Kou-Kamma Local Municipality

The Kou-Kamma Municipality is a local municipality in South Africa. It is situated in the southwest corner of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality along the Indian Ocean coastline, in the southwestern sector of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. To the west lies the Western Cape Province. Kou-Kamma also borders the Baviaans Local Municipality in the north and the Kouga Local Municipality to the east. The geographical area of the Municipality is 12,540 square kilometres. Its name is a blend of the names of the Kouga (Kou-) and Tsitsikamma (-Kamma) mountains, which in turn were named after the rivers Kouga and Tsitsikamma.[4]

Kou-Kamma
Local municipality
Seal
Location in the Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 33°57′S 24°17′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Sarah Baartman
Seat	Kareedouw
Wards	6
Government [1]
• Type	Municipal council
• Mayor	Mpumelelo Samuel Vuso (ANC)
• Speaker	Mpumelelo Samuel Vuso (Mayor and Speaker) (ANC)
• Chief Whip	Fuzile Jan Yake (ANC)
Area
• Total	3,593 km2 (1,387 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[2]
• Total	40,663
• Density	11/km2 (29/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [2]
• Black African	30.6%
• Coloured	59.8%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	8.2%
First languages (2011) [3]
• Afrikaans	73.8%
• Xhosa	19.9%
• English	2.7%
• Sotho	1.1%
• Other	2.5%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal code	EC109

The municipality is a relatively poor area with high unemployment and low levels of literacy. Settlements tend to be scattered, which has posed challenges to the provision of infrastructure and basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity.

The Kou-Kamma Municipality is composed of two distinct regions: the coastal belt (referred to as the Tsitsikamma or the Western Coastal Zone, which includes settlements such as Coldstream, Storms River and Clarkson), and the inland area of the Langkloof (including settlements such as Kareedouw, Twee Riviere, Joubertina and Louterwater). The two areas are separated by the Tsitsikamma Mountains.

The nature of the two areas differs vastly. The Coastal Zone is characterised by a diverse and fast-growing economy driven by tourism and agriculture, a fast-growing population linked to the economic opportunities, a good water supply, and a wealth of holiday destinations and indigenous forests.

In contrast, employment in the Langkloof is characterised by seasonal agriculture with high labour requirements. The area has greater challenges in terms of sufficient water supply, with additional pressure due to a high population growth related to migrant labour.[5]