Topography and drainage

The terrain morphology indicates that the Nketoana are consists of slightly undulating plains and hills and slightly irregular undulating plains and hills. The whole Nketoana area falls in the Vaal River drainage region. A number of small dams located on farms are found in the area.

Climate and geology

Nketoana falls almost entirely in the 350-500 mm annual rainfall zone. There is only a small strip of land south of Reitz that falls in the 500-650 mm annual rainfall zone. The average daily maximum temperature ranges between 27° C during summer and 16.5° C during winter. The average daily minimum temperature ranges between 13° C during summer and -2° C during winter.

Biodiversity Summary

The municipality covers an area of 561111.9haa of which 54.4 % has remained as natural habitat. There are no formal land-based protected areas or RAMSAR sites in the municipality. These are the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve (632ha) and the Sandveld Nature Reserve (24883.5ha).

Only one biome (Grassland) is found in the municipality. Eight vegetation types are found in the municipal area, namely (i) Bloemfontein Karroid Shrubland, Central Free State Grassland, Eastern Free State Clay Grassland, Eastern Free State Sandy Grassland, Eastern Temperate Freshwater Wetlands, Frankfort Highveld Grassland, Northern Free State Shrubland and Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland.

There is one endangered ecosystem, namely Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland covering 620.2ha  (0.11%) of the municipality. Ten rivers run through the municipality, including the Cornelis, Liebenbergsvlei, Renoster, Rus se Spruit, Sand, Soutvlei, Tierkloof, Vals and Wilge. Wetlands cover 8932.2ha (1.6%) of the municipal area.

• 2010 / 2011 Environmental Plan