Cape Agulhas Local Municipality

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.[1] 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.

Cape Agulhas Kaap Agulhas
Local municipality
Seal
Location in the Western Cape
Coordinates: 34°30′S 20°00′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Overberg
Seat	Bredasdorp
Wards	6
Government
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	Paul Swart (DA)
• Executive Deputy Mayor	Zukiswa Tonisi
Area
• Total	3,467 km^2 (1,339 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	33,038
• Density	9.5/km^2 (25/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	11.5%
• Coloured	65.6%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	21.6%
First languages (2011) [2]
• Afrikaans	84.4%
• Xhosa	6.0%
• English	5.6%
• Other	4%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal code	WC033

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.[3]

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 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 3 August 2016, the Democratic Alliance (DA) won a majority of seats on the council, defeating an ANC-lead coalition that previously had controlled the council. Paul Swart of the DA subsequently was elected as mayor.[4]

The following table shows the results of the 2016 election.[5][6][7]

Party		Votes				Seats
		Ward	List	Total	%	Ward	List	Total
	Democratic Alliance	6,888	7,062	13,950	53.3%	4	2	6
	ANC	3,938	3,972	7,910	30.2%	2	1	3
	Dienslewerings Party	1,400	1,247	2,647	10.1%	0	1	1
	Cape Agulhas Civic Organization	478	394	872	3.3%	0	1	1
	Economic Freedom Fighters	174	189	363	1.4%	0	0	0
	Freedom Front Plus	163	182	345	1.3%	0	0	0
	Ubuntu Party	48	32	80	0.3%	0	0	0
Total		13,089	13,078	26,167		6	5	11
Valid votes		13,089	13,078	26,167	99.0%
Spoilt votes		132	132	264	1.0%
Total votes cast		13,221	13,210	26,431
Voter turnout		13,224
Registered voters		19,650
Turnout percentage		67.3%

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.[8]

References

1. "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
2. "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
3. "Cape Agulhas Local Municipality". Census 2011.
4. http://www.capeagulhas.org/executive-mayor
5. "Results Summary – All Ballots: Cape Agulhas" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
6. "Seat Calculation Detail: Cape Agulhas" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
7. "Voter Turnout Report: Cape Agulhas" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
8. "Political composition of councils February 2017" (PDF). Western Cape Department of Local Government. February 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.

External links

• Cape Agulhas Municipality — Official home page