MunicipalitiesSA

Lephalale Local Municipality

LIM362 Local Limpopo Governed by ANC

125 198 Population Census 2022
13 794 Square kilometres 9.1 per km2
43 832 Households
29 Council seats

Lephalale Local Municipality is a local municipality in Limpopo, covering 13 794 square kilometres. It falls within the Waterberg District Municipality. Its main centre is Lephalale.

Census 2022 counted 125 198 residents, making it the 25th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 166th of 257 nationally. That works out to 9.1 people per square kilometre. The population is very sparsely distributed across a large area. There are 43 832 households, averaging 2.9 people each. 28.8% of residents are under 15 and 4.9% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 11.3% hold a higher education qualification and 5.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 29 seats across 7 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 19 seats (65.5%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Aaron Mokgetle serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Ms Feziwe Nogilana-Raphela 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, Lephalale scores 67.8 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of C, described as fair. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R848.5 million in operating revenue against R875.7 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R27.2 million. At the last census, 43.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 93.0% used electricity for lighting and 46.5% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 19
  • DA 3
  • EFF 3
  • ATM 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1
  • LRP 1
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Aaron Mokgetle ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Ms GG Marakalala ANC
Chief Whip Mr SJ Machaba
Municipal Manager Ms Feziwe Nogilana-Raphela Acting
Chief Financial Officer Ms Lesego Matlwa
Mayoral Committee ML Shongwe Exco Member and Portfolio: Infrastructure
Mayoral Committee MM Semenya Exco Member and Portfolio Chairperson: Development Planning
Mayoral Committee MR Modiba Portfolio: GA and BTO
Senior Management Ms Bontle Johanna Ndoweni Acting Executive Manager: Social Services
Senior Management Ms Maggy Kgwantha Executive Manager: Strategic Support Services
Senior Management Ms Oteng Radipabe Acting Executive Manager: Development Planning Services
Senior Management Mr Rudzani Ngobeli Acting Executive Manager: Infrastructure Services
Senior Management Mr Thapelo Seboya Acting Executive Manager: Corporate Services
Communications Ms CS Chiloane

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 rates119 527114 404106 60295 852101 683
Service charges337 710304 364286 976215 872262 448
Investment revenue7 6058 6809 0114 1934 551
Transfers recognised - operational265 739230 565206 836187 503190 087
Other own revenue117 91191 02789 03063 61551 635
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)848 493749 040698 456567 036610 403
Employee costs245 653233 561208 880206 454212 324
Remuneration of councillors14 36914 06613 30512 07810 912
Depreciation and amortisation100 39294 71287 73887 19884 395
Finance charges22 04019 71722 43528 46919 517
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases239 533209 865185 830168 408162 909
Transfers and subsidies-461-1 659581553681
Other expenditure254 133225 881188 172184 970111 440
Total Expenditure875 659796 142706 941688 128602 178
Surplus/(Deficit)-27 166-47 102-8 485-121 0928 225
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)134 605119 89151 370113 640112 085
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions107 43972 78942 885-7 452120 310
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year107 43972 78942 885-7 452120 310

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure168 478114 92560 029118 142111 760
Transfers recognised - capital128 72996 38946 419101 26888 775
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds39 74918 53613 6119 29522 985
Total sources of capital funds168 478114 92560 029110 563111 760

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets367 192360 371356 557251 138340 189
Total non current assets1 533 3101 457 5831 424 8251 480 7911 479 265
Total current liabilities200 689213 525190 518264 644163 790
Total non current liabilities174 648191 637223 514174 914198 771
Community wealth/Equity1 417 7261 340 0041 324 4641 299 8231 336 583

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating629 916768 400380 9264 898 728115 588
Net cash from (used) investing-(128 425)(76 803)(131 826)(80 578)
Net cash from (used) financing-856--7 246--
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end689 714731 236390 9324 861 726119 527

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure49 39842 711-5 890-
Irregular expenditure2722935 33773 52123 084
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure2 37730121 07912

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population125 198140 240118 864

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1528.8%28.8%26.6%
Population 15 to 6466.4%67.8%69.4%
Population over 654.9%3.4%4.0%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)50.647.544.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females100.5126.5117.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.5%3.8%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 schooling5.0%6.0%9.9%
Matricn/a27.921.8
Higher education11.3%12.3%10.4%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households43 83243 00230 639
Average household size2.93.33.9
Female headed householdsn/a33.739.4
Formal dwellings87.4%76.4%81.6%
Housing ownedn/a41.641.8

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage49.3%40.4%43.9%
Weekly refuse removal46.5%44.5%40.0%
Piped water inside dwelling43.6%25.1%30.7%
Electricity for lighting93.0%83.1%85.0%

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 provided40 38038 79438 35539 68034 486
Number of domestic households/delivery points37 44235 85635 41736 74231 548
Inside the yard22 25817 50417 06518 39018 029
Less than 200m from yard10 99917 35517 35517 35510 229
More than 200m from yard4 1859979979973 290
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 4981 7381 7381 7381 738

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided44 89144 06143 88343 88343 002
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 8643 0472 7172 7171 738

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided30 57729 04329 04329 92929 929
Flush toilet - public sewerage18 53617 50417 50418 39018 536
Flush toilet - septic tank859859859859859
Ventilated pit latrine8 3268 3268 3268 3268 326
Bucket system00000
Other1 6991 1971 1971 1971 051
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 4981 7381 7381 7381 738

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided28 22426 83326 83326 83326 721
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 2491 7381 7381 7381 738

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)208 880206 454212 324191 569189 126
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)13 30512 07810 91210 922-3 507
Total Employee Positions503438438497511
Total Vacant Employee Positions78554956
Total Vacancy Percentage15.5%1.1%1.1%9.9%11.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5677777
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5613334
Managerial Positions - by organogram3028282828
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram72213

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans