The Ubuntu Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the southern region of the Pixley Ka Seme 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: | Pixley Ka Seme |
| Municipal code: | NC071 |
| Seat: | Victoria West |
| Number of wards: | 6 |
| Total area: | 20,393 km² (7,874 square miles) |
| Population: | 15,836 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Cheryl Charlene Jantjies |
About
The Ubuntu Local Municipality is geographically located in the southern region of the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality.
The Ubuntu Local Municipality covers an area of 20,393 km² (7,874 square miles), making it the largest of eight local municipalities in the Pixley Ka Seme District, as it accounts for almost a quarter of its geographical area.
The municipality is divided into 6 wards.
The Ubuntu Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Emthanjeni and Kareeberg Local Municipalities to the north
- Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality in the Namakwa District Municipality to the west and southwest
- Beaufort West Local Municipality in the Central Karoo District Municipality in the Western Cape Province to the south
- Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province to the south
- Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality in the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province to the east
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Ubuntu Local Municipality is in Victoria West.
Other towns in the municipality are Loxton, Richmond, and two small railway villages, Merriman and Hutchinson.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Ubuntu Local Municipality has a population of 15,836 people, compared to 19,471 in 2016 and 18,601 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -1.56%.
According to the 2022 Census, 29.3% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.1% is between 15 and 64, and 6.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 69.8% of the population in Ubuntu Local Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 21.3% as Black African, 7.6% as White, and 0.5% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 82.7% of the population speaks Afrikaans as their first language, 12.5% speak isiXhosa, 1.8% speak English, and 3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sector of the Ubuntu Local Municipality is agriculture.
Municipal council and management
The Ubuntu 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.
In the election of 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of 7 seats.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 7 – DA: 3 – VF PLUS: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Cheryl Charlene Jantjies |
| Speaker | Luvuyo Given Yekani |
| Chief Whip | Martin Zeekoei |
| Other Council Members | n/a |
| Municipal Manager | L.S Itumeleng |
| Chief Financial Officer | n/a |
| Senior Management | N.M Mkontwana (Manager: Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | Nonceba Mkontwana |
Criticism
The Ubuntu Municipality has been criticised for illegal traffic fines and harassing motorists.
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Ubuntu Local Municipality.
- Hutchinson
- Loxton
- Merriman
- Richmond
- Victoria West
Contact details
The contact details of the Ubuntu Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X329, Victoria West, 7070 |
| Physical Address: | 78 Church Street, Victoria West, 7070 |
| Telephone: | 053 621 0026 |
| Fax: | 053 621 0368 |
| Email: | – info@ubuntu.gov.za – commucations@ubuntu.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ubuntu.gov.za |
