MunicipalitiesSA

Mpofana Local Municipality

KZN223 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by ANC

33 382 Population Census 2022
1 755 Square kilometres 19.0 per km2
8 437 Households
10 Council seats

Mpofana Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 1 755 square kilometres. It falls within the uMgungundlovu District Municipality. Its main centre is Mooi River.

Census 2022 counted 33 382 residents, making it the 54th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 237th of 257 nationally. That works out to 19.0 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 8 437 households, averaging 4.0 people each. 26.8% of residents are under 15 and 5.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.0% hold a higher education qualification and 7.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 10 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 7 seats (70.0%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Thembi Maureen Magubane serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Dr EH Dladla 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, Mpofana scores 39.9 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R150.2 million in operating revenue against R270.6 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R120.4 million. At the last census, 59.9% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.7% used electricity for lighting and 74.4% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 7
  • DA 1
  • EFF 1
  • IFP 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms Thembi Maureen Magubane ANC
Speaker Mr ZA Dladla ANC
Chief Whip n/a
Municipal Manager Dr EH Dladla
Chief Financial Officer Mr M Mkhize Acting
Mayoral Committee Mr BX Zikhali
Mayoral Committee Mr JJ Dlomo
Mayoral Committee Mr LW Wynne District Representative
Mayoral Committee Mr MS Mchunu Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Ms PB Gunudu
Mayoral Committee Mr S Buthelezi
Mayoral Committee Mr Z Mchunu Chairperson: Infrastructure and Development
Senior Management Mr M Mkhize Acting Director: Economic and Community Development
Senior Management Mr S Nyuswa Acting Director: Corporate Services
Communications Ms Thandeka Dlamini

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedQualified auditQualified auditQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates17 17317 24216 20518 61517 238
Service charges59 49447 51454 33969 27352 967
Investment revenue559572534347112
Transfers recognised - operational61 36792 60153 29045 55550 850
Other own revenue11 62046 26545 60122 11516 334
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)150 212204 193169 969155 906137 501
Employee costs71 21164 63260 23054 90151 557
Remuneration of councillors3 5373 0563 1133 0202 760
Depreciation and amortisation14 91814 81418 10417 97617 476
Finance charges23 45928 92632 06917 6277 339
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases90 88792 71489 27697 52369 866
Transfers and subsidies64-597--
Other expenditure66 56997 624118 95261 38150 142
Total Expenditure270 645301 766322 342252 429199 141
Surplus/(Deficit)-120 433-97 573-152 373-96 523-61 639
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)28 14920 06310 55217 46311 981
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-92 284-77 510-141 821-79 060-49 658
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-92 284-77 510-141 821-79 060-49 658

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure17 85824 17511 92818 59211 154
Transfers recognised - capital15 61123 3408 91517 46311 121
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds2 8286013001 12933
Total sources of capital funds18 43923 9419 21618 59211 154

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets248 635215 061190 659118 510129 660
Total non current assets217 531222 036219 156217 406220 708
Total current liabilities758 670636 833541 980382 588285 756
Total non current liabilities94 84095 32483 95129 94227 048
Community wealth/Equity-295 060-217 550-74 295-76 61537 564

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating963 108495 186426 55523 45622 349
Net cash from (used) investing---(19 560)(16 127)
Net cash from (used) financing---(4 012)(5 029)
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end965 355495 993427 3053 5193 634

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure47 24785 72576 039271 65251 944
Irregular expenditure26 34538 93632 79238 15750 782
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure23 62529 84232 649871636

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population33 38237 39134 913

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1526.8%34.8%29.2%
Population 15 to 6468.0%62.3%66.8%
Population over 655.2%2.9%4.0%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)4760.649.6

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females89.589.395.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum-0.4%1.6%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 schooling7.0%8.0%12.2%
Matricn/a31.826.5
Higher education6.0%9.7%5.9%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households8 43710 9279 843
Average household size43.43.5
Female headed householdsn/a48.143
Formal dwellings91.1%83.7%80.0%
Housing ownedn/a68.443.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage80.2%59.7%62.9%
Weekly refuse removal74.4%59.5%51.0%
Piped water inside dwelling59.9%53.6%41.9%
Electricity for lighting95.7%85.5%71.9%

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 provided7 6037 6037 5857 5856 763
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

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 provided7 2997 2997 2997 2997 299
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)60 23054 90151 55746 48657 172
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)3 1133 0202 7602 7211 907
Total Employee Positions189129135135245
Total Vacant Employee Positions45410986
Total Vacancy Percentage23.8%3.1%7.4%6.7%35.1%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5644555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5610105
Managerial Positions - by organogram1313181818
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram249910

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans