Editing Overstrand Local Municipality

{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Overstrand
| official_name      = 
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = 
| settlement_type    = [[Local municipality (South Africa)|Local municipality]]
<!-- images, nickname --->| image_blank_emblem = Overstrand_CoA.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 150x100px
<!-- maps and coordinates ------>| image_map          = Map of the Western Cape with Overstrand highlighted (2016).svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location in the Western Cape
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-wikidata  = yes
| mapframe-point     = none
| mapframe-zoom      = 8
| mapframe-stroke-width = 2
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|25|S|19|20|E|region:ZA_type:adm3rd_dim:75km|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location ------------------>| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[South Africa]]
| subdivision_type1  = Province
| subdivision_name1  = [[Western Cape]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of South Africa|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Overberg District Municipality|Overberg]]
<!-- seat, smaller parts ------->| seat               = [[Hermanus]]
| parts_type         = [[Ward (South Africa)|Wards]]
| parts              = 13
<!-- government leaders -->| government_footnotes = <ref name="mayor-2016" />
| government_type    = [[Municipal council]]
| leader_party       = DA
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Archie Klass]]
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = <!-- area ---------------------->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 1708
<!-- population ---------------->| population_footnotes = <ref name="u027">{{cite web | title=Overstrand (Local Municipality, South Africa) | website=Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location | date=2022-02-02 | url=https://citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC032__overstrand/ | access-date=2024-08-09}}</ref>
| population_total   = 132,495
| population_as_of   = 2022
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->| demographics_type1 = Racial makeup {{nobold|(2022)}}
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="u027">{{cite web | title=Overstrand (Local Municipality, South Africa) | website=Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location | date=2022-02-02 | url=https://citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC032__overstrand/ | access-date=2024-08-09}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = {{nobold|[[Bantu-speaking peoples of South Africa|Black African]]}}
| demographics1_info1 = 38.0%
| demographics1_title2 = {{nobold|[[Coloureds|Coloured]]}}
| demographics1_info2 = 26.9%
| demographics1_title3 = {{nobold|[[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]]}}
| demographics1_info3 = 0.3%
| demographics1_title4 = {{nobold|[[White South African|White]]}}
| demographics1_info4 = 33.5%
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| 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 |access-date=27 September 2015}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = {{nobold|[[Afrikaans]]}}
| demographics2_info1 = 53.5%
| demographics2_title2 = {{nobold|[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]}}
| demographics2_info2 = 29.2%
| demographics2_title3 = {{nobold|[[English language|English]]}}
| demographics2_info3 = 12.3%
| demographics2_title4 = {{nobold|[[Sotho language|Sotho]]}}
| demographics2_info4 = 1.4%
| demographics2_title5 = {{nobold|Other}}
| demographics2_info5 = 3.6%
<!-- time zone(s) -------------->| timezone1          = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]]
| utc_offset1        = +2
<!-- Municipal code -->| blank_name_sec1    = Municipal&nbsp;code
| blank_info_sec1    = WC032

<!-- website, footnotes -->| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.777<ref>{{cite web|title=Swellendam Municipality 2021|url=https://www.westerncape.gov.za/provincial-treasury/sites/provincial-treasury.westerncape.gov.za/files/atoms/files/SEP-LG%202021%20-%20Swellendam%20Municipality.pdf|accessdate=13 July 2024}}</ref> {{color|#090|high}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Overstrand Municipality''' ({{langx|af|Overstrand Munisipaliteit}}; {{langx|xh|uMasipala wase Overstrand}}) is a [[local municipality (South Africa)|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 2022, it had a population of 132,495.

==Geography==
[[File:Overstrand LM topographic map.svg|thumb|left|Topographic map of the Overstrand Municipality]]
The municipality covers an area of {{convert|1708|km2}} 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, Western Cape|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.

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.<ref name=census2011>Sum of the Main Places [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/172014 Hermanus], [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/172017 Sand Bay] and [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/172018 Zwelihle] from Census 2011.</ref> 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, Western Cape|Rooi-Els]] (pop. 125).

East of Hermanus, the municipality includes a wider agricultural area set away from the coast. The village of [[Stanford, Western Cape|Stanford]] (pop. 4,797) is about {{convert|15|km|-1}} 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 (South Africa)|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.

==Demographics==
According to the [[2022 South African census]], the municipality had a population of 132,495 people, with an average annual growth rate of 5.0% from 2011. At 38.0%, "[[Black South Africans|Black Africans]]" were the largest ethnic group, followed by "[[White South Africans|Whites]]" at 33.5% and "[[Coloureds]]" at 26.9%.<ref>https://citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/western_cape/WC032__overstrand/</ref>

The region's reputation as a retirement and resort hub is reflected in the age demographics, as 15.1% of residents were over the age of 65, compared to just 6% in South Africa as a whole.

==Politics==
[[File:Overstrand 2016 council seats.svg|thumb|right|Seats in the council after the [[South African municipal election, 2016|2016 election]]
{{legend|#1F78B4|[[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|DA]] (16)}}
{{legend|#33A02C|[[African National Congress|ANC]] (8)}}
{{legend|#e31a1c|[[Economic Freedom Fighters|EFF]] (1)}}]]
{{Politics of Western Cape}}
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 [[ward (South Africa)|wards]], while the remaining twelve are chosen from [[party list]]s so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.

===History===
By the end of the [[apartheid]] era in the early 1990s there were various local authorities established on a racially-segregated basis in the area that was to become Overstrand. Municipal councils were elected by the [[white South African|white]] residents of the towns of [[Betty's Bay]], [[Kleinmond]], [[Onrusrivier]], [[Hermanus]], [[Stanford, Western Cape|Stanford]], and [[Gansbaai]]; and local councils by the white residents of the villages and holiday resorts: [[Pringle Bay]], [[Rooi-Els, Western Cape|Rooi-Els]], [[Vermont, Western Cape|Vermont]], [[Sandbaai]], [[Pearly Beach]], [[De Kelders]], [[Kleinbaai]], and [[Franskraalstrand]]. The [[coloured]] areas of Kleinmond, Stanford, [[Hawston]], [[Mount Pleasant, Western Cape|Mount Pleasant]] and Gansbaai were governed by management committees subordinate to the white municipalities; and the black area of [[Zwelihle]] was governed by a town council established under the [[Black Local Authorities Act, 1982|Black Local Authorities Act]]. Rural areas were served by the Overberg Regional Services Council.

While the [[Negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa|negotiations to end apartheid]] were taking place a process was established for local authorities to negotiate voluntary mergers. In January 1993 the Municipality of Kleinmond merged with its management committee to form a single Municipality for the Area of Kleinmond; and the Municipality of Gansbaai merged with its management committee and the local councils of De Kelders, Kleinbaai, Franskraalstrand and Pearly Beach to form a single Municipality for the Area of Gansbaai. In January 1994 the Betty's Bay Municipality merged with the local councils of Pringle Bay and Rooi-Els to form the Hangklip Municipality.

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 an outcome of these negotiations, transitional local councils (TLCs) were created and the existing local authorities were dissolved. In December 1994, the Greater Hermanus TLC replaced the Hermanus Municipality, the Onrusrivier Municipality, the Zwelihle Town Council, the management committees of Hawston and Mount Pleasant, and the local councils of Vermont and Sandbaai. In the same month the Gansbaai TLC replaced the Municipality for the Area of Gansbaai. In January 1995 Hangklip/Kleinmond TLC replaced Hangklip Municipality and the Municipality for the Area of Kleinmond, and the Stanford TLC replaced the Municipality of Stanford and the Stanford Management Committee.

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 these elections the [[Overberg]] District Council was established, replacing the Overberg Regional Services Council. Transitional representative councils (TRCs) were also elected to represent rural areas outside the TLCs on the District Council; the area that was to become Overstrand included the Hermanus TRC as well as parts of the Caledon and Bredasdorp TRCs.

At the [[South African municipal election, 2000|local elections of December 2000]] the TLCs and TRCs were dissolved, and the Overstrand Municipality was created as a single local authority incorporating both rural and urban areas. It was considered a stronghold of the now defunct [[New National Party (South Africa)|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 (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] (DA), before he defected along with seven other DA councillors to the [[New National Party (South Africa)|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.

At the time of the [[South African municipal election, 2006|March 2006 local elections]] the eastern boundary with [[Cape Agulhas Municipality]] was moved west, with Cape Agulhas taking over rural land to the north and south of [[Elim, Western Cape|Elim]]. In the 2006 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 (South Africa)|National People's Party]], as did the [[Independent Democrats]], whose only representative in the Overstrand Council crossed over.

In the [[South African municipal election, 2011|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 [[South African municipal election, 2016|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 (South Africa)|Land Party]] won a seat from the ANC<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.za/content/pages/reports/ReportHandler.aspx?lReportID=1&lEEID=1028&i=1&columns=1000&WardID=10302012&sReportName=BYELEC_Detailed&sFormat=PDF |format=PDF |title=BY-ELECTIONS 09 Dec 2020 RESULTS REPORT |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=10 December 2020}}</ref>

In the [[2021 South African municipal elections|November 2021 local elections]], the council was expanded to twenty-seven seats. The DA won seventeen seats, the ANC four, the Land Party and the Freedom Front Plus two each, and the EFF and the ACDP one each.

===Election results===
{{main|Overstrand Local Municipality elections}}

The most recent election of the municipal council was [[2021 South African municipal elections|held on 1 November 2021]]; the Democratic Alliance won a majority of 17 seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.

{{Election results
|firstround=Ward |secondround=List
|party1=[[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] |votes1=22111 |votes1_2=21887 |seats1=10 |seats1_2=7 |totseats1=17
|party2=[[African National Congress]] |votes2=5405 |votes2_2=5452 |seats2=3 |seats2_2=1 |totseats2=4
|party3=[[Land Party (South Africa)|Land Party]] |votes3=2592 |votes3_2=2660 |seats3=1 |seats3_2=1 |totseats3=2
|party4=[[Freedom Front Plus]] |votes4=1893 |votes4_2=1860 |seats4=0 |seats4_2=2 |totseats4=2
|party5=[[Economic Freedom Fighters]] |votes5=906 |votes5_2=923 |seats5=0 |seats5_2=1 |totseats5=1
|party6=[[African Christian Democratic Party]] |votes6=799 |votes6_2=771 |seats6=0 |seats6_2=1 |totseats6=1
|party7=[[Independent candidates]] |votes7=235 |votes7_2= |seats7=0 |seats7_2= |totseats7=0
|party8=8 other parties |votes8=762 |votes8_2=826 |seats8=0 |seats8_2=0 |totseats8=0
|invalid=276 |invalid2=268
|electorate=59979 |electorate2=59979
|source=Electoral Commission<ref>{{cite web |url=https://results.elections.org.za/home/LGEPublicReports/1091/Detailed%20Results/WP/WC032.pdf |title=Results Summary – All Ballots: Overstrand |publisher=Electoral Commission of South Africa |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://results.elections.org.za/home/LGEPublicReports/1091/Seat%20Calculation%20Detail/WP/WC032.pdf |title=Seat Calculation Detail: Overstrand |publisher=Electoral Commission of South Africa |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://results.elections.org.za/home/LGEPublicReports/1091/Voter%20Turnout/WP/WC032.pdf |title=Voter Turnout Report: Overstrand |publisher=Electoral Commission of South Africa |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref>
}}

===Mayors===
*[[Annelie Rabie]]  (1 November 2021 until present) ([[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|DA]])<ref name="mayor-2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.overstrand.gov.za/en/media-section/news/808-new-mayoral-committee-for-the-2021-2026-term |title=New Mayoral Committee for the 2021 - 2026 Term |publisher=Overstrand Municipality |date=26 November 2021 |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref>
* [[Dudley Coetzee]] (28 February 2018 – 30 October 2021) (DA)<ref name="mayor-2016">{{cite web |url=http://www.overstrand.gov.za/en/media-section/news/213-new-mayoral-committee-for-the-2016-2021-term |title=New Mayoral Committee for the 2016-2021 Term |publisher=Overstrand Municipality |date=23 August 2016 |access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref>
* [[Rudolph Smith (mayor)|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) ([[African National Congress|ANC]])
* [[Willie Smuts]] (October 2002  – September 2004) ([[New National Party (South Africa)|NNP]])
* [[Willie Smuts]] (December 2000 – October 2002) (DA)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.overstrand.gov.za Official website]
* [http://www.westerncape.gov.za/eng/your_gov/12567 Overstrand Local Municipality on the Western Cape Government website]

{{Overberg District Municipality}}
{{Municipalities of the Western Cape}}

[[Category:Overstrand Local Municipality| ]]
[[Category:Local municipalities of the Overberg District Municipality]]