Overview

Where is Bitou Local Municipality?

Bitou Local Municipality, commonly known as the "Jewel of the Garden Route", incorporates the former Outeniqua District Council and Plettenberg Bay. Situated in the Eden District, it covers 1 200 square meters. More than 50 000 people live here. It includes the town of Plettenberg Bay and surrounding areas such as Covie, Nature's Valley, the Crags, Kurland, Keurbooms, Wittedrift, Green Valley, Kranshoek, Harkerville, Kwanokuthula, New Horizons as well as Qolweni and Bossiesgif.

What does the council do for the area's residents?

Bitou Municipality aims to extend basic services to all. The municipality provides free basic services, such as water and electricity, to qualifying consumers. Bitou Municipality has its basic infrastructure frameworks in place and there is a spatial framework and a functioning land-use management system. A number of innovative initiatives in town planning and social housing are under way.

What are the municipality's priorities?

Bitou Municipality recognises the importance of social development issues and has a strong focus on crosscutting issues such as gender, youth, disability and HIV/Aids in municipal plans. Primary health and HIV/Aids have been given key priority status in the IDP.

Local Agenda 21 issues, with specific reference to sustainability and the environment, also enjoy a high profile. Innovative pilot projects on social housing are under way and Bitou Municipality has an indigent policy in place.

What services does Bitou provide?

Bitou Municipality provides a wide range of services to communities, either on its own, in conjunction with other spheres of government, or in association with other organisations, including business and non-governmental organisations.

The services provided by Bitou Municipality are defined by a number of Acts of Parliament, and further information can be obtained from www.gov.za.

The services provided by Bitou Municipality include:

• Primary health care
• Certain aspects of housing provision
• Library services
• Sports and recreational facilities
• Environmental health services
• Information services
• Youth advisory and development services
• Local economic development services
• Tourism marketing, development and information services.

For more information on the services available in your area, please browse around this website or drop into one of the municipal enquiry offices or telephone the municipality at 044 501-3000/3066.

Ward councillors also have information on local services. Visit the Contact a councillor page for details.

What does the Bitou Municipality do for its residents?

Bitou Municipality's responsibilities include:

• Planning within the municipality and compliance with zoning and other aspects of planning legislation.
• Revenue collection for all services provided where a change is made and the management of all aspects of expenditure undertaken by the municipality.
• Working with communities to create a safe environment.
• Working with other emergency workers to ensure by-law enforcement, as well as certain aspects of traffic management.
• Helping to market and promote the area to tourists and others.
• Assisting in economic development and training.
• Infrastructure development, planning and management of business and residential development.
• Provision of services, such as electricity distribution and management of the electricity infrastructure; water distribution and sewerage management; refuse collection and management of sites for the disposal of waste; property management.
• Development and maintenance of the area's road system, in conjunction with national and provincial agencies.
• Traffic management, including traffic lights and signage.
• Public space management, including public lighting, parks and other facilities.