Kouga Local Municipality

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use South African English|date=September 2012}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Kouga | official_name = | other_name = | native_name = | settlement_type = [[Local municipality (South Africa)|Local municipality]]  | image_seal = Kouga_CoA.png | seal_size = 150x100px  | image_map = Map of the Eastern Cape with Kouga highlighted.svg | mapsize = | map_alt = Location in the Eastern Cape | map_caption = Location in the [[Eastern Cape]] |coordinates = {{coord|34|02|S|24|46|E|region:ZA_type:adm3rd_scale:300000|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes =   | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[South Africa]] | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = [[Eastern Cape]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of South Africa|District]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Sarah Baartman District Municipality|Sarah Baartman]]  | seat = [[Jeffreys Bay]] | parts_type = [[Ward (South Africa)|Wards]] |parts = 15  | government_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |last=Plaatjies |first=Razaan |title=Hattingh Bornman elected as new Kouga mayor |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/community-newspaper/kouga-express/hattingh-bornman-elected-as-new-kouga-mayor-20230630 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> | government_type = [[Municipal council]] | leader_party = [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|DA]] | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = [[Hattingh Bornman]]  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 2670  | population_footnotes = <ref name="q266">{{cite web | title=Kouga (Local Municipality, South Africa) | website=Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location | date=2022-02-02 | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/eastern_cape/EC108__kouga/ | access-date=2024-08-13}}</ref> | population_total = 107041 | population_as_of = 2022 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto  | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup {{nobold|(2022)}} | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="q266"/> | demographics1_title1 = {{nobold|[[Bantu-speaking peoples of South Africa|Black African]]}} | demographics1_info1 = 32.6% | demographics1_title2 = {{nobold|[[Coloureds|Coloured]]}} | demographics1_info2 = 35.2% | demographics1_title3 = {{nobold|[[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]]}} | demographics1_info3 = 0.3% | demographics1_title4 = {{nobold|[[White South African|White]]}} | demographics1_info4 = 29.9%  | 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 = 59.4% | demographics2_title2 = {{nobold|[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]}} | demographics2_info2 = 30.5% | demographics2_title3 = {{nobold|[[English language|English]]}} | demographics2_info3 = 6.5% | demographics2_title4 = | demographics2_info4 = % | demographics2_title5 = {{nobold|Other}} | demographics2_info5 = 3.6%  | timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset1 = +2  | blank_name_sec1 = Municipal code | blank_info_sec1 = EC108

| footnotes = }} '''Kouga Municipality''' ({{langx|af|Kouga Munisipaliteit}}; {{langx|xh|uMasipala wase Kouga}}) is a [[Local municipality (South Africa)|local municipality]] in the [[Eastern Cape]] of [[South Africa]], approximately 80 km west of [[Gqebera]]. It forms part of the [[Sarah Baartman District Municipality]]. Its territory includes the coastal zone between the [[Van Stadens River]] in the east and the [[Tsitsikamma River]] in the west, and stretches inland towards the Baviaanskloof Mountains in the north.

Regional access to the area is obtained via the [[N2 road (South Africa)|N2 National Route]] from Gqebera to [[Cape Town]]. It is often regarded as the cleanest municipality in the Eastern Cape.

==Topography and climate== [[File:South Africa-Eastern Cape-Seekoei River causeway-001.jpg|thumb|[[Causeway]] over the Seekoei River between [[Aston Bay, Eastern Cape|Aston Bay]] and [[Paradise Beach, Eastern Cape|Paradise Beach]]]] The municipality is characterised by 3 main topographical regions:

* The coastal region stretches from the Van Stadens River in the east through the Tsitsikamma River in the west. This zone includes the towns of [[Jeffreys Bay]], [[St Francis Bay]], and [[Oyster Bay, Eastern Cape|Oyster Bay]]. The coast serves as a major national and regional tourism attraction. * The [[Gamtoos River]] Valley is characterised by wide, fertile flood plains associated with low-lying land, with steep less-fertile slopes flanking the Valley. The towns of [[Hankey]] and [[Patensie]], [[Loerie, Eastern Cape|Loerie]] and [[Thornhill, Kouga|Thornhill]] are focal points of this high-potential agricultural region. * The [[Humansdorp]] and Kruisfontein area is characterised by moderate slopes in the south, with steeper slopes towards the north and northwest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf|title=Integrated Development Plan (2007–2012)|publisher=Kouga Local Municipality|page=19|access-date=2009-10-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122233524/http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf|archive-date=22 November 2009}}</ref>

The four main rivers in the area – the Kromme, Seekoei, Kabeljouws and Gamtoos – are all tidal rivers. The Kromme River and Gamtoos River are significant sources of water supply. Ground water forms another major component of domestic water supply for towns in the Kouga region, especially Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay. Aquifers are also utilised in the agricultural sector for irrigation of pastures.

There are numerous areas of wetland adjacent to the region's rivers and on the coastal platform. These wetlands are extremely sensitive to disturbances such as agricultural activities and development. The wetlands accommodate high species diversity, and fulfil natural water purification and flood retention roles.

The climate of the Kouga region is [[subtropical]], which makes the area conducive to a range of outdoor activities and various types of agricultural production. Rainfall varies between 650 mm per year (St Francis Bay area) to 400 mm (Gamtoos River Valley). The area is generally described as windy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf|title=Integrated Development Plan (2007–2012)|publisher=Kouga Local Municipality|page=20|access-date=2009-10-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122233524/http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf|archive-date=22 November 2009}}</ref>

==Towns and settlements== More than 70% of the population of the Kouga region lives in urban areas.<ref name=idp22>{{cite web|url=http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf|title=Integrated Development Plan (2007–2012)|publisher=Kouga Local Municipality|page=22|access-date=2009-10-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122233524/http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf|archive-date=22 November 2009}}</ref> [[Humansdorp]], with over 24,000 residents, has an established infrastructure and acts as a regional service centre, supplying the surrounding agricultural communities and the coastal towns with commodities and services. Commercial and industrial activities of the region are centred in Humansdorp.

The coastal towns of [[Jeffreys Bay]], [[St Francis Bay]], [[Cape St Francis]] and [[Oyster Bay, Eastern Cape|Oyster Bay]] are well-established tourist destinations. Jeffreys Bay has a population of over 40,000 with an annual population growth rate of 2.5% or higher, making it one of the fastest-growing towns in South Africa.<ref name=idp22/>

The urban areas of [[Hankey]] and [[Patensie]], situated in the Gamtoos River Valley, provide important services to the surrounding high-density agriculture industry.

Other settlements in the Kouga region include: [[Andrieskraal]], [[Aston Bay, Eastern Cape|Aston Bay]], [[Centerton, Eastern Cape|Centerton]], [[Gamtoos Mouth]], [[Kruisfontein]], [[Kwanomzamo]], [[Loerie, Eastern Cape|Loerie]], [[Ocean View, Eastern Cape|Ocean View]], [[Oyster Bay, Eastern Cape|Oyster Bay]], [[Paradise Beach, Eastern Cape|Paradise Beach]], [[Pellsrus]], [[Ramaphoza Village]], [[Sea Vista]], [[Thornhill, Cacadu|Thornhill]], [[Tokyo Sexwale, Eastern Cape|Tokyo Sexwale]], [[Umzamowethu]] and [[Weston, Eastern Cape|Weston]].

==Politics== {{main|Kouga Local Municipality elections}} The municipal council consists of thirty members elected by [[mixed-member proportional representation]]. Fifteen councillors are elected by [[first-past-the-post voting]] in fifteen [[ward (South Africa)|wards]], while the remaining fifteen are chosen from [[party list]]s so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.

===History=== Kouga Local Municipality was formed at the time of the municipal elections in December 2000, by the merger of the earlier councils of Humansdorp, Jeffrey's Bay, Hankey, Oyster Bay, Patensie and St Francis Bay. The [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] (DA), at the time a joint project of the [[New National Party (South Africa)|New National Party]] (NNP) and the [[Democratic Party (South Africa)|Democratic Party]] (DP), took power after the first local elections.

The NNP withdrew from the DA in 2001 to instead align with its old rival, the [[African National Congress]] (ANC). During the floor crossing period in 2002, one DA councillor defected to the NNP, allowing an ANC-NNP coalition to take over governance of the municipality. Kouga remained under ANC control for the next 14 years, with the party winning a comfortable victory in 2006 and narrowly retaining power after a closely fought election in 2011.

In the [[South African municipal elections, 2016|election of 3 August 2016]], however, the DA won a majority of seventeen seats on the council, defeating the ANC, which previously controlled the council. Elza van Lingen became the new mayor of the municipality. She died in April 2018,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/kouga-mayor-loses-9-year-battle-with-cancer-20180419|title=Kouga mayor loses 9-year battle with cancer|publisher=News24|date=19 April 2018}}</ref> after which speaker [[Horatio Hendricks]] took over as mayor.

Hendricks was re-elected as mayor following the [[2021 South African municipal elections|2021 municipal elections]]. He resigned from office in June 2023 and deputy mayor [[Hattingh Bornman]] was elected to succeed him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NEW EXECUTIVE MAYOR ELECTED FOR KOUGA MUNICIPALITY |url=https://www.kouga.gov.za/newexecutivemayorelectedfo |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=www.kouga.gov.za}}</ref>

The following table shows the results of the 2021 municipal election. {{Election results |firstround=Ward |secondround=List |party1=[[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] |votes1=18097 |votes1_2=18333 |seats1=9 |seats1_2=7 |totseats1=16 |party2=[[African National Congress]] |votes2=12538 |votes2_2=12779 |seats2=6 |seats2_2=5 |totseats2=11 |party3=[[Freedom Front Plus]] |votes3=1047 |votes3_2=1051 |seats3=0 |seats3_2=1 |totseats3=1 |party4=[[Patriotic Alliance (South Africa)|Patriotic Alliance]] |votes4=662 |votes4_2=679 |seats4=0 |seats4_2=1 |totseats4=1 |party5=[[Economic Freedom Fighters]] |votes5=618 |votes5_2=641 |seats5=0 |seats5_2=1 |totseats5=1 |party6=[[Independent candidates]] |votes6=833 |votes6_2= |seats6=0 |seats6_2= |totseats6=0 |party7=[[United Democratic Movement]] |votes7=106 |votes7_2=277 |seats7=0 |seats7_2=0 |totseats7=0 |party8=[[Good (political party)|Good]] |votes8=107 |votes8_2=134 |seats8=0 |seats8_2=0 |totseats8=0 |party9=[[Compatriots of South Africa]] |votes9=34 |votes9_2=64 |seats9=0 |seats9_2=0 |totseats9=0 |party10=[[The Organic Humanity Movement]] |votes10=25 |votes10_2=28 |seats10=0 |seats10_2=0 |totseats10=0 |party11=[[African Transformation Movement]] |votes11=5 |votes11_2=36 |seats11=0 |seats11_2=0 |totseats11=0 |invalid=410 |invalid2=513 |electorate=60572 |electorate2=60572 |source=<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Kouga |url=https://wikitable.frith.dev/lge2021/EC108 |access-date=31 December 2021 |website=wikitable.frith.dev}}</ref> }}

==Main places== The [[South African National Census of 2001|2001 census]] divided the municipality into the following [[Populated place|main places]]:<ref>[http://www.statssa.gov.za/census01/html/lookuptables1.zip Lookup Tables - Statistics South Africa]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Place !! Code !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)!! Population !! Most spoken language |- | [[Aston Bay, Eastern Cape|Aston Bay]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20801 20801]||2.12||918||[[Afrikaans]] |- | [[Cape St Francis]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20802 20802]||2.51||165||Afrikaans |- | [[Hankey]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20803 20803]||20.24||8,281||Afrikaans |- | [[Humansdorp]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20804 20804]||35.94||15,338||Afrikaans |- | [[Jeffreys Bay]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20805 20805]||11.25||14,775||Afrikaans |- | [[KwaNomzamo]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20807 20807]||1.21||6,553||[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] |- | [[Loerie, Eastern Cape|Loerie]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20808 20808]||0.42||1,824||Afrikaans |- | [[Oyster Bay, Eastern Cape|Oyster Bay]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20809 20809]||1.34||348||Afrikaans |- | [[Paradise Beach, Eastern Cape|Paradise Beach]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20810 20810]||3.79||492||Afrikaans |- | [[Patensie]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20811 20811]||6.68||4,271||Afrikaans |- | [[St Francis Bay]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20812 20812]||7.34||2,195||Afrikaans |- | [[Sunnyside, Eastern Cape|Sunnyside]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20813 20813]||0.14||208||Afrikaans |- | [[Thornhill, Kouga|Thornhill]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20814 20814]||1.46||1,294||Afrikaans |- | [[Weston, Eastern Cape|Weston]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20815 20815]||0.68||1,540||Xhosa |- | ''Remainder of the municipality'' || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20806 20806]||2,322.26||12,489||Afrikaans |}

==Notes== <references/>

==References== * [http://www.kouga.gov.za/ Official website] * [http://www.kougatourism.co.za Official Tourism website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091122233524/http://www.kougamunicipality.gov.za/documents/idp/idp_0708.pdf Integrated Development Plan (2007–2012).] Kouga Local Municipality. Retrieved on 5 October 2009.

==External links== * [http://www.kouga.gov.za/ Official website] {{commons category}}

[[Category:Kouga Local Municipality| ]]