Beaufort West facts

Population 49 586, 2.3 people/ km²

Municipal elections 2011: 23 818 voters, turn-out 66.6 percent ANC 50 percent, DA 41 percent, Icosa 4 percent, Cope 3 percent, NPP 1 percent Median age 26 (Western Cape), 28)

Population: 16 percent black African, 73 percent coloured, 9 percent white 82 percent speak Afrikaans

60.7 households fully own home or being paid off (WC 52.4 percent); 1.2 percent live in shacks (WC 18.2 percent)

Average annual household income (median) R29 400 (WC R57 300)

80.1 percent get water from regional or local service provider (WC 91.2 percent), 92.8 percent have electricity for one of cooking, heating or lighting (WC 93.9 percent)

92.3 percent have access to flush or chemical toilets (WC 90.9 percent)

35.5 percent employed (WC 50.1 percent) About 21 percent of children between 15 and 17 are employed (WC 17.9 percent), earning a median wage of R1 200/month