Kamiesberg Local Municipality

Kamiesberg
Local municipality
Seal
Location in the Northern Cape
Coordinates: 30°33′S 17°59′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Northern Cape
District	Namakwa
Seat	Garies
Wards	4
Government [1]
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	Martin Klasae
Area
• Total	14,210 km^2 (5,490 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[2]
• Total	10,187
• Density	0.72/km^2 (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) [3]
• Afrikaans	97.0%
• Other	3%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal code	NC064

Kamiesberg Local Municipality is in South Africa.

Population

In 2007 an estimated 12,117 persons lived in Kamiesberg;[4] 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:[5]

Place	Code	Area (km^2)	Population
Garies	365016	69.4	2,105
Hondeklip Bay	365009	22.7	543
Kamassies	365001	0.9	341
Kamieskroon	365007	8.8	893
Karkams	365011	30.3	1,439
Kheis	365014	0.9	488
Klipfontein	365015	0.8	466
Koingnaas	365005	46.9	105
Leliefontein	365008	0.7	616
Lepelsfontein	365017	28.7	233
Nourivier	365006	0.3	460
Paulshoek	365013	0.7	415
Rooifontein	365003	0.7	332
Soebatsfontein	365004	0.4	276
Spoegrivier	365010	0.3	513
Tweerivier	365012	0.3	252
Remainder	365002	13,997.5	709
Total		14,210.2	10,187

Politics

The municipal council consists of seven members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in four wards, while the remaining three 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 African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of four seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.[6][7]

Party		Votes				Seats
		Ward	List	Total	%	Ward	List	Total
	ANC	3,086	3,083	6,169	62.5	4	0	4
	Democratic Alliance	1,379	1,387	2,766	28.0	0	2	2
	Economic Freedom Fighters	365	350	715	7.3	0	1	1
	Freedom Front Plus	68	73	141	1.4	0	0	0
	Congress of the People	32	45	77	0.8	0	0	0
Total		4,930	4,938	9,868	100.0	4	3	7
Spoilt votes		38	38	76

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. "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
4. Municipal Demarcation Board South Africa
5. "Kamiesberg Local Municipality". Census 2011.
6. "Results Summary – All Ballots: Kamiesberg" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
7. "Seat Calculation Detail: Kamiesberg" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 11 May 2017.

External links

• Official website