Kouga Local Municipality
Encyclopedia
The Kouga Local Municipality is located in the Eastern Cape
of South Africa
, approximately 20 km west of Port Elizabeth, and forms part of the Cacadu District Municipality
. Its territory includes the coastal zone between the Van Stadens River
in the east and the Tsitsikamma River in the west, and stretches inland towards the Baviaanskloof Mountains in the north.
Regional access to the area is obtained via the N2 National Road from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town
.
The four main rivers in the area — the Kromme, Seekoei, Kabeljouws and Gamtoos — are all tidal rivers. The Kromme River and Gamtoos River are significant sources of water supply. Ground water forms another major component of domestic water supply for towns in the Kouga region, especially Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay. Aquifers are also utilised in the agricultural sector for irrigation of pastures.
There are numerous areas of wetland adjacent to the region's rivers and on the coastal platform. These wetlands are extremely sensitive to disturbances such as agricultural activities and development. The wetlands accommodate high species diversity, and fulfil natural water purification and flood retention roles.
The climate of the Kouga region is subtropical, which makes the area conducive to a range of outdoor
activities and various types of agricultural production. Rainfall varies between 650 mm per year
(St Francis Bay area) to 400 mm (Gamtoos River Valley). The area is generally described as windy.
Humansdorp
, with over 24,000 residents,
has an established infrastructure and acts as a regional service centre, supplying the surrounding agricultural
communities and the coastal towns with commodities and services. Commercial and industrial activities of the region are
centred in Humansdorp.
The coastal towns of Jeffreys Bay
, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay
are well-established tourist destinations. Jeffreys Bay has a population of over 40,000 with an annual population growth rate of 2.5% or higher, making it one of the fastest growing towns in South Africa.
The urban areas of Hankey
and Patensie, situated in the
Gamtoos River Valley, provide important services to the surrounding high-density agriculture industry.
Other settlements in the Kouga region include: Andrieskraal, Aston Bay, Centerton, Gamtoos Mouth, Kruisfontein, Kwanomzamo, Loerie, Ocean View, Oyster Bay
, Paradise Beach, Pellsrus, Ramaphoza Village, Sea Vista, Thornhill, Tokyo Sexwale, Umzamowethu and Weston.
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, approximately 20 km west of Port Elizabeth, and forms part of the Cacadu District Municipality
Cacadu District Municipality
Cacadu District Municipality is situated in the Western Portion of the Eastern Cape province, covering an area of 58 242 square kilometres. The area of the district municipality includes nine local municipalities and other portions collectively known as the District Management Areas . The seat of...
. Its territory includes the coastal zone between the Van Stadens River
Van Stadens River
Van Stadens River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located about 30 km west of Port Elizabeth.The Van Stadens Bridge where the N2 national highway crosses the river is known as a suicide location....
in the east and the Tsitsikamma River in the west, and stretches inland towards the Baviaanskloof Mountains in the north.
Regional access to the area is obtained via the N2 National Road from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
Topography and climate
The municipality is characterised by 3 main topographical regions:- The coastal region stretches from the Van Stadens River in the east through the Tsitsikamma River in the west. This zone includes the towns of Jeffreys BayJeffreys BayJeffreys Bay is a town located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town is situated just off the N2 Highway, about an hour's drive southwest of Port Elizabeth.- History :...
, St Francis Bay, and Oyster BayOyster Bay, Eastern CapeOyster Bay is a small coastal hamlet and resort located about 14 km west of St Francis Bay on the Eastern Cape Coast of South Africa. It forms part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape....
. The coast serves as a major national and regional tourism attraction.
- The Gamtoos RiverGamtoos RiverGamtoos River formed by the Kouga and the Groot is situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is approximately 645 km long with a catchment area of 34,635 km²...
Valley is characterised by wide, fertile flood plains associated with low-lying land, with steep less-fertile slopes flanking the Valley. The towns of HankeyHankeyHankey is a small town on the confluence of the Klein and Gamtoos rivers in South Africa. It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape.- History :...
and Patensie, Loerie and Thornhill are focal points of this high-potential agricultural region.
- The HumansdorpHumansdorpHumansdorp is a small town and surrounding district in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with a population of around 35,000 . It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District. The town is the centre of the district's light industry and farming...
and Kruisfontein area is characterised by moderate slopes in the south, with steeper slopes towards the north and northwest.
The four main rivers in the area — the Kromme, Seekoei, Kabeljouws and Gamtoos — are all tidal rivers. The Kromme River and Gamtoos River are significant sources of water supply. Ground water forms another major component of domestic water supply for towns in the Kouga region, especially Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay. Aquifers are also utilised in the agricultural sector for irrigation of pastures.
There are numerous areas of wetland adjacent to the region's rivers and on the coastal platform. These wetlands are extremely sensitive to disturbances such as agricultural activities and development. The wetlands accommodate high species diversity, and fulfil natural water purification and flood retention roles.
The climate of the Kouga region is subtropical, which makes the area conducive to a range of outdoor
activities and various types of agricultural production. Rainfall varies between 650 mm per year
(St Francis Bay area) to 400 mm (Gamtoos River Valley). The area is generally described as windy.
Towns and settlements
More than 70% of the population of the Kouga region lives in urban areas.Humansdorp
Humansdorp
Humansdorp is a small town and surrounding district in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with a population of around 35,000 . It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District. The town is the centre of the district's light industry and farming...
, with over 24,000 residents,
has an established infrastructure and acts as a regional service centre, supplying the surrounding agricultural
communities and the coastal towns with commodities and services. Commercial and industrial activities of the region are
centred in Humansdorp.
The coastal towns of Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay is a town located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town is situated just off the N2 Highway, about an hour's drive southwest of Port Elizabeth.- History :...
, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay, Eastern Cape
Oyster Bay is a small coastal hamlet and resort located about 14 km west of St Francis Bay on the Eastern Cape Coast of South Africa. It forms part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape....
are well-established tourist destinations. Jeffreys Bay has a population of over 40,000 with an annual population growth rate of 2.5% or higher, making it one of the fastest growing towns in South Africa.
The urban areas of Hankey
Hankey
Hankey is a small town on the confluence of the Klein and Gamtoos rivers in South Africa. It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape.- History :...
and Patensie, situated in the
Gamtoos River Valley, provide important services to the surrounding high-density agriculture industry.
Other settlements in the Kouga region include: Andrieskraal, Aston Bay, Centerton, Gamtoos Mouth, Kruisfontein, Kwanomzamo, Loerie, Ocean View, Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay, Eastern Cape
Oyster Bay is a small coastal hamlet and resort located about 14 km west of St Francis Bay on the Eastern Cape Coast of South Africa. It forms part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape....
, Paradise Beach, Pellsrus, Ramaphoza Village, Sea Vista, Thornhill, Tokyo Sexwale, Umzamowethu and Weston.