Kouga Local Municipality
| Kouga | |
|---|---|
| — Local municipality — | |
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| Coordinates: 34°02′S 24°46′E / 34.033°S 24.767°ECoordinates: 34°02′S 24°46′E / 34.033°S 24.767°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Cacadu |
| Seat | Jeffreys Bay |
| Wards | 15 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal council |
| • Mayor (2012-02)[1] | Boy Kurante |
| • Manager | Mr D. J. de Lange |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,670 km2 (1,030 sq mi) |
| Population (2007)[2][3][4] | |
| • Total | 73,274 |
| • Density | 27.4/km2 (71/sq mi) |
| • Households | 19,084 |
| Racial makeup (2007)[2] | |
| • Black African | 31.5% |
| • Coloured | 43.1% |
| • White | 25.4% |
| First languages (2001)[5] | |
| • Afrikaans | 64.9% |
| • Xhosa | 29.0% |
| • English | 4.9% |
| • Other | 1.2% |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Municipal code | EC108 |
| Website | http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za |
The Kouga Local Municipality is located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, approximately 20 km west of Port Elizabeth, and forms part of the Cacadu District Municipality. Its territory includes the coastal zone between the Van Stadens River in the east and the Tsitsikamma River in the west, and stretches inland towards the Baviaanskloof Mountains in the north.
Regional access to the area is obtained via the N2 National Road from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.
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[edit] Topography and climate
The municipality is characterised by 3 main topographical regions:
- The coastal region stretches from the Van Stadens River in the east through the Tsitsikamma River in the west. This zone includes the towns of Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay, and Oyster Bay. The coast serves as a major national and regional tourism attraction.
- The Gamtoos River Valley is characterised by wide, fertile flood plains associated with low-lying land, with steep less-fertile slopes flanking the Valley. The towns of Hankey and Patensie, Loerie and Thornhill are focal points of this high-potential agricultural region.
- The Humansdorp and Kruisfontein area is characterised by moderate slopes in the south, with steeper slopes towards the north and northwest.[6]
The four main rivers in the area — the Kromme, Seekoei, Kabeljouws and Gamtoos — are all tidal rivers. The Kromme River and Gamtoos River are significant sources of water supply. Ground water forms another major component of domestic water supply for towns in the Kouga region, especially Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay. Aquifers are also utilised in the agricultural sector for irrigation of pastures.
There are numerous areas of wetland adjacent to the region's rivers and on the coastal platform. These wetlands are extremely sensitive to disturbances such as agricultural activities and development. The wetlands accommodate high species diversity, and fulfil natural water purification and flood retention roles.
The climate of the Kouga region is subtropical, which makes the area conducive to a range of outdoor activities and various types of agricultural production. Rainfall varies between 650 mm per year (St Francis Bay area) to 400 mm (Gamtoos River Valley). The area is generally described as windy.[7]
[edit] Towns and settlements
More than 70% of the population of the Kouga region lives in urban areas.[8]
Humansdorp, with over 24,000 residents, has an established infrastructure and acts as a regional service centre, supplying the surrounding agricultural communities and the coastal towns with commodities and services. Commercial and industrial activities of the region are centred in Humansdorp.
The coastal towns of Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay are well-established tourist destinations. Jeffreys Bay has a population of over 40,000 with an annual population growth rate of 2.5% or higher, making it one of the fastest growing towns in South Africa.[8]
The urban areas of Hankey and Patensie, situated in the Gamtoos River Valley, provide important services to the surrounding high-density agriculture industry.
Other settlements in the Kouga region include: Andrieskraal, Aston Bay, Centerton, Gamtoos Mouth, Kruisfontein, Kwanomzamo, Loerie, Ocean View, Oyster Bay, Paradise Beach, Pellsrus, Ramaphoza Village, Sea Vista, Thornhill, Tokyo Sexwale, Umzamowethu and Weston.
[edit] Government
The Kouga Municipality is governed by a 20-member council, and is divided into 10 electoral wards.[9]
[edit] Main places
The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:[10]
| Place | Code | Area (km2) | Population | Most spoken language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Bay | 20801 | 2.12 | 918 | Afrikaans |
| Cape St Francis | 20802 | 2.51 | 165 | Afrikaans |
| Hankey | 20803 | 20.24 | 8,281 | Afrikaans |
| Humansdorp | 20804 | 35.94 | 15,338 | Afrikaans |
| Jeffreys Bay | 20805 | 11.25 | 14,775 | Afrikaans |
| KwaNomzamo | 20807 | 1.21 | 6,553 | Xhosa |
| Loerie | 20808 | 0.42 | 1,824 | Afrikaans |
| Oyster Bay | 20809 | 1.34 | 348 | Afrikaans |
| Paradise Beach | 20810 | 3.79 | 492 | Afrikaans |
| Patensie | 20811 | 6.68 | 4,271 | Afrikaans |
| St Francis Bay | 20812 | 7.34 | 2,195 | Afrikaans |
| Sunnyside | 20813 | 0.14 | 208 | Afrikaans |
| Thornhill | 20814 | 1.46 | 1,294 | Afrikaans |
| Weston | 20815 | 0.68 | 1,540 | Xhosa |
| Remainder of the municipality | 20806 | 2,322.26 | 12,489 | Afrikaans |
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. http://www.gcis.gov.za/gcis/gcis_list.jsp?id=14&heading=Executive%20Mayors. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Community Survey 2007 by municipality, population group, gender and age group". Statistics South Africa. http://www.statssa.gov.za/timeseriesdata/pxweb2006/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=agegrp_gender__popgrp&ti=Community+Survey+2007+by+municipality%2C+population+group%2C+gender+and+age+group&path=../Database/South%20Africa/Community%20Survey%202007/Persons/Municipality/&lang=1. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Community Survey 2007 by municipality, type of main dwelling and population group of household". Statistics South Africa. http://www.statssa.gov.za/timeseriesdata/pxweb2006/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=Type_of_main_dwelling_municipalities&ti=Community+Survey+2007+by+municipality%2C+type+of+main+dwelling+and+population+group+of++household+head&path=../Database/South%20Africa/Community%20Survey%202007/Households/Municipality/&lang=1. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Community Survey, 2007: Basic Results Municipalities" (PDF). Statistics South Africa. http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P03011/P030112007.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ "Census 2001 by municipalities, language, population group and gender.". Statistics South Africa. http://www.statssa.gov.za/timeseriesdata/pxweb2006/Database/South%20Africa/Population%20Census/Census%202001%20-%20NEW%20Demarcation%20boundaries%20as%20at%209%20December%202005/Municipality%20level%20-%20Persons/Municipality%20level%20-%20Persons.asp. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Integrated Development Plan (2007-2012)". Kouga Local Municipality. p. 19. http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ^ "Integrated Development Plan (2007-2012)". Kouga Local Municipality. p. 20. http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ^ a b "Integrated Development Plan (2007-2012)". Kouga Local Municipality. p. 22. http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ^ 28/02/05 Notice 39 Gazette 1289. Municipal Demarcation Board. February 28, 2005. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ Lookup Tables - Statistics South Africa
[edit] References
- Official website
- Official Tourism website
- Integrated Development Plan (2007-2012). Kouga Local Municipality. Retrieved on Oct 5, 2009.
[edit] External links
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