Rustenburg is situated at the foot of the Magalies mountain range.

The city of Rustenburg is situated some 112 km northwest from both Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Rustenburg is the fastest growing municipality in South Africa, with the population rising from 387,096 in 2001 to 449,776 in 2007.

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

Forty-five councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in forty-five wards, while the remaining forty-four are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.