Breede Valley Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located within the Cape Winelands District Municipality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B2 (large town) |
| Province: | Western Cape |
| District: | Cape Winelands |
| Municipal code: | WC025 |
| Seat: | Worcester |
| Number of wards: | 21 |
| Total area: | 3,834 km² (1,480 square miles) |
| Population: | 212,682 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Antoinette Steyn (DA) |
About
Breede Valley Local Municipality geographically stretches from the far south of the District towards the centre, then stretches to the far east of the District forming an L shape.
It includes a middle section of the Breede River Valley around Worcester and stretches up the Hex River Valley to the edge of the Karoo.
Breede Valley Local Municipality covers an area of 3,834 km² (1,480 square miles) and is the third-largest local municipality in the Cape Winelands District.
It is divided into 21 wards.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Breede Valley Local Municipality is in Worcester.
Breede Valley Local Municipality is bordered by Local Municipalities:
- Stellenbosch to the southwest
- Drakenstein to the west
- Witzenberg to the north
- Laingsburg in Central Karoo District Municipality to the east
- Langeberg to the southeast
- Theewaterskloof in Overberg District Municipality to the south
The most striking feature of Breede Valley is its scenic beauty consisting of majestic mountains, fertile valleys, vineyards, and vast plains, covered with indigenous semi-desert vegetation.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Breede Valley Local Municipality has a population of 212,682 residents, compared to 176,578 in 2016, and 166,825 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.36%.
According to the 2022 Census, 23.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 70.5% is between 15 and 64, and 6.1% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 59.1% of the population in Breede Valley Local Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 30% as Black African, 9.5% as White, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 76% of the population speaks Afrikaans as their first language, 16.1% speak isiXhosa, 2.9% speak English, 2.7% speak Sesotho, and 2.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Breede Valley Local Municipality are agriculture, community services, finance, manufacturing, trade, transport, and construction.
Municipal council and management
The Breede Valley municipal council is comprised of 41 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-one councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 21 wards, while the remaining 20 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, no party obtained a majority of seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – DA: 19 – ANC: 10 – BO: 4 – EFF: 2 – GOOD: 2 – VF PLUS: 2 – ACDP: 1 – PA: 1 |
| Controlling party | Hung Council |
| Executive Mayor | Antoinette Steyn |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Juben von Willingh |
| Speaker | Johannes van Zyl |
| Chief Whip | Pieter Marais |
| Other Council Members | – Vernon Bedworth (MMC: Sports and Culture) – Joffrey Jack (MMC: Engineering Services) – Julian Kritzinger (MMC: LED and Tourism) – Wouter Meiring (MMC: Finance) – Naomi Nel (MMC: Community Services) – Palesa Ramokhabi (MMC: Housing and Human Settlements) – Esmé van der Westhuizen (MMC: Public Services) – Felicity Vaughan (MMC: Strategic Support Services) |
| Municipal Manager | David McThomas |
| Chief Financial Officer | Rod Ontong |
| Senior Management | – R Esau (Director: Strategic Support Services) – Colin January (Manager: LED) – Jaco Steyn (Director: Technical Services) – Seon Swartz (Director: Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | – John Bulani (Communications Officer) – Chad Malgas (Manager: IDP, PMS and Communications) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Breede Valley Local Municipality.
- De Doorns
- Rawsonville
- Touws River
- Worcester
Contact details
The contact details of Breede Valley Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | Private Bag X 3046, Worcester, 6849 |
| Physical address: | 30 Baring Street, Worcester, Western Cape |
| Telephone: | 023 348 2600 |
| Fax: | 023 347 3671 |
| Email: | ssc@bvm.gov.za |
| Website: | www.bvm.gov.za |
