Tswaing Local Municipality lies in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District of North West province. The 2022 census counted 128,672 people across 5,885.3 km², up from 124,218 in 2011. The seat is Delareyville.
Tswaing is one of five local municipalities that make up Ngaka Modiri Molema District, alongside Mahikeng, the provincial capital. Unlike Ratlou to its east, Tswaing has three formally proclaimed towns rather than village clusters, giving it a more urbanised character within the district.
Towns and Villages in Tswaing
| Place | Type | Pop. |
|---|---|---|
| Delareyville | Seat | 12,736 |
| Ottosdal | Town | 22,011 |
| Sannieshof | Town | 13,198 |
| Geysdorp | Village | 1,635 |
Other named places recorded across the municipality:
- Agisanang
- Bahurutshe
- Bospoort
- Deelpan
- Dirubi
- Doornlaagte
- Drieangle
- Gannalaagte
- Gerdau
- Hartsrivier
- Khunwana
- Kopela
- Majaneng
- Majeng
- Manamolela
- Manonyane
- Mofufutso
- Mokgalwane
- Mokope
- Saamwerk
- Saleng
- Schoongezicht
- Sias
- Thaba-Sione
- Vaalplaats
- Vermaas
- Witpan
Geography
Tswaing sits in the central-west of Ngaka Modiri Molema District, sharing boundaries with Ratlou, Mahikeng, Ditsobotla and Ramotshere Moiloa local municipalities. The landscape is flat maize and cattle country, with a population density of roughly 21 people per km².
Delareyville, Ottosdal and Sannieshof each grew up around the region’s grain trade, sited along the roads and, historically, the rail lines that once carried maize and sunflower crops out of the district. The municipality’s name, Tswaing, is Setswana for “place of salt,” a reference to the region’s pans rather than the towns themselves.
Demographics
Population edged up from 124,218 in the 2011 census to 128,672 in the 2022 census, near-flat growth of about 4%. Tswana is the first language of roughly 84% of residents, with Afrikaans spoken by a notable minority around the three main towns. Black African residents make up about 92% of the population, with the remainder concentrated mostly in and around Delareyville and Ottosdal.
The low population density of roughly 21 people per km² reflects Tswaing’s mostly commercial-farming land use — large mechanised grain farms rather than densely settled villages dominate the landscape outside the three towns. This distinguishes Tswaing from the more village-dense parts of Ngaka Modiri Molema District, such as Ratlou to its east, where population is spread across many small settlements rather than concentrated in a handful of towns. Households in the three towns generally have better access to formal services than the scattered farm settlements between them.
Economy and Local Life
Tswaing’s economy is built on commercial grain and cattle farming around Delareyville, Ottosdal and Sannieshof, with local government reporting significant financial strain in recent years, including reported difficulty meeting pension contributions. Small-scale trading and agri-processing support the three main towns, and maize milling has historically been a feature of the local economy. Farm labour and municipal services employ much of the working population outside the three towns, and grain silos remain visible landmarks along the main roads through Delareyville and Sannieshof.
Getting There
Delareyville sits on the R503, roughly 100 km west of Lichtenburg and about 90 km south of Mahikeng, the nearest city and airport. Ottosdal and Sannieshof lie further south along the same regional road network, connecting the municipality to the N14 corridor.
FAQ
What is the seat of Tswaing Local Municipality?
Delareyville.
What is the population of Tswaing?
128,672 people at the 2022 census, up from 124,218 in 2011.
Which district is Tswaing in?
Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, North West province.
What are the main towns in Tswaing?
Delareyville, Ottosdal and Sannieshof.
How big is Tswaing Local Municipality?
5,885.3 km².
Which municipalities border Tswaing?
Ratlou, Mahikeng, Ditsobotla and Ramotshere Moiloa, all within Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
What does the name Tswaing mean?
“Place of salt” in Setswana, a reference to the district’s salt pans.
What language groups live in Tswaing?
Tswana speakers form the large majority, with a smaller Afrikaans-speaking community concentrated around the three main towns.