MunicipalitiesSA

Fezile Dabi District Municipality

DC20 District Free State Governed by n/a

509 912 Population Census 2022
20 674 Square kilometres 24.7 per km2
145 539 Households
12 Council seats Coalition governed

Fezile Dabi District Municipality is a district municipality in Free State, covering 20 674 square kilometres. It coordinates 4 local municipalities: Mafube, Metsimaholo, Moqhaka and Ngwathe. It takes in 18 recognised towns and settlements, among them Cornelia, Deneysville, Edenville, Frankfort, Heilbron, Koppies, Kragbron, Kroonstad.

Census 2022 counted 509 912 residents, making it the 4th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 51st of 257 nationally. That works out to 24.7 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 145 539 households, averaging 3.5 people each. 25.5% of residents are under 15 and 8.1% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 9.5% hold a higher education qualification and 5.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 12 seats across 3 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 6 seats (50.0%). It is governed by a coalition: n/a. Mr Dennis Khasudi serves as executive mayor (DA), and Mr Sipho Thomas 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, Fezile Dabi scores 47 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R199.3 million in operating revenue against R233.9 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R34.6 million. At the last census, 60.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 94.3% used electricity for lighting and 83.3% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 6
  • DA 3
  • EFF 3

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr Dennis Khasudi DA
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Sidney Pittaway DA
Chief Whip n/a
Municipal Manager Mr Sipho Thomas
Chief Financial Officer Mr Abram Mgcina
Mayoral Committee Ms Carina Serfontein MMC: Environmental Health and Energy Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Moeketsi Makhema MMC: Finance
Mayoral Committee Mr Nick Muller MMC: Local Economic Development, Tourism and Infrastructure
Mayoral Committee Ms Nthabiseng Mokodutlo Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Mr Simpson Matwa MMC: Corporate Support Services
Senior Management Ms Gladys Ramaboea Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms Grace Phoofolo Director: Environmental Health and Emergency Services
Senior Management Mr Kadimo Masekoane Manager: Monitoring and Evaluation
Senior Management Mr Lincoln Safadi Manager: Office of the Speaker
Senior Management Ms Mbali Letebele Director: Local Economic Development, Tourism and Infrastructure
Senior Management Mr Raphala Malaka Chief of Staff
Communications Ms Tebello Lengoabala-Serunye Communications and Marketing: Office of the MM

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 rates-----
Service charges-----
Investment revenue15 34911 0406 6154 4604 905
Transfers recognised - operational182 030178 541175 816171 549169 932
Other own revenue1 9117746 0322 069885
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)199 290190 354188 462178 078175 721
Employee costs126 585127 633124 288122 746113 455
Remuneration of councillors8 6727 9298 1067 2587 961
Depreciation and amortisation4 3959 5327 0157 3927 360
Finance charges52986440110
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases1 4702 4333 1803 8212 752
Transfers and subsidies9171 6342 1773 2025 177
Other expenditure91 79123 35030 14047 46446 111
Total Expenditure233 883172 609174 970191 923182 926
Surplus/(Deficit)-34 59317 74513 493-13 845-7 204
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)25 8694 419-1 9272 206
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-8 72422 16413 493-11 918-4 998
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-8 72422 16413 493-11 918-4 998

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure2 2331 8167712 423695
Transfers recognised - capital-----
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds2 2331 8167712 423695
Total sources of capital funds2 2331 8167712 423695

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets165 443129 456105 67690 105110 281
Total non current assets33 81582 20786 31876 86686 244
Total current liabilities16 17716 77018 99612 80231 406
Total non current liabilities36 73734 39935 60536 62734 291
Community wealth/Equity204 582163 513137 392117 543130 828

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating56 787-79 476162 983115 48518 600
Net cash from (used) investing-2 174-1 818-771-2 423-675
Net cash from (used) financing-426-381-175--
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end180 52422 026246 636211 083125 241

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure41 4856 5695 48856 20146 580
Irregular expenditure15 99430 92239 79614 29827 734
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure81 699154 119-

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population509 912494 777488 036

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1525.5%25.5%28.1%
Population 15 to 6466.4%67.5%65.8%
Population over 658.1%7.0%6.1%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)50.648.151.9

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females92.398.998.6

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.4%0.3%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a33.9
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a44.4

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling5.0%6.7%7.3%
Matricn/a31.427.5
Higher education9.5%7.8%8.6%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households145 539172 370144 971
Average household size3.52.93.4
Female headed householdsn/a39.538.6
Formal dwellings89.4%85.6%83.3%
Housing ownedn/a71.360.4

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage88.9%80.9%80.0%
Weekly refuse removal83.3%82.6%81.7%
Piped water inside dwelling60.6%48.3%56.7%
Electricity for lighting94.3%92.3%89.8%

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?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)124 288122 746113 455101 42097 244
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)8 1067 2587 9617 7537 631
Total Employee Positions194213181219201
Total Vacant Employee Positions393544037
Total Vacancy Percentage20.1%16.4%2.2%18.3%18.4%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655556
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5640022
Managerial Positions - by organogram3030303031
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram33434

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans