Beaufort West Municipality is a municipality located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As of 2001, the population was 37,107. Its municipality code is WC053.

Geography

The municipality has a total area of 16,334 km².

Adjacent municipalities

• Ubuntu Municipality, Northern Cape (north)
• Central Karoo Municipality, Western Cape (northeast)
• Aberdeen Plain Municipality, Eastern Cape (southeast)
• Prince Albert Municipality, Western Cape (south)
• Laingsburg Municipality, Western Cape (southwest)
• Karoo-Hoogland Municipality, Northern Cape (northwest)

There is also a small exclave of Central Karoo Municipality located in Beaufort West Municipality.

Demographics

As of the census of 2001, there are 37,107 people and 8,993 households residing in the municipality. The population density is 2.27/km². The density of households is 0.55/km². The racial makeup of the municipality is Black African 15.80%, Coloured 73.20%, Indian/Asian 0.12%, and White 10.88%.

13.7% of all households are made up of individuals. The average household size is 4.13.

In the municipality the population is spread out with 32.1% under the age of 15, 18.5% from 15 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 24 years. For every 100 females there are 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.4 males.

In the municipality 84.8% of residents speak Afrikaans at home, 1.0% speak English, 0.0% speak IsiNdebele , 13.7% speak IsiXhosa, 0.0% speak IsiZulu, 0.0% speak Sepedi, 0.2% speak Sesotho, 0.0% speak Setswana, 0.0% speak SiSwati, 0.0% speak Tshivenda, and 0.0% speak Xitsonga . 0.1% of the population speaks a non-official language at home.

91.6% of residents are Christian, 3.1% are members of African Independent Churches , 3.8% have no religion, 0.1% are Muslim, 0.0% are Jewish, and 0.0% are Hindu. 1.5% have other or undetermined beliefs.

46.4% of housing units have a telephone and/or cell-phone in the dwelling, 47.0% have access to a phone nearby, and 6.6% have access that is not nearby or no access. 90.8% of households have a flush or chemical toilet. 85.7% have refuse removed by the municipality at least once a week and 0.3% have no rubbish disposal. 60.8% have running water inside their dwelling, 94.1% have running water on their property, and 99.4% have access to running water. 66.5% of households use electricity for cooking, 57.8% for heating, and 87.2% for lighting.

2.2% of the population aged 15-65 is unemployed. Of the unemployed persons, 23.6% are Black African, 74.8% are Coloured, 0.0% are Indian/Asian, and 1.6% are White. 20.2% of Black Africans are unemployed, 13.8% of Coloureds, 13.8% of Indians/Asians, and 2.0% of Whites.

The median annual income of working adults aged 15-65 is R 12,165 ($2,049). Males have a median annual income of R 14,337 ($2,364) versus R 9,084 ($1,498) for females. The median annual income by race is R 15,420 ($2,542) for Black Africans, R 8,658 ($1,427) for Coloureds, R 10,804 ($1,781) for Indians/Asian), and R 44,270 ($7,299) for Whites. The annual income distribution in Beaufort West Municipality is:

• No income 1.8%
• R 12 – R 4,800 ($2 - $801) 18.5%
• R 4,812 – R 9,600 ($803 - $1,603) 24.8%
• R 9,612 – R 19,200 ($1,605 – $3,205) 18.4%
• R 19,212 – R 38,400 ($3,207 - $6,411) 16.1%
• R 38,412 – R 76,800 ($6,412 - $12,821) 13.1%
• R 76,812 – R 153,600 ($12,823 - $25,643) 5.1%
• R 153,612 – R 307,200 ($25,645 - $51,285) 1.1%
• R 307,212 – R 614,400 ($51,287 - $102,570) 0.3%
• R 614,412 or more ($102,572+) 0.8%

Statistics South Africa Census 2001

Cities and towns

• Beaufort West
• Merweville
• Nelspoort

External links

http://www.beaufortwestsa.co.za