Thaba Chweu

Quick Fact
According to Census 2011, the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality has a total population estimated at 98 387.
Quick Fact Image 1,86% Growth Rate

Thaba Chweu Local Municipality is one of the four municipalities of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality of Mpumalanga. The municipality is located on the far north-eastern part of the district. It shares its northern boundaries with Limpopo. The municipality is on the Lowveld escarpment of Mpumalanga, with an average elevation of 1 400 m above sea level and altitudes varying from 600 to 2 100 m.

Rank By:
115 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Lesedi 99,520 112
Saldanha Bay 99,193 113
Kouga 98,558 114
Thaba Chweu 98,387 115
Langeberg 97,724 116
Maphumulo 96,724 117
Umuziwabantu 96,556 118
Quick Fact

9,7% of those 20+ have no schooling.

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According to Census 2011, the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality has a total population estimated at 98 387. Of the population, 81,6% are black African, 14,5% are white, and 2,6% are coloured, with other population groups making up the remaining 1,2%.

Of those aged 20 years and older, 4,5% have completed primary school, 33,7% have some secondary education, 30,7% have completed matric, and 9,6% have some form of higher education.

Group Percentage
Black African81,6%
Coloured2,6%
Indian/Asian0,6%
White14,5%
Other0,6%
Age Males Females
0-4 4,9% 4,9%
5-9 3,9% 3,8%
10-14 3,9% 3,8%
15-19 4,2% 4,2%
20-24 5,4% 4,8%
25-29 6% 5%
30-34 4,8% 4,1%
35-39 4,3% 3,7%
40-44 3,6% 3,2%
45-49 3% 3%
50-54 2,3% 2,2%
55-59 1,8% 1,9%
60-64 1,2% 1,3%
65-69 0,8% 1%
70-74 0,6% 0,8%
75-79 0,3% 0,5%
80-84 0,2% 0,4%
85+ 0,1% 0,3%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 14,7%
English 4,1%
IsiNdebele 2,3%
IsiXhosa 0,5%
IsiZulu 7,4%
Sepedi 35%
Sesotho 7%
Setswana 0,9%
Sign Language 0,2%
SiSwati 17,3%
Tshivenda 0,4%
Xitsonga 5,3%
Other 1.6%
Not Applicable 3,3%
Group Percentage
Married 25,1%
Living together like married partners 9,4%
Never married 61,1%
Widower/Widow 3%
Separated 0,5%
Divorced 0,9%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 2,8%
Some Primary 38,6%
Completed Primary 6,3%
Some Secondary 31,8%
Completed Secondary 15,4%
Higher Education 1,5%
Not Applicable 3,5%
Sex Percentage
Female 48,8%
Male 51,2%
Quick Fact
84,3% Use electricity for lighting.
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There are 33 352 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 2,7 persons per household. 38,8% of households have access to piped water inside the dwelling/institution and 41% have water in their yard. Only 5,2% of households do not have access piped water.  
Area Percentage
Urban 65,4%
Tribal/Traditional 16%
Farm 18,6%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 90,3% 9,7%
Computer 16% 84%
Television 63,7% 36,3%
Satellite Television 28,6% 71,4%
Radio 60,5% 39,5%
Landline / Telephone 7,1% 92,9%
Motor Car 24,8% 75,2%
Refrigerator 57,7% 42,3%
Electric / Gas-Stove 73,1% 26,9%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 71,7% 61,9% 84,3%
Gas 2,3% 1,5% 0,3%
Paraffin 5,2% 2,1% 1,5%
Solar 0,2% 0,2% 0,3%
Candles 0% 0% 13,2%
Wood 19,7% 20,5% 0%
Coal 0,6% 0,7% 0%
Animal Dung 0% 0,1% 0%
Other 0% 0% 0%
None 0,2% 12,9% 0,4%
Access Percentage
From Home 6,1%
From Cellphone 15,4%
From Work 3,7%
From Elsewhere 2,7%
No Access 72%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 45,4%
Owned and fully paid off 32,2%
Owned but not yet paid off 5,1%
Occupied rent free 13,5%
Other 3,7%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 72,4%
Borehole 11,5%
Spring 1%
Rain water tank 0,5%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 2,8%
River/Stream 6,5%
Water vendor 0,6%
Water tanker 3,4%
Other 1,3%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 2,9%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 64,2%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 4,1%
Chemical toilet 0,4%
Pit toilet with ventilation 5%
Pit toilet without ventilation 21,4%
Bucket toilet 0,5%
Other 1,4%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 58,6%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 5,8%
Communal refuse dump 1,2%
Own refuse dump 28,3%
No rubbish disposal 5,3%
Other 0,8%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 58,6%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 5,8%
Communal refuse dump 1,2%
Own refuse dump 28,3%
No rubbish disposal 5,3%
Other 0,8%
Quick Fact

27,1% Youth unemployment rate.

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There are 35 972 employed persons, and 2 213 persons are classified as discouraged work-seekers. The total unemployment rate is estimated at 20,5%.

Of the youth (15–35 years), 16 624 are employed and 1 500 are discouraged work-seekers, with a total unemployment rate of 27,1%.

Employment Status Number
Employed 35972
Unemployed 9268
Discouraged Work Seeker 2213
Not Economically Active 21327
Income Percentage
None income 12%
R1 - R4,800 3,3%
R4,801 - R9,600 5,8%
R9,601 - R19,600 20,6%
R19,601 - R38,200 22,4%
R38,201 - R76,4000 14,9%
R76,401 - R153,800 9,6%
R153,801 - R307,600 6,2%
R307,601 - R614,400 3,7%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 1%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,3%
R2,457,601+ 0,2%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 1,496
Poultry production 3,193
Vegetable production 1,827
Production of other crops 1,060
Other 949

**An agricultural household may engage in more than one agricultural activity

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 1,423
Animals only 2,734
Mixed farming 1,049
Other 294

**An agricultural household may not fall under more than one agricultural activity

Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 1,219
R1-R4 800 160
R4 801-R38 400 3,033
R38 401-R307 200 845
R307 201+ 119
Unspecified 124

Place names

Places in Thaba Chweu Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population98,387
Young (0-14)25,2%
Working Age (15-64)69,9%
Elderly (65+)4,9%
Dependency ratio43
Sex ratio105,1
Growth rate1,86% (2001-2011)
Population density17 persons/km2
Unemployment rate20,5%
Youth unemployment rate27,1%
No schooling aged 20+9,7%
Higher education aged 20+9,6%
Matric aged 20+30,2%
Number of households33,352
Number of Agricultural households5,500
Average household size2,7
Female headed households33,2%
Formal dwellings74,6%
Housing owned/paying off37,4%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage64,2%
Weekly refuse removal58,6%
Piped water inside dwelling38,8%
Electricity for lighting84,3%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population81,681
Young (0-14)28,4%
Working Age (15-64)69,9%
Elderly (65+)4,4%
Dependency ratio48,9%
Sex ratio99,4
Growth rate4,29% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate25,1%
Youth unemployment rate33,8%
No schooling aged 20+21%
Higher education aged 20+6,2%
Matric aged 20+18,8%
Number of households21,257
Average household size3
Female headed households35,6%
Formal dwellings68,7%
Housing owned/paying off44,1%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage57,4%
Weekly refuse removal58,1%
Piped water inside dwelling30%
Electricity for lighting75,3%