George Local Municipality

Zamuni
code= WC044
location= Eden District Municipality, Western Cape Province

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area= 1,069
seat = George, Western Cape
neighbours=
mayor= Bazil Petrus (DA)
population= 135,409 [ [http://www.demarcation.org.za/municprofiles2003/index.asp Municipal Profiles] ]
population density= 126.67
habitations=35,525
habitation density=33.23
races=Black African 27.25%, Coloured 50.4%, Indian/Asian 0.25%, and White 22.1%
website= [http://www.george.org.za/ george.org.za]

George Municipality is a municipality located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As of 2001, the population is 135,409. Its municipality code is WC044.

Government

The executive mayor of the municipality is Bazil Petrus of the DA who won the post with the support of a multi-party coalition which consists of the DA, ACDP, VF+ and the ID. In the local government elections of March 2006, the DA took 17 seats, ANC 15 seats, ACDP 2 seats, ID 2 seats and one for the VF+. The George Local Municipality is one of the most stable in the Western Cape and was governed by the DA since the December 2000 local poll. The DA has withstood three floor crossing windows which had resulted in government changes in many other Western Cape municipalities (in fact the DA obtained an outright majority in the September 2002 floor-crossing, which went against the prevailing trend that saw the party lose control of most other Western Cape municipalities). Bazil Petrus was preceded by Marius Swart who became mayor in 2000 and resigned in 2004.

Prior to this the George Local Municipality was governed by the ANC since the November 2005 local government elections.

It is divided into nineteen wards, with a total of thirty-seven councillors.

Geography

The municipality has a total area of 1,069 km².

Adjacent municipalities

*South Cape Municipality, Western Cape (north)
*Knysna Municipality, Western Cape (east)
*Mossel Bay Municipality, Western Cape (west)
*Oudtshoorn Municipality, Western Cape (northwest)

The municipality also borders the Indian Ocean on the south.

Demographics

As of the census of 2001, there are 135,409 people and 35,525 households residing in the municipality. The population density is 126.67/km². The density of households is 33.23/km². The racial makeup of the municipality is Black African 27.28%, Coloured 50.38%, Indian/Asian 0.26%, and White 22.08%.

15.5% of all households are made up of individuals. The average household size is 3.81.

In the municipality the population is spread out with 28.6% under the age of 15, 18.2% from 15 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 28 years. For every 100 females there are 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.0 males.

In the municipality 67.1% of residents speak Afrikaans at home, 7.4% speak English, 0.0% speak IsiNdebele, 24.5% speak IsiXhosa, 0.2% speak IsiZulu, 0.0% speak Sepedi, 0.3% speak Sesotho, 0.0% speak Setswana, 0.0% speak SiSwati, 0.0% speak Tshivenda, and 0.0% speak Xitsonga. 0.2% of the population speaks a non-official language at home.

88.5% of residents are Christian, 9.2% have no religion, 0.3% are Muslim, 0.0% are Jewish, and 0.0% are Hindu. 2.0% have other or undetermined beliefs.

7.7% of residents aged 20 and over have received no schooling, 17.7% have had some primary school, 7.5% have completed only primary school, 32.0% have had some high school education, 24.4% have finished only high school, and 9.8% have an education higher than the high school level. Overall, 34.2% of residents have completed high school.

56.2% of housing units have a telephone and/or cell-phone in the dwelling, 38.7% have access to a phone nearby, and 5.1% have access that is not nearby or no access. 83.5% of households have a flush or chemical toilet. 86.9% have refuse removed by the municipality at least once a week and 3.0% have no rubbish disposal. 59.8% have running water inside their dwelling, 82.8% have running water on their property, and 94.4% have access to running water. 80.8% of households use electricity for cooking, 76.1% for heating, and 86.6% for lighting. 76.5% of households have a radio, 70.2% have a television, 14.9% own a computer, 66.1% have a refrigerator, and 39.2% have a cell-phone.

18.8% of the population aged 15-65 is unemployed. Of the unemployed persons, 53.5% are Black African, 43.0% are Coloured, 0.0% are Indian/Asian, and 3.4% are White. 36.2% of Black Africans are unemployed, 16.4% of Coloureds, 6.9% of Indians/Asians, and 2.8% of Whites.

The median annual income of working adults aged 15-65 is R 16 258 ($2,439). Males have a median annual income of R 17 181 ($2,578) versus R 14 753 ($2,214) for females. The median annual income by race is R 10 436 ($1,566) for Black Africans, R 12 978 ($1,947) for Coloureds, R 38 722 ($5,810) for Indians/Asians, and R 50 477 ($7,573) for Whites. The annual income distribution in George Municipality is:
*No income 3.1%
*R 12 – R 4,800 ($2 - $721) 8.7%
*R 4,812 – R 9,600 ($723 - $1,443) 19.9%
*R 9,612 – R 19,200 ($1,445 – $2,886) 26.4%
*R 19,212 – R 38,400 ($2,888 - $5,772) 18.8%
*R 38,412 – R 76,800 ($5,774 - $11,543) 12.5%
*R 76,812 – R 153,600 ($11,545 - $23,087) 6.8%
*R 153,612 – R 307,200 ($23,089 - $46,174) 2.4%
*R 307,212 – R 614,400 ($46,176 - $92,348) 0.8%
*R 614,412 or more ($92,350+) 0.6%

[http://www.statssa.gov.za/census01/Census/Database/Census%202001/Census%202001.asp Statistics South Africa Census 2001]

Cities and towns

*Ballotsview
*Bergplass State Parks
*Blanco
*Bodorp
*Borcherds
*Bos en Dal
*Camphers Drift
*Conville
*Dellville Park
*Denver Park
*Deville Park
*Dormehls Drift
*George
*George Central
*George Industria
*George South
*Glenbarrie
*Groenweid Park
*Heather Park
*Heatherlands
*Herolds Bay
*Hoekwill
*Jonkersberg State Forest
*King George Park
*Kleinkrantz
*Langkloof State Forest
*Lavallia
*Lawaaikamp
*Loerie Park
*Mare Camp
*Nu Dawn
*Pacaltsdorp
*Parkdene
*Protea Park
*Rosemoor
*Sea View
*Swartberg State Forest
*Thembalethu
*Wilderness
*Wilderness East
*Wilderness National Park
*Witfontein

References