GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE

Geographically the largest local municipality within the Ukhahlamba District Municipality, Senqu covers some 6 772 square kilometers. Included in this area are the following towns: lady Grey (including Transwilger and Khwezi-Naledi); Barkly East (including Nkululeko and Fairview); Sterkspruit; Rhodes (including Zakhele); Rossouw; and Herschel, as well as commercial farms and the villages of the magisterial districts of Barkly East, Rhodes, Hershel and Sterkspruit and portions of Lady Grey, Wodehouse (Dordrecht) and Indwe.

POPULATION

About 138 704 people live in this area of the Eastern Cape Province. Of this population, 54% is female and 46% male. In the National Census 2001 the age distribution is as follows:

• 0- 14 year age grouping - 39.23%

• 15 34years- 34.13%

• 35 64 years - 20.53%

• 65 years and above - 7.45%.

ECONOMY

A critical feature of the region is that less than 13% of the population is formally employed and only 18% is actively seeking employment. 1 7% of households earn nothing (i.e. they are unable to report a constant source of income). Approximately 83% of the households earn less than R 1 000 per month, which is below the Household Subsistence level for the Province (+R1500 per month). The main sources of employment remain the Social and Community Sector (38%) and the Agricultural Sector (28% and growing).

HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

A result of lack of employment in the area is that the majority of the families cannot afford to pay for education and only 1 in 12 has a Matric qualification. The employees of the Municipality make good use of the training and development opportunities offered but strategies must be evolved to extend similar benefits to the community at large.

MUNICIPAL STRUCTURE

The Senqu Municipality is a democratically elected Category B municipality, whose Council is comprised of elected ward Councillors (16) and proportional representation Councillors (16). The Municipality was established as provided for in section 12 of the Municipal Structures Act, No 117 of 1998, as amended and is a Collective Executive type.

Senqu Municipality's powers and functions are:

• Air pollution Abattoirs

• Beaches and amusement Billboards and displays Building regulations

• Cemeteries, funeral parlours and crematoria Child care facilities

• Cleansing

• Control of public nuisance

• Control of undertakings selling liquor Electricity reticulation and distribution Firefighting

• Municipal planning Municipal public works. Municipal public transport

• Local tourism

• Pontoons and ferries

• Pounds

• Refuse and solid waste Stormwater management Trading regulations Street lighting

• Sport facilities

• Traffic

TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGES

Senqu Municipality represents the amalgamation and integration, which took place between the former Municipalities of Lady Grey, Barkly East, Sterkspruit, Rossouw and Rhodes. In respect of the changes in area of responsibility, it was necessary through the formulation of the IDP to establish an organisational structure, which would be capable of meeting the needs of this community responsibly.

KEY PRIORITIES

The following priority issues were identified during the Community Outreach Programme and community consultations with the Executive Committee and management. It takes into account issues also raised during the needs analysis of the original lDP:

• Institutional capacity building;
• Institutional restructuring;
• Water and sanitation;
• Addressing HIV/Aids;
• Stimulation of the economy with special emphasis on agriculture;
• Roads and storm water;
• Electricity provision; and
• Housing provision and the acquisition of land.