Mier

MIER Local Municipality is situated adjacent to one of the world’s largest conservation areas, namely the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and comprises a municipality bigger than the Free State province. Rietfontein, which is the main town, is situated approximately 280km north-west from the nearest big town of Upington. Mier Local Municipality borders with Namibia in the west, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the north, and Botswana in the north-east. It forms part of the Siyanda District Municipality. Mier Local Municipality consists of nine small towns, namely Rietfontein, Philandersbron, Loubos, Klein Mier, Groot Mier, Welkom, Askham, Noenieput and the !Khomani San community within its jurisdiction. The name "Mier" is an Afrikaans word that originates from the word "mere" which means "lakes". When German missionaries visited the area a long time ago, they found the pans in the area full of water that they called them "mere". As language changed, the people later pronounced it as "mier". Area: 22 468km²read more »

---

//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.

read more »

---

!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 »

---

Matzikama

Matzikama Municipality is the most northern of the local municipalities under the West Coast District. The municipality covers an area just more than 5 000 km2 between the N7 freeway north and the Atlantic Ocean. Translated as 'place of water', Matzikama is roughly 240km north of the City of Cape Town and includes the towns of Vredendal, Lutzville and Van Rhynsdorp. (http://www.westerncapebusiness.co.za).

read more »

---

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch Local Municipality (also known as Stellenbosch Municipality) in the Western Cape is the local municipality that governs the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Pniel, and the surrounding rural areas. It covers an area of 831 km2 (321 sq mi) (Source: en.wikipedia.org). The 900 km2 municipal area is internationally renowned for its beautiful environment, many places of interest, wine farms, street cafes, restaurants, quality wines, historical buildings and excellent educational institutions. The major portion of the area is utilised for agriculture (mainly wine production) and it includes the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and settlements such as Klapmuts, Koelenhof, Kylemore, Johannesdal, Pniel, Jamestown and Raithby. Stellenbosch town is 50 km to the east of Cape Town and is – after Cape Town – the oldest town in South Africa. (Source: www.stellenbosch.gov.za).read more »

---