Elundini Local Municipality - MunicipalitiesSA

Elundini Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 5 019 square kilometres. It falls within the Joe Gqabi District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Nqanqarhu (Maclear), Tlokoeng (Mount Fletcher) and Ugie.

Census 2022 counted 141 762 residents, making it the 23rd most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 140th of 257 nationally. That works out to 28.2 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 41 210 households, averaging 3.4 people each. 30.9% of residents are under 15 and 9.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 5.6% hold a higher education qualification and 8.9% have had no schooling.

The council has 34 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 28 seats (82.4%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Mamello Semakaleng Leteba serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Jack Thando Mdeni 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, Elundini scores 47.6 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R331.3 million in operating revenue against R405.8 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R74.5 million. At the last census, 39.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 90.6% used electricity for lighting and 45.9% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

ANC 28 82.4%
EFF 2 5.9%
ATM 1 2.9%
DA 1 2.9%
SARKO 1 2.9%
UDM 1 2.9%

Office bearers

Mayor Ms Mamello Semakaleng Leteba ANC

Deputy Mayor n/a

Speaker Ms Vangiwe Victoria Hokwana ANC

Chief Whip Mr Bandile Nicholas Nqodi Chairperson: Corporate Services Committee

Municipal Manager Mr Jack Thando Mdeni

Chief Financial Officer Ms Baliswa Mbana-Gantsho

Mayoral Committee Mr Simphiwe Mdoda Infrastructure, Planning and Development

Mayoral Committee Mr Temba Patrick Tsoaeli Portfolio Head: Finance

Mayoral Committee Ms Thozama Victoria May Portfolio Head: Community Services

Senior Management Ms Lungiswa Gomana-Kutwana Director: Community Services

Senior Management Ms Ntomboxolo Eddie Director: Planning and Economic Development

Senior Management Mr Siqalo Mrengqwa Director: Infrastructure Planning and Development

Senior Management Mr Zibele Xuba Director: Corporate Services

Communications Ms N Sokutu

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
AUDIT OUTCOME	Financially unqualified	Financially unqualified	Financially unqualified	Financially unqualified	Clean audit

Financial performance

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Property rates	30 992	29 509	27 909	26 482	31 392
Service charges	55 291	50 419	37 616	40 486	37 631
Investment revenue	4 380	6 267	6 367	4 786	4 821
Transfers recognised - operational	212 279	201 946	188 146	174 338	204 645
Other own revenue	28 364	27 826	21 731	19 295	16 764
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)	331 306	315 967	281 770	265 387	295 253
Employee costs	143 658	135 629	124 528	114 782	106 167
Remuneration of councillors	14 436	13 418	13 413	12 679	12 601
Depreciation and amortisation	44 880	55 965	49 180	47 574	29 817
Finance charges	7 477	6 688	4 177	2 165	1 630
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases	37 693	32 680	28 747	28 712	25 368
Transfers and subsidies	6 020	5 496	1 085	917	1 092
Other expenditure	151 595	138 820	132 849	121 200	119 143
Total Expenditure	405 758	388 695	353 980	328 030	295 818
Surplus/(Deficit)	-74 452	-72 728	-72 210	-62 643	-564
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)	53 035	48 681	56 801	53 727	63 094
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)	2 054	-	2 552	-	-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions	-19 364	-24 047	-12 857	-8 916	62 530
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate	-	-	-	-	-
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year	-19 364	-24 047	-12 857	-8 916	62 530

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Capital expenditure	54 152	71 375	68 676	69 090	71 341
Transfers recognised - capital	45 014	43 572	53 459	24 442	46 863
Borrowing	2 831	5 139	-455	-	-
Internally generated funds	6 307	21 830	4 791	26 389	21 402
Total sources of capital funds	54 152	70 541	57 796	50 831	68 265

Financial position

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Total current assets	40 026	87 656	84 101	119 688	143 142
Total non current assets	657 033	641 903	600 273	584 854	556 162
Total current liabilities	91 961	89 526	78 032	94 130	86 890
Total non current liabilities	73 593	64 297	26 543	16 153	16 317
Community wealth/Equity	529 471	554 074	576 872	584 563	596 096

Cash flows

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Net cash from (used) operating	181 805	156 861	138 765	114 325	215 959
Net cash from (used) investing	-73 476	-92 794	-72 267	-65 089	-61 486
Net cash from (used) financing	-13 473	39 607	-	-	-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end	144 582	149 427	143 811	159 766	333 927

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Unauthorised expenditure	-	-	-	86	-
Irregular expenditure	22 435	-	-	1 126	12 940
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure	54	-	1	103	7

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population	141 762	144 929	137 045

Age structure

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population under 15	30.9%	37.5%	35.3%
Population 15 to 64	59.9%	56.9%	56.4%
Population over 65	9.2%	5.6%	8.3%

Dependency ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per 100 (15-64)	67	75.6	77.2

Sex ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Males per 100 females	94.2	93.3	90.1

Population growth

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per annum	0.3%	1.3%	n/a

Labour market

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Unemployment rate (official)	n/a	n/a	n/a
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34	n/a	n/a	n/a

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure	2022	2016	2011
No schooling	8.9%	5.7%	16.0%
Matric	n/a	16.4	11.8
Higher education	5.6%	4.9%	5.1%

Household dynamics

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Households	41 210	35 804	37 551
Average household size	3.4	4	3.6
Female headed households	n/a	48.4	52
Formal dwellings	76.5%	47.8%	33.2%
Housing owned	n/a	67.2	61.9

Household services

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	40.5%	6.9%	11.3%
Weekly refuse removal	45.9%	22.4%	12.4%
Piped water inside dwelling	39.3%	11.1%	10.4%
Electricity for lighting	90.6%	62.0%	46.3%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	0	0	0	0	0
Number of domestic households/delivery points	0	0	0	0	0
Inside the yard	0	0	0	0	0
Less than 200m from yard	0	0	0	0	0
More than 200m from yard	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0

Electricity

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	19 486	19 159	18 656	17 246	17 125
Domestic households with access to free basic service	5 049	5 153	4 156	4 422	5 699

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	0	0	0	0	0
Flush toilet - public sewerage	0	0	0	0	0
Flush toilet - septic tank	0	0	0	0	0
Ventilated pit latrine	0	0	0	0	0
Bucket system	0	0	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0

Solid waste services

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	7 336	7 336	7 336	7 336	7 336
Domestic households with access to free basic service	884	137	633	725	4 030

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)	124 528	114 782	106 167	107 489	98 709
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)	13 413	12 679	12 601	12 562	12 028
Total Employee Positions	305	326	293	351	343
Total Vacant Employee Positions	27	24	0	1	52
Total Vacancy Percentage	8.9%	7.4%	0.0%	0.3%	15.2%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	6	6	6	6	6
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	2	3	0	1	0
Managerial Positions - by organogram	19	20	17	16	15
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram	0	0	0	0	1

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans

D Under strain Financial health 47.7 of 100, 2024/25

Audit outcome Financially unqualified

The financial statements are reliable, but the Auditor-General raised findings on performance reporting or compliance.

Operating margin -22.5%

The municipality spent more than it collected on day-to-day operations, running an operating deficit.

Current ratio 0.44:1

Short-term obligations exceed short-term assets, a common early sign of cash-flow trouble.

Cash coverage 4.3 months

Cash on hand could fund operations for this long without any new income.

Irregular spending 5.54%

Share of total spending the Auditor-General flagged as unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful.