Oranjemund

Oranjemund
O.J
Formal
Nickname(s): O – Mund
Motto: Excellence Integrity Teamwork Diversity
Oranjemund

Location in Namibia

Coordinates: 28°33′6″S 16°25′35″E / 28.55167°S 16.42639°E / -28.55167; 16.42639Coordinates: 28°33′6″S 16°25′35″E / 28.55167°S 16.42639°E / -28.55167; 16.42639
Country  Namibia
Region ǁKaras Region
Constituency Oranjemund Constituency
Settled 1936
Government
 • Mayor Henry Edward Coetzee (SWAPO)
Elevation 39 ft (12 m)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 3,908
Time zone South African Standard Time (UTC+1)
Climate BWk

Oranjemund (German for: "Mouth of Oranje") is a diamond mining town of 4,000 inhabitants situated in the ǁKaras Region of the extreme southwest of Namibia, on the northern bank of the Orange River mouth at the border to South Africa.

Economy and Infrastructure

Oranjemund was established in 1936, following Hans Merensky's discovery of significant alluvial diamond deposits on the north bank of the Orange River and the adjacent northern coastline. Production of mainly gem-quality diamonds has remained in the region of 2 million carats (400 kg) per year since inception of the mine, mainly through improvements in technology.

Status as mining town

The town was run by Namdeb (formerly Consolidated Diamond Mines), now a subsidiary of De Beers. Access to, and settlement in Oranjemund was restricted to employees and their relatives. Its infrastructure is superior to that of other towns in Namibia's South, due to it not being dependent on cost recovery from its inhabitants. In the second half of the 20th century, Oranjemund featured a large recreational complex with swimming pool, cinema, restaurants and bars.[2] Water is still provided free of charge, and until 2009 so was electricity.[3]

Transportation

The Oranjemund Airport has services operated by Air Namibia going to Cape Town, Lüderitz, Walvis Bay and Windhoek. There is a border post to South Africa at the south end of the Harry Oppenheimer Bridge. Only persons with pre-application of 1 month are allowed to cross the border.

Geography

Climate

Oranjemund has a mild desert climate (BWn, according to the Köppen climate classification), with pleasant temperatures throughout the year. The average annual precipitation is 50 mm (2 in).

Oranjemund
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: World Climate Guide

Politics

Oranjemund is governed by a town council that currently has seven seats.[4]

In a by-election of the 2010 local authority election, 2,221 registered voters elected local authority councillors for the first time on 16 March 2012. SWAPO won the elections, and since 23 March 2012 Henry Edward Coetzee is the town's mayor.

References

  1. ↑ "Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)" (PDF). Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report. Namibia Statistics Agency. p. 39. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  2. ↑ Alexander, Mike. "THE REC CLUB!". oranjemundonline.com. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Alexander, Mike. "Paying for Power!". oranjemundonline.com. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  4. ↑ "Know Your Local Authority". Election Watch (3). Institute for Public Policy Research. 2015. p. 4.
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