MunicipalitiesSA

Gamagara Local Municipality

NC453 Local Northern Cape Governed by Hung Council

29 580 Population Census 2022
2 648 Square kilometres 11.2 per km2
10 431 Households
15 Council seats

Gamagara Local Municipality is a local municipality in Northern Cape, covering 2 648 square kilometres. It falls within the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Deben, Kathu and Olifantshoek.

Census 2022 counted 29 580 residents, making it the 17th most populous of the 31 municipalities in Northern Cape and 240th of 257 nationally. That works out to 11.2 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 10 431 households, averaging 2.8 people each. 24.5% of residents are under 15 and 4.1% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 12.2% hold a higher education qualification and 7.2% have had no schooling.

The council has 15 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 7 seats (46.7%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr Johannes Roman serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Lebogang Seetile 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, Gamagara scores 46.6 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 R673.0 million in operating revenue against R785.8 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R112.8 million. At the last census, 67.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.1% used electricity for lighting and 84.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 7
  • DA 5
  • GCF 2
  • EFF 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Johannes Roman ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Goitseone Sekgopi EFF
Chief Whip Mr Thapelo Tiroyame
Municipal Manager Mr Lebogang Seetile
Chief Financial Officer Mr Aobakwe Makoku
Mayoral Committee Mr Abel Booysen Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Ms Henriette Du Plessis Chairperson: Corporate Service and Community Service Portfolio
Mayoral Committee Mr Johannes Roman Chairperson: Finance Portfolio
Mayoral Committee Mr Ophaketse Edwin Hantise Chairperson: Technical Services and Strategic Services Portfolio
Senior Management Mr Benjamin Sehole Director: Technical Services
Senior Management Ms Dimakatso Manamela Acting Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Marco Marks Manager: LED
Senior Management Ms Thato Rapelang Acting Director: Development and Town Planning
Communications Ms Andrea Dewee

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 rates160 339154 195140 699138 856122 997
Service charges367 616350 046301 603336 055245 665
Investment revenue470604472492346
Transfers recognised - operational69 434104 06060 35868 60459 258
Other own revenue75 11164 52771 31148 09425 936
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)672 970673 432574 443592 101454 203
Employee costs248 069242 467212 445204 583199 362
Remuneration of councillors6 7546 9576 0995 7415 351
Depreciation and amortisation52 50863 22054 71757 50561 102
Finance charges36 74419 97540 90520 64415 938
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases216 617193 588164 499166 340149 630
Transfers and subsidies514371--
Other expenditure225 043206 284203 997117 68870 950
Total Expenditure785 785732 535682 732572 500502 334
Surplus/(Deficit)-112 815-59 103-108 28919 601-48 132
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)28 28712 95527 71213 49560 914
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-84 528-46 148-80 57733 09612 783
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-84 528-46 148-80 57733 09612 783

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure57 74650 92522 80514 703116 318
Transfers recognised - capital31 45933 19825 4517 39886 056
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds26 28717 727-2 4969 95515 389
Total sources of capital funds57 74650 92522 95417 353101 445

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets12 953 55912 891 20412 738 85312 639 16412 492 701
Total non current assets1 508 8871 514 3361 502 6661 509 4521 490 254
Total current liabilities13 003 76213 129 52012 942 13412 763 17112 695 239
Total non current liabilities414 576172 412160 405158 810153 342
Community wealth/Equity1 044 1091 103 6071 138 9801 226 6361 121 591

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating812 488830 215864 835837 903-
Net cash from (used) investing-63 786-24 036-24 646-31 678-
Net cash from (used) financing590522---
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end763 602819 891853 379825 47829 598

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure91 85028 61817 973745 68449 796
Irregular expenditure68 856123 500142 915165 343673 691
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure38 05816 57938 03777 7012 400

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population29 58053 65641 617

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1524.5%23.2%25.5%
Population 15 to 6471.4%74.5%71.9%
Population over 654.1%2.3%2.6%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)4034.239

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females100.3129.7120.1

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum-3.3%5.8%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a17.7
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a22.4

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling7.2%8.2%10.5%
Matricn/a3326.5
Higher education12.2%10.8%11.3%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households10 43115 72310 807
Average household size2.83.43.9
Female headed householdsn/a21.627.7
Formal dwellings82.4%79.2%74.4%
Housing ownedn/a58.534.5

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage89.3%80.8%87.6%
Weekly refuse removal84.7%78.9%90.6%
Piped water inside dwelling67.3%58.2%59.1%
Electricity for lighting95.1%88.1%87.9%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided19 49319 49319 49318 22318 223
Number of domestic households/delivery points19 28519 28519 28518 01518 015
Inside the yard16 83916 83916 83916 83616 836
Less than 200m from yard2 4462 4462 4461 1791 179
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 6191 2589224 8001 010

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided18 66217 89717 00216 41715 565
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 6191 2589224 8001 010

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided18 51118 51118 51118 51118 511
Flush toilet - public sewerage14 92614 92614 92614 92614 926
Flush toilet - septic tank942942942942942
Ventilated pit latrine2 4352 4352 4352 4352 435
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 6191 2589224 8001 010

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided22 35722 35722 35714 79114 791
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 6191 2589224 8001 010

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)212 445204 583199 362158 541131 872
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)6 0995 7415 3515 5316 129
Total Employee Positions494494455445486
Total Vacant Employee Positions432981126
Total Vacancy Percentage8.7%5.9%1.8%0.2%25.9%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5622210
Managerial Positions - by organogram2525252525
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram66600

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans