Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality


Buffalo City is a metropolitan municipality situated on the east coast of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It includes the towns of East London, Bhisho and King William's Town, 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 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.
The population of 701,873 is largely African, with White and Coloured minorities. There is also a small Indian community.
The previous mayor, Rev. Sindisile Maclean, 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 Population
Berlin38.223,048
Bhisho8.0811,192
Bulembu1.631,212
Dimbaza17.2821,783
Ducats1.243,546
Duncan Village0.9016,380
East London168.86267,007
Eluxolweni8.5115,300
Ententeni0.842,731
eSingeni2.601,343
Ginsberg2.3910,766
Gompo0.532,254
Gonubie10.1111,471
Goodhope4.062,127
iKhiwane1.381,039
Ilitha5.648,145
Izeleni2.111,187
Jaftas0.68442
Kayser's Beach2.36697
Kidd's Beach2.13499
King William's Town65.5234,019
Kuni6.142,179
KwaBhonke1.191,174
KwaLini1.131,696
KwaMasingata1.111,204
KwaMlakalaka0.961,279
KwaMpundu5.191,544
KwaNoncampa1.301,552
KwaQongqotha1.321,425
KwaRhayi0.751,144
KwaTshatshu6.684,719
Kwetyana18.425,863
Macleantown9.94580
Mbekweni0.537,123
Mdantsane45.55156,835
Modaka0.951,745
Mzamonhle2.498,338
Nxarhuni Dam Settlement0.93131
Ncalukeni2.131,892
Needs Camp7.416,696
Ngxwalane1.611,027
Nkqonkqweni A1.001,546
Nomgwadla3.152,384
Nompumelelo0.737,269
Nkqonkqweni3.521,766
Nxarhuni2.641,481
Pefferville0.9416,380
Phakamisa2.326,602
Pirie Mission0.74356
Potsdam East1.251,664
Potsdam South8.025,329
Potsdam Village4.145,649
Sandile2.78855
Sea Vale0.17291
Silverdale4.00647
Sunrise-on-Sea0.68655
Tshabo 22.671,114
Tyusha2.161,289
Tyutyu3.582,676
Umzantsi0.991,373
Zabalaza1.721,188
Zwelitsha4.6418,189
Remainder of the municipality1867.1910,359

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 3 August 2016 the African National Congress won a majority of seats on the council.
The following table shows the results of the election.

Hospitals

The following hospitals are located in the municipal area:
Buffalo City's town twins are: