The West Coast District Municipality, code DC1, is a Category C district in the Western Cape, South Africa. Its seat and head office are in Moorreesburg at 58 Long Street. The official website is https://westcoastdm.co.za/, branding itself as “Weskus the caring centre for innovation and excellence.”

Spanning 31,099 km², it stretches from the City of Cape Town border in the south to the Northern Cape in the north. It features diverse landscapes: Swartland wheat fields, Olifants River Valley vineyards, coastal villages like Paternoster and Velddrif, and the Cederberg Mountains with ancient rock art. Access is via the R27 and N7 highways, passing towns such as Darling, Piketberg, Clanwilliam and Vredendal.

Statistics South Africa (Census 2022) estimates the population at 497,394. It includes five local municipalities: Matzikama, Cederberg, Bergrivier, Saldanha Bay, and Swartland.

Known as the flower capital of South Africa, the Weskus explodes in vibrant wildflowers (mainly August–September), transforming arid areas into one of the world’s greatest floral displays, in the surrounding fynbos regions.

Our Purpose

WCDM and its five local municipalities share local government responsibilities, ensuring equitable access to resources and services for all communities. WCDM supports capacity-constrained municipalities with financial, infrastructural, staffing, and technical assistance to improve service delivery and development.

Key Functions

WCDM drives district-wide progress through municipal health services, bulk infrastructure, environmental protection, economic growth, job creation, social well-being and tourism promotion. It pursues strategic objectives: environmental integrity, good governance, financial viability, economic growth, bulk services, and innovation for an inclusive, opportunity-rich destination.