# Hessequa Local Municipality

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Local municipality in Western Cape, South Africa

Hessequa Local municipality Seal Location of Hessequa Local Municipality within the Western Cape Coordinates: 34°10′S 21°15′E / 34.167°S 21.250°E / -34.167; 21.250 Country South Africa Province Western Cape District Garden Route Seat Riversdale Wards 9 Government [1] • Type Municipal council • Mayor Grant Riddles (DA) Area • Total 5,733 km2 (2,214 sq mi) Population (2022)[2] • Total 71,918 • Density 12.54/km2 (32.49/sq mi) Racial makeup (2022) [2] • Black African 4.5% • Coloured 72.5% • Indian/Asian 0.3% • White 22.0% First languages (2011) [3] • Afrikaans 92.4% • English 3.6% • Xhosa 2.1% • Other 1.9% Time zone UTC+2 (SAST) Municipal code WC042 HDI (2018) 0.81[4] very high Website www.hessequa.gov.za

**Hessequa Municipality** ([Afrikaans](/source/Afrikaans_language): *Hessequa Munisipaliteit*), known before 24 June 2005 as **Langeberg Municipality**, is a [local municipality](/source/Local_municipality_(South_Africa)) within the [Garden Route District Municipality](/source/Garden_Route_District_Municipality), in the [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape) province of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). It is flanked by the lower [Breede River](/source/Breede_River) to the west and the [Gourits River](/source/Gourits_River) to the east. As of 2022[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hessequa_Local_Municipality&action=edit), the population was 71,918. Its municipality code is WC042. The name **Hessequa**, meaning "people of the trees", refers to the indigenous [Khoikhoi](/source/Khoikhoi) people.

## Geography

The municipality covers an area of 5,733 square kilometres (2,214 sq mi) between the [Langeberg](/source/Langeberg) mountains and the Indian Ocean, stretching from the [Breede River](/source/Breede_River) in the west to the [Gourits River](/source/Gourits_River) in the east. It abuts on the [Swellendam Municipality](/source/Swellendam_Municipality) to the west, the [Kannaland Municipality](/source/Kannaland_Municipality) to the north, the [Oudtshoorn Municipality](/source/Oudtshoorn_Municipality) to the northeast, and the [Mossel Bay Municipality](/source/Mossel_Bay_Municipality) to the east.

The largest town in the municipality is [Riversdale](/source/Riversdale%2C_South_Africa), which had a population of 16,176 in 2011. It’s also where the municipal headquarters are located. Riversdale sits on the [Vet River](/source/Vet_River) near the foothills of the [Langeberg](/source/Langeberg). To the west are [Heidelberg](/source/Heidelberg%2C_Western_Cape) (8,259) and [Slangrivier](/source/Slangrivier) (3,011), while [Albertinia](/source/Albertinia%2C_South_Africa) (6,372) lies to the east. [Stilbaai](/source/Stilbaai) (3,514) is on the coast south of Riversdale, at the mouth of the Vet River, with the smaller communities of [Jongensfontein](/source/Jongensfontein) (355) and [Melkhoutfontein](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Melkhoutfontein&action=edit&redlink=1) (2,533) nearby. [Vermaaklikheid](/source/Vermaaklikheid) (365), a small rural village known for its natural surroundings, is located south of Riversdale along the [Duiwenhoks River](/source/Duiwenhoks_River). On the edges of the municipality, [Witsand](/source/Witsand) (321) sits at the mouth of the [Breede River](/source/Breede_River) in the west, and [Gouritsmond](/source/Gouritsmond) (515) lies at the mouth of the [Gourits River](/source/Gourits_River) in the east.

## History

At the end of the [apartheid](/source/Apartheid) era, the area that is today the Hessequa Municipality formed part of the South Cape Regional Services Council (RSC). The towns of [Riversdale](/source/Riversdale%2C_Western_Cape), [Heidelberg](/source/Heidelberg%2C_Western_Cape), [Albertinia](/source/Albertinia%2C_Western_Cape) and [Stilbaai](/source/Stilbaai) were governed by municipal councils elected by their [white](/source/White_South_African) residents. The [coloured](/source/Coloured) residents of Riversdale, Heidelberg and Theronsville (Albertinia) were governed by management committees subordinate to the white councils. The seaside resorts of [Witsand](/source/Witsand), [Jongensfontein](/source/Jongensfontein) and [Gouritsmond](/source/Gouritsmond) were governed by elected local councils, and the town of [Slangrivier](/source/Slangrivier) was governed by a board of management.

While the [negotiations to end apartheid](/source/Negotiations_to_end_apartheid_in_South_Africa) were taking place a process was established for local authorities to agree on voluntary mergers. In March 1992, the Municipality of Riversdale and the Riversdale Management Committee merged into a single municipal council, and in August 1992 a similar merger took place in Heidelberg.

After the [national elections of 1994](/source/South_African_general_election%2C_1994) a process of local government transformation began, in which negotiations were held between the existing local authorities, political parties, and local community organisations. As a result of these negotiations, the existing local authorities were dissolved and transitional local councils (TLCs) were created for each town and village. The smaller seaside resorts were also combined with larger towns.

- Riversdale TLC replaced the Municipality of Riversdale in October 1994.

- Heidelberg TLC replaced the Municipality of Heidelberg and the Witsand Local Council in December 1994.

- Albertinia-Gourits TLC replaced the Municipality of Albertinia, the Theronsville Management Committee and the Gouritsmond Local Council in January 1995.

- Stilbaai TLC replaced the Municipality of Stilbaai and the Jongensfontein Local Council in January 1995.

- Slangrivier TLC replaced the Slangrivier Management Board in January 1995.

The transitional councils were initially made up of members nominated by the various parties to the negotiations, until May 1996 when [elections were held](/source/1995%E2%80%9396_South_African_municipal_elections). At the time of these elections the Albertinia-Gourits TLC was dissolved and replaced by separate TLCs for Albertinia and Gouritsmond. The South Cape District Council was established in place of the South Cape RSC, and transitional representative councils (TRCs) were elected to represent rural areas outside the TLCs on the District Council. The area that was to become Hessequa Municipality formed part of the Langeberg TRC.

At the [local elections of December 2000](/source/South_African_municipal_election%2C_2000) the TLCs and TRCs were dissolved and the Langeberg Municipality was established as a single local authority. At the same election the South Cape District Council was also dissolved and replaced by the [Eden District Municipality](/source/Eden_District_Municipality). In 2005 the name of the local municipality was changed from Langeberg to Hessequa. (The Langeberg name was subsequently reused for the municipality formerly known as [Breede River/Winelands](/source/Breede_River%2FWinelands_Municipality).)

## Demographics

According to the 2022 census, the municipality had a population of 71,918 people, increasing at an annual rate of 3.2% from 2011. Of these, 72.5% identified as "[Coloured](/source/Coloureds)," 22% as "[White](/source/White_South_Africans)," and 4.5% as "[Black African](/source/Ethnic_groups_in_South_Africa)."[5]

## Politics

Main article: [Hessequa Local Municipality elections](/source/Hessequa_Local_Municipality_elections)

This article is part of a series on the Politics of the Western Cape Constitution List of acts of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament Executive Premier The Hon Alan Winde MMP Provincial Cabinet Provincial Parliament Western Cape Parliament The Seventh Provincial Parliament Speaker Daylin Mitchell MMP Deputy Speaker Reagan Allen MMP Chief Whip of the Majority Party Gillon Bosman MMP Leader of the Opposition Khalid Sayed MMP Chief Whip of the Official Opposition Ayanda Bans MMP Political Parties DA ANC EFF GOOD ACDP FF+ ALJAMA Judiciary Western Cape Division Administrative divisions List of municipalities in the Western Cape Elections Provincial: 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024 Municipal: 2000 2006 2011 2016 2021 Related topics Cape Independence Cape Liberal Tradition Other provinces Politics of the Eastern Cape Politics of the Free State Politics of Gauteng Politics of KwaZulu-Natal Politics of Limpopo Politics of Mpumalanga Politics of the Northern Cape Politics of North West Politics of the Western Cape Other countries v t e

The municipal council consists of seventeen members elected by [mixed-member proportional representation](/source/Mixed-member_proportional_representation). Nine councillors are elected by [first-past-the-post voting](/source/First-past-the-post_voting) in nine [wards](/source/Ward_(South_Africa)), while the remaining eight are chosen from [party lists](/source/Party_list) so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. In the [election of 1 November 2021](/source/2021_South_African_municipal_elections) the [Democratic Alliance](/source/Democratic_Alliance_(South_Africa)) (DA) won a majority of seats on the council.

The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.[6]

Hessequa local election, 1 November 2021 Party Votes Seats Ward List Total % Ward List Total Democratic Alliance 10,391 10,597 20,988 50.2% 6 3 9 African National Congress 7,309 7,245 14,554 34.8% 3 3 6 Freedom Front Plus 1,647 1,577 3,224 7.7% 0 1 1 Patriotic Alliance 572 606 1,178 2.8% 0 1 1 Independent candidates 182 – 182 0.4% 0 – 0 7 other parties 817 877 1,694 4.1% 0 0 0 Total 20,918 20,902 41,820 9 8 17 Valid votes 20,918 20,902 41,820 99.4% Spoilt votes 103 138 241 0.6% Total votes cast 21,021 21,040 42,061 Voter turnout 21,055 Registered voters 33,270 Turnout percentage 63.3%

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-muni_mayor_1-0)** ["Contact list: Executive Mayors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100714013749/http://www.gcis.gov.za/gcis/gcis_list.jsp?id=14&heading=Executive%20Mayors). Government Communication & Information System. Archived from [the original](http://www.gcis.gov.za/gcis/gcis_list.jsp?id=14&heading=Executive%20Mayors) on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-m279_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-m279_2-1) ["Hessequa (Local Municipality, South Africa)"](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC042__hessequa/). *Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location*. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-muni_population_3-0)** ["Statistics by place"](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=964). Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Hessequa Municipality 2020 2020"](https://www.westerncape.gov.za/provincial-treasury/sites/provincial-treasury.westerncape.gov.za/files/atoms/files/SEP-LG%202020%20-%20WC042%20Hessequa.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 5 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Hessequa (Local Municipality, South Africa) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190903132124/http://www.citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC042__hessequa/). Archived from [the original](https://citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC042__hessequa/) on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2026-02-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Hessequa"](https://wikitable.frith.dev/lge2021/WC042/short). *wikitable.frith.dev*. Retrieved 2021-11-08.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.hessequa.gov.za/)

v t e Municipalities and communities of Garden Route District Municipality, Western Cape District seat: George Bitou Harkerville Keurboomstrand Kranshoek Kurland Estate Nature's Valley Plettenberg Bay Wittedrif Garden Route District within South Africa George Avontuur Bergplaas De Vlugt George Haarlem Herold Herolds Bay Hoekwil Pacaltsdorp Touwsranten Twee Rivieren Uniondale Victoria Bay Wilderness Woodville Hessequa Albertinia Gouritsmond Groot-Jongensfontein Heidelberg Port Beaufort Puntjie Riversdale Slangrivier Stilbaai Vermaaklikheid Witsand Kannaland Amaliënstein Calitzdorp Ladismith Vanwyksdorp Zoar Knysna Bracken Hill Brenton-on-Sea Buffelsbaai Farleigh Gouna Karatara Knysna Rheenendal Sedgefield Mossel Bay Boggomsbaai Brandwag Danabaai Friemersheim Glentana Great Brak River Hartenbos Herbertsdale Jonkersberg Little Brak River Mossel Bay Ruiterbos Vleesbaai Oudtshoorn De Hoop De Rust Dysselsdorp Matjiesrivier Oudtshoorn Schoemanshoek Volmoed

v t e Municipalities of the Western Cape Metropolitan City of Cape Town District and local West Coast Matzikama Cederberg Bergrivier Saldanha Bay Swartland Cape Winelands Witzenberg Drakenstein Stellenbosch Breede Valley Langeberg Overberg Theewaterskloof Overstrand Cape Agulhas Swellendam Garden Route Kannaland Hessequa Mossel Bay George Oudtshoorn Bitou Knysna Central Karoo Laingsburg Prince Albert Beaufort West List of municipalities in the Western Cape

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hessequa Local Municipality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessequa_Local_Municipality) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessequa_Local_Municipality?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.