Kou-Kamma Local Municipality

Kou-Kamma
Local municipality
Seal
Location in the Eastern Cape Location in the Eastern Cape
Coordinates:
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Cacadu
Seat	Kareedouw
Wards	6
Government
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	Noel J. O'Connel (ANC)
• Manager	Mr M Ndokweni
Area
• Total	3,593 km2 (1,387 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	40,663
• Density	11/km2 (29/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	30.6%
• Coloured	59.8%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	8.2%
First languages (2011)
• Afrikaans	73.8%
• Xhosa	19.9%
• English	2.7%
• Sotho	1.1%
• Other	2.5%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Municipal code	EC109

The Kou-Kamma Municipality is a local municipality in South Africa. It is situated in the southwest corner of the Cacadu District Municipality along the Indian Ocean coastline, in the southwestern sector of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. To the west lies the Western Cape Province. Kou-Kamma also borders the Baviaans Local Municipality in the north and the Kouga Local Municipality to the east. The geographical area of the Municipality is 12,540 square kilometres. Its name is a blend of the names of the Kouga (Kou-) and Tsitsikamma (-Kamma) mountains, which in turn were named after the rivers Kouga and Tsitsikamma.

The municipality is a relatively poor area with high unemployment and low levels of literacy. Settlements tend to be scattered, which has posed challenges to the provision of infrastructure and basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity.

The Kou-Kamma Municipality is composed of two distinct regions: the coastal belt (referred to as the Tsitsikamma or the Western Coastal Zone, which includes settlements such as Coldstream, Storms River and Clarkson), and the inland area of the Langkloof (including settlements such as Kareedouw, Joubertina and Louterwater). The two areas are separated by the Tsitsikamma Mountains.

The nature of the two areas differs vastly. The Coastal Zone is characterised by a diverse and fast-growing economy driven by tourism and agriculture, a fast-growing population linked to the economic opportunities, a good water supply, and a wealth of holiday destinations and indigenous forests.

In contrast, employment in the Langkloof is characterised by seasonal agriculture with high labour requirements. The area has greater challenges in terms of sufficient water supply, with additional pressure due to a high population growth related to migrant labour.

Main places

The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:

Place	Code	Area (km2)	Population	Most spoken language
Boskop	20901	1.03	531	Xhosa
Coldstream	20902	3.26	954	Afrikaans
Joubertina	20903	2.68	845	Afrikaans
Kagiso Height	20904	0.09	854	Xhosa
Kareedouw	20905	1.67	743	Afrikaans
Krakeel Rivier	20907	1.23	1,667	Afrikaans
Louterwater	20908	1.03	2,535	Afrikaans
Sanddrif	20909	1.63	1,872	Afrikaans
Stormsrivier	20910	1.67	598	Afrikaans
Thornham	20911	3.85	1,026	Afrikaans
Tsitsikamabos National Park	20912	11.05	284	Afrikaans
Tweeriviere	20913	0.64	3,995	Afrikaans
Uitkyk	20914	1.21	2,303	Afrikaans
Witelsbos	20915	2.47	42	Afrikaans
Woodslands	20916	0.35	1,304	Afrikaans
Remainder of the municipality	20906	3,541.35	14,729	Afrikaans

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 18 May 2011 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of six seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.

Party		Votes				Seats
		Ward	List	Total	%	Ward	List	Total
	African National Congress	6,516	6,569	13,085	57.7	5	1	6
	Democratic Alliance	4,815	4,788	9,603	42.3	1	4	5
Total		11,331	11,357	22,688	100.0	6	5	11
Spoilt votes		140	107	247

External links

• Official website