Kamiesberg Local Municipality

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Kamiesberg
Kamiesberg CoA.png
Map of the Northern Cape with Kamiesberg highlighted (2011).svg
Location in the Northern Cape
Coordinates: 30°33′S17°59′E / 30.550°S 17.983°E / -30.550; 17.983
Country South Africa
Province Northern Cape
District Namakwa
Seat Garies
Wards 6
Government
[1]
  Type Municipal council
  MayorMartin Klasae
Area
  Total14,210 km2 (5,490 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [2]
  Total10,187
  Density0.72/km2 (1.9/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[2]
   Black African 5.3%
   Coloured 85.6%
   Indian/Asian 0.5%
   White 8.1%
First languages (2011)
[2]
   Afrikaans 97.0%
  Other3%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeNC064

Kamiesberg Municipality (Afrikaans : Kamiesberg Munisipaliteit) is a local municipality within the Namakwa District Municipality, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.

Contents

Population

In 2007 an estimated 12,117 persons lived in Kamiesberg; [3] however, this estimate is very rough. The majority of Kamiesberg's people are coloured (mixed race).

Kharkams village represents, in many ways, the typical village in Kamiesberg: the average education level is 6.7 years; electricity reached the village in 1999; water is available in nearly every house; villagers have access to health care once a week.

Sheep and goats are kept on villager-owned land between Kamiesberg's eleven villages.

Topography and climate

Kamiesberg municipality spans three topographic zones. The area stretches from the sandy coastal lowlands (Sandveld) to the mountainous central Kamiesberg escarpment (Hardveld), and to the eastern plateau of Bushmanland. There are no perennial rivers in the area. Water is obtained from subterranean sources. Some of the water is pumped up by windmills, but most of the water to the communal areas is from natural springs. Many of these springs are semi-perennial, and the salt content of the water can vary from year to year, causing problems. In 2003 the rainfall was 131 mm (5 in) in Springbok (100 km (62 mi) north of Kamiesberg). Rainfall has on average decreased from 1970 to 1994.

Soils and vegetation

Four main types of vegetation are found in the area: Mountains Renosterveld, Succulent Karoo, False Succulent Karoo and Namaqualand Broken Veldt. However, overall plant life is in a deteriorating state, and non-edible, undesirable and poisonous vegetation is taking over.

Sources of household income in Kamiesberg

A survey (2003) of three communal villages in Kamiesberg (only 74 saailande owners) showed the following sources of household income: wage labour (49%), government transfers (28%), small business (11%), remittances (6%), livestock income (3%) and farm income (3%).

Communal institutions

Like every other municipality in Namaqualand, Kamiesberg is governed by formal institutions. The most important formal institutions are: Kamiesberg Municipality located in Garies, the Common Management Committee (Meentcommetee), the Old Local Council and Transitional Local Councils (TLCs).

Main places

The 2011 census divided the municipality into the following main places: [4]

PlaceCodeArea (km2)Population
Garies 365016 69.42,105
Hondeklip Bay 365009 22.7543
Kamassies 365001 0.9341
Kamieskroon 365007 8.8893
Karkams 365011 30.31,439
Kheis 365014 0.9488
Klipfontein 365015 0.8466
Koingnaas 365005 46.9105
Leliefontein 365008 0.7616
Lepelsfontein 365017 28.7233
Nourivier 365006 0.3460
Paulshoek 365013 0.7415
Rooifontein 365003 0.7332
Soebatsfontein 365004 0.4276
Spoegrivier 365010 0.3513
Tweerivier 365012 0.3252
Remainder 365002 13,997.5709
Total14,210.210,187

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 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of six seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election. [5] [6]

Kamiesberg local election, 1 November 2021
PartyVotesSeats
WardListTotal %WardListTotal
African National Congress 2,6952,7125,40752.4%516
Democratic Alliance 1,2081,2382,44623.7%123
National Economic Fighters4274308578.3%011
Namakwa Civic Movement 3753977727.5%011
Economic Freedom Fighters 2712595305.1%000
Freedom Front Plus 1261222482.4%000
Patriotic Alliance 40400.4%00
Independent candidates 990.1%00
Total5,1515,15810,3096511
Valid votes5,1515,15810,30999.1%
Spoilt votes 4846940.9%
Total votes cast5,1995,20410,403
Voter turnout5,224
Registered voters7,484
Turnout percentage69.8%

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The Kamiesberg Local Municipality 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 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of six seats.

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. Municipal Demarcation Board South Africa
  4. "Kamiesberg Local Municipality". Census 2011.
  5. "Results Summary - All Ballots" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Africa. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  6. "Seat Calculation Detail" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Africa. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.