The Kamiesberg Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the western region of the Namakwa District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | Northern Cape |
| District: | Namakwa |
| Municipal code: | NC064 |
| Seat: | Garies |
| Number of wards: | 6 |
| Total area: | 14,208 km² (5,486 square miles) |
| Population: | 15,130 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Susarah Nero |
About
The Kamiesberg Local Municipality was established in 2001 and is geographically located in the western region of the Namakwa District Municipality.
The Kamiesberg Local Municipality comprises 6 wards and covers an area of 14,208 km² (5,486 square miles), making it the second-smallest of six local municipalities in the Namakwa District.
Kamiesberg Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Nama Khoi Local Municipality to the north
- Khâi-Ma and Hantam Local Municipalities to the east
- Matzikama Local Municipality in the West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape Province to the south
- The Atlantic Ocean to the west
The administrative headquarters/seat of Kamiesberg Local Municipality is in Garies.
The nearest business centre is Springbok, 120 kilometres away.
The Kamiesberg Local Municipality spans three topographic zones, namely: the eastern plateau of Bushmanland, the mountainous central Kamiesberg escarpment (Hardveld), and the sandy coastal lowlands (Sandveld).
There are no perennial rivers in the municipality, thus, water is obtained from subterranean sources.
Windmills pump up some of the municipality’s water, but most of the water to the communal areas comes from natural springs. Several of these springs are semi-perennial, and the salt content of the water can vary from year to year, causing problems.
Four main types of vegetation are found in the municipality: Succulent Karoo, Mountain Renosterveld, Namaqualand Broken Veld, and False Succulent Karoo. However, overall plant life is deteriorating, while non-edible, undesirable, and poisonous vegetation is taking over.
The greater Namaqualand has always been associated with tourists, but only during the flower season. The Kamiesberg, which lies in the heart of Namaqualand, is ideally situated for the development of year-round attractions based on its natural and cultural heritage. The Municipality is, however, faced with challenges such as, lack of financial and human resources, seasonality of tourism activities, and a lack of tourism infrastructure.
The key tourist attractions in the municipality are the Namaqua National Park, natural wonders like the 1,200 different plant species – hundreds of which are found only in Namaqualand and also 150 bird species, the Letterklip at Garies – a national monument, the Betelsklip Cultural Heritage Site, and the Spoegrivier caves.
From spectacular mountain views in the Uplands and brilliant carpets of flowers to the rugged, remote Namaqua coastline, the landscapes of the Kamiesberg certainly promise a unique experience.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Kamiesberg Local Municipality has a population of 15,130 people, compared to 9,605 in 2016 and 10,187 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 3.84%.
According to the 2022 Census, 22.3% of the population is under the age of 15, 66% is between 15 and 64, and 11.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 85.6% of the population in Kamiesberg Local Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 8.1% as White, 5.3% as Black African, and 0.5% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 97% of the population speaks Afrikaans as their first language and 3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sector of Kamiesberg Local Municipality is tourism.
Municipal council and management
The Kamiesberg municipal council comprises 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 election of 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of 6 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 6 – DA: 3 – NCM: 1 – NEF: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Susarah Nero |
| Speaker | Melvin Cloete |
| Chief Whip | Brandon Carlo Brandt |
| Other Council Members | – Cloete – Kordom – Nero – Petersen – Rooi – Steenkamp – Willems |
| Municipal Manager | Rufus Beukes |
| Chief Financial Officer | Frederick Strauss |
| Senior Management | n/a |
| Communications Officers | – Daphne Beukes – Joseph Cloete |
Towns/places
The Kamiesberg Local Municipality provides services to 16 small towns listed below.
- Garies
- Hondeklip Bay
- Kamassies
- Kamieskroon
- Karkams
- Kheis
- Klipfontein
- Koingnaas
- Leliefontein
- Lepelfontein
- Nourivier
- Paulshoek
- Rooifontein
- Soebatsfontein
- Spoegrivier
- Tweervier
Contact details
The contact details of Kamiesberg Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X200, Garies, 8220 |
| Physical Address: | Main Street 22, Garies, Northern Cape Province |
| Telephone: | 027 652 8000 |
| Fax: | 027 652 8001 |
| Email: | barendd@kamiesberg.gov.za |
| Website: | www.kamiesberg.gov.za |
| Emergency No: | 10177 |
