About Us

Matzikama means "place of water" and boasts a wonderful destination where southern Namaqualand can be explored, with its variety of tourist attractions, including the world famous wines of the West Coast Winelands.

Matzikama is home to one of the world’s most threatened collection of plant species, which are protected in three reserves: The Moedverloren Nature Reserve, The Kapel Conservation Area and The Lutzville Conservation Area.

The local agriculture is dominated by wine farms, with the preferred wine route usually starting in the mountains near Paleisheuwel in the south and heading north to Lamberts Bay.

The municipality is comprised of the following 17 towns and villages: Doring Bay, Strandfontein, Papendorp, Ebenaeser, Lutzville-West, Lutzville, Koekenaap, Vredendal, Klawer, Vanrhynsdorp, Nuwerus, Bitterfontein, Kliprand, Put-se-Kloof, Rietpoort, Molsvlei and Stofkraal.

In 1931, Kleinzee’s monthly production of diamonds was stolen from the postmaster’s office in Bitterfontein. At the time, the diamonds were valued at £80 000 (worth approximately £4,7million today).

Thusong Centres and Thusong Mobiles are hubs where a basket of government services are available. Thusong Centres and Mobiles essentially bring government services to communities often located in remote areas.

Thusong Mobiles:

Thusong Mobiles provide government services on the go and visit specific areas for a day or two where services can be accessed by communities. Details of when Thusong Mobiles are visiting an area will be made available by the local municipality before the scheduled date.

Thusong Centres:

Residents can visit any of the local Thusong Centres to access the following services.

DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS

• 1st ID application ( Free)
• ID re-issue ( R140)
• Early and late (14 and younger only) birth registration
• Death registration ( R20)
• Marriage certificates (R20)
• Travel documents

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• Youth Development
• Bursary Information
• Intake for all social issues
• Referrals;
• Substance Abuse

SASSA

• New applications of all type grants
• Registration of beneficiaries

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

• Work seekers  database
• Advice on Labour Legislation
• Labour Complaints
• Information desk

SA POLICE SERVICES

• Statements
• Certification
• Affidavits

GCIS

• Information on all Government Departments

Responding and minimising the impact of disasters is the core function of the Disaster Management Centre. The West Coast District Municipality is responsible for providing this service to the entire region.

Our local Disaster Management aims to:

• Prevent or reduce the risk of disasters;
• Mitigate the severity or consequences of disasters;
• Emergency preparedness;
• Rapidly and effectively respond to disasters;
• Provide for Post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation.

Contact the Centre for more information or any queries:

Suretha Visser
Head: Disaster Management Centre
West Coast District Municipality

Tel: 022 433 8705 /
Mobile: 078 299 6574 / 083 252 6110
Email: svisser@wcdm.co.za
Address: 17 Station Way, Moorreesburg