Buffalo City
Metropolitan municipality
Official seal of Buffalo City
Seal
Location in the Eastern Cape
Location in the Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 32°59′S 27°52′E / 32.983°S 27.867°E / -32.983; 27.867
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
SeatEast London
Wards50
Government
[1]
 • TypeMunicipal council
 • MayorPrincess Faku[2] (ANC)
 • Deputy MayorVacant
 • SpeakerHumphrey Maxhegwana
 • Chief WhipMawethu Marata (ANC)
Area
 • Total2,536 km2 (979 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[3]
 • Total755,200
 • Density300/km2 (770/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[3]
 • Black African85.1%
 • Coloured6.0%
 • Indian/Asian0.8%
 • White7.7%
First languages (2011)
[4]
 • Xhosa78.8%
 • English11.0%
 • Afrikaans7.2%
 • Other3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeBUF

The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (Xhosa: uMasipala oMbaxa wase Buffalo City) is a metropolitan municipality situated on the east coast of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It includes the towns of East London, Bhisho and Qonce, as well as the large townships of Mdantsane and Zwelitsha.

History

The municipality was established as a local municipality in 2000 after South Africa's reorganisation of municipal areas, and is named after the Buffalo River, at whose mouth lies the only river port in South Africa. On 18 May 2011, it was separated from the Amathole District Municipality and converted into a metropolitan municipality.

The area has a well-developed manufacturing base, with the auto industry playing a major role. Daimler AG through its wholly owned subsidiary Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has a large assembly plant located next to the port of East London, which produces a variety of vehicles for export.

The climate is mild, with year-round sunshine. Average rainfall is 850mm (33.5 inches).

The population of 701,873 (2001) is largely African (85.2%), with White (8.4%) and Coloured (5.7%) minorities. There is also a small Indian community (0.6%).

The previous mayor, Dr Sindisile Maclean (ANC), was elected in 2000. Buffalo City elected its first female mayor on Friday, 17 March 2006. Ntombentle Peter was voted in as Executive Mayor at the inaugural meeting of the new council following the municipal elections.

Main places

The 2011 census divided the municipality into the following main places:

Note:Only the most populated places are reported

PlaceCodeArea (km2)Population
Berlin26006038.223,048
Bhisho2600328.0811,192
Bulembu2600651.631,212
Dimbaza26003917.2821,783
Ducats2601021.243,546
Duncan Village2601140.9016,380
East London260113168.86267,007
Eluxolweni2600628.5115,300
Ententeni2601390.842,731
eSingeni2600482.601,343
Ginsberg2600732.3910,766
Gompo2601330.532,254
Gonubie26010610.1111,471
Goodhope2601374.062,127
iKhiwane2601651.381,039
Ilitha2600615.648,145
Izeleni2600982.111,187
Jaftas2601060.68442
Kayser's Beach2601782.36697
Kidd's Beach2601602.13499
Qonce26004465.5234,019
Kuni2601366.142,179
KwaBhonke2600911.191,174
KwaLini2600741.131,696
KwaMasingata2600451.111,204
KwaMlakalaka2601080.961,279
KwaMpundu2600555.191,544
KwaNoncampa2600771.301,552
KwaQongqotha2601181.321,425
KwaRhayi2600720.751,144
KwaTshatshu2600856.684,719
Kwetyana26005418.425,863
Macleantown2600169.94580
Embekweni2600830.537,123
Mdantsane26008845.55156,835
Modaka2600360.951,745
Mzamonhle2601072.498,338
Nxarhuni Dam Settlement2600780.93131
Ncalukeni2600562.131,892
Needs Camp2601297.416,696
Ngxwalane2600751.611,027
Nkqonkqweni A2600071.001,546
Nomgwadla2600403.152,384
Nompumelelo2601120.737,269
Nkqonkqweni2600663.521,766
Nxarhuni2600682.641,481
Pefferville2601140.9416,380
Phakamisa2601032.326,602
Pirie Mission214460.74356
Potsdam East2601131.251,664
Potsdam South2601148.025,329
Potsdam Village2601034.145,649
Sandile2601612.78855
Sea Vale2601030.17291
Silverdale2601324.00647
Sunrise-on-Sea2600920.68655
Tshabo 22600952.671,114
Tyusha2601032.161,289
Tyutyu2600433.582,676
Umzantsi2600500.991,373
Zabalaza2600371.721,188
Zwelitsha2600864.6418,189
Remainder of the municipality2600101867.1910,359

Politics

The municipal council consists of one hundred members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Fifty councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in fifty wards, while the remaining fifty 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 seats on the council.

The following table shows the results of the election.[5]

Buffalo City local election, 1 November 2021
PartyVotesSeats
WardListTotal %WardListTotal
African National Congress 105,038109,080214,11859.4%431861
Democratic Alliance 35,19535,13970,33419.5%71320
Economic Freedom Fighters 21,16522,30143,46612.1%01313
Independent candidates 8,383–8,3832.3%0–0
United Democratic Movement 1,4761,9903,4661.0%011
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania 1,4991,8843,3830.9%011
African Transformation Movement 1,6671,6033,2700.9%011
African Independent Congress 8061,7562,5620.7%011
African Christian Democratic Party 9911,0202,0110.6%011
Freedom Front Plus 9149341,8480.5%011
18 other parties 2,8954,5587,4532.1%000
Total 180,029180,265360,2945050100
Valid votes 180,029180,265360,29498.2%
Spoilt votes 2,9363,5716,5071.8%
Total votes cast 182,965183,836366,801
Voter turnout 185,525
Registered voters 406,486
Turnout percentage 45.6%

Hospitals

The following hospitals are located in the municipal area:[6]

Town twinning

Buffalo City's town twins are:

References

  1. ↑ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipaility > Mandate of the Executive Mayor". Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Buffalo City". wikitable.frith.dev. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Eastern Cape Dept of Health official website Archived 29 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Life Healthcare Archived 21 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Bhisho Hospital webpage Archived 21 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ News article: Mt Coke hospital to get major facelift (published on 27 March 2007)
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