It also extends westwards up the Sonderend River and northwards across the Langeberg mountains into the Little Karoo around the Warmwaterberg.

2,252) is situated east of Swellendam at the southern end of Tradouws Pass which cuts through the Langeberg, while Barrydale (pop.

Coloured residents elected management committees, which were subordinate to the white local authorities, in Railton (Swellendam) and Smitsville (Barrydale).

The former mission station of Suurbraak was governed by a management board, and the remaining rural areas fell under the Overberg Regional Services Council.

The transitional councils were initially made up of members nominated by the various parties to the negotiations, until May 1996 when elections were held.

In 2011 rural land to the north and west of Barrydale was incorporated into the municipality when District Management Areas were abolished.

In the election of 1 November 2021, the Democratic Alliance (DA) won a majority of six seats on the council.