Mier Local Municipality

Mier
Local municipality
Seal
Location in the Northern Cape
Coordinates: 26°20′S 20°20′E / 26.333°S 20.333°E / -26.333; 20.333Coordinates: 26°20′S 20°20′E / 26.333°S 20.333°E / -26.333; 20.333
Country	South Africa
Province	Northern Cape
District	ZF Mgcawu
Seat	Rietfontein
Wards	4
Government[1]
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	Sophia Kethrina Coetzee
Area
• Total	22,468 km2 (8,675 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
• Total	7,003
• Density	0.31/km2 (0.81/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
• Black African	4.0%
• Coloured	90.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.6%
• White	4.4%
First languages (2011)[2]
• Afrikaans	97.0%
• Other	3%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Municipal code	NC081

Mier is a local municipality within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Its area includes the South African portion of one of the world's largest conservation areas, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The main settlement in the municipality is the town of Rietfontein.

According to the 2011 census Mier has a population of 7,003, which is the smallest of any municipality in South Africa. It is also the most sparsely populated municipality in the country, covering a land area of 22,468 square kilometres (8,675 sq mi) with a population density of 0.31 inhabitants per square kilometre (0.80 /sq mi). Mier is the municipality in South Africa with the highest percentage of Afrikaans speakers at 97.1%.

The name Mier is an Afrikaans word that originates from the word "mere" which means "lakes". When German missionaries visited the area a long time ago, they found the pans in the area full of water. They called them "mere". As language changed, the people later pronounced it as "mier".^[3]

Main places

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

Other villages and populated places in the municipality include Bokspits, Brsdring, Andriesvale and Tweerivieren.

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 ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, Northern Cape District seat: Upington Kai !Garib Augrabies Kakamas Keimoes Kenhardt Marchand Riemvasmaak Kgatelopele Daniëlskuil Lime Acres //Khara Hais Louisvale Upington !Kheis Groblershoop Grootdrink Putsonderwater Wegdraai Mier Askham Rietfontein Tsantsabane Postmasburg

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