MunicipalitiesSA

Moqhaka Local Municipality

FS201 Local Free State Governed by ANC

155 410 Population Census 2022
7 925 Square kilometres 19.6 per km2
42 789 Households
44 Council seats

Moqhaka Local Municipality is a local municipality in Free State, covering 7 925 square kilometres. It falls within the Fezile Dabi District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Kroonstad, Renovaal, Steynsrus, Vierfontein and Viljoenskroon.

Census 2022 counted 155 410 residents, making it the 8th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 130th of 257 nationally. That works out to 19.6 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 42 789 households, averaging 3.6 people each. 25.2% of residents are under 15 and 8.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 10.5% hold a higher education qualification and 3.3% have had no schooling.

The council has 44 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 22 seats (50.0%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Motloheloa Ellis Mokatsane serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Ms Portia Tshabalala 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, Moqhaka scores 16 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of F, described as critical. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R1.3 billion in operating revenue against R1.7 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R415.6 million. At the last census, 64.2% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.6% used electricity for lighting and 88.2% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 22
  • DA 10
  • EFF 5
  • MOQHAKA COMMUNITY FORUM 3
  • VF PLUS 3
  • PAU 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr Motloheloa Ellis Mokatsane ANC
Speaker Ms Selloane Khiba ANC
Chief Whip Mr Mamajeremane Semakale
Municipal Manager Ms Portia Tshabalala
Chief Financial Officer Mr Thuso Marumo
Mayoral Committee Ms Audrey Khotle MMC: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Lehlohonolo Ramajoe MMC: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Lindiwe Mbona MMC: Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation
Mayoral Committee Ms Mapule Lama MMC: Integrated Development Plan
Mayoral Committee Mr Moeketsi Tshabalala MMC: Human Settlements and Spatial Planning
Mayoral Committee Mr Pile Phamotse MMC: Public Safety
Mayoral Committee Mr Ramasimong Tau MMC: Local Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Mr Solomon Ramathibe MMC: Infrastructure Development
Mayoral Committee Mr Tshokolo Ntsala MMC: Finance
Senior Management Mr R Oodendaal Director: Corporate Support
Senior Management Mr S Mokgatle Director: Infrastructure Management and Development
Senior Management Mr T Leie Director: Planning and LED
Senior Management Mr T Qhena Director: Community and Social Services
Communications Dika Kheswa

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEQualified auditQualified auditQualified auditFinancially unqualifiedQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates93 60588 20784 24474 40376 836
Service charges723 166680 651594 321558 128514 097
Investment revenue3934282316
Transfers recognised - operational331 012314 054274 215241 123262 373
Other own revenue132 185131 64862 24655 89942 675
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 280 0071 214 5931 015 053929 576895 997
Employee costs452 951409 580344 583335 065309 823
Remuneration of councillors22 44422 25120 80219 49419 727
Depreciation and amortisation112 242121 050119 939121 873110 485
Finance charges99 0376 02961 81565 9206 821
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases504 814433 439371 887344 352308 020
Transfers and subsidies24484178--
Other expenditure503 836445 128531 576310 669261 091
Total Expenditure1 695 5681 437 5621 450 7801 197 3741 015 967
Surplus/(Deficit)-415 561-222 968-435 727-267 798-119 971
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)48 04251 22055 88572 61657 431
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)1477 3195175 344
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-367 505-171 741-372 523-194 664-57 196
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-367 505-171 741-372 523-194 664-57 196

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure4 9005 6304 5787 2573 036
Transfers recognised - capital12826001 787
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds4 7635 6043 4586 6251 249
Total sources of capital funds4 8915 6303 4586 6253 036

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets796 718687 941517 616571 102505 001
Total non current assets1 941 4542 000 6942 017 4442 065 1492 107 558
Total current liabilities1 969 6431 504 9761 178 049948 830699 643
Total non current liabilities151 836147 268146 38967 43165 652
Community wealth/Equity1 454 9621 716 1811 838 5491 632 8012 309 323

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-62 846-9 267-36 238397 356114 042
Net cash from (used) investing-7 18420 297-4 622-7 17217 849
Net cash from (used) financing-1 178---5 629-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-81 112-10 335-54 964384 499103 324

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure302 201122 593338 495451 77376 694
Irregular expenditure18 66883 89997 478120 483140 623
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure118 1475 51161 00158 6315 387

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population155 410154 732160 532

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1525.2%24.5%27.0%
Population 15 to 6466.2%67.8%66.4%
Population over 658.6%7.7%6.5%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)51.147.650.5

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females92.39798.1

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum-0.3%-0.8%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a35.2
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a47.2

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling3.3%3.8%5.4%
Matricn/a31.527.8
Higher education10.5%6.7%8.3%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households42 78953 60145 661
Average household size3.62.93.5
Female headed householdsn/a40.940.9
Formal dwellings90.9%85.9%88.7%
Housing ownedn/a62.156.1

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage91.7%89.7%87.2%
Weekly refuse removal88.2%84.0%84.9%
Piped water inside dwelling64.2%48.6%57.7%
Electricity for lighting97.6%96.3%93.3%

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 provided44 05844 05843 80043 80043 800
Number of domestic households/delivery points34 88334 88334 62534 62534 625
Inside the yard34 43434 43434 02034 02034 020
Less than 200m from yard449449605605605
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service13 13813 88614 32914 94514 945

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided40 51640 51634 89834 89834 898
Domestic households with access to free basic service13 13813 88614 32914 94514 945

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided45 71443 61143 21343 21343 213
Flush toilet - public sewerage34 23132 12832 12832 12832 128
Flush toilet - septic tank450450450450450
Ventilated pit latrine1 6531 6531 4601 4601 460
Bucket system00000
Other205205000
Domestic households with access to free basic service13 13813 88614 32914 94514 945

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided34 88634 88634 02034 02034 020
Domestic households with access to free basic service13 13813 88614 32914 94514 945

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)344 583335 065309 823287 970268 971
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)20 80219 49419 72720 17519 673
Total Employee Positions8718588181 3941 409
Total Vacant Employee Positions171547524
Total Vacancy Percentage0.1%0.8%0.1%39.2%37.2%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666665
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5605100
Managerial Positions - by organogram3434312924
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram12030

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans