Prince Albert Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the southeastern region of the Central Karoo 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: | Central Karoo |
| Municipal code: | WC052 |
| Seat: | Prince Albert |
| Number of wards: | 4 |
| Total area: | 8,153 km² (3,148 square miles) |
| Population: | 17,836 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Linda Kathryn Jaquet |
About
Prince Albert Local Municipality is geographically situated in the southeastern part of the Central Karoo District Municipality.
Prince Albert sits at the southern edge of the Great Karoo (a semi-desert region), nestled under the majestic Swartberg Mountains.
Prince Albert Local Municipality covers an area of 8,153 km² (3,148 square miles) making it the smallest local municipality in the Central Karoo District.
The municipality is divided into 4 wards.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Prince Albert Local Municipality is in Prince Albert.
Prince Albert Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Beaufort West Local Municipality to the north
- Laingsburg Local Municipality to the west
- Kannaland Local Municipality in the Garden Route District to the south
- Oudtshoorn Local Municipality in the Garden Route District to the south
- Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality in Sarah Baartman District Municipality of the Eastern Cape to the east
Founded as far back as 1762, Prince Albert Local Municipality was originally known as Albertsburg and is now well known for its cultural and artistic attractions, including festivals, national monuments, and museums.
The area’s artistic heritage spans from the Khoisan rock paintings to contemporary artists who display their works at local festivals and galleries.
But far beyond just the creativity, Prince Albert is also home to some of the hardiest veld plants, making it a favourite destination for many botanists from around the world.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Prince Albert Local Municipality has a population of 17,836 residents, compared to 14,272 in 2016, and 13,136 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.97%.
According to the 2022 Census, 28.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.7% is between 15 and 64, and 6.4% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 89.5% of the population in Prince Albert Local Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 7% as White, 1.7% as Black African, and 0.1% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 93.5% of the population speaks Afrikaans as their first language, 3.6% speak English, and 2.9% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic drivers of Prince Albert Local Municipality are agriculture and tourism.
Municipal council and management
The Prince Albert municipal council is comprised of 7 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 4 wards, while the remaining 3 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 won a majority of seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – DA: 4 – ANC: 1 – KGP: 1 – PA: 1 |
| Controlling party | Democratic Alliance |
| Executive Mayor | Linda Kathryn Jaquet |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | Stoffel Botes |
| Speaker | Magrietha Dorothea Jaftha |
| Other Council Members | – Kerneels Baadjies – NA Claassen – Arnold Jonathan Mackay |
| Municipal Manager | Aldrick Hendricks |
| Chief Financial Officer | P.W. Erasmus |
| Senior Management | – Ashley America (Manager: Technical Services) – Zolile Nongene (Director: Technical Services) – George van der Westhuizen (Senior Manager: Operational Services) |
| Communications Officers | Theresa Hendriks-Wagenaar (Senior Clerk: Committees/Office of the Acting Municipal Manager) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Prince Albert Local Municipality.
- Klaarstroom
- Leeu Gamka
- Prince Albert
- Prince Albert Road
- Welgemoed
Contact details
The contact details of Prince Albert Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | Private Bag X53, Prince Albert, 6930 |
| Physical address: | 33 Church Street, Prince Albert |
| Telephone: | 023 541 1320 |
| Fax: | 023 541 1321 |
| Email: | adminklerk@pamun.gov.za |
| Website: | www.pamun.gov.za |
