Overberg District Municipality covers the Western Cape’s Whale Coast and Overberg farmland east of Cape Town, from Grabouw and Hermanus to Cape Agulhas. The 2022 census counted 359,446 people across four local municipalities, up from 258,176 in 2011. Bredasdorp is the district seat, though Grabouw is the largest town.
The name means “beyond the mountain” in Afrikaans, describing the district’s position on the far side of the Hottentots-Holland range from Cape Town, and it takes in everything from apple orchards to whale-watching coastline.
Local Municipalities in Overberg District
| Municipality | Seat | 2022 population |
|---|---|---|
| Theewaterskloof | Caledon | 139,563 |
| Overstrand | Hermanus | 132,495 |
| Swellendam | Swellendam | 47,114 |
| Cape Agulhas | Bredasdorp | 40,274 |
Major Towns
| Town | Municipality | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Hermanus | Overstrand | 56,139 |
| Grabouw | Theewaterskloof | 37,490 |
| Swellendam | Swellendam | 20,993 |
| Bredasdorp | Cape Agulhas | 18,599 |
| Caledon | Theewaterskloof | 16,752 |
| Gansbaai | Overstrand | 15,957 |
| Villiersdorp | Theewaterskloof | 11,986 |
| Kleinmond | Overstrand | 7,948 |
| Genadendal | Theewaterskloof | 6,784 |
| Botrivier | Theewaterskloof | 6,594 |
| Riviersonderend | Theewaterskloof | 6,284 |
| Stanford | Overstrand | 5,747 |
| Struisbaai | Cape Agulhas | 5,301 |
| Napier | Cape Agulhas | 5,048 |
| Barrydale | Swellendam | 4,979 |
| Greyton | Theewaterskloof | 3,329 |
| Suurbraak | Swellendam | 2,698 |
| Buffeljagsrivier | Swellendam | 1,724 |
| Elim | Cape Agulhas | 1,691 |
| Betty’s Bay | Overstrand | 1,653 |
Geography
The district runs from the Elgin Valley and Hottentots-Holland mountains near Cape Town, along the Whale Coast to Cape Agulhas, and inland across the Overberg wheat plain to the Langeberg. Its four local municipalities are Theewaterskloof, Overstrand, Cape Agulhas and Swellendam.
Economy
Apple and pear orchards in the Elgin Valley, wheat and canola on the Overberg plain, and coastal tourism along the Whale Coast form the district’s three main economic strands, with whale watching at Hermanus and shark-cage diving at Gansbaai drawing visitors.
The Theewaterskloof Dam, a major reservoir for Cape Town’s water supply, and the Bontebok National Park near Swellendam add a further layer of regional importance beyond the district’s own farming and tourism economy.
The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley’s Pinot Noir estates near Hermanus and the Elgin Valley’s apple orchards near Grabouw are the district’s two most distinctive agricultural exports, both built on the region’s cool, high-rainfall micro-climates.
FAQ
What is the seat of Overberg District Municipality? Bredasdorp, though Grabouw is the largest town.
How many local municipalities make up the district? Four: Theewaterskloof, Overstrand, Swellendam and Cape Agulhas.
What is the district’s population? 359,446 at the 2022 census, up from 258,176 in 2011.
What is the largest town in the district? Hermanus, with 56,139 people.
Which province is the Overberg District in? The Western Cape.
What does “Overberg” mean? Afrikaans for “beyond the mountain,” describing its position past the Hottentots-Holland range from Cape Town.
Which municipality has the most people? Theewaterskloof, with 139,563 residents in 2022.