List of Towns, Villages and Cities in Thembelihle Local Municipality

Thembelihle Local Municipality lies on the Orange River in the Northern Cape’s Pixley ka Seme
District, with its seat at Hopetown. The 2022 census counted 22,542 people across 8,023.1 km²,
up from 15,701 in 2011.

Hopetown sits on the Orange River and is where South Africa’s first diamond, the Eureka
Diamond, was found in 1866, a discovery that helped trigger the country’s diamond rush and
eventually led prospectors north to Kimberley.

Orania, within the municipality’s boundaries, is a distinct case among Northern Cape towns:
a private settlement established in 1991 that operates its own local services separately from
the wider municipality, while remaining part of Thembelihle for census and administrative
purposes.

Towns and Villages in Thembelihle

Hopetown is the seat; Strydenburg and Orania are the other towns, with Kraankuil a smaller
settlement. GeoNames records four named places in the municipality.

Geography

Thembelihle follows the Orange River through Karoo scrubland, with irrigated farmland along
the river giving way to sheep-farming plains further out. Within
Pixley ka Seme District it
neighbours Ubuntu,
Umsobomvu,
Renosterberg and
Siyancuma.

Demographics

Population rose from 15,701 in 2011 to 22,542 in 2022, up about 44%, among the fastest growth
rates in Pixley ka Seme District. Most residents live in Hopetown; Orania is a private,
Afrikaner-only settlement within the municipality’s boundaries, and its own population growth
accounts for a meaningful share of the municipality-wide increase.

Afrikaans and Setswana are both widely spoken across Thembelihle, with English used in
Hopetown’s commercial sector.

Economy and Local Life

Irrigated agriculture along the Orange River — lucerne, wheat and vegetables — supports Hopetown
and Orania, while sheep and goat farming covers the rest of the municipality. The N12 route and
the De Aar–Kimberley railway line run through Hopetown, supporting freight and trade.

History

Hopetown was laid out in 1854, taking its name from the wife of the Cape Colony’s governor
at the time. The Eureka Diamond find of 1866 briefly made the town a centre of national
attention. Thembelihle Municipality was established in December 2000, part of South Africa’s
post-apartheid local government demarcation.

Getting There

The N12 national road connects Hopetown to Kimberley and De Aar, with the R369 branching
off toward Petrusville. Kimberley Airport, about 100 km away, is the nearest airport with
scheduled flights.

FAQ

What is the seat of Thembelihle Municipality?
Hopetown.

What is Thembelihle’s population?
22,542 people at the 2022 census, on 8,023.1 km².

Which district is Thembelihle part of?
Pixley ka Seme District Municipality.

What are the main towns?
Hopetown, Orania and Strydenburg.

What is Thembelihle’s main economic activity?
Irrigated farming along the Orange River and sheep farming.

Where was South Africa’s first diamond found?
Near Hopetown in 1866, the Eureka Diamond.

When was Hopetown founded?
1854, named after the wife of the then Cape Colony governor.

Is Thembelihle’s population growing?
Yes, up about 44% between the 2011 and 2022 censuses.

How far is Hopetown from Kimberley?
About 100 km, via the N12.

Is Orania part of Thembelihle Municipality?
Yes, for census and administrative purposes, though it runs many of its own local services.

What is Strydenburg known for?
A small Karoo farming town serving surrounding sheep and game farms.

What river runs through Thembelihle?
The Orange River, which supports the municipality’s irrigated farming belt.

What does the name Thembelihle mean?
Roughly “beautiful hope” in isiXhosa/isiZulu, chosen for the merged municipality in 2000.

Is Thembelihle’s area mostly farmland?
Yes, irrigated land along the river and open sheep-farming veld cover most of its 8,023.1 km².