MunicipalitiesSA

Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality

LIM333 Local Limpopo Governed by ANC

478 254 Population Census 2022
2 896 Square kilometres 165.1 per km2
129 579 Households
69 Council seats

Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality is a local municipality in Limpopo, covering 2 896 square kilometres. It falls within the Mopani District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Haenertsburg and Tzaneen.

Census 2022 counted 478 254 residents, making it the 10th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 56th of 257 nationally. That works out to 165.1 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 129 579 households, averaging 3.7 people each. 31.4% of residents are under 15 and 6.4% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 8.7% hold a higher education qualification and 16.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 69 seats across 7 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 51 seats (73.9%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Gerson Molapisane serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Donald Mhangwana 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, Greater Tzaneen scores 87.1 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of A, described as strong. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R1.9 billion in operating revenue against R1.7 billion in expenditure, an operating surplus of R189.9 million. At the last census, 27.1% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.4% used electricity for lighting and 25.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 51
  • EFF 9
  • DA 5
  • AFP 1
  • APC 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Gerson Molapisane ANC
Speaker Ms Sanie Muhlavasi Tiba ANC
Chief Whip Mr Given Marvin Malatji
Municipal Manager Mr Donald Mhangwana
Chief Financial Officer Mr Choene Marius Maeta
Mayoral Committee Ms Constance Ramothwala Infrastructure
Mayoral Committee Mr Dumisani Malemela
Mayoral Committee Ms Maria Mmola Health and Social Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Mfichana Richard Shingange Governance and Shared Services
Mayoral Committee Mrs Rene Edna Pohl
Mayoral Committee Mr Renny Mabuza Sports, Arts and Culture
Mayoral Committee Ms Sophy Raganya Planning and Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Mr Thabo Maunatlala Finance
Senior Management Mr Benjamin Mathebula Director: Planning and Economic Development
Senior Management Ms Cate Ntimbani Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Freedom Mthetwa Director: Electrical Engineering
Senior Management Ms Ntebatse Maggy Hellen Maake Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms Olga Tshisevhe Director: Engineering Services
Communications Mr Neville Ndlaba Acting

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates191 058146 293138 299138 709129 626
Service charges982 918800 095690 221656 589499 552
Investment revenue33 76131 90719 1248 6337 228
Transfers recognised - operational581 380554 785513 178457 305529 750
Other own revenue145 900115 10498 869695 82078 571
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 935 0181 648 1841 459 6911 957 0561 244 726
Employee costs434 239383 134346 139333 845352 144
Remuneration of councillors29 61028 95827 79227 71527 037
Depreciation and amortisation126 199123 656118 850113 552109 337
Finance charges12 14912 92915 67721 59619 237
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases791 569662 960561 627545 402457 183
Transfers and subsidies50 31248 35957 87337 05534 977
Other expenditure301 034265 501329 901349 384125 342
Total Expenditure1 745 1141 525 4961 457 8581 428 5481 125 257
Surplus/(Deficit)189 904122 6871 833528 508119 469
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)142 026120 508122 762153 224109 250
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions331 929243 195124 594681 732228 718
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year331 929243 195124 594681 732228 718

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure397 355314 561317 494294 557137 170
Transfers recognised - capital171 006169 253212 380217 951-
Borrowing-3 9157 99858 247902
Internally generated funds226 349141 39397 11618 359136 268
Total sources of capital funds397 355314 561317 494294 557137 170

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets1 458 5681 143 095973 970946 724927 953
Total non current assets2 569 2652 502 1542 455 7432 419 9771 748 204
Total current liabilities438 964354 166358 664389 964372 395
Total non current liabilities173 439204 567210 308228 321234 619
Community wealth/Equity3 083 5012 843 3202 736 1472 066 6841 840 425

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating4 553 0555 931 613-1 191 821-754 799-11 803
Net cash from (used) investing25 297-180 590-169 380-157 611-130 005
Net cash from (used) financing-16 607-15 063---
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end4 793 1055 913 273-1 213 740-807 620-71 592

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure--19 895108 05815 084
Irregular expenditure49 11798 498114 60568 71029 565
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure1 3575 69913 39026 4806 167

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population478 254416 146389 623

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1531.4%29.6%31.9%
Population 15 to 6462.1%66.0%62.4%
Population over 656.4%4.4%5.7%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)60.951.560.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females87.491.387

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.0%1.5%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 schooling16.4%13.2%18.8%
Matricn/a26.821.9
Higher education8.7%8.0%8.5%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households129 579122 776108 705
Average household size3.73.43.6
Female headed householdsn/a45.947.8
Formal dwellings97.1%88.8%92.4%
Housing ownedn/a64.957.4

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage29.0%12.8%17.9%
Weekly refuse removal25.7%13.5%14.8%
Piped water inside dwelling27.1%11.9%16.1%
Electricity for lighting97.4%93.6%86.2%

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 provided98 80998 47898 47898 47898 478
Domestic households with access to free basic service704 7534 7532 3614 868

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 provided56 69156 69156 69156 52356 523
Domestic households with access to free basic service626776776749749

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)346 139333 845352 144311 115299 024
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)27 79227 71527 03726 97727 051
Total Employee Positions751690630664782
Total Vacant Employee Positions1096957189
Total Vacancy Percentage14.5%10.0%0.8%1.1%24.2%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5677777
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5602000
Managerial Positions - by organogram2929323232
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00574

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans