The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is a Category C municipality situated in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Its name was changed from Eden District Municipality to Garden Route District Municipality in October 2018.
Garden Route District Municipality
| Type of municipality: | District (Category C) |
| Province: | Western Cape |
| Municipal code: | DC4 |
| Seat: | George |
| Local municipalities: | 7 |
| Total area: | 23,331 km² (9,008 square miles) |
| Population: | 838,457 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Andrew Stroebel |
About
The Garden Route District Municipality is geographically located in the southeastern part of the Western Cape and covers an area of 23,331 km² (9,008 square miles) and is divided into seven local municipalities namely;
- Bitou Local Municipality
- George Local Municipality
- Hessequa Local Municipality
- Kannaland Local Municipality
- Knysna Local Municipality
- Mossel Bay Local Municipality
- Oudtshoorn Local Municipality
The Garden Route District Municipality is bordered by Overberg District Municipality to the west, Cape Winelands District Municipality to the northwest, Central Karoo District Municipality to the north, Eastern Cape’s Sarah Baartman District Municipality to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south.
The region is defined as a medium-capacity functional municipality. Garden Route District has a diverse natural resource base.
The district is marketed with regards to tourism under the internationally acclaimed brands of the ‘Garden Route’ and ‘Klein Karoo’.
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Garden Route District Municipality has a population of 838,457 residents, compared to 611,278 in 2016, and 574,265 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 3.67%.
According to the 2022 Census, 22.2% of the population is aged under 15, 67.6% is between 15 and 64, and 10.2% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 54.2% of the population in the Garden Route District Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 24.7% as Black African, 19.2% as White, and 0.4% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, the first language of 70.8% of the population is Afrikaans, while 18.3% speak Xhosa, 7.5% speak English, and 3.4% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the district are; finance and business services (23.4%), manufacturing (17.3%), wholesale and accommodation (17%), general government (12.1%), construction (9.5%), transport and communication (7.8%), community services (5.5%), agriculture, forestry and fishing (5.5%).
District council and management
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – DA: 7 – ANC: 3 – GOOD: 1 – ICOSA: 1 – PBI: 1 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Executive Mayor | Andrew Stroebel |
| Deputy Mayor | Vlancio Donson |
| Speaker | Georlene Wolmarans |
| Chief Whip | Monique Simmers |
| Other Council Members | – Anco Barker (MAYCO Member) – Jobieth Hoogbaard (Portfolio Chairperson: Property and Asset Management) – Iona Kritzinger (Portfolio Chairperson: Corporate Services) – Jerome Lambaatjeen (Portfolio Chairperson: Strategic Services) – Nompumelelo Ndayi (Portfolio Chairperson: Community Services) – Rosina Ruiters (Portfolio Chairperson: Planning and Economic Development) – Petru Terblanche (Portfolio Chairperson: Roads and Transport Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Monde Stratu |
| Chief Financial Officer | Rian Boshoff |
| Senior Management | – Clive Africa (Executive Manager: Community Services) – John Godfrey Daniels (Executive Manager: Roads and Transport Planning Services) – Jan-Willem de Jager (Executive Manager: Financial Services) – Trix Holtzhausen (Executive Manager: Corporate Services) – Lusanda Menze (Executive Manager: Planning and Economic Development) – Natalie Raubenheimer (Manager: LED) |
| Communications Officers | Herman Pieters |
Main places
Below are some of the main places in the district.
- Albertinia
- Boggoms Bay
- Brandwag
- Brenton
- Brenton-on-Sea
- Buffels Bay
- Calitzdorp
- De Rust
- Dysselsdorp
- Friemersheim
- George
- Gouritsmond
- Great Brak River
- Haarlem
- Heidelberg
- Herbertsdale
- Herolds Bay
- Jongensfontein
- Keurboomstrand
- Knoetzie
- Knysna
- Krantshoek
- Kurland
- Kwanokuthula
- Ladismith
- Mossel Bay
- Nature’s Valley
- Oudtshoorn
- Plettenberg Bay
- Rheenendal
- Riversdale
- Sedgefield
- Slangrivier
- Still Bay
- Uniondale
- Vanwyksdorp
- Victoria Bay
- Vleesbaai
- Wilderness
- Witsand
- Wittedrift
- Zoar
Contact details
Contact details of the Garden Route District Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | PO Box 12, George, 6530 |
| Physical address: | 54 York Street, George |
| Telephone: | 044 803 1300 |
| Fax: | 086 555 6303 |
| Email: | communications@gardenroute.gov.za |
| Website: | www.gardenroute.gov.za |
