The Stellenbosch Municipality was created by virtue of a proclamation published in Government Gazette No 1798 of 5 June 1840. The first meeting of the Commissioners of the Municipality took place on 29 June 1840. In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the Stellenbosch Transitional Local Council was established on 1 February 1995 (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette No 4925, 31 January 1995, Proclamation No 28, 30 January 1995). In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Stellenbosch Transitional Local Council together with the Municipality for the Area of Franschhoek, Nuweberg Transitional Representative Council, Paarl Transitional Representative Council, Pniel Transitional Local Council and Stellenbosch Transitional Representative Council was disestablished and the Stellenbosch Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5590, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 489, 22 September 2000). The Stellenbosch Local Municipality forms part of the larger Cape Winelands District Municipality.
The Board of Public Roads for the Division of Stellenbosch was established together with and complementary to the Central Board of Commissioners for Public Roads on 22 November 1843 in terms of Ordinance No 8 of 1843. The function of the board was to maintain and improve branch roads in the said division. The board ceased to exist on the formation of the Stellenbosch Divisional Council in July 1855.
The Divisional Council of Stellenbosch was established on 12 July 1855 in terms of Act No 5 of 1855.
On 1 July 1987 the Divisional Council areas of Stellenbosch, Cape and Paarl were established as the Western Cape Regional Services Council in terms of the Regional Services Councils Act of 1985 (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette, No 4460 of 9 January 1987, Provincial Notice No 4 of 9 January 1987).
District municipalities administer and make rules for a district, which includes more than one local municipality. The purpose of district municipalities and local municipalities sharing the responsibility for local government in their areas is to ensure that all communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, have equal access to resources and services. This will help some local municipalities that don't have the capacity (finances, facilities, staff, or knowledge) to provide services to their communities. It will also help to cut the costs of running a municipality by sharing resources with others. The "richer" areas will help the "poorer" areas. District municipalities are seen as successors to former Regional Services Councils/District Councils.
Some of the functions and powers of district municipalities include: • To plan for development for the district municipality as a whole. • Bulk supply of water that affects a large proportion of the municipalities in the district. • bulk supply of electricity that affects a large proportion of the municipalities in the district • Bulk sewerage purification works and main sewerage disposal. • Waste disposal sites for the whole district municipality area. • Municipal roads for the whole district municipality area. • Regulating passenger transport services. • Municipal health services for the whole area. • Firefighting services for the whole area. • Control of fresh produce markets. • Control of cemeteries. • Promoting local tourism for the whole area. • Municipal public works.
In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Breërivier District Council, Matroosberg Transitional Representative Council, Witzenberg Transitional Representative Council, Winelands District Council and Wynland Transitional Representative Council was disestablished and the Boland District Municipality established with its seat in Worcester (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5590, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 486, 22 September 2000). The Boland District Municipality was divided into five local municipalities, namely Witzenberg with its seat in Ceres, Drakenstein (Paarl), Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch), Breede Valley (Worcester), and Langeberg (Ashton).
In August 2004, the name Boland District Municipality was changed to the Cape Winelands District Municipality.
District municipalities administer and make rules for a district, which includes more than one local municipality. The purpose of district municipalities and local municipalities sharing the responsibility for local government in their areas is to ensure that all communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, have equal access to resources and services. This will help some local municipalities that don't have the capacity (finances, facilities, staff, or knowledge) to provide services to their communities. It will also help to cut the costs of running a municipality by sharing resources with others. The "richer" areas will allow the "poorer" areas. District municipalities are seen as successors to former Regional Services Councils/District Councils.
Some of the functions and powers of district municipalities include: • To plan for development for the district municipality as a whole. • Bulk supply of water that affects a large proportion of the municipalities in the district. • bulk supply of electricity that affects a large proportion of the municipalities in the district • Bulk sewerage purification works and central sewerage disposal. • Waste disposal sites for the whole district municipality area. • Municipal roads for the whole district municipality area. • Regulating passenger transport services. • Municipal health services for the whole area. • Firefighting services for the whole area. • Control of fresh produce markets. • Control of cemeteries. • Promoting local tourism for the whole area. • Municipal public works.
In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Breërivier District Council, Matroosberg Transitional Representative Council, Witzenberg Transitional Representative Council, Winelands District Council and Wynland Transitional Representative Council was disestablished and the Boland District Municipality established with its seat in Worcester (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5590, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 486, 22 September 2000). The Boland District Municipality was divided into five local municipalities, namely Witzenberg with its seat in Ceres, Drakenstein (Paarl), Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch), Breede Valley (Worcester), and Langeberg (Ashton).
In August 2004, the name Boland District Municipality was changed to the Cape Winelands District Municipality.
