Walter Sisulu Local Municipality is a Category B municipality in the western region of the Joe Gqabi 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: | Joe Gqabi |
| Municipal code: | EC145 |
| Seat: | Burgersdorp |
| Number of wards: | 11 |
| Total area: | 13,269 km² (5,123 square miles) |
| Population: | 104,213 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Vania Davids |
About
The Walter Sisulu Local Municipality is geographically located in the western region of the Joe Gqabi District Municipality, south of the Orange River and Gariep Dam. The Orange River separates Walter Sisulu from both the Free State and Northern Cape Provinces.
The municipality was established by merging the Maletswai and Gariep Local Municipalities after the August 2016 local municipal elections.
Walter Sisulu Local Municipality comprises 11 wards and covers an area of 13,269 km² (5,123 square miles), making it the largest of three local municipalities in the Joe Gqabi District, as it accounts for half of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Walter Sisulu Local Municipality is in Burgersdorp.
Walter Sisulu Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Senqu Local Municipality to the east
- Emalahleni and Enoch Mgijima Local Municipalities in the Chris Hani District Municipality to the south
- Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality in the Chris Hani District Municipality to the southwest
- Umsobomvu Local Municipality in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province to the west
- Kopanong and Mohokare Local Municipalities in the Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State Province to the north
The Walter Sisulu Local Municipality is characterised by mountains, hills, and valleys.
Rock foundations with beautiful artwork made years ago by the founders of the area, the Khoisan, can be found in the region.
The municipality has fairly diverse vegetation and is home to three distinct vegetation types, one of which, Eastern Mixed Nama Karoo, is recognised as a nationally significant biome.
The Walter Sisulu Local Municipality is famous for its stock farming, with sheep production being the dominant sector. The municipality’s rivers and streams teem with fish, with trout being a common species.
The municipality is home to a popular thermal springs resort, named Aliwal Spa, which produces salty water, rich in minerals, from underground.
The Walter Sisulu Local Municipality is traversed by key road networks such as the R58, which runs through Venterstad, Burgersdorp, and Maletswai (previously Aliwal North), and the N6 runs through Jamestown (officially renamed James Calata) and Maletswai to Bloemfontein in the north and East London to the South.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Walter Sisulu Local Municipality has a population of 104,213 people, compared to 87,263 in 2016 and 77,477 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.88%.
According to the 2022 Census, 28.3% of the population is under the age of 15, 64.6% is between 15 and 64, and 7.1% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 79.9% of the population in Walter Sisulu Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 11.9% as Coloured, and 7.5% as White.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Walter Sisulu Local Municipality are manufacturing, agriculture, trade, construction, government services, community services, transport and communication, finance and business services.
Municipal council and management
The municipality is under S139 administration, effective from February 2022.
The Walter Sisulu municipal council comprises 22 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Eleven councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 11 wards, while the remaining 11 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the South African municipal elections on 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) won a reduced majority of 12 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 12 – DA: 5 – EFF: 3 – MALETSWAI CIVIC ASSOCIATION: 2 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Vania Davids |
| Speaker | Nalisile Simon Mathetha |
| Chief Whip | Yandiswa Zweni |
| Other Council Members | – Magda Botha (Exco Member: Finance) – Vania Davids (Exco Member: Technical Services) – Elrico Pretorius (Exco Member: Community Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Khaya Gashi |
| Chief Financial Officer | Yimile Ngqele |
| Senior Management | – Rene Godsson (Director: Corporate Services) – Themba Mosompha (Director: Technical Services) – Zolani Pungwani (Director: Community Services) – Masonwabe Tikana (Director: Planning and Economic Development) |
| Communications Officers | Samkelo Fetile |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Walter Sisulu Local Municipality.
- Burgersdorp
- Jamestown
- Maletswai (previously Aliwal North)
- Oviston
- Steynsburg
- Teebus
- Venterstad
Contact details
The contact details of the Walter Sisulu Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 13, Burgersdorp, 9744 |
| Physical Address: | 1 Greyling Street, Burgersdorp, 9744 |
| Telephone: | 051 653 1777 |
| Fax: | 051 653 0056 |
| Email: | info@wslm.gov.za |
| Website: | www.wslm.gov.za |
