The Central Karoo District Municipality (CKDM) is a Category C municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Central Karoo District Municipality
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | Western Cape |
| Municipal code: | DC5 |
| Seat: | Beaufort West |
| Local municipalities: | 3 |
| Total area: | 38,854 km² (15,002 square miles) |
| Population: | 102,173 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Johanna Botha |
About
The Central Karoo District Municipality is situated within the Karoo with its base in Beaufort West.
The Karoo is a pristine landscape characterised by expansive arid plains and mountain ranges. This dry, barren region is sprinkled with historic towns, hardy wildlife, fossils and rock art, a wine route, and more.
The Cape Karoo region is one of the world’s most unique arid zones, yet it has been inhabited for more than 500,000 years by the Khoi-San and provides a home to a variety of wildlife including the springbok, klipspringer, kudu, eland, hyrax, zebra, bat-eared fox, fallow deer, ostrich and lynx.
The district covers an area of 38,854 km² (15,002 square miles), making it the largest district in the Western Cape province.
The Central Karoo District is divided into three local municipalities namely;
- Beaufort West Local Municipality
- Laingsburg Local Municipality
- Prince Albert Local Municipality
The district is bordered by Eastern Cape’s Sarah Baartman District Municipality to the east, Garden Route District Municipality to the south, Cape Winelands District Municipality to the west, Northern Cape’s Namakwa District Municipality to the northwest, and Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality to the north.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Central Karoo District Municipality has a population of 102,173 people, compared to 74,247 in 2016, and 71,011 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 3.53%.
According to the 2022 Census, 27.6% of the population is under 15 years of age, 65.9% is between 15 and 64, and 6.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 76.2% of the population in Central Karoo District Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 12.7% as Black African, 10.1% as White, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, the first language of 87.2% of the population is Afrikaans, while 7.8% speak Xhosa, 2.6% speak English, and 2.4% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the district are; agriculture (47%), finance and business services (22%), community services (19%), and construction (7%).
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – DA: 2 – ANC: 1 – GOOD: 1 – KDF: 1 – PA: 1 |
| Executive Mayor | Johanna Botha |
| Deputy Mayor | Thershia Prince |
| Speaker | Lizel M. Paulse |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | MG Nkungwana |
| Chief Financial Officer | R de Bruyn (Acting) |
| Senior Management | – R de Bruyn (Acting Director: Financial Services) – A Gouws (Supply Chain Management) – Barbara Koopman (Manager: Strategic Services and LED) – Dr R Links (Director: Corporate and Strategic Services) – Amos Piti (Coordinator: IDP) – W Strong (Acting: Road Infrastructure Services) – L Strumpher (Accountant) – R van Tonder (Records Manager) – GE van Zyl (Manager: Municipal Health Services) – N Williams (Chief Fire Officer) |
| Communications Officers | Helene Jacobs (Head: Legal Services) |
Main places
Below are some of the main towns in the district.
- Beaufort West
- Klaarstroom
- Laingsburg
- Leeu Gamka
- Matjiesfontein
- Merweville
- Murraysburg
- Nelspoort
- Prince Albert
- Welgemoed
Contact details
Contact details of the Central Karoo District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | Private Bag X560, Beaufort West, 6970 |
| Physical address: | 63 Donkin Street, Beaufort West |
| Telephone: | 023 449 1000 |
| Fax: | 023 415 1253 |
| Email: | manager@skdm.co.za |
| Website: | www.skdm.co.za |
