However, the term "Boland", as originally used, was a loose concept, with no defined borders (cf.

The diverse geography includes peaks, ranges, escarpments, valleys, cliffs, rivers, pools, waterfalls, screes, canyons, springs, forests, caves and other natural features.

At the end of the apartheid era the area that is today the Cape Winelands District Municipality formed part of two Regional Services Councils (RSCs).

When elections were held in May 1996, the Winelands and Breërivier RSCs were reconstituted as District Councils (DCs).

The other twenty-four councillors are appointed by the councils of the constituent local municipalities: eight by Drakenstein, five each by Stellenbosch and Breede Valley, and three each by Witzenberg and Langeberg.

After then elections of 3 August 2016 the Democratic Alliance (DA) obtained a majority of 27 seats on the council.