MunicipalitiesSA

Msunduzi Local Municipality

KZN225 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by Hung Council

817 725 Population Census 2022
751 Square kilometres 1 088.8 per km2
213 727 Households
81 Council seats

Msunduzi Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 751 square kilometres. It falls within the uMgungundlovu District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Ashburton and Pietermaritzburg.

Census 2022 counted 817 725 residents, making it the 5th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 32nd of 257 nationally. That works out to 1 088.8 people per square kilometre. That is dense urban settlement. There are 213 727 households, averaging 3.8 people each. 23.5% of residents are under 15 and 6.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 14.6% hold a higher education qualification and 4.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 81 seats across 10 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 39 seats (48.1%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr Mzimkhulu Thebolla serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Felani Mndebele 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, Msunduzi scores 46 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 R8.4 billion in operating revenue against R8.9 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R508.8 million. At the last census, 54.5% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 98.0% used electricity for lighting and 56.6% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 39
  • DA 16
  • EFF 10
  • IFP 9
  • ABC 2
  • AIC 1
  • ACDP 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1
  • JEP 1
  • PA 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Mzimkhulu Thebolla ANC
Deputy Mayor Mr Mxolisi Mkhize ANC
Speaker Mrs Eunice Majola ANC
Chief Whip Mr Sandile Dlamini
Municipal Manager Mr Felani Mndebele
Chief Financial Officer n/a
Mayoral Committee Mr Bongani Mbona Exco
Mayoral Committee Bongumusa Nhlabathi Exco
Mayoral Committee Ms Nokuthula Msimang Exco and Chairperson: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Ntombizethu Sokhela Exco and Chairperson: Sustainable Development Committee
Mayoral Committee Ms Phumelele Phahla Exco
Mayoral Committee Mr Ross Strachan Exco
Mayoral Committee Mr Thinasonke Dennis Ntombela Exco
Mayoral Committee Zanele Ngcobo Exco and Chairperson: Corporate Services Committee
Senior Management Mr A Khoali Acting General Manager: Sustainable Development and City Enterprises
Senior Management Mr M Zuma Recreation and Facilities, Community Services Department
Senior Management Mr Sabelo Hlela General Municipal Manager: Infrastructure Services
Senior Management Mr Simphiwe Mchunu Acting General Manager: Electricity
Senior Management Mr Simtholile Myeni Manager: LED
Communications Ms Ntobeko Mkhize
Administrator n/a

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedQualified auditQualified auditQualified auditFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates1 696 6651 359 0871 370 1731 212 7731 204 676
Service charges4 968 6774 086 7623 870 4973 846 3053 188 295
Investment revenue33 90244 11816 95710 4457 908
Transfers recognised - operational982 981824 545801 751681 678756 194
Other own revenue711 542613 025367 682365 182351 055
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)8 393 7676 927 5376 427 0616 116 3835 508 128
Employee costs1 686 4321 612 9181 466 8561 468 9611 427 114
Remuneration of councillors58 38263 54251 81849 43951 641
Depreciation and amortisation335 237361 848350 684372 611380 262
Finance charges118 42086 051150 81433 59642 537
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases4 229 2483 592 0593 089 7373 034 5152 712 322
Transfers and subsidies18 38625 24029 56232 41316 870
Other expenditure2 456 4672 292 4571 086 2311 730 8341 769 584
Total Expenditure8 902 5748 034 1166 225 7026 722 3686 400 330
Surplus/(Deficit)-508 807-1 106 579201 359-605 986-892 202
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)388 201427 923324 319368 725498 603
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)7461992602 104
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-119 859-678 457525 680-237 201-391 495
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-119 859-678 457525 680-237 201-391 495

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure15 206 429882 088552 51412 565 9648 138 236
Transfers recognised - capital--323 914-3 094 590
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds15 206 429819 701228 600-877 142
Total sources of capital funds15 206 429819 701552 514-3 971 732

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets2 846 3072 297 4354 168 8893 301 6603 064 611
Total non current assets9 003 6358 604 4308 924 7508 206 0038 053 141
Total current liabilities3 048 2774 104 1883 885 7902 718 5112 607 041
Total non current liabilities2 096 226733 130658 474775 015814 494
Community wealth/Equity6 825 2986 743 0048 023 6958 251 3388 087 712

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-2 163 353-790 678-492 870
Net cash from (used) investing--(498 681)-229
Net cash from (used) financing--(79 163)--
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-2 023 238366 360695 26756 302493 125

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure---1 666 547920 572
Irregular expenditure68 74114 06559 889180 14150 096
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure160 19544 892153 18217 7199 219

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population817 725679 039621 715

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1523.5%31.5%26.7%
Population 15 to 6469.7%64.7%68.3%
Population over 656.8%3.9%5.0%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)43.454.746.4

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females91.392.990.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.7%2.0%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 schooling4.0%4.3%5.5%
Matricn/a40.533.2
Higher education14.6%14.5%12.8%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households213 727180 469164 757
Average household size3.83.83.8
Female headed householdsn/a45.945.2
Formal dwellings90.5%80.0%73.5%
Housing ownedn/a70.158

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage63.0%49.3%56.7%
Weekly refuse removal56.6%47.4%53.1%
Piped water inside dwelling54.5%41.7%47.9%
Electricity for lighting98.0%96.1%91.9%

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 provided176 073168 059167 966167 841165 359
Number of domestic households/delivery points172 263164 249164 156164 031161 555
Inside the yard159 204145 942145 849145 724155 159
Less than 200m from yard6 6639 4689 4689 4686 396
More than 200m from yard6 3968 8398 8398 8390
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 7134 7663 3902 9213 002

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided199 071198 863195 953195 603173 741
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 1574 7661 6544 1802 264

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided169 166168 196167 613166 026160 852
Flush toilet - public sewerage86 24185 24185 24185 24181 407
Flush toilet - septic tank8 3198 3198 3198 3198 515
Ventilated pit latrine63 13763 16763 16763 16761 637
Bucket system00000
Other7 6597 6597 0765 4895 489
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 7134 7663 1751 8943 469

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided137 000137 000120 000120 000120 000
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 7134 7662 4613 7863 129

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)1 466 8561 468 9611 427 1141 242 9601 127 423
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)51 81849 43951 64143 75944 131
Total Employee Positions3 3663 3663 2874 1506 030
Total Vacant Employee Positions116852 696
Total Vacancy Percentage0.0%0.0%2.1%0.1%44.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5611101
Managerial Positions - by organogram9191912728
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram006758

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans