Bojanala Platinum District Municipality (DC37) sits in the North West province, on South Africa’s platinum belt. The 2022 census counted 1,624,428 people across its five local municipalities, up from 1,507,506 in 2011. Rustenburg is the district seat and by far its largest single town.
Local Municipalities in Bojanala Platinum
| Municipality | Seat | 2022 Population |
|---|---|---|
| Moretele | Makapanstad | 219,120 |
| Madibeng | Brits | 522,566 |
| Rustenburg | Rustenburg | 562,315 |
| Kgetlengrivier | Koster | 54,759 |
| Moses Kotane | Mogwase | 265,668 |
Rustenburg and Madibeng together hold two-thirds of the district’s population, reflecting the concentration of platinum mines and Gauteng-commuter growth along the district’s eastern and southern edges. Kgetlengrivier, the smallest of the five, is a farming district with no platinum mining of its own.
Major Towns
Rustenburg town anchors the district’s platinum-mining economy, with Marikana and the goldfield-era towns of Boitekong and Tlhabane forming its industrial and residential belt. Brits and Hartbeespoort serve Madibeng, the latter drawing weekend visitors from Tshwane for its dam and cableway. Koster and Swartruggens serve Kgetlengrivier’s farming community. Mogwase, Madikwe and Sun City serve Moses Kotane, built around the Pilanesberg tourism node. Makapanstad serves Moretele, a mostly rural municipality on the Gauteng border. Full town lists sit on each municipality’s own page above.
Geography
Bojanala Platinum stretches from the Pilanesberg and Marico bushveld in the west to the Tshwane metro boundary in the east, bordered by Gauteng and Limpopo provinces and by Dr Kenneth Kaunda District to the south. The district takes its name from the platinum reef running through Rustenburg, Madibeng and Moses Kotane — among the richest platinum-group-metal deposits in the world.
Economy and Local Life
Platinum mining drives the district economy, concentrated around Rustenburg, Marikana and Brits, where several of the world’s largest platinum mines operate. Moses Kotane’s economy leans on the Pilanesberg National Park and Sun City tourism resort; commercial agriculture and cattle farming continue in Kgetlengrivier and rural parts of Moretele and Madibeng, alongside a growing Gauteng-commuter population near the eastern boundary.
Getting There
The N4 toll route crosses the district through Rustenburg and Brits, linking it to Pretoria/Tshwane in the east and Zeerust in the west. Rustenburg Airport and Pilanesberg International Airport, near Sun City, both handle regional flights; OR Tambo International near Johannesburg is the nearest major international gateway for the whole district.
FAQ
What is the seat of Bojanala Platinum District?
Rustenburg town.
How many local municipalities does it have?
Five: Moretele, Madibeng, Rustenburg, Kgetlengrivier and Moses Kotane.
What is the district’s population?
1,624,428 people at the 2022 census, up from 1,507,506 in 2011.
Which province is Bojanala Platinum in?
North West.
What is the district’s main industry?
Platinum mining, alongside tourism around the Pilanesberg and Hartbeespoort.