. Zamdela and Vaalpark, Sasolburg’s main townships, are linked to the town centre by short municipal roads rather than provincial routes.

FAQ

What is the seat of Metsimaholo Local Municipality?
Sasolburg.

How many towns are in Metsimaholo?
Sasolburg is the main town, with Deneysville and Oranjeville on the Vaal Dam and several smaller industrial settlements.

What is the population of Metsimaholo?
158,391 people at the 2022 census, up from 149,108 in 2011.

Which district and province is Metsimaholo in?
Fezile Dabi District, Free State province.

What is Metsimaholo’s main industry?
Petrochemicals — Sasol’s Sasolburg complex is the municipality’s biggest employer.

Is Metsimaholo close to Johannesburg?
Yes — Sasolburg is about 80 km south of Johannesburg via the N1.

What towns are on the Vaal Dam in Metsimaholo?
Deneysville and Oranjeville, both on the dam’s southern shore.