Kamiesberg Local Municipality

Kamiesberg
Local municipality
Seal
Location in the Northern Cape
Coordinates: 33°20′S 18°0′E / 33.333°S 18.000°E / -33.333; 18.000Coordinates: 33°20′S 18°0′E / 33.333°S 18.000°E / -33.333; 18.000
Country	South Africa
Province	Northern Cape
District	Namakwa
Seat	Garies
Wards	4
Government[1]
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	Martin Klasae
Area
• Total	14,210 km2 (5,490 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
• Total	10,187
• Density	0.72/km2 (1.9/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
• Black African	5.3%
• Coloured	85.6%
• Indian/Asian	0.5%
• White	8.1%
First languages (2011)[2]
• Afrikaans	97.0%
• Other	3%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Municipal code	NC064

Kamiesberg Local Municipality is in South Africa.

Population

In 2007, an estimated 12,117 persons lived in Kamiesberg;^[3] however, this estimate is very rough. The majority of Kamiesberg's people are coloured (mixed race).

Kharkams village represents, in many ways, the typical village in Kamiesberg: the average education level is 6.7 years; electricity reached the village in 1999; water is available in nearly every house; villagers have access to health care once a week.

Sheep and goats are kept on villager-owned land between Kamiesberg's eleven villages.

Topography and climate

Kamiesberg municipality spans three topographic zones. The area stretches from the sandy coastal lowlands (Sandveld) to the mountainous central Kamiesberg escarpment (Hardveld), and to the eastern plateau of Bushmanland. There are no perennial rivers in the area. Water is obtained from subterranean sources. Some of the water is pumped up by windmills, but most of the water to the communal areas is from natural springs. Many of these springs are semi-perennial, and the salt content of the water can vary from year to year, causing problems. In 2003 the rainfall was 131 mm (5 in) in Springbok (100 km (62 mi) north of Kamiesberg). Rainfall has on average decreased from 1970 to 1994.

Soils and vegetation

Four main types of vegetation are found in the area: Mountains Renosterveld, Succulent Karoo, False Succulent Karoo and Namaqualand Broken Veldt. However, overall plant life is in a deteriorating state, and non-edible, undesirable and poisonous vegetation is taking over.

Sources of household income in Kamiesberg

A survey (2003) of three communal villages in Kamiesberg (only 74 saailande owners) showed the following sources of household income: wage labour (49%), government transfers (28%), small business (11%), remittances (6%), livestock income (3%) and farm income (3%).

Communal institutions

Like every other municipality in Namaqualand, Kamiesberg is governed by formal institutions. The most important formal institutions are: Kamiesberg Municipality located in Garies, the Common Management Committee (Meentcommetee), the Old Local Council and Transitional Local Councils (TLCs).

Main places

The 2011 census divided the municipality into the following main places:^[4]

Politics

The municipal council consists of seven members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in four wards, while the remaining three are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. In the election of 18 May 2011 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of four seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.^[5][6]

References

v t e Municipalities and communities of Namakwa District Municipality, Northern Cape District seat: Springbok Hantam Brandvlei Calvinia Loeriesfontein Nieuwoudtville Kamiesberg Garies Hondeklip Bay Kamieskroon Karkams Koingnaas Leliefontein Soebatsfontein Spoegrivier Karoo Hoogland Fraserburg Sutherland Williston Khâi-Ma Aggeneys Onseepkans Pella Pofadder Nama Khoi Buffelsrivier Concordia Goodhouse Grootmis Henkries Kleinzee Komaggas Nababeep Okiep Springbok Steinkopf Vioolsdrif Richtersveld Alexander Bay Eksteenfontein Kuboes Lekkersing Port Nolloth

v t e Municipalities of the Northern Cape Namakwa District Richtersveld Nama Khoi Kamiesberg Hantam Karoo Hoogland Khâi-Ma Pixley ka Seme District Ubuntu Umsobomvu Emthanjeni Kareeberg Renosterberg Thembelihle Siyathemba Siyancuma ZF Mgcawu District Mier Kai !Garib //Khara Hais !Kheis Tsantsabane Kgatelopele Frances Baard District Sol Plaatje Dikgatlong Magareng Phokwane John Taolo Gaetsewe District Joe Morolong Ga-Segonyana Gamagara List of municipalities in the Northern Cape