Overstrand Local Municipality

Overstrand Municipality is a local municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is located along the Atlantic coast between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas, within the Overberg District Municipality. The principal towns in the municipality are Hermanus, Gansbaai and Kleinmond. As of 2011 it had a population of 80,432.[2]

Overstrand
Local municipality
Seal
Location in the Western Cape
Coordinates: 34°25′S 19°20′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
DistrictOverberg
SeatHermanus
Wards13
Government
 • TypeMunicipal council
 • MayorDudley Coetzee (DA)
Area
 • Total1,708 km2 (659 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total80,432
 • Density47/km2 (120/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African36.2%
 • Coloured31.0%
 • Indian/Asian0.3%
 • White31.2%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans53.5%
 • Xhosa29.2%
 • English12.3%
 • Sotho1.4%
 • Other3.6%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeWC032

Geography

The municipality covers an area of 1,708 square kilometres (659 sq mi) stretching along the coast of the Overberg, from the eastern edge of False Bay almost to Cape Agulhas. At its western end it is separated from the City of Cape Town by the Kogelberg mountains; to the north it is separated from the Theewaterskloof Municipality by the Kogelberg and the Kleinrivier Mountains; and to the east it abuts on the Cape Agulhas Municipality along a boundary that runs generally north-south just to the west of Elim. The western part of the municipality consists mostly of a narrow coastal plain with mountains immediately behind, while the eastern part beyond the Klein River expands away from the coast to include a wider agricultural region.

According to the 2011 census the municipality has a population of 80,432 people in 28,010 households. Of this population, 36.2% describe themselves as "Black African", 31.2% as "White", and 31.0% as "Coloured". The first language of 53.5% of the population is Afrikaans, while 29.2% speak Xhosa, 12.3% speak English and 1.4% speak Sotho.[3]

Most of the towns in the municipality are on the coast, and due to the proximity to Cape Town many are holiday resorts. The largest town is Hermanus, which is situated on the northern edge of Walker Bay next to the Klein River mouth. As of 2011 Hermanus, which is the site of the municipal headquarters, has a population of 32,769.[4] West of Hermanus, between it and the Bot River, are Onrusrivier (pop. 5,151) and Hawston (pop. 8,214) on the coast, and Fisherhaven (pop. 723) on the Bot River lagoon. On the other side of the Bot River mouth is the town of Kleinmond (pop. 6,634) and beyond it along the coast are Betty's Bay (pop. 1,380), Pringle Bay (pop. 801) and Rooi-Els (pop. 125).

East of Hermanus the municipality includes a wider agricultural area away from the coast. The village of Stanford (pop. 4,797) is about 15 kilometres (10 mi) inland on the Klein River. To the south, on the opposite side of Walker Bay from Hermanus, is the second-largest town in the municipality, Gansbaai (pop. 11,598). Just south of Gansbaai, on the southern edge of the Danger Point peninsula, are Van Dyksbaai (pop. 500) and Franskraalstrand (pop. 1,165). A little further along the coast is Pearly Beach (pop. 1,042). Inland from Pearly Beach, separated from the coast by a range of hills, is the agricultural hamlet of Baardskeerdersbos (pop. 103), while Wolvengat (pop. 50) is another agricultural hamlet in the far south-east of the municipality.

Politics
Seats in the council after the 2016 election
  DA (16)
  ANC (8)
  EFF (1)

The municipal council consists of twenty-five members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Thirteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in thirteen wards, while the remaining twelve are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.

History

The Overstrand Local Municipality was created at the local elections of December 2000, replacing the municipalities of Greater Hermanus, Hangklip-Kleinmond, Stanford and Gansbaai. It was considered a stronghold of the now defunct New National Party (NNP), which had held (sometimes concealed) majorities of two thirds in the predecessor municipalities after the November 1995 municipal elections, which were the first since South Africa had its first multi-racial elections.

After the 2000 election, Willie Smuts, previously mayor of Hangklip-Kleinmond Municipality, was elected mayor, representing the Democratic Alliance (DA), before he defected along with seven other DA councillors to the New National Party (NNP) after the October 2002 floor-crossing window. The NNP then formed a coalition with the African National Congress (ANC) when the council was reconstituted. After the September 2004 floor crossing Smuts then crossed the floor to the ANC along with most NNP councillors which gave the ANC an outright majority in the town for the first time.

In the March 2006 local elections, the DA won an outright majority of 10 seats in the 19-seat council. Willie Smuts was replaced as Mayor by Theo Beyleveldt. The DA consolidated its hold in the council following the September 2007 floor crossing window which saw the party gain an eleventh seat from the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP). The ANC lost a seat to the newly formed National People's Party, as did the Independent Democrats, whose only representative in the Overstrand Council crossed over.

In the May 2011 local elections, the DA again won Overstrand outright, taking fifteen of the twenty-five seats on the council, with the ANC taking nine and the National Independent Civic Organisation one.

In the August 2016 local elections, the DA increased its majority to sixteen of twenty-five seats, with the ANC taking eight and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) taking one.

In a by-election in December 2020, the Land Party won a seat from the ANC[5]

Election results
Main article: Overstrand Local Municipality elections

The most recent election of the municipal council was held on 3 August 2016; the Democratic Alliance won a majority of 16 seats on the council. Overstrand sends four representatives to the council of the Overberg District Municipality: three from the Democratic Alliance and one from the African National Congress.[6]

Overstrand local election, 3 August 2016[7][8][9]
PartyVotesSeats
WardListTotal%WardListTotal
Democratic Alliance 22,91723,04745,96464.5%9716
ANC 11,11611,15422,27031.2%448
Economic Freedom Fighters 6976651,3621.9%011
Freedom Front Plus 6255101,1351.6%000
UDM 1402063460.5%000
People's Democratic Movement 35651000.1%000
Ubuntu Party 48–480.1%0–0
Independent 46–460.1%0–0
Total 35,62435,64771,271131225
Valid votes 35,62435,64771,27199.4%
Spoilt votes 2112424530.6%
Total votes cast 35,83535,88971,724
Voter turnout 35,929
Registered voters 53,384
Turnout percentage 67.3%

Mayors
  • Dudley Coetzee (28 February 2018 until present) (DA)[1]
  • Rudolph Smith (2016–2018; died on 5 January 2018)
  • Nicolette Botha-Guthrie (2010–2016) (DA)
  • Theo Beyleveldt (March 2006 – 2010) (DA)
  • Willie Smuts (September 2004 – March 2006) (ANC)
  • Willie Smuts (October 2002 – September 2004) (NNP)
  • Willie Smuts (December 2000 – October 2002) (DA)

References
  1. "New Mayoral Committee for the 2016-2021 Term". Overstrand Municipality. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  2. "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. "Overstrand Local Municipality". Census 2011.
  4. Sum of the Main Places Hermanus, Sand Bay and Zwelihle from Census 2011.
  5. "BY-ELECTIONS 09 Dec 2020 RESULTS REPORT" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  6. "Political composition of councils February 2017" (PDF). Western Cape Department of Local Government. February 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  7. "Results Summary – All Ballots: Overstrand" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  8. "Seat Calculation Detail: Overstrand" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  9. "Voter Turnout Report: Overstrand" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
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