West Coast District Municipality

West Coast District Municipality stretches across 350 kilometers along the Atlantic coast and unites five local municipalities under one administration. The landscape transitions from coastal plains to mountains rising toward the east.

The municipality was created in 2000 as part of South Africa's redesign of administrative structures. It has since united five local governance units under a single authority.

Afrikaans shapes daily life here, with most residents speaking it as their main language in markets, shops, and streets. You also hear Xhosa and English mixed into conversations throughout the district.

The district divides into five administrative sections: Matzikama, Cederberg, Bergrivier, Saldanha Bay, and Swartland, with Moorreesburg as the administrative hub. Each section has its own character worth exploring separately.

The northern section contains Knersvlakte, a region where plants have adapted to survive in dry conditions. This area marks the transition between coastal and inland landscapes with its own distinct ecology.

Location: Western Cape

Inception: December 5, 2000

Capital city: Moorreesburg

Elevation above the sea: 259 m

Shares border with: Namakwa District Municipality, Cape Winelands District Municipality, City of Cape Town

Website: http://westcoastdm.co.za

GPS coordinates: -32.50000,18.75000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:24