Knysna Local Municipality

{{Infobox settlement | name = Knysna | official_name = | other_name = | native_name = | settlement_type = [[Local municipality (South Africa)|Local municipality]] | image_seal = Knysna_CoA.png | seal_size = 150x100px | image_map = Map of the Western Cape with Knysna highlighted.svg | mapsize = | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Knysna within the Western Cape | coordinates = {{coord|34|00|S|23|00|E|region:ZA_type:adm3rd_dim:40km|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[South Africa]] | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = [[Western Cape]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of South Africa|District]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Garden Route District Municipality|Garden Route]] | seat = [[Knysna, Western Cape|Knysna]] | parts_type = [[Ward (South Africa)|Wards]] | parts = 10 | government_footnotes = <ref name="muni_mayor">{{cite web |url=http://www.gcis.gov.za/gcis/gcis_list.jsp?id=14&heading=Executive%20Mayors |title=Contact list: Executive Mayors |publisher=Government Communication & Information System |access-date=22 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714013749/http://www.gcis.gov.za/gcis/gcis_list.jsp?id=14&heading=Executive%20Mayors |archive-date=14 July 2010 }}</ref> | government_type = [[Municipal council]] | leader_party = [[African National Congress|ANC]] | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Thando Matika | leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor | leader_name1 = Morton Gericke ([[Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners|PBI]]) | leader_title2 = Speaker | leader_name2 = Mark Willemse ([[Knysna Independent Movement |KIM]]) | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 1109 | population_footnotes = <ref name="n516">{{cite web | title=Knysna (Local Municipality, South Africa) | website=Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location | date=2022-02-02 | url=https://citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC048__knysna/ | access-date=2024-08-09}}</ref> | population_total = 96,055 | population_as_of = 2022 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup {{nobold|(2022)}} | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="n516"/> | demographics1_title1 = {{nobold|[[Bantu-speaking peoples of South Africa|Black African]]}} | demographics1_info1 = 41.3% | demographics1_title2 = {{nobold|[[Coloureds|Coloured]]}} | demographics1_info2 = 34.8% | demographics1_title3 = {{nobold|[[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]]}} | demographics1_info3 = 0.4% | demographics1_title4 = {{nobold|[[White South African|White]]}} | demographics1_info4 = 21.8% | demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s {{nobold|(2011)}} | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="muni_population">{{cite web |url=http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=964 |title=Statistics by place |publisher=Statistics South Africa |access-date=27 September 2015}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = {{nobold|[[Afrikaans]]}} | demographics2_info1 = 51.2% | demographics2_title2 = {{nobold|[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]}} | demographics2_info2 = 28.4% | demographics2_title3 = {{nobold|[[English language|English]]}} | demographics2_info3 = 15.4% | demographics2_title4 = | demographics2_info4 = % | demographics2_title5 = {{nobold|Other}} | demographics2_info5 = 5% | timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset1 = +2 | blank_name_sec1 = Municipal code | blank_info_sec1 = WC048

| footnotes = }} '''Knysna Municipality''' ({{langx|af|Knysna Munisipaliteit}}; {{langx|xh|uMasipala wase Knysna}}) is a [[Local municipality (South Africa)|local municipality]] within the [[Garden Route District Municipality]], in the [[Western Cape]] province of [[South Africa]]. As of 2022, its population is 96,055. Its municipal code is WC048.

== Geography == The municipality covers an area of {{convert|1109|km2}} between the [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[Outeniqua Mountains]] around the town of Knysna. It abuts on the [[George Municipality]] to the north and west, and on the [[Bitou Municipality]] to the east.

== Demographics == According to the 2022 census, 96,055 people lived in the municipality, which had an average growth rate of 3.3% annually from 2011. The racial breakdown of the population was 41.3% "[[Black South African|Black African]]," 34.8% "[[Coloureds|Coloured]]," and 21.8% "[[White South Africans|White]]."<ref>{{Cite web | title=Knysna (Local Municipality, South Africa) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location | url=https://citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC048__knysna/ | access-date=2025-11-23 | website=citypopulation.de}}</ref>

Most of the residents of the municipality live in the town of [[Knysna]], which as of 2011 has a population of 51,078.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}} Knysna is situated on the shores of the [[Knysna Lagoon]]; other coastal settlements are [[Sedgefield, Western Cape|Sedgefield]] (pop. 8,361) and [[Buffelsbaai]] (pop. 71).{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}} Away from the coast are agricultural settlements at [[Rheenendal]] (pop. 3,936) and [[Karatara]] (pop. 880).{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}}

The municipality is also home to the informal settlement of [[Bongani, South Africa|Bongani]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Bongani shacks illegal, maintains Knysna Municipality |url=https://www.knysnaplettherald.com/News/Article/Local-News/bongani-shacks-illegal-maintains-knysna-municipality-202008130855 |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=Knysna-Plett Herald |language=en}}</ref> On 2 August 2020, municipal authorities razed some of the shacks in the Bongani area, upsetting some residents.<ref name=":0" /> On 11 November 2025, a wildfire destroyed somewhere between 14 and 20 structures in Bongani, [[Concordia, Knysna|Concordia]], and Khayalethu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire razes up to 20 structures in Bongani, Concordia and Khayalethu |url=https://www.knysnaplettherald.com/News/Article/Local-News/fire-razes-up-to-20-structures-in-bongani-concordia-and-khayalethu-202511110940 |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=Knysna-Plett Herald |language=en}}</ref>

==History== At the end of the [[apartheid]] era, the area that is today the Knysna Municipality formed part of the South Cape Regional Services Council (RSC). The towns of [[Knysna]] and [[Sedgefield, Western Cape|Sedgefield]] were governed by municipal councils elected by their [[white South African|white]] residents. The [[coloured]] residents of Hornlee (Knysna) and Smutsville (Sedgefield) were governed by management committees subordinate to the white councils. [[Rheenendal]] was also governed by a management committee. [[Kwanonqaba]] was governed by a town council established under the [[Black Local Authorities Act, 1982]]. The coastal resorts of [[Buffelsbaai]], [[Belvidere Estate]], [[Brenton-on-Sea]] and [[Noetzie]] were governed by local councils.

After the [[South African general election, 1994|national elections of 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. In October 1994 Knysna TLC replaced the Municipality of Knysna and Hornlee Management Committee. In December 1994 Sedgefield TLC replaced the Municipality of Sedgefield, Smutsville Management Committee and Buffelsbaai Local Council. These transitional councils were made up of members nominated by the various parties to the negotiations. In October 1995 the local councils of Belvidere Estate, Brenton-on-Sea and Noetzie, and the Rheenendal Management Committee, were all converted to TLCs without negotiations and with the existing councillors retained in office.

In May 1996 [[1995–96 South African municipal elections|elections were held]] for all the TLCs. At the time of these elections 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 to become Knysna Municipality included part of the Outeniqua TRC.

At the [[South African municipal election, 2000|local elections of December 2000]] the TLCs and TRCs were dissolved and the Knysna Municipality was established as a single local authority. At the same election the South Cape District Council was dissolved and replaced by the [[Eden District Municipality]]. In 2011 the Hoogekraal Plantation area north of Sedgefield was transferred from George Municipality to Knysna Municipality.

== Politics == {{Politics of Western Cape}} {{main|Knysna Local Municipality elections}} The municipal council consists of twenty-one members elected by [[mixed-member proportional representation]]. Eleven councillors are elected by [[first-past-the-post voting]] in eleven [[ward (South Africa)|wards]], while the remaining ten are chosen from [[party list]]s so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. In the [[2021 South African municipal elections|election of 1 November 2021]] no party obtained a majority of seats on the council. The [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] (DA) then formed a minority coalition government with the Knysna Independent Movement (KIM). At the first council meeting on 22 November 2021, the DA's Julie Lopes was elected speaker, followed by the DA's [[Levael Davis]] as mayor and [[Mark Willemse]] from KIM as deputy mayor with the help of the lone councillor from the [[Economic Freedom Fighters]] (EFF).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hunter|first=Zintle Mahlati, Juniour Khumalo, Jan Gerber and Qaanitah|title=New political era: DA reaps the rewards as opposition parties kick ANC to the curb|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/new-political-era-da-reaps-the-rewards-as-opposition-parties-kick-anc-to-the-curb-20211123|access-date=2021-11-23|website=News24|language=en-US}}</ref>

The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Knysna|url=https://wikitable.frith.dev/lge2021/WC048/short|access-date=2021-11-08|website=wikitable.frith.dev}}</ref> {| class=wikitable style="text-align:right" !colspan="9" align="center"| Knysna local election, 1 November 2021 |- !rowspan="2" colspan="2"| Party !!colspan="4" align="center"| Votes !!colspan="3" align="center"| Seats |- ! Ward !! List !! Total !! % !! Ward !! List !! Total |- | {{Full party name with color |Democratic Alliance (South Africa)}} | 8,176 || 8,421 || 16,597 || 35.4% || 5 || 3 || 8 |- | {{Full party name with color |African National Congress}} | 7,660 || 7,889 || 15,549 || 33.2% || 6 || 1 || 7 |- | {{Full party name with color |Knysna Independent Movement}} | 1,901 || 1,797 || 3,698 || 7.9% || 0 || 2 || 2 |- | {{Full party name with color |Patriotic Alliance (South Africa)}} | 1,725 || 1,729 || 3,454 || 7.4% || 0 || 2 || 2 |- | {{Full party name with color |Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners}} | 1,109 || 1,052 || 2,161 || 4.6% || 0 || 1 || 1 |- | {{Full party name with color |Economic Freedom Fighters}} | 558 || 610 || 1,168 || 2.5% || 0 || 1 || 1 |- | {{Full party name with color |Independent candidates}} | 573 || – || 573 || 1.2% || 0 || – || 0 |- | ||style="text-align:left"| 14 other parties | 1,840 || 1,797 || 3,637 || 7.8% || 0 || 0 || 0 |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| '''Total''' | '''23,542''' || '''23,295''' || '''46,837''' || || '''11''' || '''10''' || '''21''' |- |colspan="9"| |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Valid votes | 23,542 || 23,295 || 46,837 || 98.3% |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| [[Spoilt vote]]s | 361 || 458 || 819 || 1.7% |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| '''Total votes cast''' | '''23,903''' || '''23,753''' || '''47,656''' || |- |colspan="6"| |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Voter turnout | 23,906 |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Registered voters | 42,790 |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Turnout percentage | 55.9% |}

===History=== Joy Cole was first elected mayor under the DA in December 2000 but defected in the September 2004 floor-crossing to become an [[African National Congress|ANC]]-aligned independent and reconstituted the council under ANC control. Cole formed a broad-based coalition of the ANC and DA after the March 2006 local government elections when neither party had obtained an outright majority. After Cole resigned in December 2006 to pursue another career, Doris Wakeford-Brown of the DA formed a multi-party coalition. This short-lived coalition collapsed in May 2007 when the Knysna Civic Alliance switched allegiances to the ANC, which brought Eleanore Bouw-Spies in as the new mayor. In the September 2007 floor crossing window the two civic party councillors defected to the ANC, giving the party an outright majority of 9 seats out of 16. Bouw-Spies' term as mayor ended when the DA won an absolute majority in the 2011 election and Georlene Wolmarans was elected mayor. In the 2016 election the DA fell short of an absolute majority, but formed a coalition with the ACDP and an independent councillor. Bouw-Spies, who had crossed to the DA in 2014, returned for a second term as mayor.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 August 2016 |newspaper=The Citizen |agency=ANA |title=DA falls short of a majority in Knysna |url=http://citizen.co.za/news/news-national/1239960/da-falls-short-of-a-majority-in-knysna/ |access-date=5 June 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

Bouw-Spies was removed as mayor after an ANC-initiated vote of no confidence in June 2018. The motion was supported by two DA councillors, Mark Willemse and Peter Myers. Willemse was then elected as the new mayor with COPE member Ricky van Aswegen as deputy mayor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Willemse new Executive Mayor of Knysna |url=https://www.knysnaplettherald.com/News/Article/General/www.knysnaplettherald.com/News/Article/General/mark-willemse-new-executive-mayor-of-knysna-201806060903 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Knysna-Plett Herald}}</ref> The DA has instituted disciplinary action against its two members, but the matter has dragged on into 2019 without a solution as of yet.

===Mayors=== * [[Charles Thobi]] (2002–2004) * [[Joy Cole]] (December 2000 – September 2004) (DA) * Joy Cole (September 2004 – March 2006) (Independent) * Joy Cole (March 2006 – December 2006) (ANC) * [[Doris Wakeford-Brown]] (December 2006 – May 2007) (DA) * [[Eleanore Bouw-Spies]] (May 2007 – May 2011) (ANC) * [[Georlene Wolmarans]] (May 2011 – August 2016) (DA) * [[Eleanore Bouw-Spies]] (August 2016 – June 2018) (DA) * [[Mark Willemse]] (June 2018 – September 2019) (DA) * [[Elrick van Aswegen]] (June 2020 - November 2021) (Cope) <ref>https://showme.co.za/knysna/news/newly-appointed-knynsa-mayors-inaugural-address/</ref> * Levael Davis (November 2021 - August 2022) (DA) <ref>{{Cite web | title=New mayor, deputy mayor elected for Knysna {{!}} Knysna-Plett Herald | url=https://www.knysnaplettherald.com/News/Article/Politics/new-mayor-deputy-mayor-elected-for-knysna-202111220408 | access-date=2025-11-23 | website=www.knysnaplettherald.com}}</ref> * Aubrey Tsengwa (August 2022 - February 2025) (ANC)<ref>https://iol.co.za/weekend-argus/news/2022-08-31-da-kicked-out-of-knysna-council--anc-pa-and-eff-take-control/</ref> * Thando Matika (February 2025 - present) (ANC)<ref>{{Cite web | title=Knysna’s new mayor determined to put politics aside and fix the town | url=https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2025-02-28-knysnas-new-mayor-determined-to-put-politics-aside-and-fix-the-town/ | access-date=2025-11-23 | website=www.theherald.co.za}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[http://www.knysnamunicipality.co.za Knysna Municipality official site]

[[Category:Local municipalities of the Garden Route District Municipality]]