Sakhisizwe Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the northeastern region of the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | Eastern Cape |
| District: | Chris Hani |
| Municipal code: | EC138 |
| Seat: | Cala |
| Number of wards: | 9 |
| Total area: | 2,318 km² (895 square miles) |
| Population: | 63,981 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | B.E Ponoshe |
About
Sakhisizwe Local Municipality is geographically located in the northeastern part of the Chris Hani District Municipality.
The name Sakhisizwe is an isiXhosa word meaning “we are building the nation”.
Sakhisizwe Local Municipality covers an area of 2,318 km² (895 square miles), making it the smallest of six local municipalities in the Chris Hani District, as it accounts for 6% of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Sakhisizwe Local Municipality is in Cala.
The municipality comprises 9 wards.
Sakhisizwe Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Emalahleni Local Municipality to the west
- Intsika Yethu Local Municipality to the south
- Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality to the west
- Elundini Local Municipality in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality to the northeast
- Senqu Local Municipality in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality to the north
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Sakhisizwe Local Municipality has a population of 63,981 people, compared to 63,846 in 2016 and 63,154 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.13%.
According to the 2022 Census, 30.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 60.9% is between 15 and 64, and 8.7% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 97.7% of the population in Sakhisizwe Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 1.1% as White, 0.8% as Coloured, and 0.2% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 92.2% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 2.7% speak English, 1.8% speak Afrikaans, 1.2% speak Sign language, and 2.1% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Sakhisizwe Local Municipality are agriculture, community services, and trade.
Municipal council and management
The Sakhisizwe municipal council is comprised of 17 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Nine councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 9 wards, while the remaining 8 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 thirteen seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | ANC 13, DA 2, ATM 1, EFF 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | B.E Ponoshe |
| Speaker | Kholiswa Faku |
| Chief Whip | Nomakhwezi Ponoshe-Radzilani |
| Other Council Members | – A Lande – N Magandela (Portfolio Head: Technical Services and IPED) – M Malungisa – Nokuphumla Stofile (Social Needs and Community Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Sibongile Sotshongaye |
| Chief Financial Officer | Nontsikelelo Nolawu |
| Senior Management | – Fatuse (Director: Corporate Services) – P Mngcita (Director: Community Services) – M Pamla (Director: IPED) – SS Tunzi (Director: Technical Services) |
| Communications Officers | N Sorasi |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Sakhisizwe Local Municipality.
- Cala
- Khowa (formerly known as Elliot)
Contact details
The contact details of Sakhisizwe Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | – Cala: P.O. Box 26, Cala, 5455 – Khowa: P.O. Box 21, Khowa, 5460 |
| Physical Address: | Erf 458, Mthatha Road, Cala |
| Telephone: | – Cala: 047 877 5200 – Khowa: 045 931 1011 |
| Fax: | 047 877 0000 |
| Email: | info@sakhisizwe.gov.za |
| Website: | www.sakhisizwe.gov.za |
