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Blue Crane Route Local Municipality is a Category B Municipality in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. Blue Crane Route Municipality is named after the South African national bird, the Blue Crane.Blue Crane Route is the second largest municipality of seven in the Sarah Baartman District, accounting 19% of the geographical area. The municipality covers an area of approximately 11,068 square kilometres with a population of nearly 40 000 people in the three (3) towns of Cookhouse, Pearston and Somerset East. Somerset East is the administrative centre of the Blue Crane Route Municipal Area and it is situated at the foot of the Boschberg Mountains.
11,068km2
Municipal Area
40,000+
Residents
3 Towns
Somerset East, Cookhouse, Pearston
Boschberg Mountains
At the foot
Three owns, one vision;Building a better future together
Home of the Blue Crane - a symbol of our identity and pride
Three towns, one vision;Building a better future together
COMMUNITY FIRST
Putting people at the centre
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Transparent and accountable
SUSTAINABILTY
Building a resilient future
PROGRESS TOGETHER
Strong together
The area is characterized by a small population, low populations density, concentration of employment in agriculture, disinvestment in rural areas, the dominance of one urban centre in the region and the resultant disparity between rural and urban areas. In addition to this, the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality has a high prevalence of poverty and declining employment levels. An analysis of the contribution of the various economic sectors to the Blue Crane economy may be summarised as follows:
The construction industry has also experienced growth due to the initiation of renewable energy (Wind Farms) in this area. The manufacturing and government sectors have been consistent contributors to employment in the area. The highest levels of employment in the formal sector are in the agricultural sector and the community services sector. The agricultural sector employs the highest percentage of people therefore it plays a fairly big economic role.
