Swellendam Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the northeastern region of the Overberg 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: | Overberg |
| Municipal code: | WC034 |
| Seat: | Swellendam |
| Number of wards: | 6 |
| Total area: | 3,835 km² (1,481 square miles) |
| Population: | 47,114 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Francis du Rand |
About
Swellendam Local Municipality is geographically situated in the northeastern part of the Overberg District Municipality around the lower Breede River Valley, from the confluence of the Breede River and Sonderend River downstream to the Breede River mouth on the Indian Ocean.
The municipality further extends westwards up the Sonderend River and northwards across the Langeberg Mountains into the Little Karoo around the Warmwaterberg.
Swellendam Local Municipality covers an area of 3,835 km² (1,481 square miles) making it the largest local municipality in the Overberg District as it accounts for a third of the district’s geographical area.
The main town and location of the administrative headquarters/seat of the municipality is Swellendam. Suurbraak is situated east of Swellendam at the southern end of Tradouws Pass which cuts through the Langeberg, while Barrydale is at the other end of the pass on the edge of the Little Karoo.
Buffeljagsrivier is situated southeast of Swellendam on the Buffeljags River. Malgas is located on a pontoon ferry on the Breede River, the last crossing of the river before it reaches the ocean. Infanta is situated at the mouth of the river on its southern bank.
The municipality is divided into 6 wards.
Swellendam Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Cape Agulhas Local Municipality to the south
- Theewaterskloof Local Municipality to the southwest
- Langeberg Local Municipality in the Cape Winelands District to the west
- Kannaland Local Municipality in the Garden Route District to the north
- Hessequa Local Municipality in the Garden Route District to the east
- The Indian Ocean to the southeast
The municipality is involved in agriculture and agro-processing of products, which include deciduous fruits, wheat, barley, youngberry, livestock, and grapes for exporting and making wine.
The most significant conservation areas are Bontebok National Park, Marloth Nature Reserve in the Langeberg, and Sanbona Wildlife Reserve.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Swellendam Local Municipality has a population of 47,114 people, compared to 40,211 in 2016, and 35,916 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.63%.
According to the 2022 Census, 21.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 70% is between 15 and 64, and 8.2% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 67.9% of the population in Swellendam Local Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 16.7% as White, 13.6% as Black African, and 0.3% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 85.1% of the population speaks Afrikaans as their first language, 6.9% speak isiXhosa, 4.7% speak English, and 3.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Swellendam Local Municipality are wholesale and retail trade, catering, accommodation, manufacturing, transport, storage, communication, agriculture, forestry, fishing, finance, insurance, real estate, business services, general government, construction, community, social and personal services.
Municipal council and management
The Swellendam municipal council is comprised of 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.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – DA: 5 – ANC: 5 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | DA/VF PLUS Coalition |
| Executive Mayor | Francis du Rand |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | n/a |
| Speaker | Juan van Schalkwyk |
| Other Council Members | – Agnes Bokwana (Chairperson: MPAC) – I Ferguson – Dawid Julius – Frans Kees (Mayco) – Elna Jacoba Lamprecht (Mayco) – G Libazi – J Matthysen – MTA Swart |
| Municipal Manager | Anneleen Voster |
| Chief Financial Officer | Elmari Wassermann |
| Senior Management | KD Stuurman (Director: Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | L Minies |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Swellendam Local Municipality.
- Barrydale
- Buffeljagsrivier
- Infanta
- Malagas
- Suurbraak
- Swellendam
Contact details
The contact details of Swellendam Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal address: | PO Box 20, Swellendam, 6740 |
| Physical address: | 49 Voortrek Street, Swellendam, 6740 |
| Telephone: | 028 514 8500 |
| Fax: | 028 514 2694 |
| Email: | info@swellendam.gov.za |
| Website: | www.swellendam.gov.za |
