West Coast District Municipality

The West Coast District Municipality (WCDM) is a Category C municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Its municipal code is DC1. Moorreesburg is the seat of the district and as of 2022, it had an estimated population of 497,394 people.

West Coast District Municipality

Type of municipality:District (Category C)
Province:Western Cape
Municipal code:DC1
Seat:Moorreesburg
Local municipalities:5
Total area:31,119 km² (12,015 square miles)
Population:497,394 (in 2022)
Executive mayor:Roelof Strydom

About

The West Coast District Municipality stretches from the border of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality in the south to the border of the Northern Cape province in the north.

Moorreesburg is the seat of the district.

The district covers an area of 31,119 km² (12,015 square miles) and is divided into five local municipalities namely;

  1. Bergrivier Local Municipality
  2. Cederberg Local Municipality
  3. Matzikama Local Municipality
  4. Saldanha Bay Local Municipality
  5. Swartland Local Municipality

The two roads, the R27 and the N7 from Cape Town will take you through the golden wheat fields of the Swartland, the vineyards of the Olifants River, the picturesque coastal villages of Paternoster and St Helena Bay, and the peaceful atmosphere of little towns like Darling, Piketberg, Goedverwacht, and Porterville.

Further north, across the Piekenierskloof Pass, the incredible mountains of the Cederberg, famous for its rock art, and the Maskam, outside Vanrhynsdorp will serve you with peace of mind.

The West Coast District Municipality is bordered by the City of Cape Town to the south, Cape Winelands District Municipality to the southeast, and Northern Cape’s Namakwa District Municipality to the north and northeast. The Atlantic Ocean also borders it to the west.

Map

West Coast District Municipality Map
A map of the West Coast District Municipality with its five Local Municipalities.

Population

According to the South African National Census of 2022, the West Coast District Municipality has a population of 497,394 residents, compared to 436,403 in 2016, and 391,766 in 2011.

The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.32%.

According to the 2022 Census, 23.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 69.4% is between 15 and 64, and 7.1% is over 65.

Racial makeup

According to the 2022 Census, 66.6% of the population in the West Coast District Municipality describe themselves as Coloured, 16.4% as Black African, 15.7% as White, and 0.6% as Indian/Asian.

Languages

According to the 2022 Census, the first language of 83.7% of the population is Afrikaans, while 8.6% speak Xhosa, 4.0% speak English, 1.3% speak Sotho, and 2.4% speak other languages.

Economy

The main economic sectors of the district are; manufacturing (20.3%), agriculture, forestry and fishing (20,2%), finance, insurance, real estate and business services (11,4%), wholesale and retail trade, catering and accommodation (15,3%), general government (10,5%), transport, storage and communication (8,2%), construction (5%), community, social and personal services (6,1%).

District council and management

Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party)DA: 14
ANC: 7
GOOD: 2
PA: 1
VF PLUS: 1
Executive MayorRoelof Strydom
Deputy Executive MayorSandra Crafford
SpeakerNicolaas Louw
Chief Whipn/a
Other Council Members– Sandra Crafford (Finance)
– Colin Daniels (Strategic Support and Economic Development)
– Josias Andreas Engelbrecht (Community Safety, Rural Safety and Administration and Community Services)
– Miranda Schrader (Infrastructure Services)
Municipal ManagerDavid Joubert
Chief Financial OfficerJohan Tesselaar
Senior Management– Chris Koch (Infrastructure Services)
– Wilhelm Markus (Director: Administration and Community Services)
– Earl Williams (Manager: LED)
Communications OfficersGurshell Abrahams

Main places

Below are some of the main places in the district.

  • Abbotsdale
  • Aurora
  • Bitterfontein
  • Chatsworth
  • Citrusdal
  • Clanwilliam
  • Darling
  • Doring Bay
  • Ebenhaezer
  • Eendekuil
  • Elands Bay
  • Graafwater
  • Grotto Bay
  • Hopefield
  • Jacobs Bay
  • Kalbaskraal
  • Klawer
  • Kliprand
  • Koekenaa
  • Koringberg
  • Lamberts Bay
  • Langebaan
  • Leipoldtville
  • Lutzville
  • Malmesbury
  • Molsvlei
  • Moorreesburg
  • Nuwerus
  • Paternoster
  • Piketberg
  • Porterville
  • Putsekloof
  • Redelinghuys
  • Riebeeck Kasteel
  • Riebeeck West
  • Rietpoort
  • Riverlands
  • Saldanha
  • St Helena Bay
  • Stofkraal
  • Strandfontein
  • Vanrhynsdorp
  • Velddrif
  • Vredenburg
  • Vredendal
  • Wupperthal
  • Yzerfontein

Contact details

Contact details of the West Coast District Municipality are listed in the table below.

Postal address:PO Box 242, Moorreesburg, 7310
Physical address:58 Long Street, Moorreesburg
Telephone:022 433 8400
Fax:086 692 6113
Email:info@westcoastdm.co.za
Website:www.westcoastdm.co.za