MunicipalitiesSA

Molemole Local Municipality

LIM353 Local Limpopo Governed by ANC

127 130 Population Census 2022
3 628 Square kilometres 35.0 per km2
41 939 Households
32 Council seats

Molemole Local Municipality is a local municipality in Limpopo, covering 3 628 square kilometres. It falls within the Capricorn District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Dendron and Morebeng (Soekmekaar).

Census 2022 counted 127 130 residents, making it the 24th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 163rd of 257 nationally. That works out to 35.0 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 41 939 households, averaging 3.0 people each. 31.6% of residents are under 15 and 8.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 9.1% hold a higher education qualification and 17.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 32 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 22 seats (68.8%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Edward Paya serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr KE Makgatho 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, Molemole scores 45.9 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 R276.2 million in operating revenue against R309.0 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R32.8 million. At the last census, 29.1% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.5% used electricity for lighting and 23.9% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 22
  • EFF 6
  • CICAF 2
  • CIVIC WARRIORS 1
  • DA 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Edward Paya ANC
Speaker Ms Dikeledi Matlou ANC
Chief Whip Mr Masilo Rathaha
Municipal Manager Mr KE Makgatho
Chief Financial Officer Ms Khanyisile Wendy Zulu
Mayoral Committee Ms Boitumelo Hlapa Chairperson: Finance
Mayoral Committee Mrs ML Moabelo Chairperson: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Oscar Motolla Chairperson: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Shobane Mafona Chairperson: LEDP
Senior Management Mr Thimothy Molopa Acting: Community Services
Senior Management Ms Tiyani Mahatlani Planning and Economic Development
Communications Ms Maseforo Mathatho

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 rates29 86428 78532 72430 59949 558
Service charges13 30213 27111 42310 94811 062
Investment revenue13 91912 6518 1684 7092 544
Transfers recognised - operational193 141222 032174 739160 911185 288
Other own revenue25 9898 7017 7148 5837 826
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)276 215285 440234 767215 750256 278
Employee costs118 552113 533101 43896 15691 655
Remuneration of councillors14 18613 82313 65112 94812 930
Depreciation and amortisation24 41219 79518 58719 09512 115
Finance charges2 9362 0702 46814184
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases21 25419 74019 07719 21114 947
Transfers and subsidies-----
Other expenditure127 655105 07386 32279 34989 243
Total Expenditure308 994274 034241 542226 772221 074
Surplus/(Deficit)-32 77911 406-6 775-11 02335 204
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)37 44944 80240 34743 52545 028
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)--1 894-1 235
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions4 66956 20835 46632 50281 467
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year4 66956 20835 46632 50281 467

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure52 82365 33552 85548 68750 057
Transfers recognised - capital32 56457 25535 52238 04040 290
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds20 2598 08015 43910 6479 767
Total sources of capital funds52 82365 33550 96148 68750 057

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets94 114127 045174 132172 225169 579
Total non current assets458 764421 458359 732337 114305 416
Total current liabilities-5 6705 67914 16326 94836 076
Total non current liabilities59 79151 96044 97827 27126 098
Community wealth/Equity553 730497 040474 612455 120412 821

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating29 003278 876201 682159 60760 566
Net cash from (used) investing-52 053-65 333-52 855-48 687-28 733
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end117 292225 804254 106200 46654 844

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure30 33418 20511 076--
Irregular expenditure239-4 0352 4772 303
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure4-2-28

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population127 130125 327126 506

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1531.6%37.3%36.0%
Population 15 to 6459.8%55.4%56.0%
Population over 658.6%7.3%7.9%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)67.380.678.4

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females8782.584.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.1%-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 schooling17.0%20.2%19.6%
Matricn/a21.518.6
Higher education9.1%9.0%8.1%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households41 93934 13334 673
Average household size33.73.6
Female headed householdsn/a54.853.5
Formal dwellings96.7%96.1%96.1%
Housing ownedn/a77.759.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage32.9%11.7%13.5%
Weekly refuse removal23.9%4.4%5.0%
Piped water inside dwelling29.1%5.6%8.6%
Electricity for lighting96.5%97.3%95.7%

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 provided34 00534 00533 60533 60533 605
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 0165 8825 8825 3134 576

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 6652 6652 6652 6642 664
Domestic households with access to free basic service15315315315366

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)101 43896 15691 65584 28078 989
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)13 65112 94812 93012 88012 328
Total Employee Positions192202199170171
Total Vacant Employee Positions2424102
Total Vacancy Percentage12.5%11.9%0.5%0.0%1.2%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666665
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5631100
Managerial Positions - by organogram2020988
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram111000

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans