Rustenburg Local Municipality

Rustenburg Metropolitan
Rustenburg Local Municipality
Location in the North West
Coordinates: 25°40′S 27°20′E / 25.667°S 27.333°E / -25.667; 27.333
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceNorth West
DistrictBojanala Platinum
SeatRustenburg
Wards45
Government
  TypeMunicipal council
  MayorSheila Mabale-Huma (ANC)
Area
  Total
3,423 km2 (1,322 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
  Total
549,575
  Density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
  Black African88.5%
  Coloured0.9%
  Indian/Asian0.8%
  White9.4%
First languages (2011)
  Tswana53.9%
  Afrikaans9.9%
  Xhosa9.6%
  Tsonga5.6%
  Other21%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeNW373

Rustenburg Municipality (Tswana: Mmasepala wa Rustenburg; Afrikaans: Rustenburg Munisipaliteit) is a local municipality within the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, in the North West province of South Africa. Rustenburg is situated at the foot of the Magalies mountain range. Rustenburg (meaning "town of rest" or "resting place" in Afrikaans) was proclaimed a township in 1851. The city of Rustenburg is situated some 112 km northwest from both Johannesburg and Pretoria. It is a malaria-free area. Rustenburg is the fastest growing municipality in South Africa, with the population rising from 387,096 in 2001 to 449,776 in 2007. It is the most populous municipality in the North West province.

Rustenburg is a Dutch name meaning "town (originally castle) of rest".