Naledi Local Municipality was a local municipality in the southern Free State, South Africa, abolished on 3 August 2016 when it was absorbed into Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. Its name is Sesotho for “a star.”
Before the merger, Naledi covered roughly 3,424 km² with a 2011 census population of 24,314. The seat was Dewetsdorp, and the municipality’s main towns were Dewetsdorp and Wepener, along with the smaller settlements of Morojaneng, Qibing, Thapelang and Van Stadensrus.
Geography and Towns
Naledi lay southeast of Bloemfontein, on the plains between the Caledon and Modder river systems near the Lesotho border. Dewetsdorp, the former seat, sits on the R702; Wepener, the larger of the two towns with a 2011 population of 11,446, lies further east close to the Lesotho boundary crossing at Van Stadensrus.
Sotho was the predominant first language, spoken by 83.7% of residents, with Afrikaans a distant second at 7.7% — reflecting the area’s mixed farming and farm-worker population.
What Happened to Naledi
The 2016 local government boundary redetermination folded Naledi’s entire area into the newly enlarged Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, alongside the metro’s existing city of Bloemfontein and the former Mangaung local municipality. Naledi’s towns of Dewetsdorp and Wepener are now profiled under Mangaung.
FAQ
What was the seat of Naledi Local Municipality?
Dewetsdorp.
When was Naledi Local Municipality abolished?
3 August 2016, when it merged into Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.
Where can I find Naledi’s towns today?
Dewetsdorp, Wepener and the surrounding settlements are covered in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality profile.