Kamiesberg Local Municipality

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

Kamiesberg
Local municipality
Official seal of Kamiesberg
Seal
Location in the Northern Cape
Location in the Northern Cape
Coordinates: 30°33′S 17°59′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceNorthern Cape
DistrictNamakwa
SeatGaries
Wards6
Government
[1]
 • TypeMunicipal 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 African5.3%
 • Coloured85.6%
 • Indian/Asian0.5%
 • White8.1%
First languages (2011)
[2]
 • Afrikaans97.0%
 • Other3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeNC064

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
Garies36501669.42,105
Hondeklip Bay36500922.7543
Kamassies3650010.9341
Kamieskroon3650078.8893
Karkams36501130.31,439
Kheis3650140.9488
Klipfontein3650150.8466
Koingnaas36500546.9105
Leliefontein3650080.7616
Lepelsfontein36501728.7233
Nourivier3650060.3460
Paulshoek3650130.7415
Rooifontein3650030.7332
Soebatsfontein3650040.4276
Spoegrivier3650100.3513
Tweerivier3650120.3252
Remainder36500213,997.5709
Total14,210.210,187

Politics
Main article: Kamiesberg Local Municipality elections

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 Fighters 4274308578.3%011
Namakwa Civic Movement 3753977727.5%011
Economic Freedom Fighters 2712595305.1%000
Freedom Front Plus 1261222482.4%000
Patriotic Alliance 40–400.4%0–0
Independent candidates 9–90.1%0–0
Total 5,1515,15810,3096511
Valid votes 5,1515,15810,30999.1%
Spoilt votes 4846940.9%
Total votes cast 5,1995,20410,403
Voter turnout 5,224
Registered voters 7,484
Turnout percentage 69.8%

References
  1. "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. "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.
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