The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality () is a metropolitan municipality situated on the east coast of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It includes the towns of KuGompo City, Bhisho and Qonce, 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 (MBSA) 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 (33.5 inches).

The population of 701,873 (2001) is largely African (85.2%), with White (8.4%) and Coloured (5.7%) minorities. There is also a small Indian community (0.6%).

The previous mayor, Dr Sindisile Maclean (ANC), 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 Place Code Area (km2) Population Berlin 26006038.223,048 Bhisho 2600328.0811,192 Bulembu 2600651.631,212 Dimbaza 26003917.2821,783 Ducats 2601021.243,546 Duncan Village 2601140.9016,380 East London 260113168.86267,007 Eluxolweni 2600628.5115,300 Ententeni 2601390.842,731 eSingeni 2600482.601,343 Ginsberg 2600732.3910,766 Gompo 2601330.532,254 Gonubie 26010610.1111,471 Goodhope 2601374.062,127 iKhiwane 2601651.381,039 Ilitha 2600615.648,145 Izeleni 2600982.111,187 Jaftas 2601060.68442 Kayser's Beach 2601782.36697 Kidd's Beach 2601602.13499 Qonce 26004465.5234,019 Kuni 2601366.142,179 KwaBhonke 2600911.19 1,174 KwaLini 2600741.13 1,696 KwaMasingata 2600451.11 1,204 KwaMlakalaka 2601080.96 1,279 KwaMpundu 2600555.19 1,544 KwaNoncampa 2600771.30 1,552 KwaQongqotha 2601181.32 1,425 KwaRhayi 2600720.75 1,144 KwaTshatshu 2600856.68 4,719 Kwetyana 26005418.425,863 Macleantown 2600169.94580 Embekweni 2600830.537,123 Mdantsane 26008845.55156,835 Modaka 2600360.951,745 Mzamonhle 2601072.498,338 Nxarhuni Dam Settlement 2600780.93131 Ncalukeni 2600562.131,892 Needs Camp 2601297.416,696 Ngxwalane 2600751.611,027 Nkqonkqweni A 2600071.001,546 Nomgwadla 2600403.152,384 Nompumelelo 2601120.737,269 Nkqonkqweni 2600663.521,766 Nxarhuni 2600682.641,481 Pefferville 2601140.9416,380 Phakamisa 2601032.326,602 Pirie Mission 214460.74356 Potsdam East 2601131.251,664 Potsdam South 2601148.025,329 Potsdam Village 2601034.145,649 Sandile 2601612.78855 Sea Vale 2601030.17291 Silverdale 2601324.00647 Sunrise-on-Sea 2600920.68655 Tshabo 2 2600952.671,114 Tyusha 2601032.161,289 Tyutyu 2600433.582,676 Umzantsi 2600500.991,373 Zabalaza 2600371.721,188 Zwelitsha 2600864.6418,189 Remainder of the municipality 2600101867.1910,359

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 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of seats on the council.

The following table shows the results of the election. Buffalo City local election, 1 November 2021 Party Votes Seats Ward List Total % Ward List Total 105,038 109,080 214,118 59.4% 43 18 61 35,195 35,139 70,334 19.5% 7 13 20 21,165 22,301 43,466 12.1% 0 13 13 8,383 – 8,383 2.3% 0 – 0 1,476 1,990 3,466 1.0% 0 1 1 1,499 1,884 3,383 0.9% 0 1 1 1,667 1,603 3,270 0.9% 0 1 1 806 1,756 2,562 0.7% 0 1 1 991 1,020 2,011 0.6% 0 1 1 914 934 1,848 0.5% 0 1 1 18 other parties 2,895 4,558 7,453 2.1% 0 0 0 Total 180,029 180,265 360,294 50 50 100 Valid votes 180,029 180,265 360,294 98.2% Spoilt votes 2,936 3,571 6,507 1.8% Total votes cast 182,965 183,836 366,801 Voter turnout 185,525 Registered voters 406,486 Turnout percentage 45.6%

Hospitals

The following hospitals are located in the municipal area: Eastern Cape Dept of Health official website Bhisho Provincial Hospital Cecilia Makiwane Hospital (Mdantsane) Duncan Village Day Hospital East London Private Hospital Fort Grey TB Hospital Frere Hospital Grey Provincial Hospital (Qonce) Grey Monument Private Clinic (Qonce) Life Beacon Bay Hospital Mount Coke Hospital (replaced by Bhisho Hospital in December 1991)Bhisho Hospital webpage Nkqubela Chest Hospital (Mdantsane) Royal Buffalo Specialist Hospital St Dominic’s Hospital St James Hospital St Marks Clinic

Town twinning

Buffalo City's town twins are: Gävle, Sweden Leiden, Netherlands Milwaukee County, United States of America

References

External links Buffalo City Official site Eastern Cape Dept of Health list of hospitals