Mbhashe Local Municipality

Mbhashe
Official seal of Mbhashe
Location in the Eastern Cape
Location in the Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 32°10′S 28°35′E / 32.167°S 28.583°E / -32.167; 28.583
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictAmathole
SeatDutywa
Wards31
Government
 • TypeMunicipal council
 • MayorSamkelo Nicholas Janda (ANC)
 • SpeakerBabalwa Majavu (ANC)
 • Chief WhipMandla Sibingibingi (ANC)
Area
 • Total
3,169 km2 (1,224 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
254,909
 • Density80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African99.4%
 • Coloured0.1%
 • Indian/Asian0.1%
 • White0.2%
First languages (2011)
 • Xhosa95.7%
 • English1.6%
 • Other2.7%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Municipal codeEC121

Mbhashe Municipality (Xhosa: uMasipala wase Mbhashe) is a local municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The municipality was constituted in terms of the Municipal Structures Act of 1998 and comprises the areas that previously formed the Elliotdale, Willowvale and Dutywa town councils. The municipality is located in the north eastern part of the Amathole District Municipality. The main administrative office is situated in Dutywa.

Its primary claim to fame is as the birthplace of former President Thabo Mbeki. The Mbanyana Falls, Mbhashe Cultural Village and Donald Wood's Snooker Room number among its attractions.[3] The word Mbashe is derived from isiXhosa. The municipality is named after the Mbashe River.[4] The area also boasts the head offices of the AmaXhosa Kingdom at the Nqadu Great Place.

  1. ^ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. ^ Mbhashe Municipality Archived 7 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ South African Languages - Place names