Dipaleseng Local Municipality is part of Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga province. The 2022 census counted 35,980 people over 2,607 km², down from 42,390 in 2011. Balfour is the seat, one of the smaller municipal capitals on Mpumalanga’s southern Highveld.
Towns and Villages in Dipaleseng
Balfour dominates the municipality, with Grootvlei and Nthrowane as the only other towns of any size; the rest of the area is farmland dotted with small localities and farmsteads.
| Place | Type | Pop. |
|---|---|---|
| Balfour | Seat | 46,008 |
| Nthrowane | Town | 8,336 |
| Grootvlei | Town | 6,487 |
Smaller settlements and localities:
- Amersfoort (locality)
- Balfour North
- Cairnleith
- Crestlands
- Ellisdale
- Herbstfontein
- Kuilspruit
- Mkhwanazi
- Pelgrims Rust
- Russeldene
- Thaba-Kgwali
- Wilgefontein
- Willemsdal
Geography
Dipaleseng lies in the west of Gert Sibande District on the Mpumalanga Highveld, close to the Gauteng and Free State provincial boundaries. It borders Lekwa, Pixley ka Seme, Govan Mbeki, Albert Luthuli, Msukaligwa and Mkhondo municipalities within the district. The terrain is flat, open grassland given over almost entirely to commercial agriculture.
Demographics
Population fell from 42,390 in 2011 to 35,980 in 2022, a drop of about 15%, one of the few population declines recorded in Gert Sibande District. Black African residents make up 89.8% of the population and White residents 8.6%. Zulu (56.1%), Sotho (24.2%) and Afrikaans (9.0%) are the leading home languages. A 12-member municipal council governs Dipaleseng under mixed-member proportional representation.
Economy and Local Life
Balfour sits in maize and livestock farming country typical of the southern Highveld; agriculture underpins the local economy, with Grootvlei and Nthrowane serving as smaller farming settlements. Balfour’s position on the N3 has also made it a stopover town for travellers between Johannesburg and Durban, supporting fuel, retail and hospitality trade alongside farming.
Getting There
Balfour lies on the N3 corridor between Johannesburg and Durban, roughly an hour southeast of Johannesburg. OR Tambo International Airport is the nearest major airport. The N3’s steady long-distance traffic makes Balfour one of the more visible small towns on the route between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
FAQ
What is the seat of Dipaleseng Local Municipality?
Balfour is the seat.
What is the population of Dipaleseng?
35,980 people at the 2022 census, down from 42,390 in 2011.
Which district is Dipaleseng part of?
Gert Sibande District Municipality, in Mpumalanga.
What towns are in Dipaleseng?
Balfour, Grootvlei and Nthrowane are the main towns.
Why did Dipaleseng’s population decline?
The 2011–2022 drop is unusual for the district; the municipality’s rural, farming-dependent economy has seen limited new residential growth compared with neighbouring towns.
Which municipalities border Dipaleseng?
Lekwa, Pixley ka Seme, Govan Mbeki, Albert Luthuli, Msukaligwa and Mkhondo, all within Gert Sibande District.
What road runs through Balfour?
The N3, linking Johannesburg and Durban, passes directly through the town.
What is the main industry in Dipaleseng?
Commercial maize and livestock farming, with N3 travel trade supplementing agriculture around Balfour.
How many council seats does Dipaleseng have?
Twelve, elected under mixed-member proportional representation, with the ANC holding eight as of the November 2021 election.
Is Dipaleseng close to Johannesburg?
Yes, Balfour is roughly an hour southeast of Johannesburg via the N3.
What is the smallest town in Dipaleseng?
Of the three listed main towns, Grootvlei is the smallest by population, at 6,487.
What language is most common in Dipaleseng?
Zulu, spoken by 56.1% of residents, ahead of Sotho and Afrikaans.
How far is Balfour from Durban?
Balfour lies on the N3, roughly midway between Johannesburg and Durban.
What is the area of Dipaleseng Local Municipality?
2,607 km², making it a mid-sized municipality by area within the district.
What racial composition does Dipaleseng have?
89.8% Black African, 8.6% White, plus small Coloured and Indian/Asian populations, per the census.