Nketoana Local Municipality lies in the northeast of the Free State’s Thabo Mofutsanyana District. The 2022 census counted 66,488 people over 5,605 km², up from 60,324 in 2011. Reitz is the seat.
Towns and Villages in Nketoana
Four towns make up Nketoana’s urban centres, each with a mine-free farming economy behind it.
| Place | Type | 2022 pop. |
|---|---|---|
| Reitz | Seat | 24,181 |
| Lindley | Town | 14,377 |
| Mamafubedu | Town (Petrus Steyn township) | 15,447 |
| Arlington | Town | 4,714 |
Smaller farm localities recorded in the district:
- Buffelsvlei
- Dankbaar
- Fraaiuitzicht
- Goede Hoop
- Goedgedacht
- Inhoek
- Kruispad
- Leratswana
- Malans Post
- Onverdiend
- Susannas Rust
- Swartfontein
- Tweespruit
Geography
Nketoana sits on the maize-belt highveld of the northeastern Free State, flat open farmland at around 1,600 metres elevation with few natural features beyond the Vals and Wilge river valleys. It borders Dihlabeng to the east, Setsoto to the south, and Phumelela to the north, with Moqhaka municipality in Fezile Dabi district across its western boundary.
Demographics
Population grew from 60,324 in the 2011 census to 66,488 in 2022, a rise of about 10%. Sesotho is the predominant home language, spoken by roughly three-quarters of residents, alongside Afrikaans-speaking farming communities; Mamafubedu, the township at Petrus Steyn, is nearly as populous as Reitz itself.
Economy and Local Life
Maize, sunflower and livestock farming drive Nketoana’s rural economy, on some of the most productive dryland grain soils in the Free State. Reitz and Lindley serve as agricultural service towns, with grain silos a fixture of both skylines and harvest season the busiest time of year for local trade. Formal employment outside farming is limited mostly to municipal services and small retail in the four towns. Reitz has drawn some attention as a filming and heritage location thanks to its well-preserved main-street architecture, though tourism remains a minor part of the local economy compared with farming.
History
Reitz was established in 1875 and named after the Orange Free State’s state president at the time; Lindley followed a similar pattern of late-19th-century Boer Republic town planning, laid out around a central church square still visible in both towns today. Petrus Steyn, whose township is Mamafubedu, developed later as a rail siding on the line linking Kroonstad to Bethlehem.
Getting There
The R26 and R57 connect Reitz and Lindley to Bethlehem (about 60 km southeast) and Kroonstad (about 90 km west), which links onward to the N1. Bloemfontein’s Bram Fischer International Airport is the nearest airport, roughly 220 km southwest.
FAQ
What is the seat of Nketoana Local Municipality?
Reitz.
What towns are in Nketoana?
Reitz, Lindley, Mamafubedu (Petrus Steyn) and Arlington.
What is the population of Nketoana?
66,488 people (2022 census), up from 60,324 in 2011.
Which district is Nketoana part of?
Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality, Free State.
What language do most Nketoana residents speak?
Sesotho, spoken by about 76% of residents.
What is Nketoana’s main crop?
Maize, grown on the district’s dryland grain farms alongside sunflower and livestock.
When was Reitz founded?
1875, named for the Orange Free State’s state president of the time.
Is Nketoana a local or district municipality?
A local municipality, one of six that make up Thabo Mofutsanyana District.
Which town in Nketoana has the biggest township?
Mamafubedu, the township at Petrus Steyn, at 15,447 people in the 2022 census, nearly as large as Reitz itself.
How far is Reitz from Bethlehem?
About 60 km, connected via the R26.
Does Nketoana have any rivers?
Yes — the Vals and Wilge rivers cross the municipality, both tributaries of the Vaal River system.
How far is Lindley from Kroonstad?
About 90 km west, via the R707 and R70, giving the town access to the N1 corridor.