Naledi Local Municipality lies in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District of North West province. The 2022 census counted 63,755 people across 7,032 km², down from 66,781 in 2011. The seat is Vryburg.
Naledi is one of five local municipalities in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. Its seat, Vryburg, is the district’s largest town and the traditional trading and cattle-auction centre for the wider south-western North West region. Vryburg dates to the 1880s Stellaland republic era, and its cattle market has remained central to the town’s economy since.
Towns and Villages in Naledi
| Place | Type | Pop. |
|---|---|---|
| Vryburg | Seat | 55,879 |
| Stella | Village | 5,620 |
Other named places recorded across the municipality:
- Broedersput
- Devonlea
- Dirkiesrus
- Huhudi
- Karmeel
- Mansfield
- Setuat
- Vicedale
- Witpan
Geography
Naledi sits in the south-west of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, bordering Mamusa, Greater Taung, Lekwa-Teemane and Kagisano–Molopo local municipalities. Vryburg, its main town, is a longstanding cattle-market centre with a population density of under 10 people per km².
Demographics
Population dipped from 66,781 in the 2011 census to 63,755 in the 2022 census, a decline of about 5%. Tswana is the first language of roughly 69% of residents, with Afrikaans spoken by about 24% — a higher share than most neighbouring municipalities, reflecting Vryburg’s farming-town history. Huhudi, the township adjoining Vryburg, houses a large share of the municipality’s residents.
At around 9 people per km², Naledi is one of the more sparsely populated municipalities in the district, with the bulk of residents concentrated in and around Vryburg rather than spread across small villages.
Economy and Local Life
Naledi’s economy centres on Vryburg’s role as a cattle-auction and agricultural-service town for the wider region, alongside grain farming and Huhudi township’s local trade and services. Vryburg has long served as a regional distribution point for livestock and grain moving between the North West and Northern Cape provinces, and its market draws farmers from across the district and beyond for weekly auctions, supporting a network of transport, veterinary and feed businesses in and around the town.
Getting There
Vryburg sits at the junction of the N18 and N14, roughly 210 km south-west of Mahikeng and 230 km north of Kimberley. It has a small local airfield, and is the main road and rail junction for the western half of the district.
FAQ
What is the seat of Naledi Local Municipality?
Vryburg.
What is the population of Naledi?
63,755 people at the 2022 census, down from 66,781 in 2011.
Which district is Naledi in?
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, North West province.
How big is Naledi Local Municipality?
7,032 km².
Which municipalities border Naledi?
Mamusa, Greater Taung, Lekwa-Teemane and Kagisano–Molopo, all within Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
What is Vryburg known for?
Its role as a cattle-auction and agricultural trading town serving the wider south-western North West region.
What township adjoins Vryburg?
Huhudi, which houses a significant share of the municipality’s population.
Why does Naledi have a larger Afrikaans-speaking population than most neighbours?
Vryburg’s history as a commercial farming and trading town drew a substantial Afrikaans-speaking community, unusual for a district otherwise dominated by Tswana speakers.
Is Naledi’s population growing?
No — the 2022 census recorded a small decline from 2011, unlike most of its neighbours in the district.
How big is Naledi compared to its neighbours?
At 7,032 km², it is mid-sized among the district’s five local municipalities, larger than Mamusa and Lekwa-Teemane but smaller than Kagisano–Molopo.
What is the nearest big city to Naledi?
Kimberley, about 230 km south of Vryburg, or Mahikeng, roughly 210 km to the north-east.
What road junction serves Vryburg?
The N18 and N14 meet at Vryburg, making it a key transport point for the western North West province.