Matjhabeng Local Municipality came into existence on 05 December 2000 after the amalgamation and emergence of the former six Transitional Local Council into one financially viable and economically sustainable municipality. Matjhabeng Municipality incorporates the city of Welkom and the towns of Odendelsrus, Virginia, Hennenman, Allanridge and Ventersburg with a combined population of more than 500 000 people. The economy of the Matjhabeng Municipality area centered on mining activities located in and around Allanridge, Odendelsrus, Welkom and Virginia.

The Masilonyana Local Municipality (FS181) was established in term of the Municipal Structure Act and the Municipal Demarcation Act. The municipality forms part of Lejweleputswa District Municipality (FS184) . The municipality head office, Theunissen is situated 102 kilometers from Bloemfontein and approximately 55 kilometers from Welkom. The municipality comprises of former five Transitional Local Councils, that is, Theunissen, Brandfort, Winburg, Verkeerdevlei and Soutpan. The municipality covers an area of 679608. 6ha of which 77. 7 % has remained as natural habitat. There is one formal land-based protected areas in the municipality, namely the Sandveld Nature Reserve (1740. 9ha) . There are no RAMSAR sites in the municipality. There is one biome in the municipality, namely Grassland. Nine vegetation types, are found in the municipal area.

Tswelopele Local Municipality is an administrative area situated in the central Free State province about 100km north west of Bloemfontein and in the Lejweleputswa District. The name is a Sesotho word meaning 'progress'. Cities / Towns: Bultfontein, Hoopstad