Cederberg Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the central region of the West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | Western Cape |
| District: | West Coast |
| Municipal code: | WC012 |
| Seat: | Clanwilliam |
| Number of wards: | 6 |
| Total area: | 8,007 km² (3,092 square miles) |
| Population: | 55,108 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Ruben Richards |
About
Cederberg Local Municipality is geographically situated in the central part of the West Coast District Municipality on the Western Cape west coast, approximately 200 kilometres from Cape Town – a two-hour journey.
The municipality governs the region stretching from the Cederberg Mountains in the east through the middle valley of the Olifants River (which flows from south to north through the center of the municipal area) to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
The municipality covers an area of 8,007 km² (3,092 square miles) making it the second-largest local municipality in the West Coast District.
Named after the now rare cedar trees, the gorgeous Cederberg Local Municipality includes the spectacular Cederberg Mountains.
The principal towns of the municipality are Clanwilliam and Citrusdal in the Olifants River valley, and Lambert’s Bay on the coastline. There is a coastal village at Elands Bay and smaller agricultural settlements at Leipoldtville and Graafwater.
The municipality’s administrative headquarters/seat is in Clanwilliam.
The municipality is divided into 6 wards.
Cederberg Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Matzikama Local Municipality to the north
- Hantam Local Municipality in the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape Province to the east
- Witzenberg Local Municipality in the Cape Winelands District to the southeast
- Bergrivier Local Municipality to the south
- The Atlantic Ocean to the west
The Cederberg region has a wild and warm landscape with raw dramatic beauty. Clanwilliam and Citrusdal with their towering mountains and brilliant purple and orange sunsets, laden with the scent of orange blossom in the spring.
Lamberts Bay and Elands Bay, with their perfect waves for surfing, offer open-air restaurants serving only the best of Cederberg’s seafood and have an abundance of bird life to be spotted. Wupperthal and Elandskloof, both missionary villages situated within the magnificent mountains, both have a wealth of history to be discovered.
Cederberg Local Municipality has unrivalled natural beauty, making it an endless playground for outdoor enthusiasts who can enjoy walking in the mountains with not another person in sight, enjoy bouldering and climbing at Rocklands, discovering the beautiful bird life, surfing, swimming in the clear mountain rock pools, marvel at the delicate Bushman rock art, or simply relax and enjoy the exhilarating peace of this unspoilt paradise.
The Cederberg has an exceptional botanical diversity, being part of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa, and among the twisted rock formations, farmers cultivate the world-famous healthy rooibos tea, found only in the Cederberg of South Africa.
The municipality is strategically located on the Cape-Namibia Corridor, and the N7 National Route links it with the Northern Cape.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Cederberg Local Municipality has a population of 55,108 people, compared to 52,949 in 2016, and 49,768 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.99%.
According to the 2022 Census, 22.3% of the population is under the age of 15, 71.7% is between 15 and 64, and 6.1% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 68.9% of the population in Cederberg Local Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 21.8% as Black African, 7.9% as White, and 0.1% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 88.7% of the population speaks Afrikaans as their first language, 5% speak isiXhosa, 2.5% speak Sesotho, 1.9% speak English, and 1.9% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Cederberg Local Municipality are agriculture, forestry, fishing, wholesale and retail trade, catering, accommodation, finance, insurance, real estate, business services, manufacturing, general government, transport, storage, communication, community, social and personal services, and construction.
Municipal council and management
The Cederberg municipal council is comprised of 11 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Six councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 6 wards, while the remaining 5 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the local government elections of 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) won a plurality of seats on the council.
On 12 November, the Cederberg First Residents Association (CFRA), Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) announced a coalition agreement, with the CFRA getting the position of mayor, and the FF+ deputy mayor.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 2 – CE: 4 – DA: 3 – PA: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | CE/DA/VF PLUS Coalition |
| Executive Mayor | Dr Ruben Richards |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Andre Mouton |
| Speaker | Dr John Hayes |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | – Martin Bergh – Yves Blaauw – William Farmer – Maxwell Heins – Azrial Scheepers – Paul Strauss – Johan van Heerden – Leoné Venter |
| Municipal Manager | Gerrit Matthyse |
| Chief Financial Officer | Jerome Booysen (Director: Financial Services) |
| Senior Management | – Riaan De Ridder (Director: Technical Services) – Henry Witbooi (Director: Support Services) |
| Communications Officers | Anthony Mlata |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Cederberg Local Municipality.
- Citrusdal
- Clanwilliam
- Elands Bay
- Graafwater
- Lamberts Bay
- Leipoldtville
- Paleisheuwel
- Wupperthal
Contact details
The contact details of Cederberg Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | Private Bag X2, Clanwilliam, 8135 |
| Physical address: | 2A Voortrekker Street, Clanwilliam |
| Telephone: | 027 482 8000 |
| Fax: | 027 482 1933 |
| Email: | admin@cederbergraad.co.za |
| Website: | www.cederbergmun.gov.za |
