Mossel Bay Local Municipality

{{Infobox settlement | name = Mossel Bay | official_name = | other_name = | native_name = Mosselbaai | settlement_type = [[Local municipality (South Africa)|Local municipality]] | image_seal = Mossel Bay_CoA.png | seal_size = 150x100px | image_map = Map of the Western Cape with Mossel Bay highlighted (2011).svg | mapsize = | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in the Western Cape | coordinates = {{coord|34|05|S|22|00|E|region:ZA_type:adm3rd_dim:50km|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 = [[Mossel Bay]] | parts_type = [[Ward (South Africa)|Wards]] | parts = 14 | 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 = [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|DA]] | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = [[Dirk Kotzé]] | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 =  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 2011 | population_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=7 August 2024}}</ref> | population_total = 140,075 | population_as_of = 2022 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup {{nobold|(2022)}} | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="muni_population"/> | demographics1_title1 = {{nobold|[[Bantu-speaking peoples of South Africa|Black African]]}} | demographics1_info1 = 29.4% | demographics1_title2 = {{nobold|[[Coloureds|Coloured]]}} | demographics1_info2 = 34.5% | demographics1_title3 = {{nobold|[[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]]}} | demographics1_info3 = 0.3% | demographics1_title4 = {{nobold|[[White South African|White]]}} | demographics1_info4 = 34.1% | demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s {{nobold|(2011)}} | demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{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 = 67.6% | demographics2_title2 = {{nobold|[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]}} | demographics2_info2 = 21.5% | demographics2_title3 = {{nobold|[[English language|English]]}} | demographics2_info3 = 6.5% | demographics2_title4 = {{nobold|[[Sotho language|Sotho]]}} | demographics2_info4 = 1.3% | demographics2_title5 = {{nobold|Other}} | demographics2_info5 = 3.1% | timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset1 = +2 | blank_name_sec1 = Municipal code | blank_info_sec1 = WC043

| website = {{URL|mosselbay.gov.za}} | footnotes = }} '''Mossel Bay Municipality''' ({{langx|af|Mosselbaai Munisipaliteit}}; {{langx|xh|uMasipala wase Mossel Bayi}}) is a [[Local municipality (South Africa)|local municipality]] within the [[Garden Route District Municipality]], in the [[Western Cape]] province of [[South Africa]]. {{Asof|2022}}, the population was 140,075.<ref name=muni_population />

==Geography== The municipality covers an area of {{convert|2011|km2}} on the coastal plain between the [[Outeniqua Mountains]] and the sea. It stretches from the [[Gourits River]] in the west to beyond the [[Great Brak River (river)|Great Brak River]] in the east. It is drained by the Gourits, [[Hartenbos River|Hartenbos]], [[Little Brak River (river)|Little Brak]] and [[Great Brak River (river)|Great Brak]] Rivers. It abuts on the [[Hessequa Municipality]] to the west, the [[Oudtshoorn Municipality]] to the north and the [[George Municipality]] to the east.

==Demographics== The [[2022 South African census]] reported a population of 140,075 people in the municipality. This represented an average annual increase of 4.4% from 2011. Those identifying as "[[Coloureds|Coloured]]" comprised 34.5% of the population, followed by "[[White South Africans|Whites]]" at 34.1%, and "[[Black South Africans|Black Africans]]," at 29.4%. With over one-third of the population identifying as White, Mossel Bay had a higher proportion of Whites than any other municipality in South Africa.<ref>https://citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC043__mossel_bay/</ref>

According to the [[South African National Census of 2011|2011 census]] the municipality has a population of 89,430 people in 28,025 households. Of this population, 43.5% describe themselves as "[[Coloured]]", 29.5% as "[[Bantu peoples in South Africa|Black African]]", and 25.5% as "[[White South African|White]]". The [[first language]] of 67.6% of the population is [[Afrikaans]], while 21.5% speak [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], 6.5% speak [[English language|English]] and 1.3% speak [[Sotho language|Sotho]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/176 |title=Mossel Bay Local Municipality |work=Census 2011}}</ref>

The principal town is [[Mossel Bay]] on the [[Cape St Blaize]] peninsula, which as of 2011 has a population of 59,031.<ref>Sum of the Main Places [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/176013 KwaNonqaba], [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/176014 Mossel Bay], [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/176015 Isinyoka] and [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/176016 Asazani] from Census 2011.</ref> Northeast of Mossel Bay is a string of coastal resorts along the shores of the bay: [[Hartenbos]] (pop. 4,196), [[Little Brak River (town)|Little Brak River]] (pop. 2,037), [[Reebok, Western Cape|Reebok]] (pop. 1,112), [[Tergniet]] (pop. 1,264) and [[Great Brak River (town)|Great Brak River]] (pop. 10,619). To the southwest of Mossel Bay are the smaller coastal villages of [[Boggomsbaai]] (pop. 69) and [[Vleesbaai]] (pop. 193). [[Herbertsdale]] (pop. 666), [[Brandwag, Mossel Bay|Brandwag]] (pop. 1,470) and [[Friemersheim]] (pop. 1,235) are situated in the interior of the municipality closer to the mountains.

==History== At the end of the [[apartheid]] era, the area that is today the Mossel Bay Municipality formed part of the South Cape Regional Services Council (RSC). The towns of [[Mossel Bay]], [[Hartenbos]], [[Great Brak River (town)|Great Brak River]] and [[Herbertsdale]] were governed by municipal councils elected by their [[white South African|white]] residents. The [[coloured]] residents of [[D'Almeida]] (Mossel Bay) and Great Brak River were governed by management committees subordinate to the white councils. [[Kwanonqaba]] was governed by a town council established under the [[Black Local Authorities Act, 1982]]. The smaller coastal resorts were governed by local councils: a council for [[Boggomsbaai]], a council covering [[Little Brak River (town)|Little Brak River]], [[Reebok, Western Cape|Reebok]] and [[Tergniet]], and another council named Gleniqua covering [[Glentana]], [[Outeniquastrand]] and [[Bothastrand]]. The former missionary settlement of [[Friemersheim]] was governed by a board of management.

While the [[Negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa|negotiations to end apartheid]] were taking place a process was established for local authorities to agree on voluntary mergers. In March 1992, the Municipality of Great Brak River, the Great Brak River Management Committee and the Gleniqua Local Council merged into a single Municipality for the Area of Great Brak River.

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. The smaller seaside resorts were also combined with larger towns. * Herbertsdale TLC replaced the Municipality of Herbertsdale in December 1994. * Friemersheim TLC replaced the Friemersheim Management Board in January 1995. * Mossel Bay TLC replaced the Municipalities of Mossel Bay and Hartenbos, the D'Almeida Management Committee, the Kwanonqaba Town Council, the Boggomsbaai Local Council, and the Klein Brak River, Reebok and Tergniet Local Council in February 1995. * Great Brak River TLC replaced the Municipality for the Area of Great Brak River in February 1995.

The transitional councils were initially made up of members nominated by the various parties to the negotiations, until May 1996 when [[1995–96 South African municipal elections|elections were held]]. 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 that was to become Mossel Bay Municipality included the Mossel Bay TRC and a small 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 Mossel Bay 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]].

== Politics == {{Politics of Western Cape}} {{main|Mossel Bay Local Municipality elections}} The municipal council consists of twenty-nine 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 fourteen are chosen from [[party list]]s so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.

Marie Ferreira of the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] (DA) became executive mayor after the March 2006 local government elections when the DA formed a coalition with [[Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa]] (ICOSA) since no single party had obtained an outright majority. The DA held 10 seats in the (then) 23-seat council followed by 8 for the [[African National Congress]] (ANC) and 3 for ICOSA. Following the September 2007, floor-crossing window the DA gained an outright majority when 3 councillors defected to the DA resulting in the DA holding 13 seats out of 23 while the ANC lost a seat to the DA and currently has 7. ICOSA lost its representation in the council when 2 councillors defected to the DA and its one ward councillor became an independent.

In the [[South African municipal election, 2011|election of 18 May 2011]] the DA won a majority of sixteen seats on the council. In the [[South African municipal election, 2016|election of 3 August 2016]] the DA increased its majority to seventeen seats. The DA further expanded that majority to nineteen seats in the [[2021 South African municipal elections|election of 1 November 2021]]. The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Mossel Bay|url=https://wikitable.frith.dev/lge2021/WC043/short|access-date=2021-11-08|website=wikitable.frith.dev}}</ref> {| class=wikitable style="text-align:right" !colspan="9" align="center"| Mossel Bay 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)}} | 23,372 || 23,340 || 46,712 || 66.2% || 10 || 9 || 19 |- | {{Full party name with color |African National Congress}} | 5,333 || 5,431 || 10,764 || 15.3% || 5 || 0 || 5 |- | {{Full party name with color |Freedom Front Plus}} | 1,889 || 1,936 || 3,825 || 5.4% || 0 || 2 || 2 |- | {{Full party name with color |Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa}} | 1,791 || 1,774 || 3,565 || 5.1% || 0 || 1 || 1 |- | {{Full party name with color |African Christian Democratic Party}} | 915 || 907 || 1,822 || 2.6% || 0 || 1 || 1 |- | {{Full party name with color |Patriotic Alliance (South Africa)}} | 702 || 718 || 1,420 || 2.0% || 0 || 1 || 1 |- | {{Full party name with color |Independent candidates}} | 141 || – || 141 || 0.2% || 0 || – || 0 |- | ||style="text-align:left"| 8 other parties | 1,097 || 1,176 || 2,273 || 3.2% || 0 || 0 || 0 |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| '''Total''' | '''35,240''' || '''35,282''' || '''70,522''' || || '''15''' || '''14''' || '''29''' |- |colspan="9"| |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Valid votes | 35,240 || 35,282 || 70,522 || 99.2% |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| [[Spoilt vote]]s | 263 || 333 || 596 || 0.8% |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| '''Total votes cast''' | '''35,503''' || '''35,615''' || '''71,118''' || |- |colspan="6"| |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Voter turnout | 35,693 |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Registered voters | 64,310 |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Turnout percentage | 55.5% |}

==Crime and corruption== In 2007, crime figures revealed that Mossel Bay recorded the lowest crime rates in the country. Between August 2006 and July 2007, there were no murders, hijackings, or business robberies. The low unemployment rate has been cited as a factor for the low crime rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20070712092719252C774239 | title=Mossel Bay the safest place to visit| publisher=IOL | date=2000-07-12}}</ref> In 2018 two minicipal workers were arrested after swindling the municipality out of R138,000 by changing the amounts charged for grave sites. Each received a three year jail sentence.<ref name="mar1">{{cite news |title=Mosselbaai werkers oor grafte bedrog gevonnis |url=https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/sa-nuus/mosselbaai-werkers-oor-grafte-bedrog-gevonnis/ |access-date=10 May 2022 |agency=Maroela Media |publisher=maroelamedia.com |date=7 May 2022}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.mosselbay.gov.za/}}

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