MunicipalitiesSA

Lejweleputswa District Municipality

DC18 District Free State Governed by n/a

679 746 Population Census 2022
32 286 Square kilometres 21.1 per km2
189 807 Households
15 Council seats Coalition governed

Lejweleputswa District Municipality is a district municipality in Free State, covering 32 286 square kilometres. It coordinates 5 local municipalities: Masilonyana, Matjhabeng, Nala, Tokologo and Tswelopele. It takes in 18 recognised towns and settlements, among them Allanridge, Boshof, Bothaville, Bultfontein, Dealesville, Hennenman, Hertzogville, Hoopstad.

Census 2022 counted 679 746 residents, making it the 3rd most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 42nd of 257 nationally. That works out to 21.1 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 189 807 households, averaging 3.6 people each. 27.5% of residents are under 15 and 6.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 8.6% hold a higher education qualification and 4.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 15 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 9 seats (60.0%). It is governed by a coalition: n/a. Ms Veronica Ntakumbana serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Motlatsi Lesley Makhetha 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, Lejweleputswa scores 49 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 R163.4 million in operating revenue against R213.5 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R50.1 million. At the last census, 53.5% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 94.7% used electricity for lighting and 66.5% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 9
  • DA 3
  • EFF 2
  • ISANCO 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Ms Veronica Ntakumbana ANC
Speaker Mr Jerence Dikane ANC
Chief Whip Mr Johannes Meli
Municipal Manager Mr Motlatsi Lesley Makhetha Acting
Chief Financial Officer Mr Kevin Khoabane
Mayoral Committee Mrs Bulelwa Kabi MMC: Community Services and Special Programmes
Mayoral Committee Mrs Dora Kotzee MMC: Finance, Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Mr Moeketsi Meli MMC: Local Economic Development and Tourism
Mayoral Committee Mr Mzonakele Baleni MMC: Corporate Service, Human Resource and Legal Service
Mayoral Committee Ms Phindiwe Maseko MMC: Municipal Infrastructure Support Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Sipho Tsunke MMC: Municipal Health Services, Disaster Management and Fire Fighting
Mayoral Committee Mrs Victoria van Rooyen MMC: PMS, IDP Policy Development and Monitoring
Senior Management Ms B Malapane Acting Executive Manager: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr C Pietersen Manager: Legal Services
Senior Management Ms Lucy Tlhone Fire Fighting
Communications Mr Khaya Mqeke

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 rates-----
Service charges-----
Investment revenue5 3379 6618 3224 7074 898
Transfers recognised - operational157 795153 977148 118140 334142 383
Other own revenue2313411 1371 145610
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)163 362163 979157 578146 185147 892
Employee costs140 861125 976112 120105 16097 163
Remuneration of councillors12 08311 16010 3329 6239 356
Depreciation and amortisation5 0374 5303 9133 9803 213
Finance charges----94
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases1 5703 3063 2441 4931 415
Transfers and subsidies11 40416 0167 31012 14217 150
Other expenditure42 52547 36435 46126 87128 213
Total Expenditure213 481208 353172 379159 268156 604
Surplus/(Deficit)-50 119-44 373-14 802-13 082-8 712
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)--4 0002 3329 897
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-50 119-44 373-10 802-10 7501 185
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-50 119-44 373-10 802-10 7501 185

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure8316 8271 6066 1712 614
Transfers recognised - capital-----
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds8317 1021 6066 1502 614
Total sources of capital funds8317 1021 6066 1502 614

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets-45 251-37 270109 925113 701124 702
Total non current assets-4 8931 78951 51655 30854 672
Total current liabilities-64611 39625 19622 66422 381
Total non current liabilities1 00396719 86918 46817 812
Community wealth/Equity-382-3 470116 376127 877139 181

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating117 82463 784-3 969142 842145 938
Net cash from (used) investing-121-4 768-1 3591899
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end117 70359 016106 198264 065281 369

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-812-2 9122 912
Irregular expenditure17 61923 85618 6945 96610 869
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure45207---

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population679 746646 920624 746

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.5%26.5%28.9%
Population 15 to 6465.9%68.4%66.1%
Population over 656.6%5.1%5.0%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)51.746.251.3

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females92.310097.4

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.8%0.8%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 schooling4.4%4.6%6.7%
Matricn/a30.325.1
Higher education8.6%7.4%7.4%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households189 807217 911182 247
Average household size3.633.4
Female headed householdsn/a39.439.8
Formal dwellings88.2%83.2%79.1%
Housing ownedn/a69.758.5

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage86.2%81.7%77.3%
Weekly refuse removal66.5%72.1%79.8%
Piped water inside dwelling53.5%43.5%47.7%
Electricity for lighting94.7%94.0%90.9%

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)112 120105 16097 16383 62672 507
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)10 3329 6239 3569 2918 966
Total Employee Positions288288194180144
Total Vacant Employee Positions979712131
Total Vacancy Percentage33.7%33.7%6.2%7.2%0.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5644001
Managerial Positions - by organogram2828281724
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram001210

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans