MunicipalitiesSA

Msukaligwa Local Municipality

MP302 Local Mpumalanga Governed by ANC

199 314 Population Census 2022
6 003 Square kilometres 33.2 per km2
67 827 Households
38 Council seats

Msukaligwa Local Municipality is a local municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 6 003 square kilometres. It falls within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Breyten, Chrissiesmeer, Davel, Ermelo and Lothair.

Census 2022 counted 199 314 residents, making it the 14th most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 114th of 257 nationally. That works out to 33.2 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 67 827 households, averaging 2.9 people each. 26.4% of residents are under 15 and 4.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 7.1% hold a higher education qualification and 10.9% have had no schooling.

The council has 38 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 23 seats (60.5%). ANC governs the municipality. Mrs Mapulane Precious Nkosi serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Maqhawe Kunene 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, Msukaligwa scores 30 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R1.1 billion in operating revenue against R1.6 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R501.0 million. At the last census, 64.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 87.2% used electricity for lighting and 73.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 23
  • EFF 8
  • DA 4
  • VF PLUS 2
  • ACDP 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mrs Mapulane Precious Nkosi ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Ms Ntombifuthi Sarah Xaba ANC
Chief Whip Ms Pretty Thabile Sibeko
Municipal Manager Mr Maqhawe Kunene
Chief Financial Officer Mr Phumuzi Jeremiah Nhlabathi
Mayoral Committee Mr Bongani Gladwell Motha MMC: Planning and Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Ms Elizabeth Msezane MMC: Finance
Mayoral Committee Mr Sphiwe Ernest Ngovene MMC: Community and Social Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Thenjiwe Cathrine Motha MMC: Technical Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Thulani Joshua Madlala MMC: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Bongani Zwane Manager: Office of the Municipal Manager
Senior Management Ms Duma Precious Zodwa Director: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr Lerato Thabo Motloung Director: Planning and Economic Development
Senior Management Mr Mandla Dlamini Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Mfelani Samuel Lukhele Director: Community and Social Services
Communications Mr Mandla Zwane Manager: Communications, IGR and Contact Centre

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates212 918203 786202 863181 646126 006
Service charges514 792443 415407 318394 104376 860
Investment revenue5 8886 0534 8541 098949
Transfers recognised - operational282 515436 704242 386207 661226 918
Other own revenue114 536125 550178 575122 06870 478
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 130 6491 215 5081 035 997906 577801 211
Employee costs316 650295 952265 422248 969244 257
Remuneration of councillors19 01918 02417 36215 48916 058
Depreciation and amortisation135 560128 560144 109141 732137 048
Finance charges116 791132 53647 55087 000103 372
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases701 015567 920286 411325 613362 631
Transfers and subsidies-----
Other expenditure342 609366 3092 767 737251 960172 743
Total Expenditure1 631 6451 509 3013 528 5901 070 7631 036 108
Surplus/(Deficit)-500 996-293 794-2 492 593-164 186-234 897
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)241 561150 368258 080303 435169 259
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)1 91415 537238-1 480
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-257 521-127 889-2 234 275139 248-64 158
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-257 521-127 889-2 234 275139 248-64 158

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure78 872104 149-5 3833 442
Transfers recognised - capital84 76694 241-2 1475 170
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds-5 8949 909-3 236-1 728
Total sources of capital funds78 872104 149-5 3833 442

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets883 384729 351847 566654 346722 250
Total non current assets2 884 7212 805 3202 832 9682 717 8262 477 593
Total current liabilities2 911 4862 475 1612 081 2551 883 0531 937 901
Total non current liabilities76 56080 163105 00589 07778 305
Community wealth/Equity945 517979 347-2 034 2501 340 4921 442 585

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating390 712-56 7232 572 191927 205250 798
Net cash from (used) investing51 16042 763-173-4 984-5 266
Net cash from (used) financing4492 401--20
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end501 65867 1462 581 692928 396267 567

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure256 845233 344235 125413 25683 459
Irregular expenditure17 88151 38250 96874 456174 768
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure106 130119 23982 521162 401-

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population199 314164 608149 377

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1526.4%27.8%30.4%
Population 15 to 6469.0%68.1%65.5%
Population over 654.6%4.1%4.1%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)44.946.952.6

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females94.9100.398.5

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.8%2.2%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a26.8
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a34.5

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling10.9%10.6%12.3%
Matricn/a31.629.2
Higher education7.1%10.1%9.2%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households67 82751 08940 932
Average household size2.93.23.6
Female headed householdsn/a38.937.8
Formal dwellings84.5%79.1%75.3%
Housing ownedn/a49.343.4

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage79.0%74.3%72.9%
Weekly refuse removal73.8%62.3%65.5%
Piped water inside dwelling64.6%50.0%53.0%
Electricity for lighting87.2%82.4%74.7%

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 provided49 45349 45349 45349 34942 725
Number of domestic households/delivery points48 55748 55748 55748 53441 893
Inside the yard42 55642 55642 55642 55638 228
Less than 200m from yard4 6204 6204 6203 4783 665
More than 200m from yard1 3811 3811 3812 5000
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 6296 0066 0067 93211 357

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided59 14545 97545 97545 97545 390
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 6296 0066 0067 9325 063

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided41 66239 76839 76839 10139 101
Flush toilet - public sewerage37 96937 96937 96936 17836 178
Flush toilet - septic tank46542942900
Ventilated pit latrine2 340002 0142 014
Bucket system00000
Other04974973636
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 6296 0066 0067 9327 850

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided34 23134 23134 23126 76126 761
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 6296 0066 0067 93211 357

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)265 422248 969244 257230 898207 127
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)17 36215 48916 05815 65115 145
Total Employee Positions628579577580822
Total Vacant Employee Positions7201245
Total Vacancy Percentage1.1%0.4%0.0%0.2%29.8%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666664
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5602000
Managerial Positions - by organogram3431293030
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram20011

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans