Cape Town

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Lore & Background

Cape Town received its first local self-government in 1839 under a municipal ordinance. By 1902, there were 10 separate municipalities on the peninsula. The first major unification occurred in 1913, merging Cape Town with Green Point, Sea Point, Woodstock, Mowbray, Rondebosch, Claremont, Maitland, and Kalk Bay. Wynberg joined in 1927. During apartheid, over 50 different local authorities existed by 1994, including management committees for coloured and Indian residents and Black Local Authorities for black communities. Post-1994 reforms created a transitional system on 1 February 1995, followed by six interim substructures in May 1996 before the final unified City of Cape Town was formed.

In Their Own Story

The city's governance has shifted from 10 separate municipalities in 1902 to over 50 distinct authorities by 1994. In 1979, Bellville was upgraded to city status. The transition to democracy saw the dissolution of the Cape Metropolitan Council and six interim substructures on 5 December 2000, creating a single 'Unicity' that extended its northern boundary to include Philadelphia and Klipheuwel.

Reader's Guide

The City of Cape Town is divided into 116 wards, each electing one councillor by first-past-the-post voting, plus 115 councillors elected from party lists. The council consists of 24 subcouncils handling local functions for three to six wards each. Governance includes an Executive Mayor and a Mayoral Committee of 10 members, supported by a City Manager.

Did You Know?

• As of 2022, the population is exactly 4,772,846.
• The remote Prince Edward Islands are part of ward 115 within the municipality.
• Before unification in 2000, there were over 50 different local authorities in the metropolitan area.
• The first major unification of municipalities took place in 1913.
• Bellville was upgraded to city status in 1979.