MunicipalitiesSA

Makana Local Municipality

EC104 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

97 815 Population Census 2022
4 376 Square kilometres 22.4 per km2
29 239 Households
27 Council seats

Makana Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 4 376 square kilometres. It falls within the Sarah Baartman District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Alicedale, Makhanda (Grahamstown), Riebeek East and Sidbury.

Census 2022 counted 97 815 residents, making it the 31st most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 187th of 257 nationally. That works out to 22.4 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 29 239 households, averaging 3.3 people each. 21.9% of residents are under 15 and 8.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 16.6% hold a higher education qualification and 3.8% have had no schooling.

The council has 27 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 14 seats (51.9%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Yandiswa Vara serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Pumelelo Kate 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, Makana scores 12.9 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of F, described as critical. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “disclaimer of audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R808.4 million in operating revenue against R828.5 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R20.1 million. At the last census, 63.7% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.2% used electricity for lighting and 86.2% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 14
  • DA 5
  • MCF 5
  • EFF 2
  • INDEPENDENT 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Ms Yandiswa Vara ANC
Speaker Mr Mthuthuzeli Matyumza ANC
Chief Whip n/a
Municipal Manager Mr Pumelelo Kate
Chief Financial Officer Mrs Nomfundo Ntsangani
Mayoral Committee Mr Andile Hoyi Chairperson: Finance
Mayoral Committee Ms Gcobisa Mene Chairperson: Engineering and Infrastructural Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Mzwabantu Nkwentsha Chairperson: LED Planning and Tourism Industries
Mayoral Committee Mr Rumsell Xonxa Chairperson: Corporate and Shared Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Thandolwethu Vayo Chairperson: Public Safety and Community Service
Senior Management Ms N Santi Manager: Speaker's Office
Senior Management Mrs Natasha Khoahla Director: LED
Senior Management Mrs Ntombesizwe Notyeke Director: Public Safety and Community Services
Senior Management Ms Pumla Qezu Manager: Human Resources
Senior Management Mr Reynhardt Brittnell Acting Director: Engineering and Infrastructural Services
Senior Management Sisanda Dyonashe Manager: Internal Audit
Senior Management Mr Vukile Wali Strategic Manager: Office of the Executive Mayor
Communications Mr A Mjekula Assistant Communications Officer
Communications Mrs Yoliswa Ramokolo Communication Officer

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEDisclaimer of auditDisclaimer of auditDisclaimer of auditDisclaimer of auditDisclaimer of audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates119 291117 553107 450100 918100 707
Service charges439 896382 211336 678302 474266 549
Investment revenue4 3725 3303 838767829
Transfers recognised - operational150 597174 978124 634119 244126 482
Other own revenue94 24188 28171 41051 52325 313
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)808 396768 353644 010574 927519 880
Employee costs209 568210 509199 396199 534208 026
Remuneration of councillors13 05512 87111 99811 16911 398
Depreciation and amortisation33 37350 36331 65637 13236 632
Finance charges36 99239 43116 65210 23720 227
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases200 981177 127163 310156 281123 149
Transfers and subsidies50351--990
Other expenditure334 510368 094258 246236 643188 083
Total Expenditure828 529858 745681 259650 996588 505
Surplus/(Deficit)-20 134-90 392-37 249-76 069-68 625
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)46 40346 65918 62370 68653 778
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)5 2207023 10517 633-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions31 489-43 030-15 52112 250-14 848
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year31 489-43 030-15 52112 250-14 848

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure67 90274 30432 157117 68440 778
Transfers recognised - capital38 28227 26528 21958 93445 073
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds2315 60682136 038-4 485
Total sources of capital funds38 30542 87029 04094 97140 588

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets246 407158 364363 739308 651247 175
Total non current assets1 028 3501 000 6881 168 0851 170 3921 110 364
Total current liabilities483 763406 958600 631531 998425 748
Total non current liabilities195 562188 152151 281151 665163 650
Community wealth/Equity717 975563 942779 912748 721768 141

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating22 009-263 807-235152 363181 833
Net cash from (used) investing-40 384-55 444-33 464-53 469-45 250
Net cash from (used) financing-2 436244---
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end4 654-262 76014 598117 9205 678

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure65 958--779 268100 121
Irregular expenditure22 42241 51136 97246 22925 181
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure15 19931 49407 8263 903

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population97 81582 06080 390

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1521.9%26.8%24.4%
Population 15 to 6469.8%67.6%69.4%
Population over 658.2%5.6%6.2%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)43.247.944.1

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females88.491.590.4

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.9%0.5%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a32.5
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a42.3

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling3.8%3.6%6.3%
Matricn/a2722.7
Higher education16.6%13.0%11.7%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households29 23922 70021 388
Average household size3.33.63.8
Female headed householdsn/a45.344.5
Formal dwellings89.6%90.7%85.4%
Housing ownedn/a56.148.3

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage89.7%83.8%74.4%
Weekly refuse removal86.2%90.1%88.9%
Piped water inside dwelling63.7%45.1%49.8%
Electricity for lighting95.2%96.6%89.5%

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 provided23 38422 33621 95521 95518 627
Number of domestic households/delivery points22 86021 81221 43121 43118 114
Inside the yard21 21020 16220 16220 16217 764
Less than 200m from yard1 6501 6501 2691 269350
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 1783 9393 5133 8953 824

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided28 55927 71227 46727 46727 467
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 7406 1216 7736 8396 801

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided23 14722 90922 81022 81015 641
Flush toilet - public sewerage20 43019 38219 38219 38210 556
Flush toilet - septic tank0000780
Ventilated pit latrine1 9292 7392 1102 1103 601
Bucket system264264264264180
Other005305300
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 6204 2824 0103 8493 920

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided23 36623 36622 50023 96523 965
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 6294 7834 7164 5394 617

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)199 396199 534208 026189 728165 707
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)11 99811 16911 39811 41010 676
Total Employee Positions684720591635867
Total Vacant Employee Positions35169105197
Total Vacancy Percentage5.1%23.5%1.7%0.8%22.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5612211
Managerial Positions - by organogram3434343234
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram911847

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans