MunicipalitiesSA

City of Mbombela Local Municipality

MP326 Local Mpumalanga Governed by ANC

818 925 Population Census 2022
7 152 Square kilometres 114.5 per km2
215 004 Households
90 Council seats

City of Mbombela Local Municipality is a local municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 7 152 square kilometres. It falls within the Ehlanzeni District Municipality. It takes in 16 recognised towns and settlements, among them Barberton, Emoyeni, Entokozweni, Hazyview, Kaapschehoop, Kabokweni, Kanyamazane, Luphisi.

Census 2022 counted 818 925 residents, making it the 4th most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 31st of 257 nationally. That works out to 114.5 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 215 004 households, averaging 3.8 people each. 27.9% of residents are under 15 and 4.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 9.2% hold a higher education qualification and 11.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 90 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 59 seats (65.6%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Wiseman Khumalo is municipal manager.

On this site’s financial health measure, which weighs the Auditor-General’s opinion alongside operating margin, liquidity, cash cover and irregular spending, City of Mbombela scores 26 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R4.3 billion in operating revenue against R5.1 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R747.8 million. At the last census, 41.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.8% used electricity for lighting and 42.3% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 59
  • EFF 14
  • DA 12
  • VF PLUS 3
  • ACDP 1
  • ATM 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Ms Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko ANC
Speaker Mr Morris Mazibani ANC
Chief Whip Mr Mxolisi Maseko
Municipal Manager Mr Wiseman Khumalo
Chief Financial Officer Ms Futhi Sibanyoni
Mayoral Committee Mr DB Mkhatshwa MMC: Technical Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Elizabeth Gecelo-Mkhabela MMC: Financial Services
Mayoral Committee Mr JJ Mhlanga MMC: Strategic Management Services
Mayoral Committee Mr JM Mazibane MMC: City Planning and Development
Mayoral Committee Mrs KA Mhlanga MMC: Sports, Arts and Culture
Mayoral Committee Mrs PP Mbowane MMC: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mrs PV Mashego MMC: Corporate and Support Services
Senior Management Mr Lukie Sihlangu General Manager: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Mandla Nkosi General Manager: Corporate and Support Services
Senior Management Ms Momotho Thumbathi General Manager: Sports, Arts and Culture
Senior Management Mr Sipho Sibeko General Manager: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr Zephaniah Mthombeni General Manager: Strategic Management Services
Communications Mr Joseph M Ngala Senior Manager: Communication

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates1 016 588975 218803 090744 046708 140
Service charges1 945 1261 754 9181 575 6081 549 8921 400 772
Investment revenue12 0729 5909 0803 55912 525
Transfers recognised - operational1 134 8301 068 002963 947913 258995 588
Other own revenue206 844305 546531 832150 396137 061
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)4 315 4604 113 2743 883 5573 361 1503 254 087
Employee costs1 392 2611 328 8901 256 1391 198 4051 147 641
Remuneration of councillors65 91862 59262 78259 93659 256
Depreciation and amortisation361 667564 885557 352553 636540 367
Finance charges174 201149 442168 682115 40685 678
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases1 666 9391 446 5601 201 5891 137 1451 014 291
Transfers and subsidies48 75146 73047 27239 3351 135
Other expenditure1 353 4931 254 0821 257 6201 096 8161 214 271
Total Expenditure5 063 2304 853 1814 551 4354 200 6794 062 640
Surplus/(Deficit)-747 770-739 906-667 877-839 529-808 553
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)523 309456 120543 275440 654422 311
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)29 5483 2127 7975 6632 417
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-194 913-280 574-116 806-393 213-383 826
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-194 913-280 574-116 806-393 213-383 826

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure793 761229 598244 001226 328144 201
Transfers recognised - capital460 645162 028153 868163 38589 661
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds333 11667 57090 13262 94354 540
Total sources of capital funds793 761229 598244 001226 328144 201

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets1 697 8331 364 0161 046 223977 841693 419
Total non current assets8 160 0437 664 8117 688 1617 622 3387 603 021
Total current liabilities3 886 0122 888 5093 458 6123 133 3442 401 971
Total non current liabilities1 815 9401 766 919685 975701 139697 243
Community wealth/Equity4 156 7224 373 3984 589 7974 765 6965 197 226

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating377 194-3 371 862-463 248-3 018 682-1 533 370
Net cash from (used) investing-793 764-229 667-244 008-226 6051 979
Net cash from (used) financing-1 107-1 1659 928--
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-277 585-3 397 384-552 817-3 182 955-1 458 372

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure776 375726 966780 3141 367 377486 320
Irregular expenditure44 14481 883204 740152 66650 788
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure142 734114 472136 10983 584-

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population818 925695 913658 604

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.9%32.2%29.6%
Population 15 to 6467.6%63.9%66.2%
Population over 654.6%3.9%4.2%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)4856.651.1

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females93.697.895.7

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.1%1.3%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/an/a
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/an/a

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling11.0%11.7%11.7%
Matricn/a37.232.6
Higher education9.2%9.3%12.0%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households215 004206 136181 966
Average household size3.83.43.6
Female headed householdsn/a38.838.5
Formal dwellings96.2%90.6%91.6%
Housing ownedn/a80.964.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage45.7%27.6%35.7%
Weekly refuse removal42.3%29.0%33.4%
Piped water inside dwelling41.6%25.2%37.7%
Electricity for lighting97.8%95.0%88.9%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided246 513246 499246 499246 499246 499
Number of domestic households/delivery points218 004217 990217 990217 990217 990
Inside the yard115 376115 376115 376115 376115 376
Less than 200m from yard97 57097 57097 57097 57097 570
More than 200m from yard5 0585 0445 0445 0445 044
Domestic households with access to free basic service8 1008 1509 34811 38811 388

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided201 213199 545142 404142 404140 474
Domestic households with access to free basic service8 1008 1509 34811 38811 388

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided206 594206 564206 564206 264205 497
Flush toilet - public sewerage58 62458 62458 62458 32457 557
Flush toilet - septic tank1 2031 2031 2031 2031 203
Ventilated pit latrine89 44989 41989 41989 41989 419
Bucket system00000
Other57 31857 31857 31857 31857 318
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 4452 0453 8695 0025 002

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided78 79578 67578 67578 67578 675
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 4452 0453 8695 0025 002

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)1 256 1391 198 4051 147 6411 010 445936 949
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)62 78259 93659 25658 53739 466
Total Employee Positions2 8972 3641 9491 9832 184
Total Vacant Employee Positions4764751318249
Total Vacancy Percentage16.4%20.1%0.7%0.9%11.4%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5699151515
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5622122
Managerial Positions - by organogram112112111111107
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram201512169

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans