Greater Kokstad Local Municipality

Greater Kokstad Municipality (Xhosa: uMasipala wase Greater Kokstad) is a local municipality within the Harry Gwala District Municipality, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Kokstad is derived from Dutch, meaning "town of Kok". It was named after Adam Kok III.[4]

Greater Kokstad
Official seal of Greater Kokstad
Location in KwaZulu-Natal
Location in KwaZulu-Natal
Coordinates: 30°33′S 29°25′E / 30.550°S 29.417°E / -30.550; 29.417
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceKwaZulu-Natal
DistrictHarry Gwala District
SeatKokstad
Wards8
Government
 • TypeMunicipal council
 • MayorMbulelo Sithole
Area
 • Total2,680 km2 (1,030 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total65,981
 • Density25/km2 (64/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African87.1%
 • Coloured8.2%
 • Indian/Asian1.1%
 • White3.3%
First languages (2011)
 • Xhosa70.5%
 • English8.8%
 • Zulu7.5%
 • Afrikaans6.9%
 • Other6.3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeKZN433

Kokstad serves as the service centre and commercial hub for most of East Griqualand and nearby parts of the Eastern Cape.[5]

Main places

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The 2011 census for the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality states a population of 65,981 with these most populated main places:[6]

Place Code Area (km2) Population
Greater Kokstad NU 596002 2,611.04 9,926
Kokstad 596004 51.57 51,561
Franklin 596003 6.89 2,018
Full 2011 Census Report 596 2,679.82 65,981

Politics

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The municipal council consists of nineteen members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Ten councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in ten wards, while the remaining nine 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 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of twelve seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.[7]

PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
African National Congress11,88659.541011,88859.21212
Economic Freedom Fighters4,25621.3204,24921.1644
Democratic Alliance2,40912.0702,35911.7522
African Independent Congress2931.4703801.8911
Patriotic Alliance2311.1602661.3200
African Christian Democratic Party2371.1902591.2900
African Transformation Movement2041.0202701.3400
Inkatha Freedom Party2181.0902321.1600
United Democratic Movement1280.6401500.7500
Independent candidates710.3600
Abantu Batho Congress290.150260.1300
Total19,962100.001020,079100.00919
Valid votes19,96296.9520,07997.11
Invalid/blank votes6293.055972.89
Total votes20,591100.0020,676100.00
Registered voters/turnout43,69147.1343,69147.32

Mismanagement

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The municipality commenced construction of a sports complex in 2017. As of March 2024, R55 million has been spent, and the complex is still incomplete, with a further tender having been announced. The ratepayers association stated that the municipality has wasted the money, as it is being constructed in a wetland against the wishes and warnings of the community.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. ^ South African Languages - Place names
  5. ^ KwaZulu-Natal Top Business - Umzimkhulu Municipality
  6. ^ "Census 2011: Local Municipality: Greater Kokstad". census2011.adrianfrith.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  7. ^ "Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Greater Kokstad". wikitable.frith.dev. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  8. ^ Damba-Hendrik, By Nombulelo (2024-03-08). "Millions spent but seven years later this sports complex is still incomplete". GroundUp News. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
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