Greater Kokstad Local Municipality

Last updated
Greater Kokstad
Greater Kokstad CoA.png
Map of KwaZulu-Natal with Greater Kokstad highlighted.svg
Location in KwaZulu-Natal
Coordinates: 30°33′S29°25′E / 30.550°S 29.417°E / -30.550; 29.417
Country South Africa
Province KwaZulu-Natal
District Harry Gwala District
Seat Kokstad
Wards 10
Government
[1]
  Type Municipal council
  MayorCllr Lwanda Madikizela
Area
  Total
2,680 km2 (1,030 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [2]
  Total
65,981
  Density25/km2 (64/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[2]
   Black African 87.1%
   Coloured 8.2%
   Indian/Asian 1.1%
   White 3.3%
First languages (2011)
[2]
   Xhosa 70.5%
   English 8.8%
   Zulu 7.5%
   Afrikaans 6.9%
  Other6.3%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeKZN433

Greater Kokstad Municipality (Xhosa : uMasipala wase Greater Kokstad) is a local municipality within the Harry Gwala District Municipality, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Kokstad is derived from Dutch, meaning "town of Kok". It was named after Adam Kok III. [3]

Contents

Kokstad serves as the service centre and commercial hub for most of East Griqualand and nearby parts of the Eastern Cape. [4]

Main places

The 2011 census for the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality states a population of 65,981 with these most populated main places: [5]

PlaceCodeArea (km2)Population
Greater Kokstad NU 596002 2,611.049,926
Kokstad 596004 51.5751,561
Franklin 596003 6.892,018
Full 2011 Census Report 596 2,679.8265,981

Politics

The municipal council consists of nineteen members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Ten councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in ten wards, while the remaining nine 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 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of twelve seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election. [6]

PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
African National Congress 11,88659.541011,88859.21212
Economic Freedom Fighters 4,25621.3204,24921.1644
Democratic Alliance 2,40912.0702,35911.7522
African Independent Congress 2931.4703801.8911
Patriotic Alliance 2311.1602661.3200
African Christian Democratic Party 2371.1902591.2900
African Transformation Movement 2041.0202701.3400
Inkatha Freedom Party 2181.0902321.1600
United Democratic Movement 1280.6401500.7500
Independent candidates 710.3600
Abantu Batho Congress 290.150260.1300
Total19,962100.001020,079100.00919
Valid votes19,96296.9520,07997.11
Invalid/blank votes6293.055972.89
Total votes20,591100.0020,676100.00
Registered voters/turnout43,69147.1343,69147.32

Mismanagement

The municipality commenced construction of a sports complex in 2017. As of March 2024, R55 million has been spent, and the complex is still incomplete, with a further tender having been announced. The ratepayers association stated that the municipality has wasted the money, as it is being constructed in a wetland against the wishes and warnings of the community. [7]

References

  1. "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. South African Languages - Place names
  4. KwaZulu-Natal Top Business - Umzimkhulu Municipality
  5. "Census 2011: Local Municipality: Greater Kokstad". census2011.adrianfrith.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  6. "Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Greater Kokstad". wikitable.frith.dev. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  7. Damba-Hendrik, Nombulelo (2024-03-08). "Millions spent but seven years later this sports complex is still incomplete". GroundUp News. Retrieved 2024-03-09.