Great Kei is a local municipality in the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape, named for the Great Kei River that forms its eastern boundary. The 2022 census recorded 35,990 people over 1,699.8 km², up from 30,832 in 2011. Komga (also spelt Qumrha) is the seat.
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Amathole District Municipality |
| Seat | Komga (Qumrha) |
| Area | 1,699.8 km² |
| Population (2022) | 35,990 |
Towns and Villages in Great Kei
Komga is the largest town and seat. The coastal resorts of Kei Mouth and Cintsa are the next-best-known places, both popular for beach tourism and the Kei Mouth pont ferry crossing. The area otherwise has 79 recorded settlements, mostly small rural localities.
| Place | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Komga | Main town / seat | 9,692 |
| Kei Mouth | Town | 2,439 |
| Cintsa Mouth West | Town | 2,084 |
The fuller list of villages and localities:
- Audie
- Avalon
- Barracuda
- Bayview
- Beacon Hill
- Bernese
- Black Hill
- Bluerock
- Bokpoort
- Bylletrs
- Carleen
- Chintsa
- Cintsa
- Cintsa Mouth
- Crediton
- Cwili
- Dallas
- Diphini
- Double Mouth
- Ewanrigg
- Fort Warden
- Geneva
- Glen Muir
- Glengariff
- Gubeni
- Gxarha
- Haga-Haga
- Happy Home
- Harefield
- Hatchleydene
- Hopewell
- Irisdale
- Kefani
- Kelswood
- Khwenxurha
- Kildare
- Krauses Beach
- KwaMahomba
- KwaSilatsha
- Kwelera
- Kwelerha
- Kwenxura
- Lemoenfontein
- Lily Vale
- Lone Tree
- Lusasa
- Lusizini
- Marshstrand
- Moedershuis
- Monzi Park
- Morganville
- Mountford
- Mpetu
- Mzwini
- Ncalukeni
- Ngxingxolo
- Ocean View
- Pine Tops
- Puzana
- Queensberry Bay
- Quko Valley
- Rockwood
- Rocky Ridge
- Round the Bend
- Seaview Water Park
- Sotho
- Sparkling Hills
- Sunray
- Sutcliffe Vale
- Toekoms
- Towerhill
- Try Again
- Tyityaba
- Van Der Kemp
- Vista
- Wildene
Geography
Great Kei covers the coastal strip and immediate hinterland where the Kei River meets the Indian Ocean. Within Amathole District it borders Ngqushwa and Raymond Mhlaba, with the Amathole mountains inland and Buffalo City Metro immediately to the south. The Kei River mouth is one of the most recognisable landmarks on this stretch of coast, and the municipality’s boundary largely follows the river upstream from the sea. Inland from the coast the land rises into rolling farmland used for cattle and dairy production.
Demographics
Population rose from 30,832 in 2011 to 35,990 in 2022, growth of about 17%, among the faster-growing local municipalities in Amathole District. Xhosa is the first language of close to 89% of residents; Black African residents make up over 91% of the population, with smaller White and Coloured communities concentrated around the coastal holiday towns.
Economy and Local Life
Coastal tourism drives the local economy at Kei Mouth, Cintsa and Morgans Bay, with holiday accommodation, fishing charters and the Kei Mouth pont crossing to the Wild Coast side of the river. Inland, commercial and communal livestock and crop farming support the Komga area, which also serves as the municipality’s main retail and services town. Seasonal demand from holidaymakers gives the coastal villages a sharply higher population in December and January than the rest of the year.
Getting There
Komga lies on the N2 national route between East London and Butterworth, with the R349 running south to the Kei Mouth and Morgans Bay coast. East London’s airport and harbour are under an hour’s drive away, making Great Kei’s beaches a common day-trip and weekend destination for the metro.
FAQ
What is the seat of Great Kei Local Municipality?
Komga, also known by its Xhosa name Qumrha.
How many settlements are in Great Kei?
GeoNames records 79, headed by Komga, Kei Mouth and Cintsa.
What is the population of Great Kei?
35,990 people at the 2022 census, up from 30,832 in 2011.
Which district is Great Kei part of?
The Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape.
What is Great Kei known for?
Its coastline — Kei Mouth, Cintsa and Morgans Bay are established beach and fishing resorts, and the Kei Mouth pont is a well-known river crossing to the Wild Coast.