Hantam is a Khoekhoe word that means "mountains where the bulbs grow".
At the end of the 2019 year, the council had a cash balance to cover its operating costs for ten days.
[8] The municipal council consists of thirteen members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Seven councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in seven wards, while the remaining six are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the election of 1 November 2021 no party obtained a majority of seats on the council.