//Khara Hais

//Khara Hais Local Municipality is a Category B municipality and is located in the Siyanda District Municipality, which is the second-largest district in the Northern Cape. It is the acknowledged commercial, educational, military, agricultural, medical, transport and tourist center of the area. The unusual spelling of the name of the local municipality, with the // glyph, is a result of the transcription of the click consonant used in the Kxoe language from which the name originates.

The municipality straddles the Orange River. The main towns in this area are Upington, Raaswater, Louisvale, Kalksloot, Leerkrans, Karos and Lambrechtsdrift. Upington is the central town situated 400km west of Kimberley. Upington has an airport and a landing strip. This town plays a very prominent role in the lives of the residents of this local municipality. Upington was established in the 1870s when the Reverend Christiaan Schroder was sent from Cape Town to establish a mission at the request of the Hottentots chieftain Klaas Lucas, who realized the importance of being able to read and write. Shortly after the establishment of the Mission, various pioneer settlers including Japie Lutz and the Reverend Schroder realized that the area was ideal for irrigation development and the first irrigation canals were hand-dug in 1880 - some of which are still in use today. Since then, Upington grew rapidly today, Upington is the Provincial Capital for the Northern Cape Province and as such has taken on a new and important role in the development of the whole region.

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!Kheis

!Kheis is a Khoi name meaning "a place where you live�, or �a home". The municipality is named in recognition of the Khoi people who were the first permanent dwellers of the area. The!Kheis Municipal Area was initially inhabited by the Khoi-San people, who are also the first permanent inhabitants of South Africa. The San, who lived a nomadic life, migrated through the area. The Korannas (Khoi group) arrived in the area during the 18th century. They were widely spread over the �Benede Oranje� area and consisted of various tribes, each with its own captain (leader). The groups who lived in the! Kheisarea, was under the leadership of Captain Willem Bostander and Klaas Springbok. Many of their descendants still live in the area today. Other Khoi-groups, such as the Griekwas, also migrated through the area and intermarried with the Korannas. Later coloured stock farmers, as well as white hunters and farmers arrived.read more »

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Phokwane

Phokwane Local Municipality incorporates the previous municipal areas of Hartswater, Jan Kempdorp, Ganspan and Pampierstad. The Phokwane Municipality is named after Queen �Phokwane�, the wife of Kgosi Galeshewe of the Barolong boo Ra-Tlhaping tribe. Phokwane is nestled in the lush green delta of the Hartswater region and boasts the second largest irrigation scheme in the Southern Hemisphere, namely the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme. The municipality has a total population of 61 321 inhabitants of whom the majority is found in the peri-urban areas of the municipality. A significant characteristic of the Phokwane population is the youth who account for 33% (ages 15�34) of the total population. The economy of Phokwane is based on agriculture, community development, retail, private household and informal sectors. These five sectors alone provide jobs to 11 160 persons within the municipal area. This accounts for 65% of employment within Phokwane. In terms of agriculture Phokwane exports grape, citrus and olive products. The dominant languages in the area are Setswana, Afrikaans and Isixhosa with each of the languages having 70%, 25% and 5% users respectively. �read more »

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Langeberg

The Langeberg Local Municipality serves the towns of Ashton, Robertson, Montagu, Bonnievale and McGregor in the picturesque Breede River Valley/Klein Karoo area, where people still live close to nature. With majestic mountains on the one side and the ever-flowing Breede River on the other, the Langeberg area is a paradise for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. The Langeberg area is one of the largest wine-producing regions in South Africa. The area may be best known for its wine, but the variety of attractions and activities combined with spectacular scenery and the relaxed hospitality ensure visitors an unforgettable stay.

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George

George Local Municipality forms part of the Eden District Municipality and is situated in the middle of Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay and Hessequa Local Municipalities. The municipality is classified as a category B municipality, and is inter alia responsible for basic service delivery. George is located along the N2 highway. Its strategic location along the N2 highway to Cape Town and the Eastern Cape facilitates mobility of people, goods and services (http://www.george.org.za).

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