Swellendam Local Municipality

Swellendam
Local municipality

Seal

Location in the Western Cape
Coordinates: 34°00′S 20°30′E / 34.000°S 20.500°ECoordinates: 34°00′S 20°30′E / 34.000°S 20.500°E
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)[3]
 • 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.[4]

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:

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.[5]

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

Party Votes Seats
Ward List Total % Ward List Total
African National Congress 4,336 4,490 8,826 41.9 2 2 4
Democratic Alliance 4,270 4,359 8,629 41.0 3 1 4
African Christian Democratic Party 683 686 1,369 6.5 0 1 1
National Independent Civic Organisation 462 455 917 4.4 0 0 0
Civic Independent 254 274 528 2.5 0 0 0
Congress of the People 145 154 299 1.4 0 0 0
Freedom Front Plus 129 107 236 1.1 0 0 0
Independent 182 – 182 0.9 0 – 0
National People's Party 67 19 86 0.4 0 0 0
Total 10,528 10,544 21,072 100.0 5 4 9
Spoilt votes 107 94 201

The local council sends one representative, a member of the Democratic Alliance, to the council of the Overberg District Municipality.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Council Members". Swellendam Municipality online. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  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. ↑ "Swellendam 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: Swellendam" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Seat Calculation Detail: Swellendam" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 July 2012.

External links