MunicipalitiesSA

eDumbe Local Municipality

KZN261 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by Hung Council

96 735 Population Census 2022
1 943 Square kilometres 49.8 per km2
17 922 Households
19 Council seats

eDumbe Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 1 943 square kilometres. It falls within the Zululand District Municipality. Its main centre is Paulpietersburg.

Census 2022 counted 96 735 residents, making it the 48th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 188th of 257 nationally. That works out to 49.8 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 17 922 households, averaging 5.4 people each. 34.0% of residents are under 15 and 5.7% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 4.5% hold a higher education qualification and 12.6% have had no schooling.

The council has 19 seats across 6 parties, with NFP holding the largest share at 6 seats (31.6%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr Sibusiso Mkhabela serves as executive mayor (NFP), and Mr MS Khanyile is acting 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, eDumbe scores 28.3 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 R214.1 million in operating revenue against R243.9 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R29.9 million. At the last census, 24.4% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 92.8% used electricity for lighting and 40.0% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • NFP 6
  • ANC 5
  • IFP 5
  • ABC 1
  • DA 1
  • EFF 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Sibusiso Mkhabela NFP
Deputy Mayor Mr SJ Kunene ANC
Speaker Ms Duduzile Nhlengethwa NFP
Chief Whip Mr VA Mthethwa
Municipal Manager Mr MS Khanyile Acting
Chief Financial Officer Mr Z Thusi
Mayoral Committee Mr BM Nxusa
Mayoral Committee Mr CB Mthethwa
Mayoral Committee Ms DM Mbokazi
Mayoral Committee Ms HH Vilikazi
Mayoral Committee Mr K Ngema
Mayoral Committee Mr ME Kunene
Mayoral Committee Mr MS Magagula
Mayoral Committee Mr MVS Mkhwanazi
Mayoral Committee Ms ND Mngomwzulu
Mayoral Committee Mr ND Ndlangamandla
Mayoral Committee Mr ND Sibiya
Mayoral Committee Mr TE Kunene
Mayoral Committee Ms TS Mthethwa
Mayoral Committee Ms TTI Zwane
Mayoral Committee Mr VA Mthethwa
Mayoral Committee Mr ZG Masondo
Senior Management Mr KS Mkhwanazi Manager: LED
Senior Management Mr MM Mathabela Manager: Information Technology
Senior Management Ms Nonkululeko Mbokazi Acting Manager: Human Resources
Senior Management Mr Shaka Cele Director: Technical Services and Director: Infrastructure Services, Planning and Development
Senior Management Mr SR Ntuli Director: Planning and Development
Senior Management Mr TR Nkosi Manager: Public Safety and Disaster Management
Senior Management Mr Vincent Mbatha Director: Corporate and Community Services
Communications Ms ZT Mazibuko

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates34 08732 66428 67529 18028 323
Service charges48 14736 48431 31030 07125 783
Investment revenue1 0461 7251 022539830
Transfers recognised - operational115 277187 033112 519129 289116 348
Other own revenue15 49416 4517 974-4536 604
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)214 051274 356181 499188 626177 888
Employee costs87 33586 00078 81271 57562 761
Remuneration of councillors8 9028 6448 0817 3776 613
Depreciation and amortisation19 06527 00616 36249 94413 655
Finance charges1 8451 6971 5271 2621 203
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases48 44742 66035 58438 08847 291
Transfers and subsidies---683-
Other expenditure78 32672 41055 18459 58761 286
Total Expenditure243 920238 417195 551228 516192 809
Surplus/(Deficit)-29 86935 939-14 051-39 890-14 921
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)20 50719 38540 90541 89230 515
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-9 36255 32426 8542 00215 594
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-9 36255 32426 8542 00215 594

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure557 341463 651433 666377 933303 464
Transfers recognised - capital15 725269 340158 292109 951151 910
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds541 616194 312275 600259 314143 382
Total sources of capital funds557 341463 651433 892369 265295 292

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets137 665119 516135 310152 915148 238
Total non current assets459 145451 222391 264364 001376 369
Total current liabilities204 496173 059178 692164 308141 846
Total non current liabilities391391391391391
Community wealth/Equity401 866341 878320 648348 214350 680

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-115 176-429 009-174 671--
Net cash from (used) investing-----
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-112 968-433 009-178 671-4 000-8 500

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure28 36961 57129 807122 65132 399
Irregular expenditure23 41688 99825 72123 51916 055
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure1204 027667 88538

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population96 73589 61482 053

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1534.0%41.3%40.0%
Population 15 to 6460.3%54.2%55.0%
Population over 655.7%4.5%5.0%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)65.984.481.7

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females88.989.188.2

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.6%2.0%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a37.7
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a45.4

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling12.6%12.9%18.3%
Matricn/a25.122.1
Higher education4.5%6.6%3.9%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households17 92217 41516 138
Average household size5.45.15.1
Female headed householdsn/a52.752.1
Formal dwellings82.1%72.7%74.0%
Housing ownedn/a62.262.6

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage24.7%1.8%25.1%
Weekly refuse removal40.0%24.9%20.7%
Piped water inside dwelling24.4%11.9%13.8%
Electricity for lighting92.8%75.5%62.8%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Number of domestic households/delivery points00000
Inside the yard00000
Less than 200m from yard00000
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided13 08810 80710 80710 80710 807
Domestic households with access to free basic service167605605605574

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Flush toilet - public sewerage00000
Flush toilet - septic tank00000
Ventilated pit latrine00000
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided4 4924 2694 2694 2694 193
Domestic households with access to free basic service02 7422 7422 7423 206

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)78 81271 57562 76155 20648 371
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)8 0817 3776 6136 7225 973
Total Employee Positions221203192223184
Total Vacant Employee Positions211583814
Total Vacancy Percentage9.5%7.4%4.2%17.0%7.6%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5644444
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5601231
Managerial Positions - by organogram1717181812
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram14640

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans