Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

Buffalo City is a metropolitan municipality situated on the east coast of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It includes the towns of East London, Bhisho and King William's Town, as well as the large townships of Mdantsane and Zwelitsha.

Buffalo City
Metropolitan municipality
Seal
Location in the Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 32°59′S 27°52′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
SeatEast London
Wards50
Government
 • TypeMunicipal council
 • MayorXolo Pakati[2] (ANC)
 • Deputy MayorVacant
 • SpeakerHumphrey Maxhegwana
 • Chief WhipMawethu Marata (ANC)
Area
 • Total2,536 km2 (979 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[3]
 • Total755,200
 • Density300/km2 (770/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African85.1%
 • Coloured6.0%
 • Indian/Asian0.8%
 • White7.7%
First languages (2011)
 • Xhosa78.8%
 • English11.0%
 • Afrikaans7.2%
 • Other3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeBUF

History

The municipality was established as a local municipality in 2000 after South Africa's reorganisation of municipal areas, and is named after the Buffalo River, at whose mouth lies the only river port in South Africa. On 18 May 2011 it was separated from the Amathole District Municipality and converted into a metropolitan municipality.

The area has a well-developed manufacturing base, with the auto industry playing a major role. Daimler AG through its wholly owned subsidiary Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has a large assembly plant located next to the port of East London, which produces a variety of vehicles for export.

The climate is mild, with year-round sunshine. Average rainfall is 850mm (33.5 inches).

The population of 701,873 (2001) is largely African (85.2%), with White (8.4%) and Coloured (5.7%) minorities. There is also a small Indian community (0.6%).

The previous mayor, Dr Sindisile Maclean (ANC), was elected in 2000. Buffalo City elected its first female mayor on Friday, 17 March 2006. Ntombentle Peter was voted in as Executive Mayor at the inaugural meeting of the new council following the municipal elections.

Main places

The 2011 census divided the municipality into the following main places:

Note:Only the most populated places are reported

PlaceCodeArea (km2)Population
Berlin26006038.223,048
Bhisho2600328.0811,192
Bulembu2600651.631,212
Dimbaza26003917.2821,783
Ducats2601021.243,546
Duncan Village2601140.9016,380
East London260113168.86267,007
Eluxolweni2600628.5115,300
Ententeni2601390.842,731
eSingeni2600482.601,343
Ginsberg2600732.3910,766
Gompo2601330.532,254
Gonubie26010610.1111,471
Goodhope2601374.062,127
iKhiwane2601651.381,039
Ilitha2600615.648,145
Izeleni2600982.111,187
Jaftas2601060.68442
Kayser's Beach2601782.36697
Kidd's Beach2601602.13499
King William's Town26004465.5234,019
Kuni2601366.142,179
KwaBhonke2600911.191,174
KwaLini2600741.131,696
KwaMasingata2600451.111,204
KwaMlakalaka2601080.961,279
KwaMpundu2600555.191,544
KwaNoncampa2600771.301,552
KwaQongqotha2601181.321,425
KwaRhayi2600720.751,144
KwaTshatshu2600856.684,719
Kwetyana26005418.425,863
Macleantown2600169.94580
Mbekweni2600830.537,123
Mdantsane26008845.55156,835
Modaka2600360.951,745
Mzamonhle2601072.498,338
Nxarhuni Dam Settlement2600780.93131
Ncalukeni2600562.131,892
Needs Camp2601297.416,696
Ngxwalane2600751.611,027
Nkqonkqweni A2600071.001,546
Nomgwadla2600403.152,384
Nompumelelo2601120.737,269
Nkqonkqweni2600663.521,766
Nxarhuni2600682.641,481
Pefferville2601140.9416,380
Phakamisa2601032.326,602
Pirie Mission214460.74356
Potsdam East2601131.251,664
Potsdam South2601148.025,329
Potsdam Village2601034.145,649
Sandile2601612.78855
Sea Vale2601030.17291
Silverdale2601324.00647
Sunrise-on-Sea2600920.68655
Tshabo 22600952.671,114
Tyusha2601032.161,289
Tyutyu2600433.582,676
Umzantsi2600500.991,373
Zabalaza2600371.721,188
Zwelitsha2600864.6418,189
Remainder of the municipality2600101867.1910,359

Politics

The municipal council consists of one hundred members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Fifty councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in fifty wards, while the remaining fifty are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. In the election of 3 August 2016 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of seats on the council.

The following table shows the results of the election.[5][6]

PartyVotesSeats
WardListTotal%WardListTotal
ANC 131,698136,354268,05258.7451560
Democratic Alliance 53,37453,416106,79023.451924
Economic Freedom Fighters 17,69718,69336,3908.0088
African Independent Congress 6,7318,86915,6003.4044
Independent 12,255–12,2552.70–0
Pan Africanist Congress 1,8772,2284,1050.9011
UDM 1,0212,9443,9650.9011
Congress of the People 1,6552,2583,9130.9011
ACDP 1,2751,2442,5190.6011
Others 9551,7662,7210.6000
Total 228,538227,772456,310100.05050100
Spoilt votes 4,9345,84310,777

Hospitals

The following hospitals are located in the municipal area:[7]

Town twinning
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in South Africa

Buffalo City's town twins are:

References
  1. "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  5. "Results Summary – All Ballots: Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  6. "Seat Calculation Detail: Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  7. Eastern Cape Dept of Health official website Archived 29 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Life Healthcare Archived 21 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Bhisho Hospital webpage Archived 21 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  10. News article: Mt Coke hospital to get major facelift (published on 27 March 2007)
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