MunicipalitiesSA

Mhlontlo Local Municipality

EC156 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

186 391 Population Census 2022
2 880 Square kilometres 64.7 per km2
43 980 Households
51 Council seats

Mhlontlo Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 2 880 square kilometres. It falls within the OR Tambo District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Qumbu and Tsolo.

Census 2022 counted 186 391 residents, making it the 18th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 119th of 257 nationally. That works out to 64.7 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 43 980 households, averaging 4.2 people each. 33.3% of residents are under 15 and 8.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 5.4% hold a higher education qualification and 11.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 51 seats across 7 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 40 seats (78.4%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Mbulelo Jara serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Lungile Ndabeni 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, Kumkani Mhlontlo scores 45.6 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R315.8 million in operating revenue against R332.5 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R16.6 million. At the last census, 26.9% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.7% used electricity for lighting and 25.9% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 40
  • EFF 3
  • UDM 3
  • ATM 2
  • DA 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1
  • ISANCO 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Mbulelo Jara ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Eddie Pula ANC
Chief Whip Ms Ntombiyakhe Gcaba
Municipal Manager Mr Lungile Ndabeni Suspended
Municipal Manager Mr MN Sineke Acting
Chief Financial Officer Ms N Sibobi
Mayoral Committee Ms L Dlova Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Mr M Funo
Mayoral Committee M Mpheleli Infrastructure
Mayoral Committee Ms M Mvanyashe Community Services
Mayoral Committee Ms N Sayiti Human Settlements
Mayoral Committee Ms N Zikolo
Mayoral Committee Mr S Kahla Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr S Voko LEDPARD
Mayoral Committee U Socikwa Special Programmes Unit and IGR
Senior Management Mr M Sineke Community Services
Senior Management Ms Mamela Mngcotywa Manager: Office of the Mayor
Senior Management Mr S Ntinzi Local Development and Planning
Senior Management Ms TT Madotyeni Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms Z Petse Infrastructure Services
Communications Mr Sisa Mpehle Communications and Public Relations

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates43 02835 59633 87667 15431 092
Service charges4 0862142 4414 4731 811
Investment revenue8 9651 22010 12615 4013 573
Transfers recognised - operational252 38495 829203 613432 578235 521
Other own revenue7 3762755 7587 5974 612
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)315 839133 135255 813527 203276 609
Employee costs121 8989 486104 363211 45591 377
Remuneration of councillors24 0713 44120 88540 87017 969
Depreciation and amortisation29 004-68 097107 22153 153
Finance charges---1 346551
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases8 3224868 76017 1907 384
Transfers and subsidies2 7405383581609
Other expenditure146 44512 841143 155329 19580 143
Total Expenditure332 47926 259345 643707 859251 185
Surplus/(Deficit)-16 640106 876-89 830-180 65625 423
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)115 2741 45077 261142 82354 371
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions98 633108 326-12 569-37 83279 794
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year98 633108 326-12 569-37 83279 794

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure118 8692 15380 2832861 066
Transfers recognised - capital111 3841 35468 45950 96949 820
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds13 89479811 824-11 054
Total sources of capital funds125 2782 15380 28350 96960 873

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets125 193274 170166 179148 198186 493
Total non current assets623 650497 750511 180513 461524 435
Total current liabilities67 17177 95963 96854 10527 287
Total non current liabilities-----
Community wealth/Equity583 038585 635625 960645 387603 847

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating22 81780 957-18 517-57 25126 533
Net cash from (used) investing-174 251-1 153-64 417-67 604-
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-39 202204 78687 54845 627126 268

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-1 92510 55468 267-
Irregular expenditure10 59213 3291464 8155 914
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure-18 876181 158119

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population186 391189 176190 745

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1533.3%38.8%38.3%
Population 15 to 6458.6%55.1%54.4%
Population over 658.2%6.1%7.2%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)70.781.683.7

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females90.588.786.7

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum-0.2%-0.2%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 schooling11.4%11.5%14.7%
Matricn/a14.812.3
Higher education5.4%3.3%4.8%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households43 98041 39544 079
Average household size4.24.64.3
Female headed householdsn/a57.156.9
Formal dwellings72.1%41.5%34.3%
Housing ownedn/a83.954.3

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage26.4%2.0%4.2%
Weekly refuse removal25.9%1.8%4.7%
Piped water inside dwelling26.9%1.0%4.0%
Electricity for lighting95.7%83.9%72.6%

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 provided47 24847 24847 06047 06047 060
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 0552 0555 1332 9496 475

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 provided2 5912 5912 5912 5912 591
Domestic households with access to free basic service265265265265265

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)104 363211 45591 377196 14094 566
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)20 88540 87017 96940 63818 183
Total Employee Positions249249198207192
Total Vacant Employee Positions46461119
Total Vacancy Percentage18.5%18.5%0.5%0.5%9.9%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5611000
Managerial Positions - by organogram8891012
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00111

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans