Information on the North West Province of South Africa

Conference Venues South Africa brings you information on the North West Province province of South Africa including information on the Bophirima region and the Eastern region of the North West Province.

About the North West Province Province of South Africa

The North West province of South Africa was created after the end of Apartheid in 1994. The province includes parts of the former Transvaal province and Cape Province, as well as most of the former Bantustan of Bophuthatswana. The North West Province is bordered on the north by Botswana and to the south by the provinces of Northern Cape and Free State, and on the northeast and east by the Limpopo Province and Gauteng.

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North West Province History

The North West Province was created after the end of Apartheid in 1994 and includes parts of the former Transvaal province and Cape Province, as well as most of the former Bantustan of Bophuthatswana. It was recently the scene of political violence in Khutsong, Merafong City Local Municipality. (Merafong has since been transferred to Gauteng province.)

North West Province Geography

The province consists of mainly flat areas of scattered grassland and trees. The Magaliesberg mountain range in the northeast extends about 130 km from Pretoria to Rustenburg. The Vaal River flows along the southern border of the North West Province.

North West Province Climate

Temperatures in the North West Province range from 17° to 31°C in the summer and from 3° to 21°C in the winter. Annual rainfall totals about 360 mm, with almost all of the rainfall occuring during the summer months.

North West Province Economy

Mining is the mainstay of the economy of the North West Province. It generates half of the province's gross domestic product and provides jobs for a quarter of its workforce. Main minerals are gold mined at Klerksdorp and Orkney, uranium mined at Klerksdorp, platinum mined at Brits and Rustenburg and diamonds mined at Christiana, Bleomhof, and Lichtenburg. The western and northern parts of the province have many sheep farms and cattle and game ranches. The southern and eastern parts are crop-growing regions that produce tobacco, sunflowers, maize, citrus fruits and cotton. The casino and entertainment complex at Lost City and Sun City also contributes to the provincial economy.

North West Province Education

The North West Province has two universities. The University of North West, formerly called the University of Bophuthatswana situated in Mmabatho. Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education which became a constituent college of the University of South Africa in 1921 and an independent university in 1951. These universities have now merged into University of North West as name.

North West Province Demographics

The majority of the residents in the North West Povince are Tswana. Smaller groups include Xhosa, Sotho, and Afrikaans. Most of the population belong to Christian denominations and English is spoken primarily as a second language. The literacy rate is in the region of 57%.

North West Province Law and Government

The provincial government consists of a premier, an executive council of ten ministers, and a legislature. The provincial assembly and premier are elected for five-year terms, or until the next national election. Political parties are awarded assembly seats based on the percentage of votes each party receives in the province during the national elections. The assembly elects a premier, who then appoints the members of the executive council.

Towns and Suburbs of the North West province of South Africa

Beestekraal , Brits , Broederstroom , Christiana , Hartbeespoort , Koster, Klerksdorp , Lichtenburg , Madikwe , Mahikeng , Mooinooi , Pilansberg , Rustenburg , Sun City , Swartruggens , Temba , Wolmeransstad