Time zone SAST (UTC+2) Area 9,608 km² Black african population 13.1% Native english speakers 2.6% | Wards 4 Municipal code NC061 White population 8.5% Native afrikaans speakers 87% Native xhosa speakers 6.1% | |
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Richtersveld is an administrative area in the Namakwa District of Northern Cape in South Africa.
Contents
Map of Port Nolloth, South Africa
The municipality is named after Reverend W Richter, a Dutch missionary of the 20th century who opened a mission station in Koeboes.
History
Richtersveld is part of Little Namaqualand, the part of Namaqualand south of the Garib River. The original inhabitants of Namaqualand were overwhelmingly Khoi Khoi, but also included some San people.
During the 19th century, other people started settling in Little Namaqualand. These included some white Trekboere, and also a number of so-called basters. Missionaries too started showing an interest in Little Namaqualand. The Renisch Mission Society established a mission station under the charge of Reverend Hein at Kuboes during the mid 19th century.
On 23 December 1847 the British Crown, through annexation, extended the northern boundary of the then Cape Province from the Buffels River up to the Garib River. From that date the whole of Little Namaqualand (including the Richtersveld) became subject to British rule.
In 1925 diamonds were discovered near Port Nolloth. In 1927 a particularly rich deposit was found at the mouth of the Garib River at Alexander Bay. Many people moved into the area.
Main places
The 2011 census divided the municipality into the following main places:
Politics
The municipal council consists of eight members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in four wards, while the remaining four 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 18 May 2011 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of five seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.