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Baviaans Local Municipality is named after the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and the name is of Dutch origin and means "baboons ravine". It covers an area of 11 590.52 square kilometers with two urban nodes, namely Willowmore and Steytlerville.
In 2010 the population was approximately 16 805 people of whom 6, 09% were African, 83,10 % Coloured and 10, 81% White. This represents 3, 75 % of the Cacadu District’s population of 446 000 people.
The well-known Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve, a world heritage site and one of the largest wilderness areas in the country, is situated to the south. The nature reserve covers 90% of the local municipal area, which has been divided into four wards. The leading sectors with regard to Gross Value Added are community services, agriculture, trade (which includes tourism), finance (which includes real estate), manufacturing and transport. Agriculture, tourism and service industries form the basis of the area’s economy.
Due to the world heritage site, the future economic development of this area is based on the development of tourism. The area consists of two urban nodes, various smaller settlements, a well-developed transportation network, farmlands and conservation areas. The Baviaans Municipality is a Category B Municipality, which together with another 8 municipalities, form the Cacadu District Muicipality.The Baviaans Municipal area is bordered on the North by Ikwezi Municipality, the East by Sundays River Valley Municipality, the South by Kou-Kamma and Kouga Municipalities and the West by the Eden District Municipality (Western Cape Province). The Baviaans Municipal area falls within the Greater Karoo area (one of the areas within the Cacadu District Municipality that have similar geographical characteristics and requires similar geographical guidance). This area can be described as an area with:
Willowmore serves as the adminstrative seat of the Baviaans Local Municipality and is situated on the intersection between the N9 Route, which connects Graaff-Reinet and George and the R329 to Steytlerville.
Baviaans Municipality is a Category 1 municipality with a plenary system combined with a ward participatory system. There are seven councilors, four of which were directly elected to a specific ward and the remaining three to represent parties proportionally in the Council. The mayor is a full time office bearer, while the political and executive authority is vested in Council.
Tel: 044 923 1004
www.baviaans.gov.za