Swellendam Local Municipality

Swellendam
Local municipality
Seal
Location in the Western Cape
Coordinates: 34°00′S 20°30′E / 34.000°S 20.500°E / -34.000; 20.500Coordinates: 34°00′S 20°30′E / 34.000°S 20.500°E / -34.000; 20.500
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Overberg
Seat	Swellendam
Wards	5
Government[1]
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	N.G. Myburgh (DA)
Area
• Total	3,835 km2 (1,481 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
• Total	35,916
• Density	9.4/km2 (24/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
• Black African	12.4%
• Coloured	68.8%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	17.4%
First languages (2011)[2]
• Afrikaans	85.1%
• Xhosa	6.9%
• English	4.7%
• Other	3.3%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Municipal code	WC034

Swellendam Municipality is a municipality located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As of 2011 it had a population of 35,916.^[2] Its municipality code is WC034.

Geography

The municipality covers an area of 3,835 square kilometres (1,481 sq mi) around the lower Breede River Valley, from the confluence of the confluence of the Breede River and Sonderend River downstream to the Breede River mouth on the Indian Ocean. It also extends westwards up the Sonderend River and northwards across the Langeberg mountains into the Little Karoo around the Warmwaterberg. The municipality abuts on the Cape Agulhas Municipality to the south, the Theewaterskloof Municipality to the west, the Langeberg Municipality to the northwest, the Kannaland Municipality to the northeast and the Hessequa Municipality to the east.

According to the 2011 census the municipality has a population of 35,916 people in 10,139 households. Of this population, 68.8% describe themselves as "Coloured", 17.4% as "White", and 12.4% as "Black African". The first language of 85.1% of the population is Afrikaans, while 6.9% speak Xhosa and 4.7% speak English.^[3]

The principal town and location of the municipal headquarters is Swellendam, which as of 2011 had a population of 17,537. Suurbraak (pop. 2,252) is situated east of Swellendam at the southern end of Tradouws Pass which cuts through the Langeberg, while Barrydale (pop. 4,156) is at the other end of the pass on the edge of the Little Karoo. Buffeljagsrivier (pop. 1,439) is situated southeast of Swellendam on the river of the same name. Malgas (pop. 44) is located at a pontoon ferry on the Breede River, the last crossing of the river before it reaches the ocean. Infanta (pop. 90) is situated at the mouth of the river on its southern bank.

Conservation areas

The most significant conservation areas are:

• Bontebok National Park
• Marloth Nature Reserve in the Langeberg
• Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Politics

The municipal council consists of nine members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Five councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in five wards, while the remaining four 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 no party obtained a majority; the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) each obtained four seats and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) obtained one. The DA and the ACDP formed a coalition to govern the municipality.^[4]

The following table shows the results of the 2011 election.^[5][6]

The local council sends one representative, a member of the Democratic Alliance, to the council of the Overberg District Municipality.^[4]

References

External links

• Official website
• Swellendam Municipality on the Western Cape Government website

v t e Municipalities and communities of Overberg District Municipality, Western Cape District seat: Bredasdorp Cape Agulhas Arniston Bredasdorp Elim Hotagterklip L'Agulhas Napier Protem Skipskop Struisbaai Suiderstrand Overstrand Baardskeerdersbos Betty's Bay Birkenhead De Kelders Fisherhaven Franskraalstrand Gansbaai Hawston Hermanus Kleinbaai Kleinmond Onrusrivier Pearly Beach Pringle Bay Rooi-Els Sandbaai Stanford Van Dyksbaai Vermont Viljoenshof Swellendam Barrydale Infanta Malgas Stormsvlei Suurbraak Swellendam Theewaterskloof Botrivier Caledon Dennehof Genadendal Grabouw Greyton Riviersonderend Villiersdorp

v t e Municipalities of the Western Cape Metropolitan City of Cape Town District and local West Coast Matzikama Cederberg Bergrivier Saldanha Bay Swartland Cape Winelands Witzenberg Drakenstein Stellenbosch Breede Valley Langeberg Overberg Theewaterskloof Overstrand Cape Agulhas Swellendam Eden Kannaland Hessequa Mossel Bay George Oudtshoorn Bitou Knysna Central Karoo Laingsburg Prince Albert Beaufort West List of municipalities in the Western Cape