MunicipalitiesSA

Ehlanzeni District Municipality

DC32 District Mpumalanga Governed by ANC

2 270 897 Population Census 2022
27 895 Square kilometres 81.4 per km2
560 370 Households
63 Council seats

Ehlanzeni District Municipality is a district municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 27 895 square kilometres. It coordinates 4 local municipalities: Bushbuckridge, City of Mbombela, Nkomazi and Thaba Chweu. It takes in 25 recognised towns and settlements, among them Barberton, Emoyeni, Entokozweni, Graskop, Hazyview, Kaapschehoop, Kabokweni, Kanyamazane.

Census 2022 counted 2 270 897 residents, making it the 1st most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 6th of 257 nationally. That works out to 81.4 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 560 370 households, averaging 4.1 people each. 30.2% of residents are under 15 and 4.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 7.5% hold a higher education qualification and 14.3% have had no schooling.

The council has 63 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 42 seats (66.7%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Enoch Ishmael Terra Shabangu serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Dr ENM Mkhatshwa 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, Ehlanzeni scores 68.6 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of C, described as fair. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “clean audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R378.8 million in operating revenue against R400.8 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R22.0 million. At the last census, 35.2% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.7% used electricity for lighting and 34.3% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 42
  • EFF 9
  • DA 7
  • ISANCO 2
  • VFP 2
  • BLM 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr Enoch Ishmael Terra Shabangu ANC
Speaker Mr Renias Khumalo ANC
Chief Whip Mr SG Siwela
Municipal Manager Dr ENM Mkhatshwa General Manager: Community Services
Chief Financial Officer Mr PO Mokoena
Mayoral Committee LC Shakwane MMC: Disaster Management
Mayoral Committee Mr MJ Morema Chairperson: Municipal Public Accounts Committee
Mayoral Committee Ms NC Hlophe MMC: Strategic Planning
Mayoral Committee Mr PA Mathe MMC: Technical Services
Mayoral Committee Ms PM Manana MMC: Social Services
Mayoral Committee Ms PP Chima MMC: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr PT Selowe MMC: Economic Planning and Development
Mayoral Committee MR Shongwe MMC: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Ms T Mabuza MMC: Financial Services
Senior Management Ms EMM Mahlalela Acting General Manager: Community Services
Senior Management Ms GN Zulu General Manager: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr ND Malokela General Manager: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr SJ Tibane General Manager: Strategic and Social Services
Senior Management Ms SS Madlopha General Manager: Economic Planning and Development
Communications Mr Lucky Ngomane Manager: Communications and Stakeholder Management

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEClean auditClean auditClean auditClean auditClean audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates-----
Service charges-----
Investment revenue4 9248 4468 7356 6666 796
Transfers recognised - operational368 414381 575341 416278 932287 266
Other own revenue5 4653 8462 4701 8661 750
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)378 804393 867352 621287 464295 811
Employee costs176 711164 727155 303164 320151 816
Remuneration of councillors21 02719 49820 29517 18516 264
Depreciation and amortisation12 57612 0909 49811 32611 052
Finance charges9 37410 68611 79612 63313 563
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases2 2244 0093 6083 5391 873
Transfers and subsidies70 720108 78482 55215 5908 827
Other expenditure108 152102 80589 49574 50070 360
Total Expenditure400 784422 599372 547299 092273 755
Surplus/(Deficit)-21 979-28 732-19 926-11 62922 056
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)3 1262 5252 5162 4032 371
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)----30
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-18 853-26 207-17 410-9 22624 457
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-18 853-26 207-17 410-9 22624 457

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure11 25113 0037 1193 5625 499
Transfers recognised - capital-2 674----
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds10 97213 0037 1193 5625 299
Total sources of capital funds8 29813 0037 1193 5625 299

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets77 13270 26696 633133 107146 048
Total non current assets218 338221 546217 893209 181210 202
Total current liabilities172 612136 070119 801121 926116 794
Total non current liabilities60 54674 03986 63498 010106 910
Community wealth/Equity150 508110 922165 575122 351154 381

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating627 750-9061 360 9381 349 161533 686
Net cash from (used) investing-10 123-18 862-15 516-8 882-2 664
Net cash from (used) financing-25 189-10 836-9 749-8 755-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end603 11421 0421 413 6301 413 336616 506

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-----
Irregular expenditure---691667
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure76731812550

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population2 270 8971 754 9311 688 615

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1530.2%35.7%33.1%
Population 15 to 6465.1%60.1%62.4%
Population over 654.8%4.2%4.6%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)53.766.460.4

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females89.392.890.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.9%0.9%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a34.4
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a44.2

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling14.3%13.8%16.6%
Matricn/a34.229
Higher education7.5%7.7%9.2%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households560 370483 903445 079
Average household size4.13.63.8
Female headed householdsn/a43.744.1
Formal dwellings95.8%91.9%91.8%
Housing ownedn/a79.965.4

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage36.4%19.1%24.4%
Weekly refuse removal34.3%21.7%24.7%
Piped water inside dwelling35.2%16.4%26.4%
Electricity for lighting96.7%95.0%88.9%

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?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

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?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)155 303164 320151 816138 854127 460
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)20 29517 18516 26416 42215 974
Total Employee Positions240219228155168
Total Vacant Employee Positions199023
Total Vacancy Percentage7.9%4.1%0.0%1.3%1.8%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5677777
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5641000
Managerial Positions - by organogram2526262638
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram20000

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans