Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Use South African English|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Sundays River Valley | official_name = | other_name = | native_name = Sondagsriviervallei | settlement_type = [[Local municipality (South Africa)|Local municipality]]  | image_seal = Sundays River Valley_CoA.png | seal_size = 150x100px  | image_map = Map of the Eastern Cape with Sundays River Valley highlighted.svg | mapsize = | map_alt = Location in the Eastern Cape | map_caption = Location in the [[Eastern Cape]] |coordinates = {{coord|33|25|S|25|27|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 = [[Kirkwood, Eastern Cape|Kirkwood]] | parts_type = [[Ward (South Africa)|Wards]] |parts = 8  | 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 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | government_type = [[Municipal council]] | leader_party = [[African National Congress|ANC]] | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Nombulelo Bixa | leader_title1 = Speaker | leader_name1 = Simphiwe Happyboy Rune (ANC) | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 =  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 5994  | 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 |accessdate=27 September 2015}}</ref> | population_total = 54504 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto  | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup {{nobold|(2011)}} | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="muni_population"/> | demographics1_title1 = {{nobold|[[Bantu-speaking peoples of South Africa|Black African]]}} | demographics1_info1 = 71.8% | demographics1_title2 = {{nobold|[[Coloureds|Coloured]]}} | demographics1_info2 = 21.4% | demographics1_title3 = {{nobold|[[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]]}} | demographics1_info3 = 0.2% | demographics1_title4 = {{nobold|[[White South African|White]]}} | demographics1_info4 = 5.9%  | 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 |accessdate=27 September 2015}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = {{nobold|[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]}} | demographics2_info1 = 64.3% | demographics2_title2 = {{nobold|[[Afrikaans]]}} | demographics2_info2 = 28.0% | demographics2_title3 = {{nobold|[[English language|English]]}} | demographics2_info3 = 3.4% | demographics2_title4 = | demographics2_info4 = % | demographics2_title5 = {{nobold|Other}} | demographics2_info5 = 4.3%  | timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset1 = +2  | blank_name_sec1 = Municipal code | blank_info_sec1 = EC106

| footnotes = }}

'''Sundays River Valley Municipality''' ({{langx|xh|uMasipala wase Sundays River Valley}}; {{langx|af|Sondagsriviervallei Munisipaliteit}}) is a [[local municipality (South Africa)|local municipality]] within [[Sarah Baartman District Municipality]], in the [[Eastern Cape]] province of [[South Africa]]. It has a total population of nearly 70,000 people. The municipality is one of the key production areas for [[citrus]] in South Africa. It also encompasses the [[Addo Elephant National Park]] and other significant areas of nature conservation.

==Main places== The [[South African National Census of 2001|2001 census]] divided the municipality into the following [[Local municipality (South Africa)#Census|main places]]:<ref>[http://www.statssa.gov.za/census01/html/lookuptables1.zip Lookup Tables - Statistics South Africa]</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Place !! Code !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)!! Population !! Most spoken language |- | [[Addo Elephant National Park]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20602 20602]||1.08||90||[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] |- | [[Addo, Eastern Cape|Addo]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20601 20601]||3.21||1,752||[[Afrikaans]] |- | [[Barsheba]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20603 20603]||0.61||517||Xhosa |- | [[Bontrug]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20604 20604]||2.33||6,806||Xhosa |- | [[Enon, South Africa|Enon]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20605 20605]||0.40||782||Afrikaans |- | [[Kirkwood, South Africa|Kirkwood]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20606 20606]||3.07||2,749||Afrikaans |- | [[KwaZenzele]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20607 20607]||3.62||3,733||Xhosa |- | [[Nomathamsanqa]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20608 20608]||1.53||9,266||Xhosa |- | [[Paterson, Eastern Cape|Paterson]] || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20609 20609]||0.22||671||Afrikaans |- | ''Remainder of the municipality'' || [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/20610 20610]||3,491.83||15,218||Xhosa |}

== Politics == {{main|Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality elections}} The municipal council consists of sixteen members elected by [[mixed-member proportional representation]]. Eight councillors are elected by [[first-past-the-post voting]] in eight [[ward (South Africa)|wards]], while the remaining eight 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]] the [[African National Congress]] (ANC) won a majority of ten seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Sunday's River Valley |url=https://wikitable.frith.dev/lge2021/EC106 |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=wikitable.frith.dev}}</ref> {{Election results |firstround=Ward |secondround=List |party1=[[African National Congress]] |votes1=7179 |votes1_2=7258 |seats1=7 |seats1_2=3 |totseats1=10 |party2=[[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] |votes2=2456 |votes2_2=2471 |seats2=1 |seats2_2=3 |totseats2=4 |party3=[[Economic Freedom Fighters]] |votes3=631 |votes3_2=647 |seats3=0 |seats3_2=1 |totseats3=1 |party4=[[Good (political party)|Good]] |votes4=241 |votes4_2=582 |seats4=0 |seats4_2=1 |totseats4=1 |party5=[[Freedom Front Plus]] |votes5=254 |votes5_2=264 |seats5=0 |seats5_2=0 |totseats5=0 |party6=[[Independent candidates]] |votes6=509 |votes6_2= |seats6=0 |seats6_2= |totseats6=0 |party7=[[African Transformation Movement]] |votes7=49 |votes7_2=85 |seats7=0 |seats7_2=0 |totseats7=0 |party8=[[Compatriots of South Africa]] |votes8=40 |votes8_2=64 |seats8=0 |seats8_2=0 |totseats8=0 |invalid=236 |invalid2=239 |electorate=25034 |electorate2=25034 }}

==Geography and land use== The municipality derives its name from the 250 km (160 mi) long [[Sundays River]], the fastest flowing river in South Africa. The river winds its way through the Zuurberg mountains and passes Kirkwood in the fertile [[Sundays River Valley]]; it empties into the [[Indian Ocean]] at [[Algoa Bay]] near [[Port Elizabeth]].

To the north of Kirkwood lies the Rietberg mountain with the Uyepoort (Uye gateway) that provides passage to the Zuurberg mountains and the Greater [[Addo Elephant National Park]]. A panoramic view of Kirkwood and the orange groves is visible from The Lookout. The Lookout is also known as a site where large dinosaur fossils have been dug up by archeologists. The first complete dinosaur fossil to be found in South Africa, nicknamed "Kirky," was found not far from Kirkwood.<ref name=SRVM>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111009063019/http://www.srvm.gov.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96&Itemid=94&showall=1 "History and Culture."] Sundays River Valley Municipality website. Retrieved on 14 October 2009.</ref>

The municipality comprises three regions with distinct characteristics:<ref name=IDP>[http://www.srvm.gov.za/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=20&tmpl=component&format=raw&Itemid= Integrated Development Plan 2009/2010.] Sundays River Valley Municipality. Retrieved on 14 October 2009.</ref>

* '''The coastal zone''', between the mouth of the Sundays River and Alexandria, is predominantly characterised by reserves and conservation areas, which form part of the [[Addo Elephant National Park|Greater Addo Park]]. No settlement occurs in the coastal zone; it is largely undeveloped and contains the Woody Cape Nature Reserve, the Alexandria Coastal Reserve and the Alexandria State Forest. The area is unique for its mobile [[dune]]s and unspoiled wilderness. * '''The [[Sundays River Valley]]''' is characterized by wide, fertile [[flood plain]]s, high-intensity agricultural activities (in particular the production of citrus fruits), and a well-developed irrigation system. In addition to citrus cultivation, various tourist attractions, bed and breakfast facilities, packing sheds and game-related tourist facilities are present throughout the valley. The town of Kirkwood is the main focal point of the Valley, with Addo and Sunland as secondary nodes. * '''The hinterlands''', north and east of the Sundays River Valley, are characterised by high-lying mountainous areas with steep valleys and drainage features. This region includes the [[Addo Elephant National Park]] and Zuurberg Conservation areas, as well as the town of Paterson with the [[Shamwari Game Reserve]].

==Demographics== The municipality's population (as of 2005) is 63% urban and 37% rural. 64% of the population are 34 years old or younger. Suggested unemployment rate figures range from 20% to 44%. In 2001, among persons older than 20 years, 5461 had had no schooling, 7642 had had some primary education, 2487 had completed primary school, another 6594 had had some secondary education, 2363 had finished Grade 12, and 827 had gone on to some higher level of schooling.<ref name=IDP/>

Among individual residents, 41.63% earned no income in 2001; 45.74% earned R800 or less per month; 6.96% earned between R801 and R1600 per month; 5.71% earned over R1600 per month.

Approximately half of the municipality's households live on less than R800 (US $110) per month.<ref name=IDP/>

==Economy== The agricultural industry, centering mainly around citrus fruit, dairy and chicory farming, plays a major role in the economy and functioning of the region; it alone counts for 31.2% of the GGP and 47.7% of employment.

Approximately 25% of South Africa’s navel oranges and 50% of the country’s lemons are produced in the Sunday’s River Valley. The area exports million of cartons of navel oranges per year, earning more than R1 billion in foreign exchange for the country. Other agricultural products include vegetables, potatoes, maize, wheat, chicory, flowers and rye grass.

[[Ecotourism]] is another driving force of the local economy, thanks to the presence of vast unspoiled wilderness areas. Addo receives about 115 000 visitors each year, of which 50% are foreign, and this figure is on the increase.<ref name=IDP/>

==References== <references />

==External links== * [http://www.srvm.gov.za/ Official website]

[[Category:Sundays River]] [[Category:Local municipalities of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality]]