Cape Agulhas Local Municipality

Cape Agulhas
Kaap Agulhas
Local municipality

Seal

Location in the Western Cape
Coordinates: 34°30′S 20°00′E / 34.500°S 20.000°ECoordinates: 34°30′S 20°00′E / 34.500°S 20.000°E
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
District Overberg
Seat Bredasdorp
Wards 5
Government[1]
 • Type Municipal council
 • Mayor Richard Mitchell   (ANC)
 • Executive Deputy Mayor Dirk Jantjies
Area
 • Total 3,467 km2 (1,339 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 33,038
 • Density 9.5/km2 (25/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
 • Black African 11.5%
 • Coloured 65.6%
 • Indian/Asian 0.3%
 • White 21.6%
First languages (2011)[3]
 • Afrikaans 84.4%
 • Xhosa 6.0%
 • English 5.6%
 • Other 4%
Time zone SAST (UTC+2)
Municipal code WC033

Cape Agulhas Municipality (Afrikaans: Kaap Agulhas Plaaslike Munisipaliteit) is a municipality located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As of 2011 it had a population of 33,038.[2] Its municipality code is WC033. It is named after Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. The largest town is Bredasdorp, which is the seat of the municipal headquarters. It also includes the villages of Napier, Struisbaai, Elim, Arniston and L'Agulhas, and the De Hoop Nature Reserve.

Geography

The municipality covers an area of 3,467 square kilometres (1,339 sq mi) in the Southern Overberg, covering a radius of 30 to 40 kilometres (20 to 25 mi) around Bredasdorp as well as a panhandle extending east to include the De Hoop Nature Reserve. A range of hills runs east-west through the municipality with a gap at Bredasdorp. South of these hills is the low and flat Agulhas plain. The municipality abuts on the Overstrand Municipality to the west, the Theewaterskloof Municipality to the northwest and the Swellendam Municipality to the north.

According to the 2011 census the municipality has a population of 33,038 people in 10,162 households. Of this population, 65.6% describe themselves as "Coloured", 21.6% as "White", and 11.5% as "Black African". The first language of 84.4% of the population is Afrikaans, while 6.0% speak Xhosa and 5.6% speak English.[4]

The principal town and location of the municipal headquarters is Bredasdorp, which as of 2011 has a population of 15,524. Napier (pop. 4,214) is situated 15 kilometres (9 mi) northwest of Bredasdorp. South of Bredasdorp on the coast around Cape Agulhas are Struisbaai (pop. 3,877), L'Agulhas (pop. 548) and Suiderstrand (pop. 44). Arniston (pop. 1,267) is further east along the coast. The former mission station of Elim (pop. 1,412) is situated west of Bredasdorp.

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, with the ninth seat being held by an independent. This independent formed a coalition with the ANC to govern the municipality.[5]

The following table shows the results of the 2011 election.[6][7]

Party Votes Seats
Ward List Total % Ward List Total
Democratic Alliance 5,888 6,158 12,046 48.2 3 1 4
African National Congress 4,810 5,515 10,325 41.3 1 3 4
Independent 919 – 919 3.7 1 – 1
National People's Party 328 298 626 2.5 0 0 0
Congress of the People 251 246 497 2.0 0 0 0
Cape Agulhas Ratepayers Association 119 156 275 1.1 0 0 0
African Christian Democratic Party 115 108 223 0.9 0 0 0
Freedom Front Plus 47 39 86 0.3 0 0 0
Total 12,477 12,520 24,997 100.0 5 4 9
Spoilt votes 143 104 247

The local council sends two representatives to the council of the Overberg District Municipality: one from the Democratic Alliance and one from the African National Congress.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Table: Census 2011 by district council, gender, age in 5 year groups and population group". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "Table: Census 2011 by district council, gender, language and population group". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  4. ↑ "Cape Agulhas Local Municipality". Census 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Political composition of councils" (PDF). Western Cape Department of Local Government. August 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Results Summary – All Ballots: Cape Agulhas" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Seat Calculation Detail: Cape Agulhas" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 July 2012.

External links