MunicipalitiesSA

Matatiele Local Municipality

EC441 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

225 562 Population Census 2022
4 352 Square kilometres 51.8 per km2
55 757 Households
54 Council seats

Matatiele Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 4 352 square kilometres. It falls within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Cedarville and Matatiele.

Census 2022 counted 225 562 residents, making it the 16th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 100th of 257 nationally. That works out to 51.8 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 55 757 households, averaging 4.0 people each. 33.6% of residents are under 15 and 8.0% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 7.3% hold a higher education qualification and 4.6% have had no schooling.

The council has 54 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 40 seats (74.1%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Patrick Stuurman serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mrs Nokhanyo Zembe 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, Matatiele scores 70.5 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of B, described as sound. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R553.5 million in operating revenue against R561.8 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R8.3 million. At the last census, 28.8% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 84.5% used electricity for lighting and 26.6% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 40
  • EFF 7
  • DA 3
  • AIC 2
  • ATM 1
  • UDM 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Patrick Stuurman ANC
Speaker Ms Nonzwakazi Ngwanya ANC
Chief Whip Ms Nomonde Abegail Nkukhu
Municipal Manager Mrs Nokhanyo Zembe Acting
Chief Financial Officer Mr ZC Matolo
Mayoral Committee Ms Makopano Shale Portfolio Head: Infrastructure Planning and Development
Mayoral Committee Mawethu Facu Portfolio Head: Local Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Mr Mzwamandla Nyembezi Portfolio Head: Good Governance and Special Programmes
Mayoral Committee Ms Nomaroma Cornelia Ludidi-Ndabane Portfolio Head: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Patrick Motlalepula Stuurman Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Ms Shereen Booth Portfolio Head: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Siseko Sikhafungana Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Ms Thembeka Dyantyi Portfolio Head: Planning and Human Settlements
Mayoral Committee Mr Wonga Bongekile Potwana Exco Member
Senior Management Mr Dumisani Mbokwana Acting: General Manager: Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms Nontle Sogiba General Manager: Infrastructure Services
Senior Management Mr Siyanda Ntshikilana General Manager: Economic Development and Planning
Senior Management SM Mbedla General Manager: Community Services
Communications Mr Luncedo Walaza Spokesperson

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEQualified auditQualified auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates56 36050 84948 71648 72646 575
Service charges89 70779 14670 82868 14668 589
Investment revenue15 31624 86119 1469 5998 835
Transfers recognised - operational330 510316 426293 763267 351306 535
Other own revenue61 57264 21125 81224 24822 151
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)553 465535 492458 264418 070452 685
Employee costs162 964164 213146 840128 507119 453
Remuneration of councillors24 24422 36022 87221 44419 979
Depreciation and amortisation63 81685 32364 71256 09483 800
Finance charges3 8293 5441343514
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases92 69979 68364 08864 23653 954
Transfers and subsidies-----
Other expenditure214 199243 302231 745245 877159 738
Total Expenditure561 751598 424530 391516 193436 938
Surplus/(Deficit)-8 285-62 931-72 127-98 12415 748
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)82 54168 464108 353165 53292 926
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-5 349---
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions74 25610 88136 22567 408108 674
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year74 25610 88136 22567 408108 674

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure132 721129 956139 154189 960151 160
Transfers recognised - capital70 27460 49391 020141 84578 907
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds62 44669 46348 13447 70972 253
Total sources of capital funds132 721129 956139 154189 554151 160

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets415 875392 755459 528420 246380 779
Total non current assets1 101 6681 034 0901 124 0901 139 4901 127 984
Total current liabilities176 837164 004160 795150 317126 310
Total non current liabilities43 93340 32544 88043 42937 728
Community wealth/Equity1 296 7731 222 5171 370 6121 368 7871 344 824

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating438 045391 510353 025340 914491 270
Net cash from (used) investing-130 245-167 906-143 199-188 241-161 457
Net cash from (used) financing----36
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end565 945478 391446 558377 095212 463

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-85-93 38169 601
Irregular expenditure-21820010 27915 128
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure5219134949902

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population225 562219 447203 843

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1533.6%37.4%38.4%
Population 15 to 6458.4%56.1%54.6%
Population over 658.0%6.5%6.9%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)71.278.383

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females88.684.285

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.0%1.7%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a38.7
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a47.2

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling4.6%6.3%9.4%
Matricn/a18.212.7
Higher education7.3%6.1%5.6%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households55 75756 86849 527
Average household size43.94.1
Female headed householdsn/a52.955.3
Formal dwellings75.8%47.3%49.7%
Housing ownedn/a78.655.3

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage28.1%9.0%11.9%
Weekly refuse removal26.6%12.5%10.9%
Piped water inside dwelling28.8%5.8%12.2%
Electricity for lighting84.5%58.2%44.9%

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?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided39 03736 90636 57333 33133 293
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 4023 3303 3304 1914 203

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 provided6 2466 2464 9934 9934 993
Domestic households with access to free basic service9209317441 0571 019

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)146 840128 507119 453114 310109 115
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)22 87221 44419 97920 44719 626
Total Employee Positions334379333333363
Total Vacant Employee Positions1246626
Total Vacancy Percentage0.3%6.3%1.8%1.8%7.2%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5611002
Managerial Positions - by organogram2020202020
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram01662

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans