Kou-Kamma Local Municipality

Kou-Kamma
Local municipality

Seal
Location in the Eastern Cape
Location in the Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 33°57′S 24°17′E / 33.950°S 24.283°ECoordinates: 33°57′S 24°17′E / 33.950°S 24.283°E
Country South Africa
Province Eastern Cape
District Cacadu
Seat Kareedouw
Wards 6
Government[1]
 • Type Municipal council
 • Mayor Noel J. O'Connel (ANC)
 • Manager Mr M Ndokweni
Area
 • Total 3,593 km2 (1,387 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 40,663
 • Density 11/km2 (29/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
 • Black African 30.6%
 • Coloured 59.8%
 • Indian/Asian 0.3%
 • White 8.2%
First languages (2011)[3]
 • Afrikaans 73.8%
 • Xhosa 19.9%
 • English 2.7%
 • Sotho 1.1%
 • Other 2.5%
Time zone SAST (UTC+2)
Municipal code EC109

The Kou-Kamma Municipality is a local municipality in South Africa. It is situated in the southwest corner of the Cacadu District Municipality along the Indian Ocean coastline, in the southwestern sector of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. To the west lies the Western Cape Province. Kou-Kamma also borders the Baviaans Local Municipality in the north and the Kouga Local Municipality to the east. The geographical area of the Municipality is 12,540 square kilometres. Its name is a blend of the names of the Kouga (Kou-) and Tsitsikamma (-Kamma) mountains, which in turn were named after the rivers Kouga and Tsitsikamma.[4]

The municipality is a relatively poor area with high unemployment and low levels of literacy. Settlements tend to be scattered, which has posed challenges to the provision of infrastructure and basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity.

The Kou-Kamma Municipality is composed of two distinct regions: the coastal belt (referred to as the Tsitsikamma or the Western Coastal Zone, which includes settlements such as Coldstream, Storms River and Clarkson), and the inland area of the Langkloof (including settlements such as Kareedouw, Joubertina and Louterwater). The two areas are separated by the Tsitsikamma Mountains.

The nature of the two areas differs vastly. The Coastal Zone is characterised by a diverse and fast-growing economy driven by tourism and agriculture, a fast-growing population linked to the economic opportunities, a good water supply, and a wealth of holiday destinations and indigenous forests.

In contrast, employment in the Langkloof is characterised by seasonal agriculture with high labour requirements. The area has greater challenges in terms of sufficient water supply, with additional pressure due to a high population growth related to migrant labour.[5]

Main places

The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:[6]

Place Code Area (km2) Population Most spoken language
Boskop 209011.03531Xhosa
Coldstream 209023.26954Afrikaans
Joubertina 209032.68845Afrikaans
Kagiso Height 209040.09854Xhosa
Kareedouw 209051.67743Afrikaans
Krakeel Rivier 209071.231,667Afrikaans
Louterwater 209081.032,535Afrikaans
Sanddrif 209091.631,872Afrikaans
Stormsrivier 209101.67598Afrikaans
Thornham 209113.851,026Afrikaans
Tsitsikamabos National Park 2091211.05284Afrikaans
Tweeriviere 209130.643,995Afrikaans
Uitkyk 209141.212,303Afrikaans
Witelsbos 209152.4742Afrikaans
Woodslands 209160.351,304Afrikaans
Remainder of the municipality 209063,541.3514,729Afrikaans

Politics

The municipal council consists of eleven members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Six councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in six wards, while the remaining five 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 six seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.[7][8]

Party Votes Seats
Ward List Total % Ward List Total
African National Congress 6,516 6,569 13,085 57.7 5 1 6
Democratic Alliance 4,815 4,788 9,603 42.3 1 4 5
Total 11,331 11,357 22,688 100.0 6 5 11
Spoilt votes 140 107 247

References

  1. ↑ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "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. ↑ Local and district municipality's names, South African Geographical Names System, archived from the original on January 2004
  5. ↑ "Kou-Kamma Municipality – Integrated Development Plan: 2007-2012". Retrieved 10-05-2009. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ↑ Lookup Tables - Statistics South Africa
  7. ↑ "Results Summary – All Ballots: Kou-Kamma". Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Seat Calculation Detail: Kou-Kamma". Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 November 2013.

External links