MunicipalitiesSA

Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality

EC139 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

297 055 Population Census 2022
13 584 Square kilometres 21.9 per km2
96 791 Households
68 Council seats

Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 13 584 square kilometres. It falls within the Chris Hani District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Hofmeyr, Komani (Queenstown), Molteno, Sada, Sterkstroom, Tarkastad and Whittlesea.

Census 2022 counted 297 055 residents, making it the 13th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 82nd of 257 nationally. That works out to 21.9 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 96 791 households, averaging 3.1 people each. 27.6% of residents are under 15 and 8.5% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 10.8% hold a higher education qualification and 6.7% have had no schooling.

The council has 68 seats across 9 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 43 seats (63.2%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Madoda Papiyana serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Apiwe Mkhangelwa 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, Enoch Mgijima scores 30 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R1.1 billion in operating revenue against R1.6 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R503.8 million. At the last census, 55.0% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.5% used electricity for lighting and 40.9% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 43
  • DA 7
  • EFF 6
  • THE INDEPENDENTS 5
  • INDEPENDENT 2
  • ISANCO 2
  • ATM 1
  • PA 1
  • UDM 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr Madoda Papiyana ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Ms Noluthando Nqabisa ANC
Chief Whip Ms Nombuyiselo Selka Ndlebe
Municipal Manager Mr Apiwe Mkhangelwa Acting
Chief Financial Officer Mrs Estelle Mbele Tyali Acting
Mayoral Committee Ms Adele Hendricks Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Ms Bukiwe Simina Portfolio Head: Special Programmes Unit
Mayoral Committee Mr Mhlangabezi Mangcotywa Portfolio Head: Technical Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Ongama Adonisi Portfolio Head: Human Settlements
Mayoral Committee Mr Phaphama Madubedube Portfolio Head: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Siphelele Lali Portfolio Head: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mrs Thembeka Bunu Portfolio Head: Integrated Planning and Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Mr Unathi Galada Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Ms Zukiswa Rhalane Portfolio Head: Public Safety
Senior Management Mr Aphiwe Mkhangelwa Acting Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Khulile Maceba Director: IPED and Acting Director: Human Settlement
Senior Management Mrs Nomthandazo Mazwayi Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Thulani Malingatshoni Chief Operations Officer and Acting Director: Community Services
Communications Mr Lonwabo Kowa Spokesperson
Communications Mr Sandiso Gcobo
Administrator n/a

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEQualified auditQualified auditQualified auditQualified auditQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates170 018146 537149 367136 905126 225
Service charges401 168350 368330 117329 134252 150
Investment revenue8 7396 8064 6913 6522 842
Transfers recognised - operational328 133359 605275 767274 165240 493
Other own revenue152 597202 683106 68082 303101 065
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 060 6541 065 999866 623826 158722 774
Employee costs326 877318 326336 239325 130329 821
Remuneration of councillors31 68528 11826 86324 83325 468
Depreciation and amortisation174 179112 29969 42777 95058 594
Finance charges29 07049 83989 94764 36939 795
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases472 493389 291314 945328 435280 173
Transfers and subsidies1 6911 6301 7371 5881 113
Other expenditure528 494557 493317 129337 273181 874
Total Expenditure1 564 4871 456 9961 156 2871 159 579916 837
Surplus/(Deficit)-503 833-390 997-289 664-333 421-194 063
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)89 41398 402106 75054 53279 546
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-912 792-51 718
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-414 420-292 505-180 122-278 889-62 800
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-414 420-292 505-180 122-278 889-62 800

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure67 866-13 97010 998066 400
Transfers recognised - capital66 093-18 0544 996-65 633
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds1 7734 0833 4800767
Total sources of capital funds67 866-13 9708 477066 400

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets701 733651 730690 370526 158369 695
Total non current assets1 602 6501 609 3081 794 4211 710 9171 543 990
Total current liabilities2 319 9721 972 0071 740 4571 361 949998 358
Total non current liabilities139 690110 897253 521320 173152 778
Community wealth/Equity-155 278178 133490 813554 953779 951

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating698 143880 818241 297805 473930 641
Net cash from (used) investing-65 42915 383-10 998--66 400
Net cash from (used) financing----(1 202)
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end705 470933 398294 670843 071908 085

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure485 789381 588487 931427 022189 203
Irregular expenditure135 942221 734416 199117 64052 650
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure29 93450 997135 703169 738122 467

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population297 055267 011250 776

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.6%35.7%31.0%
Population 15 to 6463.9%59.3%61.8%
Population over 658.5%5.0%7.2%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)56.568.761.7

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females90.190.490.6

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.6%1.4%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 schooling6.7%8.4%9.7%
Matricn/a26.720
Higher education10.8%9.5%9.9%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households96 79165 14668 354
Average household size3.14.13.7
Female headed householdsn/a48.248.4
Formal dwellings96.0%85.7%87.7%
Housing ownedn/a56.360.4

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage72.2%57.5%61.8%
Weekly refuse removal40.9%49.8%54.4%
Piped water inside dwelling55.0%40.4%42.4%
Electricity for lighting96.5%92.4%88.7%

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 provided72 02469 09868 09668 09668 096
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 22012 8976 7456 7453 269

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 provided43 16841 04041 04041 04041 040
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 2206 7456 7456 7453 269

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)336 239325 130329 821314 038290 138
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)26 86324 83325 46826 09223 636
Total Employee Positions9328411 2421 241927
Total Vacant Employee Positions483860
Total Vacancy Percentage5.2%0.4%0.6%0.5%0.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666664
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5600000
Managerial Positions - by organogram3333333221
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram13860

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans