Arid Areas Report Volume 1: District Socio-economic Profile and Development Plans THE ARID AREAS PROGRAMME VOLUME 1 DISTRICT SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS Compiled by: Prof Doreen Atkinson Centre for Development Support University of the Free State November 2007 Arid Areas Report Volume 1: District Socio-economic Profile and Development Plans CONTENTS I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3 II. Geographic overview.................................................................................................................. 4 1. Namaqualand and Richtersveld .............................................................................................................. 5 2. The Karoo ................................................................................................................................................ 6 3. Gordonia, the Kalahari and Bushmanland ............................................................................................. 7 4. General characteristics of the arid areas ................................................................................................ 7 III. The Western Zone (Succulent Karoo) ................................................................................... 10 1. Namakwa District Municipality ........................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Karoo-Hoogland Municipality (Williston area).................................................................................................... 13 1.2 Khai Ma Municipality (Pofadder area) ................................................................................................................ 13 1.3 Hantam Local Municipality (Calvinia area) ........................................................................................................ 15 1.4 Kamiesberg LM (Kamieskroon area) ................................................................................................................. 16 1.5 Nama Khoi LM (Springbok area)........................................................................................................................ 17 1.6 Richtersveld LM (Port Nolloth area) ................................................................................................................... 18 2. Matzikama Local Municipality, West Coast District.......................................................................... 20 IV. The Central Zone ...................................................................................................................... 22 1. The Central Karoo District ................................................................................................................... 22 1.1 Beaufort West Local Municipality ....................................................................................................................... 26 1.2 Laingsburg Municipality ...................................................................................................................................... 27 1.3 Prince Albert Municipality ................................................................................................................................... 28 2. Cacadu District Municipality ............................................................................................................... 30 2.1 Sunday¶s River Valley LM (Kirkwood) ................................................................................................................ 33 2.2 Baviaans LM (Willowmore) ................................................................................................................................. 34 2.3 Camdeboo LM (Graaff-Reinet) ........................................................................................................................... 35 2.4 Blue Crane Route LM (Somerset East) ............................................................................................................. 36 2.5 Ikwezi LM (Jansenville) ...................................................................................................................................... 40 3. Pixley ka Seme District......................................................................................................................... 41 3.1 Emthanjeni Local Municipality (De Aar) ............................................................................................................. 45 3.2 Umsobomvu Local Municipality (Colesberg) ..................................................................................................... 47 3.3 Ubuntu Local Municipality (Victoria West) ......................................................................................................... 48 3.4 Kareeberg Local Municipality (Carnarvon) ........................................................................................................ 49 3.5 Siyancuma Local Municipality (Douglas) ........................................................................................................... 50 3.6 Siyathemba Local Municipality (Prieska) ........................................................................................................... 51 3.7 Rhenosterberg Local Municipality (Petrusville) ................................................................................................. 52 3.8 Thembelihle Local Municipality (Hopetown) ...................................................................................................... 53 4. Oudtshoorn Local Municipality (Eden District) ................................................................................. 55 5. Kannaland Local Municipality (Eden District) ................................ ................................................... 57 6. Xhariep District ..................................................................................................................................... 59 6.1 Kopanong Municipality (Trompsburg) ................................................................................................................ 64 6.2 Letsemeng Municipality (Koffiefontein) .............................................................................................................. 66 V. The Eastern Zone ..................................................................................................................... 68 1. Gariep Local Municipality (Ukhahlamba District) ............................................................................. 68 2. Inxuba Yethemba (Chris Hani District) ............................................................................................... 71 VI. The Northern Zone ................................................................................................................... 73 1. Siyanda District ..................................................................................................................................... 73 1.1 !Kai !Garib Local Municipality (Keimoes) ........................................................................................................... 75 1.2 //Khara Hais Local Municipality (Upington) ........................................................................................................ 75 1.3 !Kheis Local Municipality (Groblershoop) .......................................................................................................... 77 1.4 Tsantsabane Local Municipality (Postmasburg) ................................................................................................ 78 1.5 Kgatelopele Local Municipality (Danielskuil) ..................................................................................................... 79 1.6 Mier Local Municipality ....................................................................................................................................... 80 2. Kalahari-Kgalagadi District .................................................................................................................. 81 2.1 Gamagara Local Municipality (Kathu) ................................................................................................................ 84 2.2 Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality ..................................................................................................................... 85 2.3 Moshaweng ......................................................................................................................................................... 86 3. Molopo Local Municipality (Pomfret)................................................................................................. 88 4. Kagisano Local Municipality (Ganyesa) ............................................................................................. 89 5. Greater Taung (Pudimoe, Taung)......................................................................................................... 91 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................... 93 Arid Areas Report Volume 1: District Socio-economic Profile and Development Plans I. Introduction The arid areas comprise a major part of South Africa¶s land surface. These areas are the Karoo (including the Little Karoo), Namaqualand and Kalahari, and straddle five provinces in South Africa: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern