ZF Mgcawu District Municipality covers the Northern Cape’s Orange River corridor and the
southern Kalahari, with its seat at Upington. Formed in 2000 as Siyanda District and renamed
ZF Mgcawu in 2016, it holds five local municipalities with a combined 2022 census population
of about 283,625 people across some 102,504 km².
The district stretches from the Namibian border town of Rietfontein in the west to the mining
towns of Postmasburg and Daniëlskuil in the east, with irrigated vineyards and citrus lining
the Orange River through Upington, Kakamas and Kenhardt.
ZF Mgcawu is named after Zacharia Fritz Mgcawu, an ANC struggle veteran from the region. It is
the largest of the Northern Cape’s five district municipalities by area, though most of that
land is dry Kalahari veld rather than settled towns.
Local Municipalities in ZF Mgcawu
| Municipality | Seat | 2022 Population |
|---|---|---|
| Dawid Kruiper | Upington | 125,744 |
| Kai ǃGarib | Kakamas | 85,104 |
| Tsantsabane | Postmasburg | 30,969 |
| ǃKheis | Groblershoop | 21,954 |
| Kgatelopele | Daniëlskuil | 19,854 |
Dawid Kruiper Municipality was formed in August 2016 by merging the old ǀǀKhara Hais and Mier
local municipalities; this district page carries its combined population figure.
Major Towns
Upington is the district’s largest town by far, followed by Postmasburg, Daniëlskuil and Kakamas.
- Upington
- Postmasburg
- Daniëlskuil
- Kakamas
- Kenhardt
- Groblershoop
- Augrabies
- Grootdrink
- Wegdraai
- Cillie
- Gannaput
- Nuwerus
- Raaswater
- Askham
- Rietfontein
- Philandersbron
- Karreeputs
- Lime Acres
- Bowden
- Witputs
Geography
ZF Mgcawu spans the Orange River valley and the Kalahari’s red-dune country, bordering Namibia
and Botswana to the north and west. Within the Northern Cape it neighbours
John Taolo Gaetsewe,
Pixley ka Seme and
Namakwa district municipalities.
Economy and Local Life
Irrigated agriculture along the Orange River — table grapes, wine grapes, raisins, cotton and
citrus — anchors the western part of the district around Upington and Kakamas. Iron ore and
manganese mining drive the eastern towns of Postmasburg and Daniëlskuil, while sheep and goat
farming covers the drier Kalahari reaches around Kenhardt and Groblershoop.
Upington itself functions as the district’s administrative, retail and transport hub, home to
its main hospital, airport and regional government offices. The N14 and N10 national roads
converge there, linking ZF Mgcawu to Springbok, Kimberley and the Namibian border.
Getting There
The N14 crosses the district from Kakamas through Upington to Kimberley; the N10 runs south
through Groblershoop toward Cape Town. Upington Airport offers the district’s only scheduled
commercial flights.
FAQ
What is the seat of ZF Mgcawu District?
Upington.
How many local municipalities does ZF Mgcawu have?
Five: Dawid Kruiper, Kai ǃGarib, ǃKheis, Tsantsabane and Kgatelopele.
What was ZF Mgcawu District previously called?
Siyanda District Municipality, renamed in 2016.
What is the district’s population?
About 283,625 people at the 2022 census.
What province is ZF Mgcawu in?
Northern Cape.
What is the district’s main economic activity?
Orange River irrigation farming and iron ore/manganese mining.